by S. L. Scott
With my eyes still closed, I whisper against his lips, “That’s what I’ve been missing.”
A contented sigh is returned. “Yes, I missed these lips.” He leans back and runs his index finger over my bottom lip. “And these soulful eyes.” Leaning forward, he places sweet, soft kisses on each eyelid. “Nothing’s felt right all day,” he says, tugging at his collar. “Until now.”
“That’s how I’ve been feeling too. Something’s just been off.”
“You felt it too?” he asks, surprised. “It’s so weird. Until I saw you, the whole morning just wasn’t right.”
“Sunny said you were in a good mood.”
“I was, I am. I mean, I’m marrying you. Of course I’m in a good mood, but inside… I think I just missed you.” He moves to peek out the window, pulling the sheer drape back just a bit. “How did a simple wedding on the beach turn into the spectacle down there?”
When he looks back at me, I say, “And about people we don’t know, and canapés, and petals, and engraved, silver picture frame favors?”
He stares at me, his eyes sparking from within. “That’s it.”
“What’s it?”
“We can take it back.”
“Take what back? You’re making me nervous, Evan, and I’m already full of anxiety.”
“The wedding,” he says, rushing to me and taking me by the shoulders. “Just you and me, baby. None of this.” He waves his arm toward the window. “We can elope.”
“What?” I say a little too loud while shaking my head, shocked by what he’s suggesting. “Sorry. That came out a lot harsher than I meant, but what? What are you talking about?”
With a raised eyebrow, he says, “We can do this. We should do this. For you. For me. I love you so fucking much and want to do this. Will you elope with me?”
“I want that. I would love to do that, but we can’t just leave. Our families, our friends—”
“These strangers, and canapés, and petals, and engraved, silver picture frame favors. Fuck’em! This day is not about them. It’s about us.” He wraps his hands around me again, pulling me close, and says, “All of that out there doesn’t matter. It’s about what we want and this is not how I imagined our day. So let’s do this.”
“Where will we go?”
“Wherever we want.”
“On the island or are we leaving? I can’t just leave my parents. What about Sarah, and Sunny and Kate, Zach—”
“I’ve got an idea. How about we get married just the two of us and then come back for the reception. What do you think about that?”
“Like a private ceremony with just us?”
“Exactly like that.”
My heart swells and I think I fall more in love with this man, which is technically pretty impossible to do because my love for him already holds no bounds. “That sounds perfect.”
“You deserve perfect.” His hand caresses my cheek and he kisses me on the forehead.
“We should tell someone, so they don’t freak out.”
A loud triple knock makes us jump and we watch the handle as it turns and opens. My dad pops his head inside, and says, “I’ll handle the guests.” He holds his hand up and Evan’s keys are dangling from his fingers. “Your car is waiting out front. You should probably leave soon so you don’t get blocked in.”
“You’re not mad?” I ask my dad.
“Mallory, if your heart is telling you to marry Evan, what does it matter if it’s in front of a minister, a JP, or 200 guests. I know your mom will be disappointed, but everyone will get over it. Go follow your heart.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Evan reaches forward taking the keys from him and shakes his hand with the other.
When Evan turns back to me, he asks, “You sure you want to do this?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely, surferboy.” I jump with excitement. Rushing around, I grab the marriage certificate, my purse, and my veil and we run out the door.
Sneaking down the back stairs to the hallway by Ms. Chart’s room, we make our way down the corridor and run for the front door. Fortunately, the guests are using the side path today. While we hide behind the protection of a large Bird of Paradise potted plant, Evan says, “If anything happens, know I love you.”
I eye him, now worried. “What’s gonna happen that you feel the need to declare your love to me one last time?”
“I’m just playing with ya,” he says, chuckling. “Okay, see that palm two cars over, nine o’clock position?”
“Yes.”
“If we can get to that palm, we’re home free. On the count of three, go. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Three.” He takes off running while pulling me behind him. Although, I stumble slightly while lifting my dress off the ground, I keep up.
