First and Always: The Forever Duet

by Brooke, Rebecca

  “So do you.”

  A throat cleared behind me, I glanced over my shoulder and Reverend Watkins, who stood there waiting.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “We are.”

  I moved down next to Christine, while her father stood on the other side.

  “Who gives this woman away?”

  Mr. Davis smiled and bent down to press a kiss to her cheek then whispered in her ear.

  Christine’s eyes shimmered under the light as she nodded at whatever he might be saying.

  “Love you both,” she whispered back when he lifted his head.

  Mr. Davis turned to face me. “I expect you to take care of her.”

  I used my free hand to cover my heart. “With my life,” I swore to her dad.

  “Good.”

  Mr. Davis smiled at both of us, before letting go of her hand and moving back to his seat.

  I turned back to Christine. “Ready?”

  “More than you’ll ever know.”

  I held my arm out for her and waited as she laid her hand on my bicep. “Let’s do this.”

  “I led her up the stairs to where Reverend Watkins, her friend Gina, and Jackson were waiting for us.

  Christine held her bouquet out to Gina.

  “Welcome everyone. We are here to celebrate the wedding of Christine Davis and Aiden Cormack.” Reverend Watkins clasped his hands together. “Honestly, when Aiden left for college, then decided to pursue his music career on the East Coast, I always wondered if he’d stay and get married in a church or court house there. Imagine my surprise when I received the phone call that he wanted to return to Westlake and get married here.” He lifted his hands slightly and gestured around the room.

  I smiled and winked. “How could I let anyone else marry me? You already know all of my sins.”

  Reverend Watkins chuckled. “Don’t I ever.” His gaze moved to Jackson for a moment before coming back to me. “Between the two of you, I wondered how you’ve stayed out of trouble this long.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle along and glance at Christine. “We had help.”

  Reverend Watkins’s gaze moved over my shoulder, no doubt seeking out Megan somewhere behind me. I heard her giggle. Jackson dropped his head, but I could see the unmistakable shake of his shoulders. “But, I can honestly say it is my honor to marry Christine and Aiden. Maybe Jackson will someday walk through the doors and give me the same honor.” Reverend Watkins lifted a brow at Jackson, who nodded.

  “I’m sure we can find a way to make that happen.”

  “That’s good to hear.” He turned to face us again. “Shall we begin?”

  “Yes,” Christine and I said at the same time, causing a chuckle to ripple through our guests.

  “Christine and Aiden, you come here today before God, your family, and friends. The love you have for each other has spread to everyone in the room. They’ve come here to watch you share in your love and celebrate your new life together.”

  I peeked over at Christine, her emerald eyes sparkling.

  Reverend Watkins looked over our heads to the people behind us. “At this time, I’d like to give Aiden and Christine a chance to express their love to one another in their own words.” He brought his gaze back to me. “Aiden?”

  I cleared my throat, swallowing hard as I tried to calm the nerves racing through me making my hands shake and my brow sweat.

  I turned to Christine and took both of her hands in mine. “Reverend Watkins has a point, before you I was lost. Traveling from point to point in life, only focusing on what gig we were playing next. Nothing else mattered. Then I met you and a world that once seemed so plain and gray had become full of color. The sun shone a little brighter, the sky a little bluer.”

  The longer I spoke, the more my stomach settled.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I was happy. My family, my friends, a best friend who shared my dreams, what else could a guy ask for? I didn’t know I needed anything else.” I rubbed the pad of my thumb along the back of her hand. “But I’d been wrong. I was happy, but now I know what true happiness is. I know what true love. It’s being with the person you love most. The one you can’t imagine your life without. You support my career, my dream and I don’t think I could’ve asked for any more. I love you. And I can’t wait to spoil you, my princess, every day for the rest of our lives.”

  A lone tear slipped down her cheek. I let go of one of her hands to brush it away.

  The corners of her lips curled up. “I love you, so much.”

  I took her hands back in mine, giving them a light squeeze.

  Reverend Watkins. “Christine?”

  Christine sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. Her gaze moved down to our joined hands then brought her shimmering eyes back to mine.

  “My love, my life, my world. I know I didn’t make it easy on you. I’d been hurt so many times before I didn’t know how to trust someone with my heart again. But you never gave up on me. You gave me just enough space to slowly earn my trust and now I can’t imagine a moment when you weren’t my whole world.”

  Another tear raced down her cheek. “You stayed beside me even when I felt so broken and lost. You put me back together and pulled me into the light, showing me that we still had time to make our family grow. That it wasn’t our last chance. I’ll love you with every fiber of my being for every day of my life.”

  I leaned forward to press a kiss to her lips when Reverend Watkins cleared his throat, reminding me we only had to wait a few minutes longer.

  “Now that you’ve professed your love for each other, it’s time to take your vows.”

  Jackson handed me the ring and I held it at the tip of her finger.

  “Aiden Michael Cormack, do you take Christine Abigail Davis to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her for all of your days?”

