Chapter Twenty-One Ella
Chapter Twenty-One
Ella
My heart is pounding in my chest.
The freezing cold eating away at my face only a few minutes ago is completely forgotten.
That kiss!
While only brief and chaste by our standards, it touched my soul, my heart, my everything.
The way Tiero’s eyes lit up, the eagerness in his every move… how could I not melt?
I didn’t see it coming. Well, actually, I did because I initiated it. But what I mean is, I didn’t expect it until Claudette had pronounced us husband and wife.
Tiero took me by surprise when he was running down the aisle toward me. I couldn’t help but run to him too.
And then he swooped me off my feet, literally and figuratively.
Now he’s back at his place by the altar, Lex by his side, his gaze like a furnace, heating me up.
“Proceed,” he commands, his voice hoarse as if he hadn’t used it in days.
“Ready?” Rhia asks as she takes my hand.
I turn to her and smile, pulling her in for a hug.
“Ready,” I whisper back. My throat is growing unbearably tight, and those damn tears are welling up.
Not now.
I will them back down. I want to see it all. This is no time for tears.
For a brief moment, I lean into my best friend. “Thank you for being here with me, Rhi. It means the world to me.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love you, El.”
Her forehead rests against mine for a few precious seconds. “I love you too.”
Then the night air fills with the soft tunes of organ music.
There go the butterflies in my belly, or perhaps it’s Peanut joining the party, kicking up a storm to let me know she’s here. I rub my abdomen, trying to soothe my sudden nerves.
Taking a deep breath, I nod at Rhia, and she gives my hand a squeeze. With my best friend by my side to give me away like we planned since my parents’ accident, I lift my snow boot and take the first step toward the rest of my life.
The gentle rustle of my gown accompanies the soft music and the crackling of the fire and torches.
Tiero stands tall and strong at the altar, our eyes locked on each other.
With each step I take toward him, the erratic butterflies settle, the certainty of what we’re about to do bringing a new level of peace.
This is the moment Tiero and I have been waiting for. It’s the culmination of our love story and all the obstacles we’ve overcome to be together.
My heart swells with gratitude, and my steps quicken with my eagerness to stand by the side of the man who is my forever.
When Rhia and I reach the altar, she releases my hand and places it in Tiero’s. His fingers curl around mine to pull me closer.
His eyes… I can’t look away.
The depth of his love is visible to every soul here.
He places a gentle kiss on my forehead, though I can tell he’d rather kiss me properly all over again. It takes restraint from both of us not to give in to that urge.
Still, he trails his nose along my temple until he reaches my ear. His voice drops so only I can hear.
“I can’t wait to have you beneath me, wearing nothing but my wedding ring.”
Fuck me!
How is it suddenly so hot here? Surely, the snow is melting right off the trees.
Claudette clears her throat loudly, and our gazes turn toward her. I’m sure my cheeks are flaming, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
She coughs a few times, as if trying to dislodge a tickle from her throat, before taking a sip of water from a bottle she keeps below the altar. After drinking nearly half of it, she seems happier.
Then coughing slightly again, she begins.
“Dearly beloved. We’ve gathered here today to bear witness and celebrate the sacred union of two souls.”
My eyes widen. I didn’t expect Claudette to go all traditional. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure what she’d do.
Seeing my surprise, our marriage officiant giggles.
“I’ve always wanted to say that.”
It draws a chuckle from me, and I hear Rhia and Lex join in too.
“Anyhow, it’s colder than a snowman’s heart out here. But I think I speak for the three of us,” she says, pointing at herself and our witnesses, “when I say I can’t feel the cold with the love radiating from the two of you.”
Awww.
Now she’s gone all cheesy. My smile nearly splits my face.
“That and the many layers of thermals are helping too. I haven’t worked with this many layers since the last time I tried to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture.”
I cover my mouth with one hand to suppress the laughter bubbling up.
Oh, this ceremony will be interesting!
“Love is a choice,” Claudette’s voice rings out in the night air, but it has an unusual tremble to it.
Is she nervous?
“Your souls have found each other. It was always going to happen, but it doesn’t take away from how special it is. So please, never take it for granted.”
She says the last bit with a wistfulness that tells me she’s thinking of Jasper. Their connection was as strong as Tiero’s and mine, but they couldn’t make it work.
“What’s important is what you chose and acted on after you found each other. And might I add, that was in rather spectacular fashion. You really couldn’t have found a more impactful way had you tried,” she chuckles.
She’s right. Images flood back of me landing on top of the man who’s now holding my hand tightly.
That moment when our eyes first connected… my entire world shifted on its axis.
The sparkle in Tiero’s expression shows he’s right there with me, having gone down memory lane too.
To think all this happened less than six months ago. And here we are getting married!
It feels as if we’ve crammed multiple lifetimes’ worth of excitement and heartbreak into this brief span of time.
“Your souls decided to love each other… to be with each other. That means that no matter what you’re going through, and no matter how much your feelings fluctuate, you stand by your choice.”
Claudette reaches for her water again and swishes it around in her mouth before continuing.
“Now, in any marriage, there comes a time when the last person you want to see is your spouse. But never forget, you two are exactly what you need.
“Honor that.
“Trust that.
“And always remember what you’ve overcome to be together, and the sacrifices you and others have made for this union.”
Tiero’s eyes are locked on mine, and I smile up at him. Claudette is right. Our decisions have affected so many people. I swallow the lump in my throat as her words sink in.
Rhia’s and Lex’s lives have changed because of the decisions I made. So have Mateo’s, and really, everyone’s in Tiero’s world.
The magnitude of the ripple effect of each of my actions stares me in the face, but it fades away when I glance at Claudette.
I do a double take when I spot red blotches appearing on her face. Come to think of it, her words sound a little slurred, as if she’s drunk too much.
My brows furrow as I study her. Unperturbed, she carries on.
“Emotions fluctuate. They go up and down. But at the beginning and at the end of each day, consciously choose each other.”
Her words are becoming strained now and a little muffled as she tries to speak. I throw a worried glance Rhia’s way, and she returns my gaze as if saying, ‘What’s going on?’
“Are you okay, Claude?” I ask, interrupting her when she’s about to speak again.
Not answering me, but turning to Rhia, she asks, “Was there any pineapple in that cocktail?”
At Rhia’s nod, she bites her lip, muttering, “Damn.”
“Why?” I ask, feeling uneasy.
Claudette chuckles, but the sound puts me more on edge.
“Well, there’s your third thing, darling,” she mumbles, looking at me.
Third thing? What third thing?
Oh no!