11. Tabitha
ELEVEN
tabitha
My sacred natural cathedral is about to be shared with the world.
Or at least a few dozen of my closest family and friends.
We didn’t wait long to get the wedding planning rolling and to make it all official. I guess I learned that from Savvy and Char. When you have the man of your dreams, you don’t hesitate in announcing your love to the entire world.
The wedding planners and I worked hard in converting my secret location in the forest into something worthy of a wedding ceremony. It just felt right. It was important to me, and it was where I first truly got to know Fox.
My biggest hang up is that I don’t want to leave any lasting damage to the area. They had to build around the trees and minimize their environmental impact. This spot had been there long before I had found it, and I hoped that it would be there long after I’m gone.
We managed to set up a low impact dance floor, some tables and seating, and everything else. With a lot of oversight and micromanagement, I finally got everything set up just right, and all of those who were invited finally arrived.
My family were always incredibly happy to see me, even if they thought my tree-hugging ways were a bit extreme at times. They always respected it though, and I could take some good natured teasing if at the end of the day we still had that.
Fox’s family came too. All the mob stuff did slightly worry me. I’ve long been told that when you’re in, you’re in for life. Fox’s father though is truly dedicated to his family, and I don’t think Fox was ever into the more shady parts of the business all that deep. There was always that fringe anxiety of mine that a bunch of fancy black sedans were going to roll up and a bunch of gunmen were going to pop out to do a hit on my future husband, but really? His father did a lot to bring me down to reality about it. Fox dying to a hitman was as likely as him being abducted by aliens.
Everything’s going perfectly.
Except the cake.
“Did y’all hear anything about the cake?” I ask my Savvy and Char. “Wasn’t Lavender supposed to fulfill my order?”
We’re standing in our own little tent. I’m meant to be finished getting all dolled up for the big walk down the aisle, but I can’t help but still be trying to make sure everything’s moving smoothly.
Savvy nods. “Yeah? I haven’t heard anything from her. I’m worried too, that’s why I...”
“Hawk’s taking care of it,” Bear says, barging into our conversation.
“I thought I told you to take care of it?” Char rebuts.
“It’s called delegation, Charlene. It’s a good skill for a manager to have, and I’m soon to be a manager of a young start-up.”
They exchange playful glances.
“Plus you know how Hawk is. Never liked being around this many people. He could use the break.”
I didn’t think Lavender would fail to deliver, I just wanted some communication if there was going to be a delay.
People were gathering, and judging by the song on the playlist, the time for the big ceremony is coming.
I’m nervous as all hell. I have no doubts about the man I’m marrying, and everything is going almost perfectly. Part of me just feels that it’s going to go all wrong. Like there’s going to be some massive random forest fire igniting nearby and burning everything, including my beloved natural cathedral, to the ground.
When I see Lavender and Hawk roll up to the wedding with my cake my worries calm down a bit. Maybe I was just hungry?
No. I’m just naturally nervous. Who wouldn’t be, really? Just the first day of the rest of my life.
There’s a little less than two dozen people here. Only our closest friends and family in this intimate setting.
When the proper wedding music hits, I glance at myself in the mirror for the last time. It’s a beautiful flowing white gown, but it’s a beautiful flowing white gown done my way. Intricate, hand crafted patterns, a little bit of light pink and purple woven throughout. Wildflowers and their vibrant colors woven in, and freshly picked flowers braided into my hair. Traditional in a way, but I made my own. It’s everything I want to stand for.
As I hit the aisle, my father is waiting for me, I look down the path to see Fox. He’s in something not so elaborate. Just an expertly tailored tuxedo. I would have been happy to see him in just about anything though. Even if he showed up naked, that’d be great.
In fact, that would be preferred.
With everyone else here though, I sadly had to come to terms with why he couldn’t.
What really matters is the way he looks at me. The way his eyes light up when I come into sight, the anticipation and need that he shows me. It’s the look of a man who would move heaven and hell for me, and give everything for me, every bit as much as I would give everything for him.
I head down the aisle, everyone’s eyes on me. The pressure is on, but I hold myself together. Today I declare my love to the world.