We dash behind the palm, our hearts racing, and Evan’s face bright with unadulterated happiness. When he turns back to me, I hit him on the chest. “You said on the count of three, not just three.”
“Sorry.” He cowers playfully as I swat his ass, which is looking really good in the tux pants. “Can’t resist my ass, eh?”
“I never could. That’s what got us into this mess to begin with.”
He smirks. “And here I always thought it was my smooth lines and charming personality that you couldn’t resist.”
“Nope, it’s your ass.”
Turning serious, he says, “Duck.”
I do, but then complain. “You do realize I’m in heels and a wedding dress, right?”
Kissing my temple, he says, “And you look beautiful, but if we want make it out of here alive than we have to work with what we’ve got.”
“I think the ‘Alive’ part is a bit dramatic.” There’s no reasoning with him though. He’s on a mission. His determination was another quality of his that attracted me from the beginning… along with his ass.
“I’m gonna open the door on your side of the car. I want you to run and get in, but wait here until I give the signal.” He takes off running, leaving me there questioning the signal.
I yell, just above a whisper, “Evan, what’s the signal?” He really is shit at game-plans. Luckily for him, he’s marrying me—the ultimate planner.
Holding the passenger door wide open, he whistles The Wedding March—which is apparently the signal—at the top of his lungs. Well that won’t draw any attention, now will it? I laugh as I jog toward him. This is so ridiculous and even more fun. I give him a quick peck on the lips, then slip down into the seat. He shuts the door then runs around and hops in. After revving the engine twice, he asks, “You ready, sexy girl?”
“I’m always ready for you.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” When he floors the car, we burst out laughing. “Holy shit! My mother is going to flip.”
“She’s going to blame me for ruining her wedding.” I can’t help smiling, feeling carefree, because today became her wedding, not mine.
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks and I’ll take the heat. I’ll tell everyone that I corrupted your innocence and this was the last ploy in my plan.” He laughs evilly. “Hey, let’s take the top down.” He looks over at me. “Oh, sorry, I forgot about your hair. It looks really lovely like that.”
“Lovely?” I repeat taken aback, disgust on my face.
“All up like that,” he says, making motions in the air with his fingers like my hair resembles a bird’s nest. “Yeah, looks lovely.”
“Well, we can’t have that. Your mother does ‘lovely.’” I start stripping the bobby pins from my hair and add, “I’m going for hot, so let’s take the top down.”
He pulls over to the side of the road and lowers the top before hitting the gas again. I continue removing pins from my hair and ask, “Do you know where you’re going?”
“I know exactly where I’m going. You just sit back and enjoy the ride, baby. I need to make a call.”
He pulls his phone out and calls someone. At the same time, my phone starts ringing and the name ‘Kate’ flashe
s on the screen. No way am I answering her call. Evan can handle her and her temper. After four rings it goes silent. Then my mom’s name pops up. Hmm…. my dad can handle her. After a few more rings, my phone goes quiet in my hand. I take a deep breath just as it starts ringing again—Sunny. I really should answer, but she’ll convince me to invite all of them and I want it to be only us.
I pull the last pins from my hair when my phone rings again—Sarah. I have no good reason not to answer her call, so I do. “Hello?”
“Mallory?”
“Oh hi, Sarah.”
“Hey, so whatcha doing?” I like her casual approach.
I can play that game. “Not much. What are you doing?”
“I’m at your wedding wondering where the hell the bride and groom disappeared to.” There goes casual. “Mallory, you need to come back.” She whispers, “Your mom is upset, Kate is pacing, Sunny is practically in tears over letting you out of her sight, Zach is trying to calm her down, Murphy is… well, Murphy is handing out shots. Your dad made a quick exit after announcing to us that the two of you left. That leaves me sitting here wondering why I’m here if you’re there. I thought I was in Hawaii to witness this marriage.”
“Sarah, I’m so sorry. It’s hard to explain, but it didn’t feel right. It’s beautiful and what most little girls dream about, but it wasn’t what I dreamed about. I don’t need all that. I just want to be married to Evan.”