  Butterflies danced around my stomach as I promised myself to the only woman I would ever love. “I do.”

  My heart slammed into my chest as I slid the ring onto her finger.

  Reverend Watkins turned to Christine. “And, Christine, do you take Aiden to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish him all of the days of your life?”

  “I do.”

  Christine slid the ring in place on my finger.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  My hand slid around her waist to her back, bringing her tighter to me as I pressed my lips to hers in what had to be the sweetest kiss we ever shared.

  Rounds of applause became a muffled buzz in the air. I held tighter to Christine, not wanting the kiss to end.

  Reverend Watkins cleared his throat again. With reluctance I let Christine go. A few chuckles could be heard in the crowd and a flush stained her cheeks. Taking her hand, I turned us to face our family and friends.

  “For the first time, I’d like to present Mr. and Mrs. Aiden Cormack.”

  Applause filled the room as I escorted Christine down the aisle. Smiles wreathed the face of some of our guests while others dabbed at their eyes. The sounds of cheering faded away as we stepped through the doors and out into the main lobby of the church.

  “We did it,” I whispered, continuing on until we reached the room we’d been shown the night before.

  We were supposed to wait there until the church cleared out and we could take pictures before heading over to the reception.

  “Yes, we did.” She turned to me when we reached the middle of the room, the rest of the wedding party not far behind. The volume of the room grew once the door was shut.

  Jackson walked over first. He extended a hand and once I took it, he pulled me into a hug. “Congratulations, man. This has been a long time coming.”

  “Yeah, it has been.”

  For years I wondered if it ever would happen or if we were destined to be an unmarried couple forever. It never was a question about how much Christine and I loved each other, but her fear of me
ssing with something that had been so good.

  I’d worked for years to overcome her trust issues. Then the loss of the baby had rocked us both to our core, so seeing the light reflecting off the rings on her finger as our friends congratulated her had me thanking God we finally made it this far.

  Jackson let go and moved to stand next to me, his gaze following the focus of mine.

  “Were you afraid it was never going to happen?”

  I shrugged and nodded. “A little.”

  He bumped his shoulder against mine. “I told you it would.”

  “I know. But as more time passed, I had to wonder.”

  “What do you think changed her mind?”

  “Honestly I don’t know. I’m just glad she did. I want the world to know she’s mine forever.”

  Jackson dropped his hand on my shoulder and squeezed at the same time Christine’s gaze search the room, moving until it landed on mine. “That she is my friend. That she is.” His hand moved to my back, giving me a little shove forward. “Go get your wife.”

  16

  Wife. Fuck, I loved the sound of that.

  When she reached me, I lifted her left hand and kissed her new wedding band. “Why, hello, Mrs. Cormack.”

  A smile lifted the corner of her lips. “Hello to you too, Mr. Cormack.”

  “Ready for some pictures.”

  Her eyes rolled heavenward. “You better be talking about our photographer and not all the stalkers waiting for us to step outside.”

  I placed a hand on my chest, feigning shock. “I can’t believe you said that about our family and friends.”

  Christine smacked me on the arm. “You know good and well that I don’t mean our friends. I meant the jerks that have to follow us everywhere we go.”

  “I mean our wedding pictures. We only get one set.”

  “Then lead the way.”

  I held out my arm and she looped her hand through it as I led her back out the door we’d come through before. The lobby and church that was once packed full of people, now sat quiet. The photographer had already set up down the center of the aisle. As soon as she saw us, she gestured us forward.

  For the next thirty minutes I felt like I was on the set of a photoshoot for a new album. Except this time the woman of my dreams stood next to me.

  By the time we left the church, I was starving and wanted a beer. The stress that had my hands shaking earlier that morning had melted away. The time to celebrate had arrived. The limo moved through the streets nears the center of town. And I couldn’t help noticing all the strange vans parked randomly throughout the streets.

  Damn paparazzi waiting for their shot. A shot they were not going to get with the tinted windows of the car. The car pulled through the gates of the Carriage House, where everyone waited for the reception.

  When we stopped in front of the main door, I leaned over and stole a quick kiss from Christine right before the door next to me whipped open. I turned and wasted no time stepping out of the car and reaching my hand back inside for Christine to take.

  “Let’s go make our big entrance.”

  Christine nodded. “I think that’s a great idea.”

  The rest of the wedding party waited at the top of the stairs, right near the main door.

  Dylan and Miles pulled open the door and let us pass first. The manager of the venue met us immediately, leading us directly to the door with the reception.

  “I’ll let them know you’re here.”

  “Thank you.”

  After a little confusion, we had the wedding party lined up ready to head into the room.

  “Here we go,” Jackson said as the doors in front of us flew open and the first couple walked inside.

  Each time we moved closer to the door, my excitement grew. This would truly be the first time we’d arrive as husband and wife. And all without the paparazzi watching our every move. The security had been expensive, but worth every penny to see the smile on Christine’s face when she realized she wouldn’t have to deal with them once we arrived.

  Jackson and Gina were next. Right before the doors opened Jackson glanced over his shoulder. “See ya inside.”

