27. Drakar

Itold Sally I would plan everything for her birthday, and I remain a man true to my word. One of the first things a CEO learns is how to delegate, which is why one of my crucial first steps was hiring an event planner and then enlisting the aid of her family to assist with the planning. Now the moment is shortly due, and I have to quell a bubble of nervous anticipation that threatens to rise.

“I think it has all turned out quite nicely if I do say so,” a chuckling, older voice comes to stand beside me. “Not too bad of a turnout.”

“Do you think she’ll like it?” Last-minute doubts leave me anxious and exacting, which means that I’ve probably bitten off more than one attendant”s head today. Beside me, my father-in-law chuckles as we stand back and observe the last-minute retouches.

“She’ll like it a lot less if you end up fainting from nerves,” he replies, clapping me on the shoulder. “Relax, this isn’t anything you haven’t done before.”

“I’ve never fainted before in my life. Orcs don’t faint!” We both laugh at that and move over to the suite where Sally is getting ready.

The effort I’ve made is going to be a total surprise, considering I left no clue about our plans. I only tailored and set up the experience based on her preferences, as well as suggestions from her family members. It’s taken every minute of my spare time over the past three months to put this together, all on the off-chance that it will make my wife happy.

My wife. My mate. The one I move heavens for, and bring the earth to a standstill. This woman literally has me waxing bad poetry in my random thoughts, yet I can’t help but be sprung over her.

Never would I have thought I would find someone who makes me feel like this, yet I know that without Sally, I would only be leading half a life. Every day is an opportunity for me to fall in love with her all over again. Today, however, is a chance for me to turn the tables on her instead.

If she doesn’t find some way to bowl me over first. Her metamorphosis from humble schoolteacher to golden goddess stops me dead in my tracks. I may have to pick my jaw up off the floor, but I manage to recover quickly.

“Hey!” she opens the door with a flurry, “Am I running behind? I’m sorry.”

With hair pinned halfway back and shimmering makeup that highlights her natural luster, Sally’s beauty is incomparable. Her dress is a gauzy material threaded with patterned velvet that gives way to a champagne-colored skirt highlighting her skin and delectable curves. It makes me wish I could pull her into a more private venue.

“It’s not an issue, they’ll wait for you,” I reply easily.

“Who’s the – Dad!” Sally’s voice pitches higher as she rushes to embrace her father standing in the doorway. They hug and greet each other excitedly for a minute before a subtle cough from me draws their attention back.

“These are for you.” Awkwardly I pass her the bouquet of tropical flowers and the blindfold. “You’ll need them for the surprise.”

“Don’t fuss, Sal-gal.” Frank firmly steps in, taking the blindfold and tying it firmly around her eyes. “Just put yourself in our hands. We won’t steer you wrong.”

“Fine guys, but this is weird.” She laughs, acquiescing easily. We each take her in one of our arms, and our trio walks up to the doors.

Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, I let her know she’ll be seeing me soon as I dash towards the entrance. I have enough time as I straighten my bow-tie to hear her gasp at her father chuckle, about how he’s supposed to lead Sally the rest of the way.

The doors open for her and music spools up as Frank removes her blindfold. All I can see is her shocked expression, morphing from surprise to recognition, and finally understanding. She moves forward automatically, and the smile she gives me is positively blinding.

Her parents’ lake-house backyard has been transformed into a tropical haven-themed wedding venue. She is surrounded by the people she loves, her favorite view, and has a beautiful dress. I am finally able to give her the wedding ceremony she deserved to have the first time around.

There is even a line of heated coals constructed, to reenact the mock ceremony we participated in back on Calypso Hills. Sally positively laughs when she sees this, stepping daintily around so as to not ruin her dress.

“I told you before that you didn’t have to walk over hot coals for me,” she recalls, looking at me from under delicate eyelashes.

“Triumph or tribulation, I want to have it all with you. There isn’t any difficulty I wouldn’t take on, in order to ensure that you remain beside me.”

We have our whole lives ahead of us for me to make up for my mistakes, and I can’t wait to get started. Even though I never set any kind of rehearsal, it turns out one isn’t needed, and the ceremony itself is a breeze. The officiant is a robust woman with jokes and sandals who makes us feel much more at ease than that hard-boiled judge.

Considering that I’ve put Sally on the spot with a surprise wedding ceremony, I won’t put her in the position to improvise heartfelt promises. Not that I doubt her abilities, but I don’t want her to face undue pressure during a celebration.

We fully understand now what we want from each other, and what we want the future to hold. Once we exchange the rings and the vows, that future I could have never envisioned for myself alone, officially opens to become a reality with a world of possibility. Affirming hopes and promises, we seal the deal with a kiss.

The crowd erupts with applause, but I’m lost to all of it as Sally and I exchange our first kiss as husband and wife. Although we’ve remained legally married these months, making the effort to have a real ceremony is my personal promise to honor and value our wedding vows.

“Hello Husband,” she murmurs as I lift her bridal-style, into my arms.

“Hello Wife,” I bounce back playfully, stealing another kiss.

Some of the younger cousins are pelting flowers at us at this point, so I hustle the wedding party along, never letting go of my wife as I do so. There’s an event space in the hotel where I’ve rented the penthouse, and where the reception will be held. I’ve even hired limos for the entire family to travel- they’re my family now, after all.

However I reserve a private car exclusively for Sally and I, so I can tease her mercilessly on the way to the venue. We’re flushed head to toe upon arrival, but Viola merely serenely comments that we look brightened from the day’s exertions. My mate and I share a secret smile, holding hands as we walk into the reception.

“Oh, I don’t know what to say!” Sally mentions later as we toast. “I never imagined- and it’s all so beautiful. I- I just can’t believe you did all this!”

“Songbird, this isn’t even half of your birthday surprise,” I reveal, taking a moment of satisfaction as her eyes grow round. I realize that one of my new favorite things is keeping my happy-go-lucky wife on her toes.

But the fire in her refuses to rise to my challenge. “Songbird?” she asks instead, taking a calm sip of champagne as she does so.

“Because your laughter is like listening to my favorite song.” Viola is at our wedding table, and her eyes go positively misty at my declaration. Even my bride flusters at my compliment.

However, I lean closer to her to whisper another promise in her ear. “Besides, tonight I will make you my little songbird when I play your beautiful body like the rare instrument that it is. You will sing for me tonight, my lovely mate, make no mistake about that.”

This time when she flushes, the primal side of me silently roars in satisfaction. The way my being, body, and spirit react to this woman, makes me accept that this plucky human is my true life mate. Sally is the promise of dreams I couldn’t hope to have for myself, and although she still claims that I saved her from destitution, it is actually she who has become my salvation.

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do in order to affirm my commitment to our marriage, which is ultimately why I wanted to do all of this. Never before did I picture having a real life for myself beyond business hours, resigned to my workaholic identity.

Wandering through my complacency, I always needed something to do, or have something to prove- and that was the gradient of my life. Until Sally came along and her sunshine lit up my whole existence, bringing vibrancy, purpose, and all the things I was lacking.

Now I don’t think anything about diving headfirst into our future together, because it’s a world I want to embrace more than anything else. Here the shadows of a dark past burn away because our world is too bright.