Colin

Today was the second biggest day of my life. The day had come for me to reaffirm my vows to my beautiful wife. All of the friends and family we had invited were going to be in attendance, and I was excited for my mother to finally meet the woman who had stolen my heart. In the space of one week, we had managed to pull off a romantic beach wedding, organize a renewal ceremony, wind down a cruise, throw a reception, and get ourselves back onto even footing.

Abby was even able to buy the dress of her dreams.

I had no idea what it looked like, but it was all Maggie could talk about. Ted was complaining to me about how she wouldn’t stop talking about it. He would come into my office just to get away from all the chatter, and I would chuckle every time he started in on his rant.

“Was a vow reaffirmation really necessary? I thought you said Abby wasn’t high maintenance? Couldn’t she have just gone to Target and gotten another sundress?”

I bit back my laughter as he sought solitude in my office. But it made me happy that everyone was so excited. Maggie had taken Abby and the girls from Human Resources out for drinks as a late bachelorette-type fiasco, so Ted took me to a bourbon and cigar lounge. As the evening continued on, I kept getting photos of all the girls clinking their glasses. Abby was wearing this crown of penises on her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the girls egged her on in their antics.

Even though Abby looked thoroughly embarrassed and kept apologizing, I knew she was having fun.

We made a deal for that night. She and the girls could go get into whatever trouble they wanted if they let me supply the transportation and the driver. I made sure they would be protected and taken care of no matter where in the city they went. The driver told me when he dropped everyone off at Maggie’s, and I told him I would pay him double if he stayed parked out front until they all passed out.

That poor man didn’t get to go home until almost five in the morning.

But now, it had come. The day I was going to watch Abby come down that aisle in her beautiful gown. Ted was standing at my side as Maggie marched down the aisle, looking beautiful in her own regard, and I readied myself for the moment. The music struck up and everyone stood, and when my eyes landed on Abby being escorted by her father, I felt tears crest my eyes.

She was breathtaking. The beautiful ball gown fit her perfectly. The strapless bodice had an intricate bead and pearl design. It was a mixture of cream colors and champagne. A bit of white and some shimmering thread. It clung to her curves and shaped her breasts beautifully, then spilled over at her hips with tulle and fabric. She looked like a princess with her veil fluttering over her shoulders. Her beautiful brown hair was piled high in curls and her pouty little lips were a crimson red.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her as she made her way down the aisle.

There was a professional photographer in place, as well as three trusted reporters snapping pictures in the background. I told them to keep their flashes off and promised them the room would be well lit for their photographs. I didn’t want anything spooking Abby, nor did I want anyone in the press skewing this beautiful day for us.

I told them if they got this right, then I would put them on the top of the list to get scoops about us. With Abby’s consent, of course.

“Who gives this woman away?”

“We do,” Abby’s parents said.

I watched as her father flipped her veil over her face before he kissed her cheek. He turned towards me and held out his hand for mine, and I took his to shake. He then placed Abby’s hand within my palm, then cupped his hands around them both as his eyes met mine.

“Take care of her,” Jack said. “There’s a no refund policy in our house.”

“Whatever it takes,” I said, as my eyes traveled to Abby. “Whatever it takes.”

The ceremony was perfect. The room was filled with stained glass light that tie-dyed Abby’s beautiful dress all sorts of colors. We reiterated our vows in front of everyone as I tried to keep my tears at bay. My chest was swelling with love for this woman. This woman who had run into me before trying to run away. This woman who, for reasons I still couldn’t explain, had put her faith and trust in me time and time again. Who had opened herself up to me even when the world had shown her that trusting someone resulted in nothing but hurt.

She had chosen to take one last chance on me, and I was going to make sure she knew I understood that.

“By the power vested in me by the State of California, I declare the wedding vows of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy officially renewed.”

The audience of our friends and family erupted into applause. People were cheering and throwing flowers at us as I scooped her up into my arms. Our lips connected as I walked her down the aisle, her arms threaded around my neck as she wiggled her feet in delight. Never had Abby looked more radiant than in that moment, and we both smiled for the cameras before we exited the wedding hall.