  I looked at Christine as we took our place behind the doors. “Ready for this?”

  “I’ve never been more ready.”

  The doors opened and the sound hit us like a physical force. Applause, screaming catcalls filled the space along with the song we’d chosen. “Appearing for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Aiden Cormack.”

  I didn’t think my smile could get any bigger as I led Christine into the middle of the room where we’d have our first dance together.

  I stepped back and held out my hand to her, exactly like I did on that first date so many years ago. “May I?”

  A spark of recognition lit her eyes when she realized exactly what I’d done and the love shining from her gaze wrapped around me.

  “You may.” She repeated and placed her hand in mine.

  What she didn’t know was that I’d made special arrangement, with a little help from my friends. Jackson had already disappeared and I waited for her to figure it out.

  The first beats of the song started. At first, she hadn’t seemed to notice the change. Instead she stepped closer until not a single sliver of light could be seen between us. It wasn’t until Mari stepped in with the first note that Christine’s head whipped around and her hand flew up to her heart. “Did you?”

  I leaned and pressed my lips to hers before she finished the question.

  “Of course I did.”

  Mari Cosmann, leader singer of Jaded Ivory, had one of the most hypnotic voices one could imagine. Every note she sang held you tight, making you forget all of your problems. That combined with Christine’s favorite song had been the perfect wedding present.

  Mari waved at the two of us. After a few more moments, the shock wore off and Christine spun back into my arms to finish our dance.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” she whispered against my neck.

  “Sometimes it helps to have friends with connections.” I glanced over at Jackson playing the guitar, who winked at me. “I know it’s your favorite.”

  Christine lifted her head to look at me. “No, you are my favorite. Anything you sing will always be my favorite. This is my second favorite.”

  “I think I love the sound of that. Would you like me to sing?”

  She tightened her hold on me. “You can’t sing when you’re supposed to be dancing with me.”

  I pressed my lips to hers before bringing my eyes back up. “Then I’ll stay here and dance with you.”

  “I think I like the sound of that.”

  I laughed and held her closer to me. There would never be a time when I could imagine my life without the woman in my arms. She was my whole world. My everything.

  The song came to an end. Cheers and applause filled the room once again.

  Before leading Christine to the head table, I walked over to the stage, her hand held tightly in mine.

  “Thank you for the perfect first dance.”

  Mari smiled. “You’re welcome.” She stepped forward and wrapped Christine in an embrace.

  Jackson handed his guitar over to one of the sound techs, who set it in the stand. He stepped down from the low platform and threw his arm around my neck. “Always, my friend. Now let’s eat.”

  I took Christine’s hand again and walked her over to the head table, pulling out her chair. The bridal party took their seats around us just as the meal was delivered to our table.

  The evening seemed to sprint by. Each time I snuck a glance at a clock, time seemed to move even faster. I didn’t want the night to end. Watching Christine laugh at something someone said or watching her out on the dance floor filled me with unbelievable joy.

  Jackson walked up to Christine on one of her breaks from dancing. He held out his hand to her. “May I?”

  “Yes, you may.” She placed her hand in his and let him lead her to th
e dance floor.

  I watched two of the most important people in my life sway together. Her head dropped back as a burst of laughter left her lips. When her eyes snapped to mine, I could only imagine what horribly embarrassing story he could be telling her.

  “I always knew you’d end up here. From the first night you came to pick her up at our apartment.”

  I glanced over to see Gina standing next to me. I’d been so caught up in Jackson and Christine’s dance I hadn’t even seen her approach. “I’m glad you were so sure, because I had my own doubts.”

  Her eyes were locked on Christine. “No need. You were always destined to be together forever.”

  “Would you like to dance and tell me all about how you knew that?”

  She held her hand out to me. “I’d love to.”

  I placed my hand on her back and walked her to the dance floor, turning her into my arms.

  “How did you know we’d get here? I always worried from one day to the next if I’d ever be able to overcome her trust issues.”

  She grinned. “That’s how I knew.”

  When I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, she shook her head.

  “You were the only one she ever gave a chance to earn her trust. Most guys never made it past the first date.”

  “That still doesn’t explain how you knew that first night.”

  “There was something different in the way she looked at you. Like you meant more to her than she was ready to admit, even to herself, but it was there in her eyes.”

  My heart raced in my chest, my feet feeling light as air. Knowing her best friend saw it from the beginning made me think destiny was real.

  The last notes of the song faded into the background and I let Gina step back as Christine and Jackson approached.

  The hostess for the venue brought Jackson a mic. “We’re ready for the toast. Then the cake.”

  I ran my hand down my face. “Don’t embarrass me too much.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  Jackson tapped his fingers on top of the microphone, getting everyone’s attention as we made our way back to the table.

  “Hi, everyone. When Aiden first called to let me know he planned to ask Christine to be his wife, I had to say I was a bit surprised. I mean, I knew Christine was a brave soul to date Aiden, but I didn’t know she was crazy.”