how much you mean to me. Thank you for walking me down the aisle. I miss my dad so much, but I know he sent me you. He brought you into my life when I was at my most vulnerable and you’ve lifted me back up when all I wanted to do was lie on the ground and cry.”
Sherman’s eyes shone as he gazed at her, and that made her cry all the more.
“I’ve only known a beautiful, strong, confident woman from the moment I met you,” he said. “Yes, you might have thought you were broken, but you never have been. I’m the one who is so grateful our paths crossed, and I do believe it was your father. He gave us to each other when we both needed someone so desperately.”
“Thank you.” His words meant more to her than she could ever explain.
And then it was time. Now her stomach tensed just the littlest bit. The ceremony she could do without. But knowing at the end of it that she and Cooper would belong to each other, well, that made her having to be in the spotlight worth it.
She’d finally found what she wanted from life. It was funny how everything could go from so chaotic to nearly perfect in such a short amount of time. All she’d had to do was stop fretting about the small and big stuff, and then life had managed to come around.
Now she was walking to the man she loved. And they were going to have a very happy ever after.
Their family and friends gathered together in a quaint chapel that early January afternoon. Both sides of the aisle were bathed in color from the light that shown through the stained glass windows lining both sides of the sanctuary.
The room was adorned in sheer white fabric, draped from the ceiling and woven down the pillars that lined the sanctuary. The swaths of fabric swept around large porcelain vases containing brilliant yellow and red roses.
Stormy, dressed in her wedding gown, appearing like a queen fit for coronation, stealthily peered through a cracked side door at the sanctuary altar. It was all so dreamlike, all too perfect, and yet it was also all for her. A tan and calloused hand reached for hers.
“It’s time,” Sherman said. “But if you’re having second thoughts, you know I’ll sneak you out of here right now.”
“Oh, Sherman, that’s why I want to marry Cooper. Because I know I don’t have to.” Stormy smiled as she took her place next to Sherman, who looked so suave in his black tuxedo.
Cooper stood silent at the altar. That was all she needed to know.
In unison, a quartet of violinists and cellists placed their bows on their strings to play the first prolonged note of Pachelbel’s Canon. As the tempo of the soothing rhythm picked up, the wedding procession began their stoic march down the aisle.
Sherman escorted Stormy in perfect step to the music, preceded by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. The petal-covered aisle glowed in the afternoon sun still beaming brightly through the windows. Each row of guests turned to admire the bride as she passed by.
As the bridesmaids and groomsmen took their places at the altar, the string quartet ended their piece. Cooper and Stormy exchanged their vows before family and friends. The wedding went without incident, the scene both tender and elegant.
Upon their final I dos and the ceremonial kissing of the bride, the string quartet once again struck their chords to the tune of the wedding march. Those gathered in witness amongst the pews stood and clapped in praise of the union between two souls destined for each other as the happy couple made their way down the aisle, hand in hand—man and wife. Cinderella had found her prince.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The wedding reception was well underway in one of the downtown Seattle Crown Plaza’s large ballrooms. The hotel staff was busy catering and tending to the needs of the guests as the jubilant wedding party celebrated with laughter and good spirits.
Meanwhile, a whole different sort of excitement was taking place in a neighboring janitor’s closet where Ace had taken his latest prize.
The woman moaned, her legs spread and resting on the shelves holding various cleaning supplies. Ace, almost in boredom, thrust himself to completion inside her. Barely even a hint of sweat showed on him, he’d been so uninvolved with the woman. He gave the unnamed girl one last kiss before pulling out, tossing the condom, and gathering his pants.
Staggering