Chapter 44
CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR
WES
Up on the hill at the edge of the Jacks property, the big wooden arch draped with muted orange fabric and dark flowers and wheat was embraced in an explosion of vibrant yellow, glowing orange, and fiery red from the trees around us. Our own autumn chapel.
My mother and Lindy had truly transformed the site of our wedding celebration into an autumn wonderland.
Wooden lanterns of all shapes and sizes with thick LED candles glowing inside along with pumpkins were everywhere. The tables were decorated with more candles, tiny sparkling lights, and arrangements of dark flowers and sheaves of wheat. Instead of flower petals, colorful dried autumn leaves were strewn up the aisle, and they shifted in the crisp breeze around me and my two best men, Beck and Butler.
Just beyond us stood Mom and Ronny along with the Jacks old ladies. All the Jacks had their bikes on one side of the aisle and the Flames’s bikes starting with Finger’s were lined up on the other. The local pastor, who had married Finger and Lenore waited with us.
My fingers stroked the silver charm of a small angel with big wings on a chain that Lindy had given me last night as a present. My necklace matched hers, and I loved it because Lindy was my guardian angel who had saved me over and over again in so many ways.
I pressed the cold silver against my hot skin just below my pec where Ronny had inked Lindy’s name over my heart. I kept my dress shirt unbuttoned because I knew my woman liked it, and I wanted her to see the necklace on my chest when she came up the aisle. Lindy was the one and only woman I’d ever loved, and in a few moments, we’d be united as one forever.
Butler hooked an arm around my neck pulling me close. “Still can’t believe I’m standing here with you as we wait for your bride. This means the world to me, Wes, and I want you to know that.”
“B, it’s an honor for me.”
“I’m so proud of you.” His voice got rough and he thumped me on the back. “You’re going to make a damn fine husband.”
“And you’re going to make a damn fine grandpa.”
His body went rigid. “Are you trying to tell me something? Are you two?—”
“Not yet. Soon. When it happens, be ready.”
“Oh, I’m ready.” Grinning, his gaze shot down the aisle. “Ahhh….” Butler cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted out, “Here we go, y’all!”
Whooping out loud, Finger revved his bike, and everyone else revved and roared in response. In the distance, the two young daughters of the Jacks’ prez, Kicker, along with Jill and Catch’s daughter, Becca, and two other little girls from the Flames threw red rose petals in the air. After them, Tania, Violet, and Zo? dressed in long black dresses holding small bouquets of red roses came up the aisle.
Zo? laughed at the noise of the roaring bike engines. Right after her came Grace and Lock’s son, Thunder, his long shiny hair in a braid, wearing a black formal shirt with black jeans and boots. He was holding a small antique jewelry box made of mother of pearl, a gift to us from his parents, that had our rings in it. Thunder held onto little Nic’s hand, who ambled alongside him, dressed in the same way, a finger in his mouth.
Following the boys was Lenore, Lindy’s matron of honor, looking like a fearsome modern Greek goddess in a long black dress that was draped around her figure. The Flames cheered even louder as their Prez’s old lady planted a kiss on her husband’s mouth.
My breath cut, my body stilled, all the noise faded. There she is.
My heart pounded out of my chest as my vision filled with my bride and her father walking arm and arm. Pick cheered loudly with the brothers, once in a while wiping at his eyes. My Lindy kept her gaze on me. A princess.
My queen.
Her red and black hair was down past her shoulders in thick waves with a wreath of delicate silver leaves with crystals around her head that gleamed in the sun. She didn’t wear a veil, but her sleeveless, V-front, white dress had long scarves of fabric streaming from her shoulders, creating an elegant flow of white behind her, which joined the long train of her gown.
I blinked, my insides tightening. She was an angel.
The closer she got to me, her bold red lips curved into a big smile that lit up her beautiful face. She and Pick stopped at the head of the aisle, and Lenore took her flowers. On a grin, Lindy gestured at Minty, and he limped forward and the two of them hugged. Minty let go of her, and Finger took Lindy’s hand in his and kissed it, and they exchanged brief words, the two of them smiling.
Turning to her dad, Lindy gave him a great big hug, and he rocked his daughter in his arms. At last, Pick led her over to me and placed her hand in mine. “Treasure her, son. Don’t ever let go of what you’re feeling right this very minute. Honor it every day.”
“Always,” I murmured, squeezing her hand.
“Lindy,” Pick continued, “be good to your old man. Listen with your heart. Hold on.”
“Always,” she whispered, squeezing my hand back.
Vows for a lifetime if ever there were.
We faced the pastor, and roars and whistles exploded once more. Raising his arms high, Butler waved down the crowd as Finger and Kicker let out long sharp whistles. Everyone settled down at last.
Lindy and I held onto each other for dear life. For our new life. Our life together as one.
Blessing. Union. Forever.
Words I’d heard a zillion times before. But now, each one pressed into me fresh and sharp. Into my heartbeat, into my flesh, my blood. Seeped into the very lining of my soul.
Constant faith. Abiding love.
Through the good and the ugly, they will carry us.
Cherish.
Oh, how I cherish.
To love. To honor. To comfort. To keep.
Always.
Do you, Melinda…
Do you, Westley…
We do, we do, we do.
Thunder moved forward and opened the jewelry box for us.
A pledge. A promise.
Both of us teared up as we slid the rings on each other’s fingers. Thunder remained close, making sure we got them on right. He dipped his chin in approval.
“Thanks, bud.” I winked at him, and he grinned back at me.
“I now pronounce you...”
Lindy and I stared at each other. Stunned. Ecstatic.
We got here, baby. You and me. Together forever.
“…husband and wife!”
She launched at me, and I lifted her in my arms as we kissed.
Dready and Dawes’s sharp whistles split the air. Bear’s whoops boomed. Claps and cheers surged around us. Pick, Boner and Jill, Lock and Grace, Kicker and Mary Lynn, Tania and Butler, Mom and Ronny, Trick and Nicole, Finger and Lenore, Drac and Krystal, Catch and Nina, Beck and Violet all circled us. Holding hands, Zo? and Becca and Nic and Thunder jumped up and down, hooting loudly.
Our family’s wild cheers and whistles and the roar of their engines resounded around us, melding with the vibrant pulse of our heartbeat.