THERE YOU’LL BE
Chapter Eight
The clock outside the church
struck midday, followed by the loud chimes. Wedding bells began to ring
suddenly and then a minute later stopped.
The organ player began to play
the familiar wedding march, upon hearing this. Rose immediately began to weep,
Anne dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief before holding out her arm as if she
was a man to walk her down the aisle. Rose had originally asked Phillip to do
the honor of giving her away but she and Jack agreed he should be the best man.
So throwing tradition to the wind, Rose asked Anne. Her dear friend, who in the
recent months had been like an older sister to her. At twenty-five, she was a
very tall and thin woman. She lacked curves, but had very striking features.
Her long jet black hair was in a long braid down her back and her dark blue
bridesmaid dress, which too had been especially made for the day, matched her
large navy eyes.
Peeping down the aisle, Jean,
Phillip’s middle daughter nodded as a signal to begin.
The wedding march continued to
play, as Anne began to lead Rose down the aisle. Rose almost needed Anne there
to support her, she felt her legs would buckle beneath her any minute now. This
whole day seemed surreal, as if she would wake up now and be back in
Philadelphia with her mother and Cal and all of this would have just been one
big dream. But she knew it wasn’t it was real, and she was marrying this man.
This man who would father the child inside her in less than a month, the man
who would father their children in years to come, the man who saved her in
every way a person can be, the man who supports her through everything she
does. This man who loves her more than anything.
Upon reaching the alter, Rose
released Anne’s arm and mouthed “thank you” to her. Anne smiled at her before
turning to sit down. Turning back to face her Jack and the minister who stood
at the altar, Rose could feel her heart begin to pound and her head was light
but she was unable to keep the smile from her face.
“Dearly beloved we are gathered
here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony…” the minister
began.
The church was very small but
cozy. Jack and Rose stood at the front, holding hands, gazing into each others
eyes, for this was a moment neither of them would ever forget. The guests were
few; just Phillip, his family and a few girls from the café where Rose had
worked.
But that didn’t matter, size
didn’t matter, the people didn’t matter, just each other.
In the bottom of her stomach,
Rose could feel the butterflies she had felt when she and Jack had first
kissed. She had felt sick with nerves, and who’d have known that less than a
year later, here she was marrying this man who she loved with all her heart.
She felt Jack squeeze her hand
reassuringly and he smiled gently at her.
“Now, Jack do you take this woman
to be your lawful wedded wife?” the minister continued.
“I do,” Jack answered, his voice
trembling.
“And Rose do you take this man to
be your lawful wedded husband?”
“I do,” Rose replied, feeling the
baby squirm inside of her. Her right hand moved to her stomach and she gently
touched her bump.
“I now pronounce you husband and
wife,” the minister announced, proudly. “Now you may kiss the bride.”
As the minister said those words,
reality sunk in. They were married, they defied society, they defied the people
who didn’t think their relationship would work. They proved their love for each
other by standing in front of the people they cared about most in the world and
said those vows.
Taking a step towards his new
bride, Jack slowly lifted the veil from her face and for the first time saw his
beautiful new wife. She was weeping happily, and he carefully leant forward and
gently kissed her lips.
Cheers erupted from their guests
and Jack and Rose happily joined in.
Proudly, Jack placed his arm
around his wife protectively, because this was his job now until forever. To
protect and love his wife and future children. To be the backbone of the
family, to provide and cherish. He was capable, he knew that. For this was his
dream now, his dream come true.