Chapter 12

Cassidy

One of the best things about living in a small town is the fact that someone is bound to know someone else who can do something, so within a week after getting engaged, we had the officiant, photographer, and venue nailed down, and the country club was providing servers for the reception.

Mrs. Walsh's grandson was a professional DJ, so he was going to handle the music, and our local florist was so excited to have such a large order for flowers, she was practically giddy. She also plans to create the centerpieces based on a picture I had in my binder, which has come in handy.

The RSVPs have started coming in, as well as gifts from those who aren't able to make it. Every minute I'm not working, I'm at the new house, slowly moving in my stuff, and washing the things that came from the registry Jared and I created.

About the only issue I have is that Jared was unwilling to make love to me. As my hair is being done for the wedding, my mind drifts back to that day two weeks ago.

"Jared, we're finally alone," I whispered. Both of our moms had left about an hour before after spending the day organizing the kitchen and making sure everything was ‘just so' as far as the decorative items we'd received.

"We are," he agreed, pulling me into his arms and kissing me soundly.

"Maybe we should stay here tonight?" I asked, glancing up at him once we finally pulled apart.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Cass," he murmured. "Because I'm holding on by a thread at this point."

"Are you… do you mean you want to wait?" I asked.

I watched as his face flushed before he led us to the couch and pulled me onto his lap. He swallowed a few times and cleared his throat before he started speaking.

"Cassidy, God knows I want nothing more than to strip you bare and worship your body, but we've waited this long, so what's a few more weeks?"

I closed my eyes hearing his words, but he said, "Look at me, sweetheart. Let me explain, okay?"

Shrugging, I mumbled, "Okay."

"Back when everything went to hell in a handbasket, I never imagined I'd be here, with you, in this way. I knew because of how you blew me off that the likelihood of there ever being an us was slim and none. So, when I went to college, I started dating. The only problem is, none of them were you, Cass. I was never able to close the deal, so to speak, because I didn't think it was fair to be intimate with someone else when you were at the forefront of my thoughts."

I now want every name of every woman he ever so much as smiled at so I can smack them, although I realized that was unrealistic because it wasn't like we were a couple then. Still, knowing he tried to have something more with others has my heart aching and I don't understand why.

"Cassidy, the bottom line is I've never wanted to make love to anyone else. You've been my endgame for a long, long time now. I want to be able to stand before our family and friends with that promise ahead of us, sweetheart. You're more to me than just a chance to get off, you're the love of my life and soon you'll be my wife. I want to honor that title and the best way I know how to do that is to wait. I hope you understand."

"So, does that mean we'll be figuring things out together?" I asked, grinning.

"Absolutely," he whispered against my lips. "Now, let's do another walk through and make sure everything is locked up tight. Our moms have both said that the day we're due back from our honeymoon, they'll make sure to stock up the refrigerator with the perishable things we'll need."

"They've already stocked the pantry and the deep freezer," I replied, giggling. "They are aware there'll only be the two of us, sometimes three if Mom doesn't want to cook, aren't they?"

"Okay, Cass, you can look now," Christie, my hairdresser and another good friend, says, bringing me out of my musings. She turns me to face the mirror and I can't help the gasp that escapes me when I see the finished look. "No, no tears, missy," she teases. "We don't have time to fix your makeup again."

"Mags?" I call out, my voice wobbly.

She hurries to my side and crouches down so we're right next to each other looking at our reflections. "Oh, Cass, it's just like we always dreamed it would be. You look beautiful," she replies, her own voice sounding a bit shaky.

I hear a click and realize the photographer snapped a candid picture of the two of us. It's another for us to add to the plethora of photos we've taken together over the years. When Jared and I met with her, we told her we wanted as many candids as possible, and that we would do the wedding party photos before the wedding, separately of course, then a few with the families, but we wanted to enjoy our day. Since she feels the same way when it comes to weddings, we hired her immediately.

During last night's rehearsal dinner, she got some great shots, and I can't wait to see the final results. She has already taken pics of Jared and his dad, as well as his whole family, then came into the room I'm using to get ready and started with me. Now all that remains is my pictures with Mags, then me and Mom, before we walk down the aisle.

"Everything's ready out there?" I question.

"The servers and kitchen have been briefed about the foods so I can attend you, at least until y'all are hitched," she teases.

"No, you provided all the food, they can serve," Mom advises. "The cake is exquisite, Mags, and the food smelled divine. Today, you enjoy. In fact, I think that should be part of your business plan. You'll provide the food along with instructions on how to best serve it, but it'll be up to the folks who hire you to have servers and whatnot."

"I kind of like that idea, Mrs. S.," Mags says. "Not always a huge fan of people."

Her comment has us all laughing, because Mags is one of the most outspoken, outgoing people I know. But I understand what she means; she just wants to create it all, she doesn't want to have to deal with the minutiae once it's cooked or baked.

"Let's get you into your dress," the photographer says. "Mom? Mags? Just act natural as you help her. I'll move around y'all."

Within minutes, I'm dressed and once again, fighting off tears. So are Mom and Mags as the photographer does her thing. Christie moves around and fixes my hair, although there's not one out of place at this point. I think the ozone layer was thinned once again, because she sprayed and curled, pinned and twisted, until I had the most stunning updo I've ever seen.

