“Absolutely you did a fantastic job,” Tempest said. “Analise will be thrilled. And Havoc, too. He said he only wanted exactly what Analise wanted.”
“True, except the cake. He had to have this particular cake,” Emmalyn said. “I think we’ve done all we can to make it exactly what she wanted.”
“Without a doubt! It’s gorgeous! Just look at it!” Tempest said, relieved that she’d been able to redirect Emmalyn from her suspicions.
The wedding was indeed exactly as Analise had wanted it, relaxed yet elegant, the colors blending perfectly and while there was a lot of attention to detail, it was almost as though the flowers all grew there. Hydrangeas in every shade of blue and white adorned the gazebo that had been built in the side yard of Havoc and Analise’s home. Benches had been brought in to face the gazebo where the ceremony would take place, and there were picnic tables beyond the benches, spread all over the front and back yards with white table cloths spread over them. On the table cloths were vases of the same blue and white hydrangeas, strategically placed to hold the cloths down despite the slight breeze that caused their edges to flutter every now and again.
The same flowers, dotted from time to time with bright white and yellow daisies covered the railings lining the porches of the house at every level. The ground level of the house that boasted a raised foundation, allowed for an easy pass through from the front to back yards, and the swings, and even the ceiling fans that kept that area cool had all been decorated with the same floral arrangements and ribbons to match. The doors to the house itself located on the first level above the ground, had been thrown open to allow any family attending unfettered access to wherever they were most comfortable.
But the main focus was the couple standing in the gazebo with Brandt, who’d been ordained via the internet for just this occasion.
Analise was stunning in a simple, fitted bright white silk gown, with a soft beige battenburg lace overlay. Her long red curls had been pulled up and crowned her head, almost literally, with tiny white and blue flowers decorating the loose tendrils that fell from the mass of luxurious hair. Havoc stood directly across from her, her hands grasped in his. He was dressed in a suit matching the beige of the lace overlay of her dress. They complemented each other perfectly.
“Now, since you’re all family, you’ve all known just like we have that Havoc and Analise were destined to be together. Took them a few twists and turns to get there, but they made it. Watching the two of them navigate life and parenthood together leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that the powers that be, the ones who run the universe were right. They belong to each other. All this…” he said, gesturing to the flowers and decorations, “is just to celebrate what we already know. No truer love and devotion ever existed. There’s nothing any of us needs to say to drive home the level of love and commitment that is clear to see when they look at one another. So I’m not even going to waste your time trying to do that. I’m going to turn the floor over to them, so they can declare their love before all of you, our family, without me doing anything but witnessing it,” Brandt said. “Our bride and groom,” he said, gesturing toward Analise and Havoc before stepping back.
Havoc, standing with Analise’s hand still gripped in his, smiled at her. “I’m not eloquent, ‘Lise, and don’t pretend to be. But until you looked at me and saw the man I am today, my life was on hold, waiting to begin. Doesn't matter what I tried to accomplish, what I tried to be, or who I thought I was, it was all a little off, something kind of askew, until you looked at me and said, ‘Oh, there you are’. I’ll never forget how everything in me shifted into place in that instant. And just how right it still feels every second of every day, knowing that whether I’m waking up, or lying down to sleep, or chasing our wild child through the house, it’s you I’m doing it all beside. I’d be lost without you, Analise. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for loving me. I vow to always see and love you for the rest of eternity.”
Analise blinked her eyes rapidly to dispel a few tears that threatened to fall. She squeezed her fingers around Havoc’s where his hands still held hers. “Havoc, don’t ever claim that you’re not eloquent again.”
He laughed, as did all their guests.
She blew out a quick breath. “Whew! Tough act to follow there. But here goes. Havoc, you have always, regardless of what was happening in the background of our lives, represented love, safety, and home to me. Not once on our twists and turns did I lose sight of that, which is why I was who I was for so long. I stand here today as your mate, becoming your wife, for one reason only. You refused to give up on me. You never, not for one second took your eyes off of me. You never stopped seeing the me that lived inside the facade I put up for everyone else, and you never gave up. You demanded that I take the time to see the me that hid from everything that might make me feel, and you demanded that I recognize what our lives would be without one another. You were patient, and kind, and you taught me to trust. You taught me how strong I really was, and allowed me to grow into a better woman than I ever knew I could be, simply by allowing me to see the vulnerability you keep hidden away from everyone but me. I love you more every moment of every day, and I know that will never change. Thank you for never giving up on me, on us. I vow to give you all that I am, for as long as my soul lives and beyond. I will never take you for granted. I will never stop falling in love again every time I look into your eyes. I will never not be grateful that you love me. I love you without end, and you will never be lost, because I will forever be beside you, even when we’re chasing our wild child through wherever she’s gotten off to next.”
Havoc pulled Analise into his arms and kissed her passionately.
“And now you can stop kissing the bride,” Brandt said.
Everyone laughed.
“No, seriously,” Bam called out from the bench he and Everly, along with Barron and Emmalyn sat on. “You can stop now.”
Havoc and Analise continued kissing.
Bam looked at Everly. “Why do they have to keep doing that?”
“Bam, they’re married now! They’ve been mated for months,” Everly said.
“Daddy, let them kiss. It’s their wedding,” Emmalyn said.
“Still don’t want to see that,” he grumbled.
“Are you going to do this at our wedding?” Emmalyn asked.
Bam turned his uncomfortable gaze on Emmalyn. “You gonna kiss that long at yours?”
“I’m going to kiss him right now!” Emmalyn insisted, pulling Barron closer and smacking her lips against his.
Bam glared at Emmalyn.
Barron kissed Emmalyn, then made a point of pushing her a couple of inches away and kissing her cheek before turning back to the happy couple kissing in the gazebo.
“Hey,” Emmalyn said, looking at the space between her and Barron.
“Not my fault, he’s within slapping distance. I’m being respectful,” Barron said.
“See? This one is my favorite,” Bam said. “He knows how to be respectful.”
“Daddy, you’re so overprotective lately,” Emmalyn said with a scowl.