I reach the altar, where both Fox and our minister are waiting.
The minister goes through his normal spiel about why we’re all here and to celebrate our love. But the two of us prepared our own vows. I’d been rebelling against the typical style my whole life, and I am not going to stop now.
“Tabitha, you may speak your vows first.”
“Fox, I,” I take a deep breath. I’d been thinking about this for such a long time. “I knew ever since I laid eyes on you at that farmer’s market that you weren’t everything you seemed. That you weren’t just some city slicker in a Evergreen Valley townsfolk costume. And I’ve never been happier and more proud to be right. Your kindness, your knowledge of doing what's right, and your will to change everything to make it so have only reinforced my desires to have you as my partner in life. You’re the most handsome, funniest, sweetest, the most caring man I’ve ever kown and more than anything, and I can imagine no one else as my husband. I love you, Fox, and the whole world needs to know this.”
There’s some clapping and ‘aws’ from the audience, and I still feel nervous despite the positive reception of my words.
“Fox, you may speak,” the minister says.
My future husband pauses, takes a deep breath, and finally, begins. “Tabitha, no one can look at you and see the typical. No one can look at you and truly understand the depths of your soul, and how much more beautiful that makes you more than just your appearance alone. Although, don’t get me wrong, you’re absolutely beautiful in that sense too.”
There’s some chuckles from the crowd.
“I can’t get enough of you. I wake up every day either thrilled that you’re there beside me, or devastated that you’re not. You’re the most brilliant, sexy, and amazing woman I’ve ever met, and I’m kind of in disbelief that you’re allowing me to marry you. But here we are. The start of something amazing. I promise to always be there for you. To be your lover, your husband, your friend, your soulmate, your everything. And I know you’ll do the same for me. I love you, Tabitha, and I always will.”
More applause and cheering from the crowd. The minister is smiling, and he nods. He finishes his spiel.
We kiss. It’s not as intense and messy as it usually is, but it’s electric all the same. The symbolic seal of it all. That we’ve both agreed to be together for the rest of our lives. Our small crowd of friends and family erupt in cheers, as happy for us as we are happy for one another.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox Foster. Never thought I’d be the one to take my husband’s name, but damn if it doesn’t sound good anyway.
The night’s party continues on. Excellent cuisine shared outside, live music pounding and inspiring not only us, but countless others to join us on the dance floor. Soon, the moon is the only light in the sky, and as more and more people retire, it’s only the two of us left on the floor.
I’d like to see we were still full of vigor, but the whole day had been quite exhausting. We were literally walking slowly to the rhythm. The live music had stopped, a single giant speaker going over a computer’s playlist being the background music of the ceremony.
I take stock of the situation, realizing that almost everyone is gone. Literally the only people left were some people hired to manage the food and music, and even then were just there cleaning up.
It was ultimately just Fox and I, back at our secret hideaway.
“You think this place will remain just ours?” I say as we continue the world’s slowest dance. “Or will someone tell everyone about it?”
“Maybe they will,” Fox says. His voice is low, but powerful. “But something this beautiful is meant to be shared anyway, right?”
I nod. “I guess it’s a bit selfish to say it should only belong to me. Or, well, only belong to us.”
“We all belong to the planet, and the planet belongs to us. It’s for us to enjoy and use, and we should show it proper respect in turn.”
I giggle. “You’re starting to sound like me.”
“You’re a bad influence, Tabitha. And I mean that in the best way possible.”
Really? It’s a perfect capstone to the night. Just us and the things that brought us together.
He was going to build a business that would improve the very home I loved. I’m going to be right behind him, supporting him, while continuing my artistic expression and going my own way in life.
At some point, we’ll start a family. One full of love and opportunity, and together we’ll raise our kids to be happy, healthy people who know how to make their own ways in life as well.
I never really thought about my own marriage as a child, or what would be my life as I got older. Sometimes I thought I’d end up as a spinster. I certainly felt like one at times when my dating life went particularly sour.
The happily ever after I’m set to have with Fox, however, is a storybook ending brighter than I had ever thought possible.