Truthfully, I feel like a princess in a fairytale. While we wait for Mr. Knox to come and get us, we get pics of me and Mom, me and Mags, then me, Mom, and Mags. I know I'm going to treasure these, especially since Mom took some of my Dad's ashes and had them made into a beautiful filigree locket with a picture of him inside.

"Are you ladies ready?" Mr. Knox calls out as he knocks. "Maureen, Lachlan is waiting to take you to your seat."

Mom leans in and kisses my cheek and whispers, "Your daddy would be bursting at the seams if he were here, sweetheart."

"I know he would. He'd probably be cheering that I was finally out of his house," I tease, trying to keep us from crying once again.

Her laughter follows her out of the room, where I can see Lachlan waiting to take her to the front of the room. Turning, I see Mr. Knox wiping under his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I ask, walking toward him.

"You look beautiful, Cassidy," he replies, taking my arm as we walk behind Mags.

We stand off to the side as Mags makes her entrance, with the photographer now inside, leaving me and Mr. Knox to wait until the music changes.

Jared and I chose Christina Perri's Thousand Years because it reflects how we feel for each other. Whether I have one year or sixty years with him, it'll never be enough. As the beginning melody starts, he looks down at me and asks, "You ready?"

"Absolutely."

My first glimpse of Jared has tears shimmering as I walk toward my future. As everyone stands, I see that my side is just as full as the groom's and my heart swells, knowing that somehow, my mom and Mrs. Knox made it happen since it's just Mom and me. I had worried about that, then put it out of my mind as the myriad of details kept me from dwelling on that fact.

When I'm finally standing next to Jared, the officiant asks, "Who gives this woman away?"

Mr. Knox's voice rings out when he says, "Her mother and father." He then places my hand in Jared's then steps to the side to stand as Jared's witness.

The beginning of the ceremony is a bit of a blur, not gonna lie, but I finally hear, "Cassidy and Jared chose to write their own vows. Cassidy?"

Clearing my throat, I look up and stare into Jared's eyes. "Jared, there may be some who think all of this is too soon, too fast, but in reality, the beginning of us began many years ago. We just didn't know it at the time. You were my best guy friend in high school, and we shared so many things back then, it's not surprising that as adults, we'd find each other and decide to build a life together. I promise to love you without fail, during the good times and hard times, and always seek to communicate if an issue arises. I will be faithful, loyal, and true, and raise any children we're blessed to have in such a way that they'll know they are loved and cherished. Today, I'm giving you the rest of my heart to care for, no matter what happens."

"Jared?" the officiant asks.

He squeezes my hands while smiling down at me. "Cassidy, you'll never know just how much each memory we made as kids means to me. When you left for college, I felt my heart break, unsure if we'd ever find our way to each other, but when you came home, I knew I was going to do everything in my power to make you mine. You're the light in my life, the one I look forward to seeing no matter what kind of day I've had. You're my best friend and soon you'll be my wife. I promise to love you through all the seasons of our life, from these early years to those where we'll be raising children, God willing, and after they've left the nest. I look forward to spending the rest of my life into eternity with you by my side. I'll cherish the gift you've given me today and want you to know you're holding my heart as well."

I mouth ‘I love you' to him because I'm so overwhelmed with emotion, I'm afraid I'll break down into a sobbing mess. Hell, I can hear Mags sniffling, and I'm pretty sure my mom is crying, as is Mrs. Knox.

Several minutes later, after we've exchanged rings, the officiant says a few more things, which I missed because I was so lost in Jared's eyes, I hear, "You may kiss your bride."

Our first kiss as husband and wife is a bit sedate given that we're in front of family, friends, and business associates, but I can still feel the promise behind it. As we turn, our hands clasped together, he announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Jared Knox."

* * *

Hours later, after we've cut the cake and had more pictures taken than Carter has liver pills, he's with me in the room I used earlier so I can change into my travel outfit.

"Here, let me get that," he says, moving behind me to start undoing the gazillion buttons. He kisses each inch of skin exposed, causing me to shiver. "You're so beautiful, Cassidy," he murmurs, turning me around and kissing me.

"Unless you want our first time to be on that couch over there, you might wanna step back, husband," I tease.

"Yeah, not happening, sweetheart. We didn't wait for it to go down like that."

I make quick work of putting on my outfit, glad that both Mom and Mrs. Knox insisted. While it's still spring, the weather's been warm and I've been dancing, so I'm a hot, sweaty mess. In fact, I hope that I'm able to take a shower soon.

"Let's head out, wife," he says, taking my hand once I'm finally dressed.

Birdseed covers us both as we walk to his waiting car, which I see his brothers have decorated.

"Smartasses," I mumble, seeing some of the things they wrote on the windows.

"Did you expect anything less?" he asks, helping me into the passenger side.

As we drive off, leaving our family and friends behind, I shake my head. "No, actually, I didn't. But did they really have to put an industrial size box of condoms in the backseat?"

His laughter reverberates in the car as he takes my hand in his. "Here's to us, Mrs. Knox. I love you and want to tell you just how stunning you were today."

"You looked pretty spiffy in your tux, Mr. Knox," I reply. "Here's to forever, Jared."