Semper Fidelis (15 page)

“Jia…”

“Oh, come on. It’s not every day your brother gets married. Humor me.”

Knowing her persistence, they exchanged an amused glance then posed as directed for a few minutes.

“Anything else?” Cary asked. “It’s got to be getting close to time.”

“Yeah, here.” Jia set down her camera then produced a phone from somewhere. “Barrientos family selfie. Cheese.” She held the phone up at an angle and leaned back with Cary and their mom to snap a shot.

“You goofball.” Cary gave her a hug from behind then turned her to face him. “Um…”

“What?”

“Could you wear a tighter, shorter dress next time? Or is that a shirt?” It was very disconcerting to see his baby sister wearing something that showed curves.

His mom and Jia gave him almost identical looks of exasperation but Mom spoke first. “It’s a perfectly appropriate dress. She has a nice figure she works hard for—might as well show it off while she’s young.”

“Yeah—what she said,” Jia tacked on.

“Whatever. But if I see any of the guys looking at you…”

She smirked at him. “They can look all they want as long as they don’t touch. I’m not in the market for a man.”

Cary’s eyebrows rose and he looked at their mom.

Jia smacked his arm. “Didn’t mean it like that. I mean, I’m serious about getting my degree. I don’t have time for a relationship and hooking up is not my style.”

“Stop! Just stop. Lalalalala.” He plugged his ears, only slightly kidding. His mom and Jia giggled.

A knock came at the door then his friend Jared poked his head in. “Time to line up. Ms. Barrientos, Jia—if you come with me, I’ll escort you to the vestibule.”

Jia stretched up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Good luck. And if you forget your lines, just make something up.”

“Honey, stop teasing your brother.” His mom cupped his cheek then rubbed it with her thumb just where Jia had kissed him. “I love you. You’ll do great. Apart from all the ceremonial aspects, it’s just you and Owen, same as always, only with lots of extras.” She slid her arm around Jia’s waist and they walked out ahead of Jared, leaving Cary alone for a moment.

Cary had been pleased that when he’d reached out to Jared and Mike, two of their closest friends from the Academy, they had been able to successfully request time off to make it for the wedding. Luckily when they’d explained to their COs the circumstances of not being able to preschedule due to the uncertainty of when Owen would be coming back from the Middle East, they’d both been granted the last-minute leaves.

A good portion of Cary’s squadron and many of Owen’s unit were also here, so the event had grown well beyond what Cary had ever pictured. It had gotten a bit overwhelming.

He took one last look in the mirror then carefully tucked his hat under his arm. But before he got to the door, it cracked open. “Knock, knock. Your best man needs the ring.”

Cary grinned. They’d decided to forego having official best men since that title really applied only to each other. Instead, they had several of their friends and fellow servicemen as ushers. He pulled the door open then froze. “Wow.” Owen looked amazing in his dress blues. Freaking edible.

“Wow yourself.”

They stared at each other for a moment before the sound of footsteps moving toward them down the corridor broke the spell.

“Oh. Ring.” Cary felt in his pocket and pulled out their wedding bands. He examined them then handed his to Owen, who put it into his pocket. “There you go.” He glanced down at Owen’s hand then took it in his. “Guess we should take the old ones off.” His stomach gave a little lurch at the symbolism of taking off Owen’s Academy ring that he’d worn as a promise for so many years.

“Maybe, or maybe just move them over.” Owen took Cary’s hat and set them both down on a table. He grasped Cary’s hand and wiggled the heavy ring off then switched his grip to his right hand. “Think it’ll fit on this one?”

Cary’s heart melted a bit at Owen’s thoughtful alternative. “Only one way to find out.” He gave Owen as much help as he could and managed to successfully get it on his right ring finger. Since it had originally been Owen’s, it had always been slightly big on his left hand, so it fit well on his dominant, slightly larger, right hand.

However, with Owen’s…

He struggled to get his ring over Owen’s knuckle. “Damn it! It won’t fit.”

