Commitment: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Novella) (10 page)

A gentle knocks sounds at my door and my mother rushes over
to see who it is.

“It’s your father,” she says opening it and letting him in.

“Oh hi dad,” I say, walking over to him and giving him a
hug. “I guess I understand why you were so nervous now.”

“Well, it’s not every day your only daughter gets married.
You look beautiful honey. A real vision.”

I thank him while I take his hand in mine and squeeze gently.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad look so proud.

He clears his throat. “Well, I think it’s almost time for us
to go out there,” he says.

“Not without these,” David’s mum says as she opens the door,
carefully sliding inside so she doesn’t drop the flowers she’s carrying.

“Oh Helen! They’re beautiful. Is this my bouquet?” I ask,
moving over to the white orchid and blue delphinium arrangement. “It’s just
gorgeous!”

Helen smiles kindly at me as she hands over my bouquet.

“I must sound really funny today,” I laugh. “All I’ve done
is gasp and giggle since we got here.”

“I’d be worried if you didn’t” she imparts, rubbing her hand
down my arm before taking my hand in hers. “If I don’t get the chance to say it
before tonight is through – I’m so glad that you’re going to be my daughter. I
know it’s kind of been like that all along, but I’m really glad that it’s
becoming official.”

“Thank you Helen, that means a lot to me.”

“Ok, well your dad knows what to do so he’ll take you out
there soon,” she says moving towards the door.

“See you soon honey, you look absolutely beautiful,” my
mother says, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she clasps her hands together
and then follows Helen out.

“Champagne?” I ask my dad.

He checks his watch and shrugs. “Sure, we’ve got time.”

Everyone we’ve invited is gathered around, waiting for Trina
to appear. We’re all set up on the deck at the bow and so far everything looks
perfect. The sun has recently gone down and there are still slight hues of pink
and orange in the sky. It’s the perfect setting for a wedding. I just hope it’s
enough of a fairy tale for Trina - I want this all to be perfect.

One of the staff members is standing near the door on the
lookout for Trina and her father. He raises his hand to signal that they’re
there, and the coordinator looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I nod, butterflies
fly about madly in my stomach. She’s coming.

Music floats through the air and everyone quiets down to
shift their attention to the door.

I steel my breath and wait.

We stand just outside the doors of the reception hall and
Adele’s rendition of ‘Lovesong’ starts up. I take a deep breath.

“Are you ready?” my father asks.

“I’m nervous, but I’m ready.”

“You look beautiful.”

The lyrics start and he tells me that’s our cue.

Slowly we walk up the pristine white carpet that is our
aisle, as it leads us through the group of friends and family who have come to
witness our union. But I don’t see any of their faces. I’m focused solely on my
man, standing beneath a white archway decorated with blue delphiniums to match
my bouquet and fairy lights. It all looks so beautiful against the dark of the
night sky and the lights of the city surrounding us.

I chose this song because the lyrics say exactly how I feel
about Katrina. Watching her walk towards me, on the arm of her father, I almost
start to cry like a fucking baby. She’s stunning, an absolute vision as she
walks through our friends and family.

Around her is a blur. She’s all I can focus on. My heart
swells in my chest as Adele’s voice cries out with emotion. She’s singing that no
amount of distance, time, or harsh words could ever change how she feels. The
lyrics are so true to me - Katrina is my home, my joy, my life, my freedom.

I watch her intently, drinking in every detail. I want to
remember this moment, it’s the moment we’re to become permanently joined.

As the music fades out, she is standing right in front of
me. Our eyes are locked. My heart thuds loudly in my chest. This is it.

My dad takes David by the hand and shakes it firmly. There’s
a glint in his eyes where tears are forming and as he kisses my cheek, then
places my hand in David’s. I swear I see his lip quivering.

He takes my bouquet and then moves aside to stand with my
mother. Now it’s just David and me, holding hands and grinning stupidly at each
other.

“You look amazing,” he whispers.

“So do you.” He’s wearing a charcoal grey suit with a silk
white shirt and a silver tie with diagonal blue stripes. He’s even wearing
cufflinks. I drink in every detail. He looks like every meal I could ever want
or need. Delicious.

The celebrant, a woman of around 40, with long dark hair
held elegantly on her head in a French roll, moves so she’s standing between us
as we hold hands. She’s wearing an ivory suit with a blue delphinium attached
to the breast. She matches the setting perfectly.

When she begins the ceremony by introducing herself and
saying a few lines she’s legally required to. It makes the wedding official. Those
gathered stand so quietly that we can hear the lapping of the water against the
side of the boat.

