"Are you sure?" she asked Lucas as she reached up and straightened his tie. Gosh, he looked beyond handsome.
"My love, you have asked me that half a dozen times today. My answer is the same."
"Just checking. I don't want either of us to have any regrets."
"I will never regret marrying you, Elizabeth. I'm ready to be your husband." And she was ready to be his wife.
He turned and offered his arm. She looked like an angel standing beside him. His angel.
She reached up and dried the tear that he didn't realize had escaped his eye. "I love you."
"I love you more."
The last couple days had been spent talking, talking, and talking some more about what was going to work best for their family and what type of ceremony they would have.
To start with, they didn't want traditional. So, they got dressed together at their house they were staying at and would drive to the hotel where they would meet the rest of their family and wedding party. They would walk down the aisle together, after checking with William. He told them as long as he still gave her away during the ceremony, he was okay with it.
About 30 minutes later, they were standing in the ballroom of the Hotel, waiting for the music to start.
Lucas had found this song and put it in his "Beth playlist" and when they listened to it, they found an instrumental version and decided it was perfect to walk down the aisle to.
"You Are the Reason" began to play and they stepped together as one. Their family and close friends watched them as they slowly walked down the aisle, hand in hand, Elizabeth's free hand holding her bouquet of white and red roses.
Elizabeth felt at peace, as if everything that had happened the last ten months was leading toward this moment where she would become Lucas' wife. Yes, most of the time, life was sunshine and rainbows with him, but she knew that it wouldn't always be that way.
Lucas loved the way they were choosing to do the wedding their way. Non-traditional. Meaningful for them.
When they reached the front of the aisle, Elizabeth walked into her parents' arms and hugged both of them. She stood with them as Lucas moved to stand next to the minister.
"Welcome, family and friends of Lucas and Elizabeth. Today we are here to witness and bless their commitment to each other. If I may ask, who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
"Her mother and I do," William said, kissing Elizabeth's forehead. "I love you, Bethie."
"I love you, Dad. Mom."
She walked over to Lucas and they joined hands again.
"Lucas and Elizabeth, do you promise to take one another as your wedded partner, forsaking all others, in good times and bad?"
"We do," they said together.
Vi stepped forward with three candles. One larger and two smaller.
"At this time, Lucas and Elizabeth will light the Unity candle. The Unity candle symbolizes their desire to leave their two separate lives behind and come together as one."
After lighting the candle, they joined hands and stared lovingly into each other's eyes.
"Lucas, 'I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.' This quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning embodies perfectly the way I feel about you. You are my best friend, the one I want to tell my heart to, the father of my children, the only one I want to grow old with. You complete me and I consider myself blessed to be your wife."
"Beth, baby, I choose you and only you. You make my heart beat faster just by being in my thoughts. I can't imagine being without you, even for a day and I look forward to spending forever loving you, loving our children and making you happy."
"Amen," the minister said. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out two gold rings. Helen's wedding ring with rubies and diamonds encircling the band and Martin's simple gold band.
"I understand these rings mean something special to the both of you. Lucas, Elizabeth, please take each other's ring and place it on each other's left hand. The circle of a wedding ring is an outward symbol of a couple's never-ending love and fidelity."
Lucas and Elizabeth went through the motion of putting on the rings and then intertwined their fingers with a smile.
"By the power vested in me by God and the state of Michigan, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. What God has yoked together, let no may pull apart. Lucas, you may kiss your wife."
Lucas cupped the side of her face with one hand, and her baby belly with the other, making a promise to both of them. He would always take care of them, always love them, through whatever came their way.
"I love you, Beth Bouchard," he whispered, before pressing his lips to hers.
"I love you too," she told him.
……
"Dad?" Elizabeth said, walking up to her father.
"Yes, dear?"
"Will you dance with me?"
"Of course I will. Is there any music someone can play from their phones?"
"I have it covered, Will," Lucas told him, pushing play on his phone which was tied into a Bluetooth speaker nearby.
"Isn't She Lovely?" by Stevie Wonder began to play as William took his daughter into his arms.
"I'm so happy for you, Bethie," he whispered into her ear. "And I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you."
"And I am sorry for the way I reacted when you told us about the baby."
"You already apologized, Dad. It's just fine. You have every right to feel the way you feel."
"Used to feel," he corrected. "Luke is the man you are meant to be with. I see that now. He loves you and you're both going to be amazing parents."
"Thank you, Dad."
Helen walked over to her son who was watching his new wife dance with her father.
"Son?"
He looked down at his mom and smiled, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Hi, Mom."
She touched the ring on his finger, a smile on her face. "Your father would be so proud of you, Lucas."
"I wish he was here. He would adore Beth."
"He certainly would."
"Isn't She Lovely?" finished and Beth hugged William tightly and then she looked at Lucas and smiled. He kissed his mom's cheek and walked over to dance with his wife.
"Shall we dance?" she asked, stepping into his arms.
"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. She sighed. She loved this song and Lucas had picked it for their dance. She was at peace and so very much in love with him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?" he wondered, looking down into her eyes.
"Marrying me. Loving me. Giving me Boo."
He leaned down and kissed her softly, lingering. "I love you."
"I love you."
Over near the wall where chairs were moved from the ceremony, Rosemary sat, her hands on her very large twin tummy and her feet on a second chair.
