The Keys to Jericho (101 page)

I nod at her and return her smile, even if mine is slight.

Looking outside the flowered gazebo, I see the patch of grass where Kat and I had our picnic. I see the benches that she danced around on, pretending she was someone from that annoying movie, and telling me this is where she wants to get married someday. Then I see where I proposed to her, nearly losing her seconds later.

This is our someday. I can’t forget that.

Keeping that in mind, I take a deep breath and Howie says, “Why don’t you go over there and take your place, and I’ll get everyone seated. You’ll see Kat with her father at the footbridge. Okay?”

I again nod, because the motor skill for speech is gone and I’m not sure if it’ll ever return.

Dash bounds over to me, grabbing onto my arm. “You ready to do this, Jericho?”

I use my nodding skill as I bite my lip, while Howie tells everyone to take their seats on the benches along the gazebo’s walls. Looking to the faces of people, most of them are strangers or a blur. I don’t even remember who all was on the guest list. Most of them are Kat’s family, since half of mine don’t associate with us.

Dad says, “Dashiell, come on. We have to escort the ladies.”

“Oh! Yeah. Later, Jericho. Good luck!” He hugs me, and I woodenly hug him back.

I mumble, “Thanks.”

Catching my grandmother’s eye, she winks at me, which makes me smile before deeper panic spreads throughout my body. As everyone stares at me, I suddenly feel ultra-anxious and even twitchier.

When the music starts, my breathing stops, and everyone swings their heads away from me. Following their gazes to the footbridge, two people step out from behind the side bushes and link arms before crossing the bridge together. Rio and Liberty. They’re both grinning, almost as if it’s their wedding day. I have to admit that they look happy.

He escorts her up the stairs, going slow enough so she doesn’t trip, and they meet me in the middle of the gazebo, flanking Howie and me on both sides. Glancing at Rio, he whispers, “You got this, Jare.”

My mechanical smile only makes him smile more, and I manage to roll my eyes before looking to see Dash offering his arm to Hadley.

Practically laughing with joy, Dash says something to her as they cross over, causing Hadley to smile. When they go up the stairs, Dash grabs his side of Hadley’s dress, lifting it enough so she doesn’t fall. His looking out for her forces me to smile.

Hadley reaches for my hand, giving me a squeeze. I squeeze hers in return, before she stands next to Liberty.

Dash takes his place between Rio and me, leaving a space for Dad.

Leaning over, Dash whispers, “Start your engine, Jericho.”

At first, I scowl, but then break into a smile, seeing his excited face.

Looking to the bridge, Brenda takes Dad’s arm and they head for the gazebo. When they reach us, Dad steps in between Dash and me.

Patting my shoulder, he asks, “You ready to become a husband?”

The anxiety hitting maximum capacity, I stiffly nod as I grip my hands together.

Dad says, “I lost the rings. Sorry.”

I instantly look at him. “What?”

He laughs and whispers, “Just seeing if you’re alive. Relax. Remember this moment and enjoy the day.”

The music changes and Howie asks everyone to stand.

My breathing returns, but I’m practically panting as my heart hammers in my chest.

At the far end of the footbridge, Clayton steps into view, holding out his arm for Kat. When she emerges, she looks like nothing I could’ve imagined. She takes his arm and they walk onto the bridge.

I again stop breathing.

Even from here, I’m knocked breathless at the sight of her. She left her hair down, the way I like it and her veil floats behind her like a cloud.

Vaguely, I notice my dad gripping my shoulder, and my groomsmen’s comments, but all I can focus on is her.

When they climb the steps, I want to run down and help her, but I know her dad is there to do that, and I let him, since he will be giving me her hand.

Kat doesn’t look up at me until they reach the top of the stairs, and when she does, nobody else on Earth exists. When our eyes meet, I unsteadily gasp.

Clutching my shoulder, Dad whispers, “Wow. She’s beautiful. Breathe, Jared.”

As she walks closer, my eyes blur and I whisper, “Oh, my God.”

Brenda mumbles a tearful, “Oh, Jared.”

I notice my wet cheeks and I hurriedly rub my hand over them, but I don’t take my eyes off her. The dress she’s wearing doesn’t have straps, and is lacy, with light purple lace woven into the white. Purple is her favorite color. With the way she looks in that color, it may as well be mine, too.

When Howie asks who gives her away, Clayton answers and puts Kat’s hand into mine, and we grasp onto each other tight as she moves to stand beside me.

I quickly smile at Clayton who wipes his eyes and smiles back at me.

As Howie begins talking, I swipe my eyes again with my free hand. That’s when I see Kat swiftly blinking away her tears, most likely coached not to touch her face. I wouldn’t care if she ruined her makeup. She did last night and I still thought she was stunning.

When we finally look into each other’s eyes, she mouths, “You’re handsome.”

I mouth back, “You’re gorgeous.”

Hearing sniffing behind her, I glance over to see all three of her bridesmaids dabbing at their cheeks.

Howie says, “I won’t make this ceremony long because rumor has it, Kat and Jared have waited over a decade to get to this place. I don’t want to make them wait anymore. Also during my talks with them, I took notes and since they didn’t want to openly express
all
their private feelings, I took a few and inserted some of them into the ceremony to make it more their own.”

Brenda mumbles, “Dear God. I won’t make it through this.”

Kat and I nod at each other, and Howie starts, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God. It is therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate, these two persons come now to be joined.”

Hearing those words and staring into each other’s teary eyes, every ounce of my anxiety begins to melt. I’m right where I need to be. I finally got it right.