“Welcome everyone, we’re all gathered upon this boat on a
beautiful New Year’s Eve to witness the union of David and Katrina. They are
each important to you all for many reasons, and I believe this is an especially
happy occasion because you’ve all waited so long for it. As I understand it,
David had to resort to trickery to get his bride here today. But let’s pretend
I didn’t say that – I wouldn’t want anyone to get into trouble,” she jokes, a
small rumble of laughter goes through our audience. David and I gaze intently
into each other’s eyes as we listen. Smiling happily and absorbing every word
she says. He squeezes my hands gently, in silent communication as she
continues.

“When I look at this young couple before me, I see something
very special between them. They stand here today committed to nurturing the
love they have between them, and continuing their life long journey together as
husband and wife. Today is the day when they will formally and publicly make
their promises to each other.

“While the wedding is truly one of the highlights in a
couple’s relationship, it is but a drop in the great ocean that will be made up
of the moments you will share.

“If we think of each moment like a drop of water, each on
its own may be seemingly insignificant, but when collected over a lifetime they
become something so vast and all-encompassing that an ocean of moments can be
created. It surrounds us, filling us up and reminding us how important we are
to each other.

“Every act of kindness, every loving touch, and every tear
that is wiped from a cheek, holds in it a drop of love to add to our ocean.

“Today is but one moment, one drop of the vast ocean that
will represent David and Katrina’s life and love for one and other.

“David has planned vows for Katrina that he would like to
read out in front of you all, and Katrina, has also prepared vows that were
sent to me in a sealed envelope with strict instructions that I wasn’t to let
David even peek at them. So here they are, still sealed tight,” she says to me,
handing me the envelope that I had secretly given my mother for safe keeping. I
wanted to be sure that I got to say what I wanted, so I prepared my vows early
and asked her to make sure they made it here.

I lift Trina’s trembling hand to my lips as she takes hold
of the envelope. I can’t believe she’s prepared her own vows and I’m fighting
tears as I release her hand and watch her tear open the envelope and remove the
paper from inside.

Taking a deep breath, she looks at the paper, then at me.
“David, by now I’m sure you know the truth. But if that wedding album I’ve been
harbouring all these years didn’t tell you, then I’m going to do it now - I
have loved you for as long as I can remember.

“From the moment we met on that bus as kids, you captured my
heart.

“I was yours, and you were mine.  

“When I think of all the years we spent being only friends,
I wonder if they were wasted or whether they were needed to help us grow close
and to understand how important we are to each other.

“Not one day passes by where I don’t think of you, wish to
see you, or feel saddened in the moments we’re apart. I can’t breathe without
you David. You are my air, you are my sustenance. You are my life, the one
person in this world that makes me whole. I can’t imagine my life without you
in it, and I never want to.

“For the rest of my life, I promise to stand by you, to love
you, to back you up in your decisions, to have your babies and to never give
up. I love you David,” she finishes, her voice catching toward the end as she
struggles against her tears.

“That was beautiful,” I whisper, leaning forward to kiss
her. The emotion is bursting out of my chest and propelling me forward.

“Whoa there big boy. You’re getting a little ahead of yourself,”
the celebrant cuts in. Our audience chuckles in response. “David would you like
to read out your vows to Katrina?”

I nod and take the cards she hands to me. I can’t stop my
hands from shaking the words about. I blow out a breath to get a hold of myself
and flex and fist my hand, trying to regain some control.

“God, I can’t hold them steady,” I laugh.

Trina reaches for my hand and holds it to her chest. We’re only
inches apart. “It’s just me and you. Focus on me,” she whispers.

I breathe out again and give her a quick nod. I just want to
kiss her, but I get a grip on my emotions and I start to speak.

I’ve never seen David so nervous before. It’s a far cry from
the usual self-confident man I see on a daily basis. Right now he’s actually
shaking and has broken out into a light sweat. I hold his hand tightly and
stand close against him so he can forget about what’s going on around us. My
heart beats wildly in my chest as he draws his breath to begin. I can’t wait to
hear what he’s written.

“Katrina, I’ve been waiting for more than sixteen years for
this moment. I have never said the words ‘I love you’ to any woman but you.” He
looks up and me and pauses, then grins that gorgeous grin of his and adds
“except my mum of course, but that’s different.”

It causes laughter to ripple through those gathered and seems
to help relieve his tension. My confident David returns before me, his eyes
sparkling. I can practically see his love for me radiating off him in waves.
Nothing can describe this feeling. I’m just so… full.  

