Kate
I stood beside Jonathan, the comfort of seeing him making my nerves stop and he took my hand, squeezing it in his.
“You look breathtaking,” he said under his breath, as the officiate came closer and opened her folder.
She smiled at us both and turned to our guests.
“We are gathered here today to witness two hearts come together and be joined in matrimony. If anyone here present can show just and legal cause why they may not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace!”
I glanced at the sea of faces beside us and a gentle laughter radiated through them at my anxious expression. I’d half expected any number of his previous ex’s, especially Shelley, to stand up and hurl abuse at us. I didn’t intend on telling Jonathan about what had happened either, and looking at him, he didn’t seem worried at all.
“If you could face each other please?” the officiate said to us.
I turned to look at him, my eyes studying the happy, satisfied expression on his face.
“Jonathan, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor and cherish her through sickness and in health; forsaking all others and be true to her as long as you both shall live?”
He looked at me long and hard.
“I do,” he said firmly. “I really do.”
She looked up at me expectantly.
“Kate, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor and cherish him through sickness and in health; forsaking all others and be true to him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
She turned to Evan and motioned for him to come forward with the rings. He opened the large velvet box and held it towards us. The rings sparkled brilliantly in the light and Jonathan took my hand in his, prompting tears that I tried to hold back.
“Behold the symbol of wedlock,” the officiate said, “the perfect circle of love, the unbroken union of these souls united here today. May you both remain faithful to this symbol of true love. Please join hands and repeat after me…”
She looked towards me and I took the ring from Evan, sliding it over Jonathan’s finger while my voice wavered with emotion and I repeated my vows.
“I, Kate Williams, take Jonathan James Davenport, as my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
He squeezed my hand and mouthed, I love you at me, as the officiate turned to him.
“Now, Jonathan has decided to provide his own vows, so, whenever you’re ready.”
I looked at him surprised as he took the ring from Evan and held it just over the tip of my finger. I heard a gentle hum echo amongst our guests in slight shock that he was actually romantic enough to write something.
“Kate,” he started, “I promise to encourage your individuality, because that’s what makes you special and unique. I promise to give you a life filled with joy and happiness and I’ll strive to make you proud every day of my life. I promise to help further your dreams and nurture them because your smile is worth more than anything to me. I promise to take on all of our challenges in life, because I know there is nothing we cannot face when we’re together and I know we’ll come out stronger.” He slid the ring onto my finger completely and took a step closer towards me. “Kate, I promise to you today that I will love you, trust you and adore you with every fiber of my being for as long as we both shall live.”
Everyone around us was in complete silence and all I could do was stare at him, the tears that I’d been trying to keep under control slipped down my cheeks slowly and I tried in vein not to let myself go any further than that, because his words were beautiful. They’d touched every part of me and I had no idea that under his demanding, controlling, broodiness, there was a man inside with the ability to love more than I could have ever hoped and ever known.
The officiate stepped back slightly looking at us both.
“Jonathan and Kate, having witnessed your vows of marriage with all who are assembled here, and by the authority vested in me, I announce with great joy that you are now husband and wife. Jonathan, you may kiss your bride!”
He barely let her finish before he took hold of my waist and pulled me into him, pressing his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as he held and dipped me backwards.
Our guests clapped and cheered and once we broke apart, I looked over towards Meredith, her hands clasped together with joy and the biggest smile across her tired face. It made my heart swell to know that we’d given her something to be happy about despite her harrowing prognosis.
“Coming Mrs. Davenport?” Jonathan asked holding his arm out towards me. I laced my hand through his and together we walked back down the aisle with our friends and family congratulating us from both sides and it was then that I decided if this was what being surrounded by love really meant, then I never wanted to live another minute without it ever again.