“So why do all of this if you didn’t want it?”
“The moms.”
“Ohhhh, I see.” She sighs into the phone. “Your wedding day should be perfect, so tell me what we’re supposed to do and I’ll do it.”
“We’re going to get married and we’ll come back to celebrate with everyone. Evan’s on the phone right now, setting things up.”
“Listen, I’ll keep everyone under control and you two get married. This day is supposed to be about the union, not the production. By the way, his mother doesn’t know yet.”
“That could be a problem and a good reason to drink that shot Murph’s handing out.”
“We love you, Mallory, and if this is what makes you happy, we’re happy too.”
“Thank you. You’ve always been there for me and…” I feel the tears filling my eyes, verging on falling. “I love all of you so much. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Good luck.”
“I don’t need luck. I’ve got Evan.”
As soon as I hang up, Evan puts his hand on my thigh, rubbing gently, and asks, “Word’s gotten out and it’s complete nuts there?”
“Something like that.”
“Excellent.” He watches me a second longer and smiles before his eyes flash quickly back to the road. He glances at me again and I see the slightest blush in his cheeks.
“What?” I ask, feeling self-conscious.
“Nothing.” He shakes his head and keeps smiling.
“C’mon, spill it. You’re making me paranoid.”
“I’m liking your hair like that.”
My hair flies loose, soft waves of crazy chaos in the air. “Is it too wild because of the wind?” I ask, attempting, and failing, to tame the fly-aways back into place.
“It’s beautiful, like you.”
Rubbing my hand through the back of his hair, he keeps his eyes focused on the road and a smile on his face.
“I think you’re pretty darn handsome yourself, you know,” I say without hoopla, just stating how I feel.
“Do you have any regrets, baby?”
“Yeah, but none where you’re concerned. Oh wait, maybe one. If I could change one thing in our past, it would be that 4th of July party. I would have fought harder to stay there with you, but I also worry that if done differently it would change the whole order of our future, including you finding out the truth about Rachel. Does that make sense?”
“And if that did change things?”
“Then I wouldn’t change anything because I like where we are now.” I look around as he pulls into a gravel lot near the water. “Where are we?”
He runs around to help me out of the car. “Look down there.” He points down a grassy knoll to a little, white chapel sitting on a cliff near the water. The cliff rises about ten feet above the ocean, but it seems to provide enough protection from the waves crashing below.
The stunning view before me causes me to go speechless. One word. Only word comes to me. “Evan.”
With a tilt of his head, he looks down at my high heels and back to the hill in front of us. “I’ll take my shoes off if you take yours off.”
There’s no way of me making it down that hill in these shoes. The spike of the heel will sink into the ground and I’ll probably break an ankle. “Deal.”
Bending down, he kneels in front of me, and slips one then the other shoe off me. He kicks his shoes off and tosses his socks. He steadies me by tucking my arm under his and leads me down the grassy slope. There isn’t anything traditional about what we’re doing, but everything feels real and it feels right.
As we’re walking, a minister appears in the doorway of the chapel and waves. Evan says, “You remember Harold from Big Kehones?”
“Every Tuesday he ordered a burger, rare, with fried onions on top. He’s a minister?”
“In his former life. He’s retired now.”
“I guess I should have watched my language around him.”
“For a religious man, he’s not very judgmental, which is why he tolerates me.” He laughs.
Harold’s nature is calming, grandfatherly. When we reach him, he takes both my hands in his, and says, “It’s nice to see you again, Mallory.” He turns to Evan and motions with his head. “So how’d you get her?”
“I dunno, Sir. I ask myself that question every day.” They share a laugh as Harold pats Evan on the back.
“You two want to get married, huh?”
“Yes, Sir,” Evan’s tone changes. “We’re hoping you’ll perform the ceremony.”
“I see you’re dressed for the occasion. And you don’t have to be so formal. Harold still works fine for me.” He turns and walks inside. “Welcome to Chapel by the Bay. This is my old church. She treated me very well for almost forty years.”