“I promise to be your husband, your friend and your partner
for life. I promise to give you the best of myself, to keep myself open and
honest and to grow along with you, and most importantly, I promise to love you
with every piece of my heart and soul.

“During our life together, we have endured things that have
tested us and driven us to our limits. But no matter how much the world pushed,
we always pushed back harder and have become forever stronger and united because
of it. I know that in the future, whatever may come at us isn’t going to change
things because we will conquer it – together. Just like we always have.

 “I um, actually came across this poem that I wanted to read
to you. I don’t know who wrote it, but it made a lot of sense to me.

“Love is a friendship
that has caught fire.
It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving.
It is loyalty through good and bad.
It settles for less than perfection,
and makes allowances for human weakness.
Love is content with the present.
It hopes for the future and it doesn't brood over the past.
It's the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems,
compromises, small disappointments, big victories,
and working toward common goals.
If you have love in your life,
it can make up for a great many things you lack.
If you don't have it, no matter what else there is,
it is not enough.”

He looks up at me when he’s finished and shrugs a little. “I
truly believe Katrina, that you are the spark that lights up my soul and shines
on my path to keep me strong. You are my heart, my reason for living, my
everything and I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side, as my
friend, my lover, the mother of my children and of course, my wife.”

I wipe at my eyes, my tears are falling and I can’t seem to
stop them. David helps by brushing my tears away with his thumbs. I can’t stop
them.

“I love you so much,” he whispers.

The celebrant steps
forward again and takes a breath to begin the next part of the ceremony.

“Katrina. Do you come this day with the intent to marry
David - for him to be your wedded husband, living together in the state of
matrimony? Will love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in
health, and forsaking all others keep only to him as long as you both shall
live?”

I smile, noticing the slight fleck of worry cross his eyes
before I say, “I do.”

“David. Do you come this day with the intent to marry
Katrina – for her to be your wedded wife, living together in the state of
matrimony? Will love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in
health, and forsaking all others keep only to her as long as you both shall
live?”

“I do,” he says immediately.

“The promises that you have made to each other today, are
inscribed forever in your minds and in your hearts. These rings are tangible
symbols of their commitment and their emotional and spiritual connection.”

She holds out her leather folder and lays out two rings.

“When you wear these rings, you announce to the world that
you belong to one another. They are a reminder and a celebration of the
promises you have made today and knit your two lives together.”

She nods her head towards David and offers him my ring.

“David, take Katrina’s ring and place it on her finger then
repeat after me:

“I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you to be
my lover, my partner and my best friend, to the end of my days. Wear it, think
of me, and know that I love you.”

He slips the ring on my finger. It’s the partner to my
engagement ring and curves slightly so they’ll fit snuggly together. I wiggle
my finger, admiring the shine of the diamonds as they sparkle against even the
light provided by the wedding arch.

My cheeks are actually starting to ache from smiling so much
as she offers me David’s solid platinum band.

“Katrina, take David’s ring and place it on his finger and
repeat after me:

“I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you to be
my lover, my partner and my best friend, to the end of my days. Wear it, think
of me, and know that I love you.”

I slide the ring over his finger, twisting it slightly so it
makes it over his knuckle and hold on tight. I know what’s coming.

“Congratulations!” the celebrant calls out, “You may now
seal your union with a kiss.”

I fling my arms around David’s neck and press my mouth
against his, delighted in the fact that we are now husband and wife while our
audience claps and cheers us on. The nine o’clock fireworks erupt from the side
of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and it’s as if they’re exploding to celebrate us.

We’re surrounded by happiness. I couldn’t have asked for
anything more wonderful.

“I love you so much Mrs Taylor,” David beams at me when we
finally part lips.

“Not as much as I love you,” I murmur.

“Let’s just call it even,” he winks. “I don’t want to start
this marriage off in a fight.”

Laughing, we follow the celebrant over to a small table
where we sign the legal documents that officially recognise us as legally
married. Lots of photos are being taken as we smile and take turns signing. My
mother signs as my witness, and David’s mother signs as his. It’s fitting,
because no person could stand in to be ‘best’ anything to either of us. We are
all of that and more to each other.

As we stand from the table the celebrant officially
pronounces us husband and wife. We hold hands and beam at each other. All the while
shaking hands and accepting kisses and well wishes from our friends and family
members.

I feel like I’m in a dream. I can’t believe I’m actually
married!