Chapter Twenty-Three
Fletcher
What two mothers and four children can do in three days astounds me.
Mum and Patty took over the wedding details, which mostly involved helping Jennifer find her dream gown.
Amelia and Charlotte dived into dress shopping with gusto for their bridesmaid ensembles.
While the ladies handled that portion of the big event, Dad and Bob assisted me in finding the right suit.
Henry and Josh needed suits as well since they will be my junior groomsmen.
The big day has arrived at last.
Are those real butterflies flitting around in my belly?
No, that's barmy. What a daft thing to suggest, even in my own mind.
I wasn't nervous at all when I married Claudia, but I reckon that's because she wasn't the right woman for me.
She gave me four wonderful children who, despite being a large handful, became my world.
I would never abandon them the way Claudia had done, and I know Jennifer wouldn't do that either.
Now that I'm standing at the altar, I experience a touch of anxiety.
But it's the good sort of butterflies. I glance around at my junior groomsmen.
Josh keeps adjusting his bowtie while Henry behaves as if he has genuine ants in his pants.
They both stand up straight, seeming almost regal in their suits.
Henry hasn't done anything inappropriate, such as bringing his favorite worm into the chapel. I'm grateful for that.
My father and Bob are seated in the front row with Mum and Patty.
Several of my employees from the hotel are here, looking smart.
Jennifer's parents are here too. They flew in from Arkansas yesterday morning, looking both proud and slightly overwhelmed by the chaos that surrounds every Murgatroyd family gathering.
Jennifer's mum keeps dabbing at her eyes with a lace handkerchief, while her father sits ramrod straight, clearly trying not to let his emotions show.
The chapel doors open.
Charlotte emerges first, looking as lovely as an angel in her pale pink bridesmaid dress. She's carrying a small bouquet with the solemnity of someone handling the Crown Jewels, though I catch her grinning at Henry.
Next comes Amelia, and my heart swells to see how poised and pretty my eldest daughter looks.
I'm grateful to see her genuinely happy.
I haven't seen that since before her mother left.
She's wearing the same shade of pink as Charlotte but somehow manages to seem both elegant and age-appropriate at the same time.
The music swells just as Jennifer appears in the doorway.
My throat thickens, and I forget how to breathe properly.
She's beyond stunning. Her dress is simple but elegant---ivory silk that flows like water, with delicate lace sleeves that make her look like a princess from a fairy tale. But it's her smile that undoes me completely. She's gazing directly at me with so much love and joy that I get choked up.
Her father walks beside her, his arm linked through hers, but I can barely focus on anything except Jennifer's face. She glows with happiness, her green eyes sparkling with unshed tears of joy.
As they approach the altar, I catch a glimpse of Henry fidgeting beside me.
He's trying to wave at Jennifer while maintaining his serious junior groomsman pose, and the sight makes me grin despite my nerves.
When Jennifer reaches me, her father gives her hand a gentle squeeze before placing it in mine.
"You are..." The words catch in my throat. "Absolutely breathtaking."
Jennifer's eyes crinkle at the corners as she smiles. "You clean up rather nicely yourself, Mr. Murgatroyd."
The minister clears his throat, bringing us back to the moment. I reluctantly tear my gaze away from Jennifer to face forward, though I keep her hand firmly in mine. I can't bear to let go, even for a moment.
"Dearly beloved," the minister begins, his voice carrying through the small chapel.
I try to listen to his words, but my mind keeps drifting to the woman beside me.
How did I get so lucky? Before Jennifer, I was drowning in single parenthood, convinced I'd never find someone who could love not only me but my barmy brood as well.
And now here's Jennifer, promising to be my wife, my partner in all the ups and downs of life.
"Fletcher," the minister prompts gently, and I realize he's been waiting for me to recite my vows.
I clear my throat, lifting my chin slightly. "I, Fletcher Ralph Murgatroyd, take you, Jennifer Marie Cordell, to be my lawfully wedded wife."
The traditional words seems inadequate for everything I must say to her.
I want to promise that I'll never take for granted the way she makes Henry's lunch with dinosaur-shaped sandwiches, or how she patiently helps Josh with his science projects, or the way she's broken through Amelia's walls with gentle persistence.
Instead, I stick to the script. But I pour every ounce of love I feel for her into those simple words.
Jennifer's voice is steady and clear when she repeats her vows back to me.
Her fingers tremble slightly in mine, but her eyes never leave my face.
"I, Jennifer Marie Cordell, take you, Fletcher Ralph Murgatroyd, to be my lawfully wedded husband. "
"Do you have the rings?" the minister asks.
Josh hurries forward. He presents the small velvet box with both hands, his demeanor somber.
I take Jennifer's ring from the box and slide it onto her finger. Her smile grows even brighter, if that's possible, and I watch as tears finally trickle down her cheeks.
"With this ring," I say, my voice stronger now, "I thee wed."
Jennifer's hands shake as she places my ring on my finger. The simple gold band holds within it the weight of promises--of forever. I will never let this woman go. "With this ring, I thee wed."
"By the power vested in me," the minister says, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
I don't need to be told twice. I cup Jennifer's face in my hands and kiss her with everything I have. The chapel erupts in cheers and applause, but all I can hear is the thundering of my own heart and the cheers from the pews.
"We did it," Jennifer whispers in my ear.
"Yes, we bloody well did." I grin and kiss her again, with no less intensity than the first time.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Murgatroyd!" Henry shouts, abandoning all pretense of junior groomsman dignity and launching himself at us both.
I laugh and scoop him up with one arm while keeping my other around Jennifer. My wife. The word sends a thrill through me that I wasn't expecting.
"Did you see me wave?" Henry asks. "I tried to be sneaky about it."
"You were very sneaky indeed," Jennifer assures him, pressing a kiss to his forehead that leaves a faint lipstick mark.
Charlotte and Amelia join us at the altar, and suddenly we're surrounded by a tangle of arms and excited chatter. Over their heads, I catch sight of my parents beaming from the front row. Dad wipes at his eyes covertly, while Mum clutches her handkerchief and dabs at her eyes.
While the guests make their way out of the chapel and into the adjacent dining hall, which has become the reception venue. The mothers and my daughters conspired to turn a drab hall into a stunningly romantic place.
Jennifer and I share our first dance as husband and wife. More cheers accompany us, especially from the mothers and my daughters.
Once we've had enough of the party, we're escorted into a limo that takes us directly to the small airport situated just outside of town. I had arranged for us to enjoy our honeymoon at a lovely little resort nestled among rolling hills. We had both agreed the honeymoon would be one-night only.
The bellboy has just left the room, and the soft click of the latch means one thing. It's time to ravish my wife.
I stride toward Jennifer, my wife, as my pulse accelerates. She's standing by the window, bathed in the soft glow of sunset that paints her skin golden. The wedding dress still hugs her curves perfectly, and I can't wait to peel it off her.
"Hello, Mrs. Murgatroyd," I purr, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.
She leans back against me, her body pliant and warm. "I love the sound of that."
I press my lips to the curve of her neck, breathing in her scent---vanilla and something uniquely Jennifer. My hands slide around her waist, pulling her flush against me so she can feel exactly what she does to me.
"I've been wanting to get you alone all day," I growl against her ear. "Devouring you is all the food I need."
Jennifer wriggles against me in my arms, cupping my groin with one hand. "Then what are you waiting, Mr. Murgatroyd? Fuck me like a madman."
I groan again, then pounce on her.