“Hey. It’s okay—I’ll just get it sized down for a pinkie ring. It won’t even take that much altering. Ouch! Give it up.”

Cary finally stopped trying to jam it down Owen’s ring finger and tried the little finger instead. “You’re right. Look at that. You have massive pinkies.”

“Well, you know what they say…”

“That’s noses and feet, not pinkies.”

A throat being cleared cut into their banter. “Anytime you boys are ready.”

Cary and Owen turned together toward the voice. “Sorry, Dad.” Owen took Cary’s hand in his and nodded. “We’re ready.”

They snagged their hats then followed Owen’s dad down the hallway toward the front of the base chapel.

“There they are!”

Waiting for them along with their families were six Marines and Naval officers milling around in the entryway in their dress blues. The doors to the chapel were closed, so everyone else must be seated already. There had been some important traditional seating requirements according to rank to follow, but thankfully they had an expeditor who had helped arrange everything.

“Hats over here.” Owen’s friend Lon held out a white gloved hand and beckoned. Cary and Owen handed theirs over and they were set on a long table that seemed made for that purpose. They would all put them back on after the ceremony but before they left the chapel.

Barely able to believe this moment had come, Cary gave Owen’s bare hand a squeeze as they went to line up behind the ushers.

Chapter Six

The doors were opened, the music welled out and first Jia, then their moms were escorted to their places, with Owen’s father following behind. After that, the rest of the ushers went down in pairs, except for Jared, who went last. Then the doors were closed and Owen and Cary had a moment alone.

They didn’t say anything, just exchanged a look and smiles as Owen tried to keep his emotions under control. He hadn’t expected to feel so…overwhelmed.

He drew himself to attention as the doors were once again opened and the chapel full of people rose to their feet. As one, he and Cary stepped off with their right feet and walked together down the center aisle. At the front, Owen turned to face his mom as they had planned and surprised her with a kiss on her cheek, as Cary did the same with his mom. Then they stepped up to approach the chaplain together. Mike and Jared were grinning across at him and he gave them a wink. They’d split the numbers evenly between the two branches, so Cary had gotten their Academy friends on his side, while Owen had filled the Marines’ numbers with friends from his unit before they all scattered to take advantage of their time off.

Owen drew in a deep breath then exhaled. Cary had always worn his heart on his sleeve, and at no point had that been more poignant than now. The love being projected toward him was humbling and gratifying. Owen swallowed—Cary had always been the one who’d pushed their relationship forward. He dropped his gaze to Cary’s right hand as the chaplain addressed the congregation. Well, Owen had done a couple of big shoves himself. Like when he’d gone down on one knee—twice.

Cary was looking at him quizzically, so he pulled his attention back to what the chaplain was saying, hoping he hadn’t missed anything important.

“This ceremony is a public affirmation of that bond and it is our honor and privilege to stand witness to this event. Marriage is a commitment where two people can find and bring out the very best in each other…”

Owen glanced sideways at Cary, admiring his profile as he solemnly listened to the chaplain. It was true—Cary made him want to be a better man. He bowed his head as the officiant led them in a short prayer before continuing.

“While your commitment today begins with the two of you, it touches your family and friends and ultimately all of society…”

Those words hit home with Owen. He and Cary were fortunate in that they had supportive families and that they hadn’t experienced any hatred or homophobia while planning their wedding day. All of the men and women they’d invited who had been able to had come, even some Owen hadn’t expected, like ultra-butch Marcus. He had given both of them bouquets as gag gifts, but under the jesting he seemed genuinely happy for them, if a bit baffled by the whole experience of the wedding having two grooms.

“Today signifies the creation of a new home and a new family for you both. May you be fulfilled by each other’s love and friendship. May you be overjoyed by the promises you are about to make and the life together you will create. Will you please join hands?”

Owen and Cary turned at the same moment, and Owen reached out to take Cary’s hands in his. Cary’s jaw flexed.

“Cary and Owen, do you, with your family and friends as your witnesses, present yourselves willingly and of your own accord to be joined in marriage?”

“We do,” they answered together.