“It’s—”
“Perfect,” I add, looking at Evan.
“Yes, perfect,” Evan says, gently squeezing my hand.
“I hear there are people waiting for your arrival as a newly married couple. Should we get to our purpose? Evan, do you have the certificate?”
“It’s in the car,” he replies as we follow him to the front of the church.
“Good. We’ll need that after the ceremony. Mallory, Evan mentioned you both might want to say your own vows?”
The sun is starting to set, filling the tiny chapel with a warm glow. “Okay. We say what we feel? I can do that.”
“Yes, just speak from the heart,” Harold says, smiling at the two of us. “I can tell this will be a long and fruitful partnership. Your presence has filled this chapel with light, love, and life today.”
“Thank you,” Evan says, nodding to him.
“Time to start. Face me please.” We reluctantly drop each others’ hands and stiffen as we turn toward the minister. He laughs. “You can still hold hands if you want.”
Stifling a giggle, we smile while taking the others’ hand again.
Evan whispers, “Sorry, we’re both kind of new to this.”
“No worries. I’ll walk you through it. What are your full names?”
Harold looks at me and I reply then Evan responds as well.
He clears his throat, then begins. “Evan, Mallory, you’ve come here today to proclaim your love in front of God and with Nellie as your witness…” We both turn as he acknowledges the older lady sitting in the back corner of the chapel. We hadn’t noticed her at all. “That’s my wife. You have to have a witness other than myself and God in the state of Hawaii for this marriage to be legal. Only a formality. I hope you don’t mind that I brought her.”<
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“Not at all,” I say, smiling at both of them before leaning my arm against Evan with our hands still clasped together.
“Well, we’re all here to bear witness to the union of Mallory Elise Wray and Evan Theodore Monroe Ashford. Face each other, and Mallory you may begin your vows.”
I take a deep breath while turn to Evan. He takes my other hand. “Evan,” I say, trying to calm my nerves. “There’s a sparkle in your eyes that has always meant life to me. When you wake up—” Oh no, I realize I just admitted, in church, that we’re sleeping together. I glance at Harold, but he smiles, non-judgmentally, like Evan said about him earlier, which eases me.
I take another deep breath and see a small smile on Evan’s face, encouraging me. “You’re the sun that brightens my day. When we go to bed, you’re the moon that comforts me at night. I vow to keep that light, that sparkle in your eye and to always be there for you. I’ll be there to support your dreams, your goals, through failure and success, sickness and health, richer or poorer. I’ll always be there for you, my love. Your light has given me life and I willingly go forth into marriage with you to spend my days showing you how much you mean to me. I love you, Evan.” Tears fills my eyes again, one slipping down my cheek.
Suddenly, a handkerchief is handed to me by Nellie. I thank her while dabbing my eyes carefully.
When I look up, Evan’s eyes are full of tears as well, the moment overwhelming us both. When he blinks, they run over his lids and roll down his cheeks. I wipe each cheek, gently drying them.
“Evan, your vows,” Harold says, a gentle reminder.
“Mallory, you are beauty—your soul and entire being—inside and out. I’m not a perfect man, but I’ll spend my life striving to be what you deserve. I vow to treat your heart with care and fill it with love. The light you see in my eyes is only a reflection of the love you show in yours. I promise to treasure every day you give me and every night that you’re next to me. I promise to spend my life bringing you happiness.”
He brushes some hair from my shoulder with care. “Mallory, when I look at you, I see the woman who will be my wife, my lover,” Evan says, pausing when he looks down at our joined hands. He gulps then continues. “And the mother of our children.” When his eyes look directly into mine there’s a confidence in his words. “I see a lifetime of laughter, love, meaningful touches, and many years of heaven on earth. I used to think the day I met you was the best day of my life, but it pales in comparison to today. I’m honored to be your husband, your biggest supporter, and your partner in this lifetime and the next. Thank you for loving me as much as I love you.”
