Page 18 of Possessed By You

My smile widens. “Let’s do it.”

***

“The Wedding March” is being played by a lone violinist, and the cheerful melody makes my knees knock together in fear. I focus on my bare feet against the makeshift aisle that has been assembled, which is leading me toward the shoreline and toward my future husband.

Conjuring up all courage within me, I lift my gaze, my heart beating wildly. At the end of the aisle, Benjamin is staring at me, a smile splitting his face in two. It’s an unusually breathtaking smile, and oddly, one I’ve never seen before. It’s contagious. I can’t control mine either.

I’m the luckiest woman alive. I know it full well. If it wouldn’t make me a complete fool, I’d be running to him. Benjamin takes my hand the minute I’m close, planting me before the minister, who smiles at both of us.

When he begins to speak, my eyes soak in the setting. The clear sky, the singing wind through the branches of the trees, the crash of waves along the shoreline. Sand swirls in the air but magically doesn’t hit us.

It’s perfect we’re alone. I look back at him, blushing when I find him watching me.

I’m saying “I do” before I know it, holding my breath as I wait for his vow. With relief, I let out that breath as the two words ring strong and confident in his low tone.

There’s no dreaded pause of thought, no crack in the declaration.

We’re both clearly so sure of this.

When rings are produced, I chuckle, amazed by how much Benjamin was able to accomplish with only a day to prepare. He takes the slim silver band and slips it onto my finger. Visibly shaking, I take his and, less confidently, slide it onto his ring finger. He flexes his hand and admires it, his expression full of wonder.

I doubt he ever believed he’d have such a promise on his hand.

Our eyes don’t leave each other as the minister concludes the ceremony.

Benjamin squeezes my hand tightly and mouths, “I love you.”

With hopeful tears in my eyes, I mouth it back.

“You may kiss the bride.”

We collide, as if we’ve been waiting our entire lives to make it to this point and can only now race to the finish line. His hands are buried in my hair, my fingers pressed to his smooth jaw. Our mouths, pressed and formed as one, begin to smile together.

When we detach and everything in my world tilts on axis, only then does this become real. Benjamin’s lips are against my ring finger, and my eyes are drinking in the sight of him…my husband.