And there, waiting for us in the wings was my mother.

“Abby? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

She turned her head to look at my mother before she scrambled out from my arms.

“Oh my gosh. You must be Colin’s mother,” Abby said. “It is so nice to finally meet you.”

Abby held out her hand for my mother to shake, but instead my mother pulled her in for a hug.

“It’s Elvira, but you can call me El, or Mom. I don’t know which you’d prefer, but either is fine. I never thought I’d see the day when my son actually got married,” she said. “You must be a hell of a woman.”

“Late as always, Mother,” I said, with a chuckle.

“Well, by the time I had gotten in here she had already gone in with her father. A handsome man, by the way. I slipped in and sat at the back, then slipped back out so I could officially meet this beautiful woman you’ve been telling me about.”

“Ah, so you’ve been talking about me,” Abby said.

“Of course,” I said, grinning. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“And I really need to tell Colin to be more truthful. You’re much more radiant than he painted you to be.”

“I see where you get your charm,” Abby said.

“Oh, yes. Mom’s the charmer in the family,” I said.

“Will you be staying for the reception?” Abby asked.

“If there’s an open bar, I’m there.”

“Mom,” I said.

“What? I’m a hard working woman. I’m legal. I can have a drink whenever I’d like,” she said.

“Yeah. She can have a drink whenever she likes,” Abby said.

“Ooh, I really like her,” my mother said.

“You know we’ve rented out some rooms in the hotel down the street, right? Just in case you want to stay?” Abby asked.

“Trust me, I’ll be staying. There are some wonderfully single men in that room.”

“Have you met Ted?” Abby asked.

“She’s not meeting Ted,” I said.

“We can talk about Ted later,” my mother said.

“What type of fresh hell have I descended into?” I asked.

“Hey, you’re the one that wanted me to meet your mother. Not my fault you weren’t ready for the consequences,” Abby said.

“Spoken like the only type of woman who can handle him for the rest of his life. Come on, dear. You’re gonna need a drink, too,” my mother said.

The three of us tracked down Abby’s parents before we scooted out to a side room. I introduced everyone and we got to talking as the crowd slowly trickled into the reception hall. Abby’s face was shining with joy as the five of us stood around and talked, and it seemed that my mother and her parents were going to get along just fine. The three of them left to find their way into the reception, leaving Abby and I in the room together.

Alone, for the first time that day.

“You look—phenomenal,” I said.

“Really? You like the dress?” Abby asked.

“Yes. It was worth all the times Ted came into my office to lock himself away from Maggie,” I said.

“I still don’t believe they’re not dating.”

“Don’t worry. The entire building is expecting them to cave eventually,” I said.

“I don’t think I’ve seen this suit before,” she said. “Is it new?”

“It is. I figured if you got a new dress then I should get a new suit.”

“Well, I like it on you. But do you know where I’m gonna love it?” she asked.

“Where?”

She grabbed the collar of my jacket and pulled me towards her body, her breath pulsing against my lips as my arms slid around her waist.

“On the floor of our suite,” she said, with a whisper.

My lips descended to her neck as she giggled, her body molding into mine as she offered herself to me.

“But first! Dancing. Come on, handsome. I believe you owe me a first dance.”

“Anything you want,” I said. “All you have to do is ask.”

“Or I could just tell you and you do it,” she said, as she pulled me from the room.

“That, too. But then you run into the possibility that I could decline.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to dance with your wife?” she asked.

I pulled her back into me, her body twirling before I caught her around her waist.

“I’m saying we have the rest of our lives to dance. Right now, I simply want to enjoy you.”

“Well, enjoy me as we go talk. Because I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Unacceptable. Come on. I shall hunt down food for my new bride,” I said.

“My hero,” she said, with a sigh.

“You’ll be calling me more than that before the night is over,” I said.

“Promise?”

I stopped us just before the entrance to the reception hall and claimed her lips with my own.

“Always,” I said.