Chapter 12 #5
Rebecca's heart froze. The congregation faded away and there was only Mason, his size blocked out everything but him, his eyes holding her spellbound.
“I cheated,” he stated softly, guilt in his eyes for all to see.
A collective gasp went up from the congregation as Rebecca's heart resumed beating with a furious pace… Oh my God, she thought swaying and putting a hand to her forehead. I've driven him to another woman.
Mason pulled her into his arms, afraid she would slip into a heap at his feet. He knew he had to confess his deception before she said 'I do' but he hadn't expected this reaction. Lord, he thought, she really wouldn't have married him if he hadn’t won that stupid game.
Recovering with a vengeance Rebecca shoved out of his arms and smacked him across his chest with her flowers, petals flying everywhere. Her hooped gown was swaying crazily and she stomped her foot down hard on his.
“With whom?” she demanded her hands fisted on her hips, totally oblivious to everyone but Mason.
Mason limped backward, not sure she wasn't planning a further assault and eyed her cautiously.
“Not that kind of cheated,” he shot out; appalled she would think such a thing.
Nick, watching the congregation, thought they looked more like they were at a tennis match than a wedding. Left, right, left, heads snapping back and forth. Sighing he stepped back a little himself when Rebecca grasped Mason's lapels and pulled him down to her, nose to nose.
Maggie held her hand over her mouth, although at this point she was incapable of speech.
“What other kind is there?” Rebecca drawled softly while preparing to give him a good kick.
“At cards!” he shot back. “I cheated on the last hand.”
The minister held out his hands pleadingly, and sighed with relief. Giving a nervous laugh he tried to regain control of the situation. Mopping the sweat from his brow he spoke up.
“Well now, that's not so serious, may we continue with…”
Rebecca's fingers loosened on Mason's lapels. Nervously she began to smooth out the wrinkles she'd made as he watched her cautiously. Backing up she adjusted her dress and fiddled with her flowers and gave an apologetic smile to her guests.
Weak with relief that Mason hadn't physically cheated on her she now realized he hadn't open the envelope. At this point she was sorry she hadn't left it at home and given it to him later but it was too late now.
Squaring her shoulders she faced him; might as well get it all out in the open. She could only imagine his wrath later when he realized he'd made a complete fool of himself for nothing.
“Mason,” she began with a meekness that immediately put him on alert. “About cheating, we might as well clear the air…”
Now it was his turn to burn. The thought of her in another man's arms almost brought him to his knees. The thunderous look on his face had Rebecca backing up, had the minister re-thinking this whole marriage.
“Did you open the envelope Nick gave you?” she asked quickly before she changed her mind.
Mason stared at her, remembering the envelope Nick handed him moments before. Finally, shoulders slumping he patted his pockets until he located it. Pulling it out he slid his fingernail along the seal to break it, fully expecting to see a written confession of Rebecca's infidelity.
Mason stared at the contents.
The Reverend Whittaker tried peering over Mason's shoulder.
Nick and Maggie both took an involuntary step forward, and the congregation leaned forward in their pews as well, all trying to see what Mason had in his hand.
Rebecca smiled.
For endless seconds Mason studied the contents of the envelope.
The minister slid a finger under his collar and tugged.
The congregation waited breathlessly.
Nick gave up and walked over to slip his arm around a shaking Maggie, wondering if it would be inappropriate to offer her a swallow from the silver flask he carried in his pocket.
Suddenly Mason's deep laughter filled the church. Rebecca tossed what was left of her flowers aside and launched herself into his arms.
Giving a whoop of pure joy Mason crushed her to him, his blue eyes sparkling with love and laughter. The royal flush scattered softly to the floor as his lips claimed hers in a deep kiss.
‘Please, please,” the reverend began, so flustered he was beginning to get a headache. “Mr. Kord, Rebecca...that happens at the end of the ceremony. Let us continue.”
“Oh right, sorry,” Rebecca answered tapping Mason on the shoulder and trying to whisper, “Put me down honey”.
The acoustics of the church made this virtually impossible and she tried not to notice the tittering behind her.
Once she was back on her feet she took a couple of moments to straighten Mason’s tux.
Patting her hair she pushed her lopsided crystal tiara back up on her head and looked around for what was left of her bouquet. Unfortunately, the stems were about four feet behind her and the flower petals were...well everywhere.
Rebecca smiled apologetically at the congregation and turned to the reverend.
“We’re ready now, Reverend,” she told him smiling brightly as though this were just your average, normal wedding.
“Good,” he told her quickly, sending a silent prayer skyward that there would be no other interruptions.
He’d never been afraid of the part in the ceremony that asked ‘If anyone had any reason why this couple could not be joined in marriage’ until today and he held his breath until it was time to move on.
“Mason, do you take Rebecca to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor and cherish her as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Mason responded confidently.
“Rebecca, do you take Mason to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor and obey him as long as you both shall live?”
“Obey? Really?” she questioned. “I didn’t think they put that in the marriage ceremony anymore?”
“Well,” Reverend Whittaker explained, tugging on his collar, “Some couples do and some don’t. It’s really a personal choice.”
“Oh, well in that case, take it out,” she stated thankfully, giving a sigh of relief.
“Rebecca, Mason specifically asked me to leave that in,” he told her trying to keep his voice low and blotting the sweat from his face with a hankie.
Rebecca bowed her head and began to nibble on her index fingernail. Glancing up at Mason out of the corner of her eye she saw his eyebrow raise and a tick suddenly began in his jaw.
Raising her head she looked at Nick and saw the same eyebrow raised in exactly the same way.
Swallowing she looked to Maggie for assistance but her head was in her hands and she was shaking, whether in laughter or embarrassment, she didn’t know.
Squaring her shoulders, Rebecca turned to face the reverend
“I…don’t think…” was all she got out before Mason had her firmly by her upper arm.
“Excuse us for just a moment reverend,” he said smoothly and began to pull her none too gently toward the vestry, nodding to the congregation as he went.
Rebecca was almost running in her extremely high heels trying to keep up with him and pull away at the same time, her hooped dress swaying like a bell in the wind.
Opening the door, Mason twirled her in and brought her around to face him. Retaining his firm grip on one arm and securing the other he brought her to her tiptoes and looked her straight in the eye.
“You will say obey and you will mean it,” he told her firmly. “I asked to have it included and it will be. I love you very much, but I will be the head of our household. Is that understood?”