"Mama? You hold, Juju?" he asked. "Por favor?"
"I don't have much of a lap, baby, but I can try."
He raised his arms and she lifted carefully and tried to snuggle him. She figured he was tired. It was evening and likely he was hungry too.
"Honey?" she said to Lee who was typing on his phone. He didn't respond.
"Lee."
"Hm?"
"I need the diaper bag please."
He picked up the backpack and handed it to her with no words.
"Lee? What's so important on your phone that you can't be fully present at your best friend's wedding or talk to your wife and son?"
"Nothing, Rosie. I'm sorry. What do you need?"
"I need a snack out for myself and Julian. My blood sugar is dropping and Julian needs something or he's going to get grumpy."
"Nack, Papa?"
"Of course, Juju. One snack coming up."
Once Julian had his apples and Rosie had her cheese and fruit, he walked off to the quiet of the hallway. He needed to think.
He had just received a disturbing message on his phone and he didn't know what else to do but panic.
"Bro?" Lucas said as he and Elizabeth walked up to him, hand in hand. "What's going on?"
"Nothing."
Elizabeth kissed Lucas' cheek. "I'm going to the ladies room. You two talk."
Lucas couldn't help but watch her walk down the hall. She was beyond gorgeous.
"Lee?" he said, tearing his eyes away from his wife.
"I am being laid off."
"What? Why?"
"They are closing my branch, Luke. I can't believe this. I have a wife and child and two more on the way. I can't lose my job."
"Can you put in for a transfer? To a different branch? Or to HQ? There has to be a way around this."
"I don't know. I can't believe this."
"Papa!" Julian yelled, running to him. Lee picked him up and hugged him, kissing his brown hair.
"Lee, what's going on?" Rosie asked.
Lucas left them and walked down the hall towards the bathrooms to give them privacy. Lucas was grateful now for his move to HQ. He hoped that with time, his employees would accept him more. He hoped his job wouldn't be in danger.
Elizabeth walked over to him and slipped her arms under his jacket. "Hey."
"Hi."
"Is Lee okay?"
"He's getting laid off."
"No…that's terrible."
"It is."
"I'm not trying to be insensitive but…is your job in danger?"
"They are closing his branch. Thankfully I work at HQ so I'm hoping I'm not affected."
"What?!" Rosie yelled. Lucas and Elizabeth watched her as she overreacted as only Rosie could do.
"Rosie, please calm down. The babies need you to calm down."
"Lee Coulter! Don't tell me to calm down. I can't work after two more months and you are losing your job! What are we supposed to do?"
Julian covered his ears and sat on the ground. "No no no no! No yell!"
Lucas walked over and picked up Julian. "Beth and I will take him for a walk, alright?"
They looked at him and nodded. Julian cried into Lucas' shoulder. "No yell," he mumbled, his tears falling on his jacket.
"Its okay, bud. Auntie Beth and I are going for a walk where its' quiet. Wanna come?"
"Yeah. No yell!"
"Nope. No yelling. All quiet."
"Go."
Lucas and Julian and Elizabeth walked toward the garden outside the hotel. It was chilly, but not too much so they were comfortable.
"Mama yell," Julian said, sniffling.
"Mama was upset. Everything is okay," Elizabeth told him. "I promise."
"Don't like yell."
"I know. Its not fun, is it?"
"No."
"Are you excited to be a big brother?" she asked him, changing the subject.
"Si! Two babies! Siser and brudder."
"That's right. That's so exciting!"
"Yeah. Babies little."
"They are. You used to be little too."
"Julian big, Auntie Beth."
"Yes you are."
"So big that maybe you want to walk?" Lucas asked him.
"Yeah. Walk."
Back in the hall, Rosie had calmed and now they were just holding each other, trying to figure out how to handle the loss of income. Thankfully, they had savings that could hold them for a few months and he could tap into his retirement while he looked for another job. On the upside, he would be home longer to help her with the babies and Julian.
"Maybe its a blessing, Rosie."
"Maybe. I feel bad yelling in front of Julian. I know he doesn't like it and I just let my emotions take over. I'm sorry, Lee."
"I forgive you but lets find Juju and make sure he knows too."
Lee felt so much better after talking to Rosie. He raised his hand and cupped her cheek. "I will take care of our family, Rosie. I promise."
She gave him a kiss and a tight hug, as tight as she could with the babies between them. "I trust you, Lee."
"I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you more."
"Mama? No yell?" Julian said, running up to them. "Up pease."
"Hi, honey. I'm sorry I yelled."
"Okay, Mama."
She picked him up and held him, even though it was awkward.
"Everything okay?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah. Lee is losing his job, but we will be fine."
"That's good to hear. Please let us know if you need help with anything."
"Promise."
"Well, Lucas and I are going to go say goodnight to everyone and go back to the house."
After hugs and thank yous to everyone, they did just that.
Later, they danced in the living room of their rental house, still in their wedding attire, though he had ditched his jacket and tie and she, her shoes.
"Today was a perfect day," she mentioned, her head on his shoulder as they swayed.
"It was."
He teased her lips with his before stealing her breath with a passionate kiss.
His fingers found the buttons at the top of the back of her dress. There were only two so it didn't take long to be successful. His fingers danced across the soft skin of her back and assisted with the three buttons at her waist.
"Maybe we should turn in?"
She smiled, took his hand and led him down the hall.
