Queenie
Eighteen Months Later
Gently, her mother stepped up behind her and placed a hand on the small of her back. “Would you like to talk to Boyd?”
“He can’t see me.”
“I think we can make it work.”
Queenie agreed, blinking away the tears to avoid ruining her makeup.
Their wedding planner had already organised to have everything brought inside, but the inside of the venue was nothing compared to the gorgeous garden.
She was shattered to say the least, and the only thing she wanted to do was curl up and cry.
“Boyd’s standing right outside the door and promised not to come in.” Her mother took her hand and guided her to the other side of the wood. “Everything is going to be just fine, sweetheart.” And with a kiss to her cheek, her mother stepped back to give the couple some space.
“Queenie…” Boyd hummed, instantly soothing the fire coursing through her veins. “Don’t worry, it’s going to be wonderful.”
“How? Everything is a disaster.”
A shadow beneath the door indicated Boyd stepping closer. Queenie rested her forehead against the wood, flattening her hand against it.
“This day is about you and me. Not the weather, not the venue, not even about the cake. It is about us.”
She sighed, trying to let his words drown out the disappointment weighing on her heart. Deep down, she knew he was right. But ever since they’d first walked through those rose bushes on their tour, it was all she could picture for her special day.
“I know you were excited about the garden. You’re allowed to be upset.”
“I just had this perfect picture in my head.”
“And it’s still perfect. In just an hour you will be walking down the aisle towards me, in a gorgeous, hand-sewn dress. At the end of it all, we’ll be husband and wife and that’s all that matters.”
“Boyd,” she whispered.
“I know it won’t be as you envisioned it and if I could, I would drag the sun out kicking and screaming.” Then he softly laughed again, the sound pulling at her heart’s strings. “Don’t you know that rain on your wedding day is good luck? A wet knot is nearly impossible to unfasten.”
“Can you close your eyes?”
“Of course.”
“No peeking! ”
“I promise, I won’t.”
She slowly nudged the door open. His light beige suit was no surprise, he’d insisted they go together so he could be sure they matched in style, but he looked absolutely breathtaking. “Don’t move either.”
“A very hard ask, but nothing compared to the mountains I would move for you.”
She let out a blubbery laugh and wrapped her arms around him. Inhaling his woodsy cologne, she rested her head against his chest. “I just don’t want you to feel the dress’ fabric.”
“I know, and I’d rather not ruin your hair.”
“I love you so very much.”
“I love you too, my beautiful queen. And tonight, we’re going to dance the night away as Mr. and Mrs. Rickmann.”
She stretched to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, before retreating into the bridal suite and shutting the door behind her. With a much lighter heart, she sat down and watched as Jessica and Allison got their final touch-ups.
When it was time to walk down the aisle, her father joined them, his eyes growing misty when he took in the sight of her dress.
He took her hand, guiding her to spin before she flattened the lace over her hips.
She’d spent hours locked away in her crafting nook to make it perfect.
Boyd hadn’t even been allowed to fabric shop with her.
“What a beautiful woman you’ve grown up to be.”
“Don’t make me cry,” she whispered, unable to hold his gaze.
He reached into his inside jacket pocket. “Your mother has insisted I carry tissues with me at all times.”
Jessica and Allison appeared to either side of her, pressing gentle kisses to her cheeks .
“Boyd is a lucky man,” Jessica said, physically placing Queenie’s hand into her father’s. “Now let’s walk you down the aisle safe and sound.”
Holding onto her father’s arm, they moved to the top of the winding staircase.
Someone had decorated it with the flowers from their outside set up.
Although she couldn’t see, she knew Boyd was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.
As the music began, Jessica and Allison descended down the stairs and out of her sight.
“Don’t let me trip,” she begged her father.
“I’ll keep you safe and sound,” he promised with a kiss to her temple.
Then there was her cue, and they took the stairs one slow step at a time.
“Lower your bouquet a little,” he reminded her.
Queenie kept her eyes on her feet until she’d reached the very last step.
Taking a deep breath and trying not to look nervous, she slowly lifted her gaze.
Her eyes travelled over her friends and family, all gathered to witness this life-changing moment.
Then her eyes met Boyd’s and her heart seemed to have tumbled down those stairs.
Her breath hitched at the image of his sparkling green eyes and his warm smile.
He looked wonderful in his three-piece suit, his chest bulging against the light fabric.
Step by step, she walked closer to him and the future they would share together. There was not one ounce of doubt, not one bit of worry. Only pure love and happiness.
Before Boyd and her father could exchange their promise, she handed her bouquet to Jessica. Then Boyd took a step towards her, letting her father place her hand in his. “Please, look after my daughter and cherish her no matter what. ”
“I will.”
Her father gave her one last kiss to her temple, then walked to her mother’s side.
“You look absolutely breathtaking.” Her cheeks grew wet, and she hoped the waterproof mascara held its promise. “Oh, sweet Queenie,” he hummed, pulling a satin handkerchief out of his pocket.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too,” he tenderly assured and led her to the officiant.
As the officiant started to speak, she lost herself in Boyd’s eyes.
“Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Queenie and Boyd.
Since their paths rejoined, their love for each other has grown, turning them into the couple you see before you.
Now, they are ready to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.
“A true marriage begins well before the wedding day, and the efforts of marriage continue well beyond the ceremony.
A brief moment in time and the stroke of the pen are all that is required to create the legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and compromise to make marriage durable and everlasting.
“Today you declare your commitment to each other before your family and friends.”
Boyd’s hand reached up, the back of his fingers stroking her wet cheek. “Breathe, my love.” There were a few awes and gentle laughter, as he dabbed the tears away with the silk hanky. “We haven’t even gotten to the good part yet.”
She sniffled, collected herself, and gestured for the officiant to continue .
With a soft smile he turned to Boyd first, “Do you Boyd, take Queenie to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward until death do you part?”
“I do.”
“Do you Queenie, take Boyd to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?”
“I do.”
Boyd turned to Luka, his best man, and took the rings that he’d been keeping safe. The officiant held the small box, while Boyd slid Queenie’s sleek gold band onto her finger.
“With this ring I take you, my sweet Queenie, as my wife. Through rain and sunshine, I promise to be your provider, protector, and lover. I will be the anchor in the storms that lay ahead of us and the voice of reason when you plan our weekend getaways.” Then with a chuckle he added, “Because we both know I won’t be able to get on a rollercoaster every week. ”
“Oh, Boyd,” she huffed, the words she’d rehearsed for months suddenly melting away.
She took his ring in her quivering hand and carefully slid it ontohis finger.
“With this ring, I promise to love, cherish and take care of you. Through the busy and the lazy days, I’ll be by your side.
I promise to love you even when we argue and to have your back when you’re not around. ”
“By the power vested in me by the State of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride. ”
Boyd’s arm wrapped around her waist, and threaded his hand in her hair before the words even left the officiant’s mouth.
His lips crashed on hers and with a skilful move they’d practised for over a year, lowered her into a dip.
Somewhere far away cheers filled the air, but she was drowning in his love, her fingers curling into his beard.
“I love you,” she panted when they came back up.
Turning to their friends and family, Boyd kissed her knuckles. “I love you too, Mrs. Rickmann.”
The End