Page 51 of The Marriage Pact

“I feel like we should be going to the drive-thru,” Rachel said as they passed the turn for the window kiosk.

“I wouldn’t put it past him to drive us back there later on,” Kaitlyn said, smiling as she thought of how many colas she’d slurped in the front seat of this car.

The drive to the country club didn’t take long. Kaitlyn was excited at the prospect of seeing Alex as they’d spent the previous night apart, he with his mom, and she with Rachel, Sean, and the kids. A small crowd was gathered outside to greet them, including Alex’s mom, who came hurrying to open the car door as they pulled up.

“Did it surprise you to see Betsy again? It’s been quite a secret to keep these past few months. He’s been working on it in the garage,” she said, helping Kaitlyn out.

“I couldn’t believe it. It’s just…wonderful,” Kaitlyn replied.

With no procession to form up, Kaitlyn and Rachel made their way up the steps and into the clubhouse. Rachel had admitteddefeat with the kids and was leading them by the hand, the posy of flowers tucked under her arm. Kaitlyn was feeling nervous. Getting married was a big deal. The biggest deal. She thought of her mom, wishing she could’ve been there to see it.

She’s here in some way, though. I know it.

The ceremony was to take place in the same room as Rachel’s had, and Kaitlyn thought back to how she’d felt that day, watching her best friend get married and wondering if it would ever be her who was the bride. So much had changed since that day, and yet it felt like the culmination of everything that had been meant to be. Alex was standing at the front, wearing a light blue suit, his back to her. She could see his reflection in the window, the nervous look on his face as the music they’d chosen — a piece by Handel that had been one of her mom’s favorites — began to play. It sent a shiver down her spine and filled her with such joy and anticipation as to be almost overwhelming. As Alex turned, she caught his eye, and a smile spread over his face.

“You got here then?” he whispered as she slipped her hand into his.

“Did you think I’d change my mind?” she asked, glancing up at him with a smile.

“Actually, I was worried Betsy might not make it.”

Kaitlyn laughed, and, as the music came to an end, the officiant walked forward to stand in front of them, the same woman who’d married Sean and Rachel.

“Good afternoon to you all, and a hearty welcome as we come together to celebrate this very special day,” she began.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Kaitlyn and Alex made their vows to one another, promising faithfulness and love until the end of their days. There was a reading, a poem they’d chosen together, and they exchanged rings, taking them from the palm of Samuel’s hand as Rachel held him up between them. After the final pronouncement, they shared a kiss, and the room burst into spontaneous applause. As they turned to face the guests, Rachel handed Samuel to Kaitlyn, so the three of them could walk out together. It was a perfect moment, one that felt like a dream, even as Kaitlyn knew it was real. It was everything she’d ever dreamed of.

“I love you,” Alex whispered, kissing her on the cheek.

“And I love you, too,” Kaitlyn replied.

It had taken over twelve years to reach this moment, and a great deal of heartache along the way. But standing there, hand in hand with the man she loved, and holding the son they’d brought into the world together, Kaitlyn knew it had been worth it. As they stepped out into the sunshine, Hilary threw a handful of rose petals over them, and Rachel did the same. They showered down like snow or blossoms falling from a tree, and, as Alex turned to embrace her, Kaitlyn leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

“There’s something I want to show you.”

If Betsy had been his surprise to her, then her surprise was waiting for him. It had been brought to the country club in secret and hidden in a side room. With the other guests following, Kaitlyn led Alex into the room, where a table was set up with an object covered by a silk cloth. Alex looked at it curiously.

“What is it?” he asked, and Kaitlyn gestured for him to remove the cloth and reveal it.

As he did so, the sunlight caught the ceramic sculpture, filling the room with colored light as through a prism. It was the sculpture, the two figures, encircling one another as though rising from the sea in a dance. Kaitlyn had finished it in secret, and now it stood in all its glory as her gift to Alex on their wedding day.

“We came close before, but today marks the start of something new,” she said as he slipped his arms around her and kissed her.

“I want those two figures to always be joined,” he whispered. And that was just what Kaitlyn wanted, too.