Chapter 28
Nick stood there on the beach in front
of the priest and looked around at all of the familiar faces. He was amazed at
how many people had showed up to their wedding even though it was supposed to
have been a small private affair. His mom and dad were there and all of his
siblings but several of his aunts and uncles had come too and a few cousins.
Her mom and dad and Harold and Jerald, Kevin's mom was there, as well as AJ's
and Howie's sister Pollyanna. There were quite a few Littrell's in the audience
that he didn't recognize. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least.
He looked to his left and smiled at
the sight of his groomsmen standing there all in a line. All of his best
friends and his little brother standing there beside him supporting him at the
greatest moment of his life.
The music started to play and he
watched as the brides maids came over the dunes one at a time and walked down
the beach to join them. A few moments had passed and they were all gathered
together now. It was silent and the wedding guests had all stood. The music
began playing once again and she appeared.
The sight of her there, standing in
the sunlight, her veil long and flowing, her dress shimmering, looking as
beautiful as he had ever seen her look before took his breath away. He felt
Brian beside him reach out and steady him on his feet as he whispered in his
ear, "she looks beautiful huh?" He nodded and watched as she walked
arm and arm down the beach with her father.
Nick hardly paid attention to anything
the priest said in the following minutes. He was too busy staring into her
eyes, taking in the moments and being amazed by her. It wasn't until he heard
him ask them to read their vows that he realized where they even were and what
they were doing.
Nick's hands shook as he pulled the
slip of paper from his pocket and gently unfolded it. He took one of her hands
in his and read aloud, his voice shaking;
“There are no words that could
possibly express what it means to me to be standing here with you today. From
the moment I laid eyes on you that summer on our tour I knew that you were
someone very special. I will never forget the times we shared together in those
first years. The first kiss, backstage at our concert in Ontario... our first
real date to play minature golf with Brian and Leigh... the first time you
showed me around Kentucky...
“Those memories are a part of me now
and they will be a part of me for the rest of my life.
“You have amazed me and continue to amaze
me on a daily basis with your strength and your courage, your love and your
passion for life. You have changed me from the man I used to be into the man I
am today and am I so much better because of everything I've learned from you.
“I loved you then... I love you now...
I will love you forever.”
He folded the paper carefully back up
and slid it back into his pocket. She took his hankerchief and gently wiped his
eyes. He smiled at her and whispered, "I love you."
She smiled back and turned towards Kelly
who handed her her own sheet of paper. She stared down at it for a few moments
trying to collect her thoughts and trying very hard not to cry. She took in a
deep breath before she spoke;
“I wasn't the kind of person who
believed in fate, or love at first sight, or that you could meet your soul mate
and know in a matter of minutes that he was the person you were destined to
spend the rest of your life with.
“You changed that for me.
“You've made me believe in things I'd
never dreamed of and dream of things I'd never imagined. You've given me
strength and courage, love and true happiness. You've shown me things I never
knew about myself. Most of all... you've given me a reason to live.
“You've been there for me through all
of the good times and you've been there for me through all of the bad times.
You've stood by me when I didn't think I could face another day... and you made
me believe.
“I know there is no other person in
this world who could be for me what you have been for me.
“I love you more than you will ever
know and I want to spend the rest of my life... no matter how long or short it
may be... with you.”
She finished reading and the two of
them stood there for a few moments staring into one another's eyes. No one
moved, no one spoke. They could hear the sounds of their guests gently sniffing
behind them as Nick wiped her tears with that back of his hand.
"Do you Nickolas Gene Carter take
Kathryn Grace Littrell as your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from
this day forward,for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and
in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
He looked into her eyes and smiled,
"I do."
"Do you Kathryn Grace Litrell
take Nikolas Gene Carter as your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold,
from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
She sighed and wiped her eyes again,
"I do."
"I now pronounce you husband and
wife, you may now kiss the bride."
And with that the two of them kissed
there in the sunlight in the exact same spot where Nick had proposed to her
nine months earlier. Their family members clapped wildly and wiped their eyes
when the priest finally announced, "May I now introduce to you Mr. and
Mrs. Nick Carter!"
***