Anchor - M. Mabie Page 0,67
but I had to wait. He stood, trembling like I was. He was vulnerable and sexy and more than I’d ever expected to get out of this life. He was mine.
He winked at me again and I almost fainted, then he began.
“I, Casey Frances Moore, take you, Blake Gretchen Warren, to be my lover, my best friend, and my wife. I vow to always kiss you good morning and good night. I promise to always make you laugh and never filter what I’m thinking from you. I will always tell you what I want, even if I’m not sure you want to hear it. I promise I’ll always keep our home happy and safe. I promise to never hurt you, never lie, and never throw away my red pants.” His smile was so bright and it took top seat above all the millions of Casey smiles fluttering through my mind. “I promise that I’ll always challenge you, always trust we can do anything together. I vow to never cut my hair shorter than the approved length and to make sure my phone is always charged. I promise when times are rough, we’ll get through them. I promise when times are perfect, I won’t take them for granted. I promise I’ll love you forever and make that as long as possible. I promise to always be your Lou and that you’ll always be my honeybee. I promise I’m yours as much as you are mine, today and for the rest of our lives.”
It was quiet when he finished. It was peaceful in that space and time where we were the only ones who existed. I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“You, their people, are witnesses to this union and their pledges to each other. I challenge you to help them remember these promises, if they should ever forget. It is my pleasure, by the power vested in me by the beautiful state of Oregon, to announce this love permanent and these two people wed, bound and tethered together by the law and by their free will.
“Everyone, Mr. And Mrs. Casey Moore,” she proclaimed. “Let the groom kiss his bride.”
There are many fairy tales that speak to the potency of that very moment. Two lives joined in matrimony. I can assure you there was never a bride in history more in love than I was with my groom.
I’m sure our family cheered. I’m sure they clapped and some probably cried.
But when his two warm hands cupped my damp cheeks and claimed me in front of God and everyone, it felt like the most sacred kiss of my life. It was better than our first kiss. Better than the second. It was the sum of all our kisses multiplied by every ounce of passion and affection I’d ever felt. I embraced him, my husband, and didn’t hesitate to kiss him back.
Our mouths moved as one, as brief as it seemed looking back, but the taste of that kiss will live somewhere inside me for the rest of my life. It was sweet and salty from our tears. It was his gentle tongue insisting on sampling me, so swiftly it came and went. Knowing we were being watched, but having no desire or willpower to stop it. The moment took over and we both surrendered.
He held tightly like he was trying to push me through his skin. If it were possible, I would have gone.
Then it turned into pure bliss and we laughed together as the sounds and smells of the night drifted back into our reality.
We were married.
“Thank you,” he said into my hair as we walked, hand in hand, past our loved ones. “I’ve never been this happy.”
“I hope I hear you say that again and again.”
We took pictures and cut the cake. I threw the bouquet; he tossed the garter. We ate. All the while, through hugs and handshakes, I watched as a passion grew in Casey’s eyes. Our physical relationship had always been strong. Our bodies always knew they were mates. Our souls were linked stronger than blood. Stronger than our wills. Stronger than the trials we’d overcome.
I danced with my father and he danced with his sisters.
We had our first dance and claimed a hundred different new songs to call our own.
Everything was exponentially better being his wife. Food tasted richer. The air was lighter and swirled around us like the fizzy bubbles in a toasting flute. There were so many stars, and they were brighter than they’d ever