Chapter Twenty-Eight
The following Saturday dawned bright and clear.
The wedding was set for eleven a.m. Lorraine and Val were in Lorraine’s bedroom helping Letty get dressed, and Mercy was bustling around making sure the food was ready, the table set, and the flowers were in place.
She popped into the bedroom every so often to see if they needed anything.
Letty had found her lovely wedding dress at the local bridal salon, Married in Marietta.
She’d been prepared to go to a bigger city if she had to, but when she and Val walked in and Letty asked for a knee-length wedding dress, the clerk had pulled out the perfect one.
It was white with a fitted, lace-covered bodice with the V-neck flowing into thin straps.
The knee-length skirt had cascading organza ruffles and was fitted at the waist and then flared out.
Best of all, since time was short, it was her size and didn’t need alterations.
Lorraine gave her her diamond earrings for something borrowed, Val had given her a new blue garter, and Letty’s engagement ring was old. So she was all set with the traditional things a bride needs on her wedding day.
“I’ve thought of you as my sister for a long time,” Val said. “But knowing I’ll be your sister-in-law for real makes me so happy.”
“Don’t make me cry,” Letty said. “I’ve already put on my mascara.”
Lorraine hugged her and said, “We’ve thought of you as one of the family since you were seventeen but now we get to claim you all over again.”
“I’m so lucky. I love you both too.”
“Has Riley said where he’s taking you on your honeymoon?” Val asked.
“Not to me. Has he told either of you?”
Lorraine and Val shook their heads.
“Darn. I still have no idea what he has planned.”
“It’s time,” Lorraine said, checking her watch.
The three of them went downstairs to the living room.
The room looked beautiful. The fireplace mantel was decorated with flowers of many varieties, as was the rest of the room.
There were chairs arranged in a semicircle around the fireplace, where the ceremony would take place.
The pastor was waiting in front of the fireplace.
Letty waited in the doorway. Val and Liam, as the matron of honor and the best man, took their places on either side of Reverend Cramer.
Then Riley came out to stand beside Liam.
He wore a dark suit and looked amazing. She might have seen him in a suit before but she couldn’t remember.
Today was special. He looked so handsome she could have stood there forever looking at him.
But he was gazing at her with the most incredible smile, waiting for her.
He’d been so patient with her. Her fears hadn’t magically gone away, but with her therapist’s help, and her desire to be happy with Riley, she could handle it now. She walked the short distance from the doorway to the fireplace, her eyes locked on Riley’s.
They’d written their own vows. Riley hadn’t been at all sure about that but once she assured him it didn’t have to be long, he agreed. They’d been at Letty’s apartment, which still had a month of paid rent before she could get out of the lease.
“You mean I can just say, ‘I love you’?”
“You can say whatever you want.” He’d kissed her after that and then swept her up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom where they made long, slow love.
Now, they held hands while the reverend started speaking. “We are here today to witness the marriage of Riley Fletcher and Letty North.”
They turned to each other. Reverend Cramer said, “Riley and Letty have written their own vows and will repeat them now.”
Riley said, “Letty, I have loved you for a long time. Longer than I even realized. I think I fell for you when you kissed me when you were eighteen and I told you you were too young. Which you were. I didn’t realize the perfect woman for me was right in front of me for far too long.
Letty, you are the woman I want to be with and who I can’t imagine being without. I love you.”
Letty had to clear her throat, hoping she could manage to say her vows without crying.
“Riley, thank you for being so patient with me. For allowing me to understand that I didn’t have to live with fear forever.
Thank you for being there for me and for making me look forward to a long and happy lifetime together. I love you.”
“You may now exchange rings,” Reverend Cramer said.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you,” Riley said, and slid the ring on Letty’s finger.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you,” Letty said, slipping the ring on Riley’s finger.
“I now pronounce that you are husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Riley took her in his arms and kissed her. “This is my favorite part,” he told her before kissing her again.
“Mine too,” Letty said.
The End