Chapter 30 – Jasper #2
I don’t think I have ever been as happy as I am at this moment, and my nerves have been replaced with excitement.
“So we have to get married in a licensed building, so we will get married here and then we are going to have a huge reception at Vincent’s house. We are limited in numbers here, so it will be a few friends and family. Then the whole team will be at Vincent’s.”
“The whole team knows?” Otis asks, astonished.
“Yeah.” And suddenly he bursts out laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“I now understand why Marcus has been weird. You made him keep this secret. That has to be killing him.”
“Yep, but we need to get inside. We can’t afford to miss our appointment, this is one of the last ones before Christmas, and we need to make sure that we give a minimum twenty-eight days’ notice.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re leaving the registry office and everything is done.
The lady at the office had recognised Otis, and I think was a little star-struck for a minute.
But she had gone through everything, and finally she ended by telling us that we had fourteen days to change our minds.
At this point, Otis had leaned over and said ‘I’m marrying him, would you change your mind? ’. The lady laughed and said ‘no’.
“I still can’t believe that you organised everything,” Otis says once we’re back outside.
“I did have a little bit of help,” I tell him.
“Mum,” Otis states, and I nod. “Can I ask, why the thirtieth?”
“It’s our one year anniversary,” I tell him, with a grin.
“That’s not our anniversary, is it? I hate to say this but last year I didn’t pay much attention to dates,” Otis says, and looks a little sheepish.
“The thirtieth was the day we kissed in the gym. It was the day that changed my life. That’s the day I think we got together,” I tell him.
“You really did think of everything,” Otis says.
“Yeah,” giving him a smile, “But there is one thing that I haven’t done. I wanted to make sure that you had something to choose for yourself.”
“What?” Otis asks.
“I haven’t chosen your suit. Once Christmas is over, you and Marcus are going shopping, and I don’t want to see it and you’re not going to see mine.”
“January is not going to come fast enough,” Otis says as he pulls me in for a kiss.
“He’s going to stand me up,” I say to Kimber as I pace back and forth in her kitchen. “He’s going to realise he can find someone better.”
“Otis is not going to stand you up,” Kimber states, and not for the first time this morning.
“Oh God I think I’m going to be sick,” I tell her, and instead of giving me sympathy she bursts out laughing.
“I don’t think I have ever seen you this nervous,” Kimber comments.
“I’m not nervous,” I tell her, which is complete bullshit.
“Jasper, it’s your wedding day, now come over here. I need to pin this to your lapel and then we need to get going,” Kimber says, beckoning me over to her. “The flowers you chose are gorgeous.”
“I can’t take credit for these,” I say honestly. “This is Lizzie. She mentioned that roses are her favourite flower, I mentioned that my suit was navy and here we are.” Kimber carefully pins a pink rose boutonniere to my lapel.
The boutonniere was the one thing I left to Lizzie, and I have to say that what she chose was stunning. It’s made of a pink rose and some green leaves all held together with a silver brooch on the front. Simple and elegant.
“They are beautiful,” Kimber comments. “Now stand back and let’s look at you.”
Taking a step back, I do a slow twirl. I loved my suit. I knew that I looked good in it, but it also had an edge. It was a three piece navy suit with black lapel accents that looked almost glossy. I have paired it with a simple white shirt that has black buttons that were hidden under a black tie.
“Otis is a very lucky man,” Kimber says. “I don’t think I could’ve let you go to anyone better.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I tell her.
“Well then, it’s time to get going,” Kimber adds.
Thirty minutes later, I’m standing in the registry office waiting for Otis to arrive.
Who, in typical fashion, was five minutes late, and I’m trying not to wipe my hands on my trousers.
Everyone who is important in our lives is here.
Kimber, Lizzie, Tina and the kids, Vincent and Lars, David and Richard, and finally Marcus.
These are the only people that I wanted to witness me marrying Otis.
We could celebrate with the team later, and what a celebration that would be.
“If you would please stand,” the officiant announces, and I take a deep breath.
All of Me by John Legend starts playing and I hope that Otis approves. I didn’t want him to walk down the aisle to the standard wedding song, and the lyrics were perfect for us. Then just before Otis reaches me, I turn to face him, and my breath catches.
Otis is standing there in exactly the same suit as myself, but his is in burgundy, with a silver chain hanging on the front of his waistcoat, and he looks breathtaking.
I have seen Otis in suits before, but nothing like this.
I almost want to pinch myself that this is the man that I’m going to marry.
“Please be seated,” the officiant starts, once Otis is standing next to me. “Welcome to the wedding of Jasper Knight and Otis Young, now before we start I need to ask if anyone here knows of any reason why these two shouldn’t be joined in matrimony?”
“One man for the rest of your life,” Marcus pipes up, causing us all to laugh.
“Shut up, Marcus,” I say over to him before turning to the officiant. “Please ignore him.”
“We need to start with a declaration, so Jasper, if you can repeat after me: I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Jasper Knight, may not be joined in matrimony to Otis Young,” the officiant starts, and I repeat her words in a loud clear voice, before asking Otis to do the same.
“And now the vows,” the officiant adds. “Again, nothing complicated, just repeat after me, I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Jasper Knight, do take thee, Otis Young, to be my lawful wedded husband.” I repeat the words, but I hear my voice crack just slightly when I call Otis my husband.
Of course Otis had no issue when it came to his turn. His voice was strong and clear.
“And it gives me great pleasure to announce you married,” the officiant starts. “You may now kiss.”
“Finally,” Otis mutters as our lips connect. The first kiss with my husband felt just as good as the first one we had twelve months ago, if a little less intense and with an audience this time.
Ten minutes. That’s how long it took for us to get married, and I think about twenty minutes to sign all the paperwork to make it legal. I think everyone wanted pictures of us signing the registry. But it could’ve taken all day. I didn’t care. I had done it; I had married Otis.
“I didn’t think I would see the day,” David says, coming over to me.
“You’re not the only one,” I say. “But you know, you're responsible for some of this.”
“How?” David asks, looking confused.
“When I joined the team you could’ve said it was a bad idea. When you learned about me and Richard, you could’ve told Vincent, but you didn’t. If I had left I would never have met him,” I say, as I look over to Otis.
“Does that mean you’ll name your first kid after me?” David asks.
“No, it doesn’t,” I tell him, “Second, maybe.” Causing us both to chuckle.
“In all seriousness, Jasper, I’m so happy for you. Thank you for letting us come celebrate with you,” David adds.
“David, you’re family, there is nowhere else you should be,” I tell him.
As I look around the room at the people who witnessed the happiest day of my life, I think about my parents.
Wondering, should they have been here? But I realise the answer’s no.
All the people in this room are the people who are most important to me.
They may not have started out that way. Many started out as friends, colleagues, and even an ex.
But every single person in the room was more than that now.
We were all connected in a way that was unique and special. We were and always would be, family.