Howie asks, “Jared Adam Beckett, do you come before this gathering to proclaim your love and devotion for Katriona Elyse Merrick? Do you promise to affirm her, respect her, and care for her during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her?”

I look from Howie to Kat and say, “I do.”

He asks her the same, and with a smile, Kat answers, “I do.”

“Having freely and prayerfully chosen each other as partners for life, and in an expression of your total commitment to one another, I invite you to face each other and join both hands.”

Kat turns, giving her bouquet to her crying mother, before turning back to me, taking my other hand.

I repeat after Howie: “I, Jared, take you, Katriona Elyse Merrick, to be my wife from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come; both in times of light and times of darkness, and to be the mother of my children. I promise to be faithful and vow to love you with all my heart and soul, till death shall part us.” Kat
is
the only one I’d make a baby with. She’ll be the mother of my children, something I thought I’d never have.

Kat repeats: “I, Katriona, take you, Jared Adam Beckett, to be my husband from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come; both in times of light and times of darkness, and to be the father of my children. I promise to be faithful and vow to love you with all my heart and soul, till death shall part us.” Kat’s eyes well up again, making mine do the same. I
will
be the father of her children.

Howie smiles and says, “The rings, please, Adam.” Dad hands them over, making a small clinking sound, and Howie says a blessing over them. Before handing me Kat’s ring, he says, “I understand that Kat picked out these rings and you’ve not seen them, but they hold a special meaning.”

Taking Kat’s ring from him, I look at the gold band with a thinner band of silver running through it, which to me, resembles a road, and I smile.

Howie instructs, “Put the ring on her finger and repeat after me.”

Sliding it onto her bare ring finger, I say, “Katriona, take this ring as a symbol of our love and my faithfulness. This band symbolizes the road we’ve traveled and is one that will never end, as will never my love for you. Be it forever a reminder that we share something beautiful with our love, and how I chose you above all others. With it, I marry you, and give you my body, heart, and soul.”

Brenda quietly moans, “Sweet Jesus.”

From behind me, I hear all three of my groomsmen sniveling, which makes my eyes wetter.

Taking my ring from Howie, Kat puts it on my finger and repeats, “Jared, take this ring as a symbol of our love and my faithfulness. This band symbolizes the road we’ve traveled and is one that will never end, as will never my love for you. Be it forever a reminder that we share something beautiful with our love, and how I chose you above all others. With it, I marry you, and give you my body, heart, and soul.”

We look up from my hand at the same time, and proudly grin at what we just did.

“Now that Katriona and Jared have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, by the authority vested in me by the State of Maryland, I now pronounce them husband and wife. What God has joined, let no one put asunder.” Howie holds his hands out, grinning. “Jared, you may now kiss your bride!”

Without hesitation, I put my hands on her cheeks, wiping her tears with my thumbs, before I lean down, skimming my lips over hers.

Kat says, “Like this.” Grabbing onto my wrists, she pauses and whispers, “I love you, Jared.”

My nose brushes over hers and I whisper, “I love you, Kit Kat.”

When she pulls me to her, we eagerly kiss, and Howie cheerfully shouts, “I’m proud to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Jared Beckett!”

Clapping and shouting from our wedding party and guests fills the gazebo, and when we end our kiss, Howie congratulates us, and Dad grabs me, squeezing the life out of me.

The music starts again, and the three couples exit the opposite way they came into the gazebo, with Kat and I leaving last, though, we can’t go far, since we have to sign the license and get pictures taken here. Still, when we reach the bottom of the stairs, I turn, picking her up to spin her around.

With her veil sailing on the wind, Kat squeals, “Jared!”

Slowing, I stop turning as she leans down, her veil falling over us as she hovers above my face. I whisper, “You’re finally my wife.”

“You’re finally my husband, but I thought you didn’t want a label?”

“Baby, I
own
that one.”

Even though I hear people oohing and awing about our display of affection, as well as hearing camera clicks, I set her down and dive in to kiss her, not caring we have an audience.

However, our wedding party has other ideas.

Dash practically jumps between us. “Jericho and Merrick! You’re married!”

“You did it, Jare!”

Liberty shrieks, “Jared and Kat, congratulations!”

“Katydid and Jared! Oh, my God! I’m crying again!”

I notice Hadley standing off to the side, but I’m already being pulled in five different directions.

Howie has us sign our license with Dad and Brenda, and then we get some of our pictures taken at the gazebo.

When the photographer has Kat and I stand on the bridge in different poses, it’s the kissing one that has Brenda weeping. Shit. I’m sure her makeup is all over her face by now.

After we’ve taken all the pictures we want at the gazebo, we all pile into the limo for the walking-distance drive to the reception. Since the limo is paid for and the girls are wearing heels, it’s the most logical thing to do.

Climbing inside, Dash gasps, “Whoa! You two could really go at it in here!”

Rio laughs. “Yeah. If they were ever alone in here, Douche.”

Dash says, “Oh. I guess that’s true. Sorry, Jericho and Merrick. You can have a quickie while we all turn our heads.”

“Shut up, Calder,” I say, shaking my head, but have to laugh. Kat puts her hand on my leg, trailing her fingernails over me, and I impulsively turn to kiss her.

Brenda says, “You two need to find a closet. Or we can have Clyde drive around while you consummate your marriage in here.”

Kat breaks our kiss to scoff, “Jeez, Mom. Thanks.”

She shrugs. “You know it sounds like a good suggestion. Right, Jared?” Fuck, yeah, it does.

I nod and jerk my thumb to the door. “So if everyone could hurry up and get out…”