“Will you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows of life, come what may, and to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together?”

Cary’s eyes shone. “We will.”

“Owen, please repeat after me.”

He kept Cary’s gaze as he said his vows. “I, Owen, take you Cary, to be my lawful wedded husband. I promise to stay by your side in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through good times and bad. I promise to love you, comfort you, encourage you, laugh and cry with you, grow with you, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.” He cleared his aching throat, glad to be done speaking.

“Cary, please repeat after me…”

Cary took his turn, and for all that he appeared emotional, his deep voice rang out clear and firm in the chapel as he repeated his vows to Owen.

“Having this love in your hands and hearts, you have chosen to seal your vows by exchanging rings.”

Again
, Owen thought and smiled. Cary smiled back, obviously having had the same thing occur to him.

The chaplain spoke about the history and symbolism of the ring exchange then they did another short prayer. Owen wasn’t particularly religious and neither was Cary, but he could appreciate the sentiment. After the amen, the chaplain asked for them to place the rings on his bible and said a blessing, then instructed, “Owen, take this ring, place it on Cary’s left hand and repeat after me.”

This part he was familiar with and what he’d been looking forward to the most. “Cary, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.” He slid the ring onto Cary’s finger then rubbed his left hand on his pant leg to try to dry his palm.

“Cary, take this ring, place it on Owen’s left hand and repeat after me.”

Cary placed the ring over his finger and slid it up with a slight wiggle over the knuckle as Owen bent his finger to help. Unlike earlier, this time, the ring fit.

“Owen, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.”

“Having pledged their faith and love to one another in the presence of this gathering and by the authority vested in me by the constitution and the laws of this state, it is my honor to pronounce you wed. You may now kiss your husband.” The chaplain closed his book and smiled.

Owen took Cary’s face in his hands then pressed a heartfelt but chaste kiss to his mouth. “Love you,” he murmured then took another peck.

“Love you too.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to be the first to introduce to you, Captain and Lieutenant Barrientos-Marsh.”

A huge cheer and applause went up as they turned to face the pews.

Cary slipped his hand into Owen’s and they descended the steps then walked slowly back up the aisle. Cameras, phones and smiling faces were everywhere Owen looked, but it was all a blur. The only solid reality in that moment was Cary at his side.

Once they got to the vestibule, they turned to hug and shake hands with the exuberant ushers who had followed them out. The small area began filling with guests and their attention was pulled every which way. Their families swarmed them with hugs and back pats, while the guys did their best to keep people moving toward the front doors.

“Congratulations, Captain.” Owen’s commanding officer appeared in the crowd. Owen stood at attention and snapped off a salute, then shook his hand.

“Thank you, sir. May I present my…husband, Lieutenant Barrientos. Barrientos-Marsh.”

“It’s Cary, sir. Very good to meet you at last. Thank you so much for coming.”

“My pleasure. So…” His CO looked around. “Are you planning to wrangle these men into an arch of sabers?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, I’ll see if I can help get the crowd outside then.” He moved off to speak to the chaplain.

Jared slung his arm around Cary’s shoulders. “Congrats, guys. I have to say, I never would have imagined this happening when we all met our freshman year. But I can’t think of two people who belong together more than you—guys or girls.”

“Thanks, man. It means a lot that you came, especially all the way from San Diego.” Cary shook his head then smiled over Owen’s shoulder.

Mike placed his hand on Owen’s shoulder. “You guys showed ’em how it’s done. And thanks, by the way. Now my girlfriend wants a military wedding. I wanted to do it on a beach somewhere.”

“Hey, you could probably do both.” Owen bumped Mike with his shoulder. “Let us know and we’ll be there if we can.”

Jared looked around. “Let’s get ready.”

They all grabbed their hats then lined up with the Naval officers on one side and the Marines on the other. Jared, as head usher, called off a low cadence and got the men stepping in time out the door and down the front steps to the chapel to their rehearsed positions on the steps.

Owen felt Cary’s hand come to rest lightly on his back and tilted his head to the side to accept a kiss while their friends took their places.