Page 109

The next thing I noticed was Slash standing in front of the altar, dressed in a perfectly pressed tuxedo and looking as if he’d just stepped from the pages of a men’s fashion magazine. He smiled and my gaze widened in surprise as I saw the bruises on his face had been expertly concealed. He looked magnificent, although I never imagined he’d wear more makeup than me on our wedding day. Slash’s brother, Stefan, stood next to him on the stairs, dressed in blue jeans, a button-down shirt, and a dark sports coat. So,that’swhere Slash got his tuxedo. Gio stood on the stair below Stefan and grinned at me, looking as handsome as ever in a tux while sporting a fashionable white sling.

On my side of the aisle, Basia, Elvis, and Gray beamed at me, all of them looking sharp and attractive in their matching dresses and suit. Mom stood near the front pew with my brothers and grandparents. She already had tissues in one hand and tears in her eyes. Behind them, my interns—Wally, Angel, Brandon and Piper—beamed at me, looking spiffy and uncomfortable in their dress clothes.

Nonna blew me a kiss while Hands, Wills, and Hulk snapped a quick salute as I passed. Lilith smiled as we made eye contact, and the pope stood behind the altar watching me affectionately while still managing to look official and holy. Finally, I glanced over my shoulder and up at the balcony, where President Paulson and the first lady gave me a sweet wave.

For once all was well in my world.

We made it to the altar, and Dad passed me off to Slash with a few words of wisdom under his breath. “Don’t make me come after you.”

“No, sir,” Slash replied.

I slid my arm into Slash’s as we’d practiced at the rehearsal, and he whispered, “You seem shorter.”

“No heels.” I looked down at my feet and he followed my gaze to my tennis shoes. Then his eyes met mine and we smiled at the same time.

Since I had to follow a script of sorts, my mind went on autopilot as I mentally recited each of the steps of the ceremony. There were words of welcome, various prayers, a lighting of the unity candle, and biblical readings before it was the time for the part of the ceremony I was most nervous about.

The exchange of vows.

I’d stressed about them for months. Each time I started to write them, I was racked with doubt, afraid they were too emotional or not emotional enough. There were many things I wanted to say to Slash, but most of those things were private. How did I determine what was personal and yet appropriate for public consumption?

I wanted to practice on someone, but at the same time, I wanted them to be a surprise. Slash had been so understanding, saying we could skip vows or use vows already written for us, but that seemed like a cop-out on the most important day of my life.

After numerous throwaways and edits, I’d finally come up with what I hoped were simple and heartfelt promises to the man with whom I intended to spend the rest of my life.

“Lexi, will you please pass your bouquet, and then both of you turn and face one another, joining hands as you express your vows of love and commitment to each other,” Father Armando said, and the moment was upon us.

My heart pounded as I handed Basia the bouquet. She smiled encouragingly at me, knowing how worried I’d been about it.

I was shaking as I took Slash’s hands in mine. He squeezed them gently to give me courage. Then our eyes met, and it was like there was no one else in the church with us.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself. “Slash, I wrote these vows a dozen times before I realized that there are just a few important things I want to say to you in front of our friends and family. For most of my life, I thought I didn’t need anyone—that I could do life on my own. Then I met you, and everything got complicated, confusing, and…wonderful. No matter what happened to me, no matter how many times I got into trouble, you always showed up. I hesitated to get involved with you because I thought I’d have to be perfect to deserve your love. But you taught me that love is messy, hard, and complex. No one is perfect. Not me, and not even you, although sometimes I wonder. Anyway, what really matters is that we’re perfect for each other. So, my one vow to you is that even though I’m not perfect, I’ll never give up on us. No matter what difficulties we face, life-threatening or not, I’ll be at your side fighting for what matters to you and celebrating those things we achieve. Together we’ll build a home where there’s honesty, respect, and love. Because that’s our kind of perfect.”

Slash squeezed my hands again, clearly touched by my words. As he began to speak, his brown eyes never left mine.

“Cara, my vows to you are best expressed in a heartfelt poem written by Elliott Arnold that I’ve modified slightly for us.

“Now we will feel no rain,

For each of us will be shelter for the other.

Now we will feel no cold,

For each of us will be warmth to the other.

Now there will be no loneliness,

For each of us will be companion to the other.

Now we are two persons,

But there is only one life before us.

May beauty surround us in our journey ahead,

And through all the years,

May happiness be our companion.”