With a grin that sent a twinkle to her eyes, Georgia moved to the end of the RV, and plugged in the extension cord.
I have to admit, I’d seen it once already, but the lights choked me up a bit. We used strings of white lights for many of our stage set-ups, so we always had totes full of them wherever we went. While Monica and Georgia distracted Ember all afternoon, Michael, Mags, and I strung as many lights as would fit between the trees surrounding the campsite, and crossways over them, creating a canopy of glowing white light.
As soon as the lights went on, Ember’s back straightened. She looked startled as her head whipped from side to side. Her father, holding onto the last bit of composure I’m sure he had, sat back, took a deep breath, and watched her.
“Okay,” I whispered to myself. “Let’s go.”
As I made my way down the aisle of the RV, Monica stopped me. The tears were already forming in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around my torso. “Thank you for being her soul mate.”
“Thank you for letting me have her.” I squeezed her back and gave her a smile as she pulled away.
“Nervous?” Regan questioned, stepping aside so I could get to the stairs.
I looked him up and down. “You got your violin ready?”
He nodded.
“Then, no. I’m not nervous. Excuse me, guys. That’s my wife out there.” As I pushed my hand against the door of the RV, I took one more breath.
Then, the realization of all of my dreams came rushing toward me.
“Bo?” Ember stood as she watched me exit the RV, eyeing me from head to toe.
While I wasn’t in a tux, because that’s not what we were about, I was in pressed khaki’s and a black polo shirt. The nicest thing in my suitcase, and she knew it.
“Ember.” I smiled and took her hands in mine, kissing her softly on the forehead. “I see things are okay with you and your dad?” I looked between them, certain I’d read the body language correctly, but needing confirmation if any of this was to go as planned.
Ember’s chin quivered slightly as she smiled. “It is. We’re okay.”
I pulled her into a quick hug, savoring the scent of her hair for a second more.
“What is all of this?” she asked as she pulled away. “And where the hell is everyone?”
“We’re right here,” Raven answered as if this were all scripted. She exited the RV she’d been waiting in with the other band members.
“And here,” Monica chirped as she led the rest of our friends down the stairs of the vehicle I’d been in.
Despite the soft, full glow of the lights surrounding us, I reveled in the sight of Ember’s cheeks growing red as she tried to work out the scene. After looking at the happy—and somewhat weepy—faces of those around us, Ember whipped her head back around and looked at me, breathing heavily.
“Bo …” Her lips curled up at the edges. A hopeful energy begging them to curl the rest of the way.
“November,” I started, never breaking my gaze with hers, “what you and I have is something that I never knew was possible. Someone who loves everything inside me, including the things I didn’t know were there. Or the things I didn’t want to know were there. Someone who took each loss life handed to me and loved me through them, around them, and passed them. An actual mate to my bruised and battered soul.”
Ember shook her head. “Not battered. Perfect.”
I kissed her, our lips forming smiles against each other. “See?”
“What are you doing?” she whispered against my lips.
“Let me get to it,” I answered, making her chuckle and sniff.
“Ember,” I started again. “When I said it felt like I’ve loved you for a thousand lifetimes, I meant it. But, that’s not enough for me.” I placed my index finger under her chin and lifted her face. “I want one more.”
I want one more was the only cue I’d given Regan. At that, he softly started playing a piece he and I had been working on for a couple of weeks. Ember’s eyes filled with tears as they drifted to Regan and back to me.
A little over a year before, Ember walked in on me in my studio one of the first nights she stayed at my house in Concord. It was the middle of the night and I was having trouble sleeping, as usual. I’d gone into my studio to blow off some steam. Several minutes later, at Ember’s innocent request that I play the sheet of music that was left on the piano, we were wrapped in the only song I’d ever written for that instrument. A song I’d written to encompass how I felt after my parents’ death.
Regan and I transformed it. I wanted Ember to recognize it, and she did. I could tell by the way her hands tightened in mine and tears streaked down her cheeks. I wanted her, more than anything, to see how the song transformed from the darkness that was my life then, to the happiness it was now.
Because of her.
Ember and I had played a song in rehearsal a few times that we hadn’t perfected for stage yet. I worked those measures into the middle of the song, and as Regan glided beautifully through them, Ember spoke.
“What did you do?” She smiled and cried at the same time. The absolute most beautiful sight in the world.
“I asked your father for his blessing in me asking you to marry me.” I knew she meant the song. I answered the bigger question surrounding us.
“You … you what?” Ember sniffed and looked at her father, who walked over to us and put an arm around her.
Ashby mirrored Ember’s smile-cry. “This afternoon, angel, when you girls were downtown.”
“But the lights,” she gestured up, still smiling. “This was all done before …”
“Love,” I stepped back, placing my hands in my pocket, fishing for the ring box, “I knew things were rocky with you and your dad. I knew there are and were so many things to talk about. But, I knew you two would work it out, because I believe in love. And, I know you do, too. That’s the only reason we made it this far.”
Once my fingers were securely locked around the velvet box, I slowly lowered myself to one knee, trying to ignore the increase in sniffles from the group.
“I want you to marry me, Ember—”
Ember sank to both of her knees in front of me, her shoulders softly shaking as she cried. “Yes, Bo. I’ll marry you.”
We leaned toward each other, our foreheads meeting in the middle as our tears mixed.
“You didn’t let me finish,” I teased.
“There’s more?” She laughed and cried as Regan’s song finished and we were left in the silence of anticipation.
I opened the ring box.
“It was my mother’s,” I started, cutting her off preemptively. “Well, the stone was. I had it reset. For you. For us.” My fingers felt like they’d tripled in size as I plucked the ring from its satin pillow.
I’d had the large diamond reset, nestled into a band of braided rose gold. Antique looking, and perfectly Ember.
“Your mother’s,” she whispered, her lips pursing together as she held out her hand. Her non-verbal commitment.
A slight sob escaped my mouth. “She would have loved you so much, Ember. They both would have. My sister was crazy about you …” I took a deep breath. Rather than let sorrow drown me, I let the spirits of my departed family members lift me up and hold me against the woman that I loved.
Despite being in the dirt, and surrounded by family and friends, Ember and I stayed in our private moment for a few seconds longer, breathing in the serenity we brought to each other.
Finally, Ember spoke. “Can I say yes yet?”
I slid the ring on her slender finger, watching my mother’s diamond catch the light from the tiny strands of lights hanging over us. “Almost.”
“There’s more?” She sniffed and leaned back as the ring settled into perfect placement.
“I want to do it now.”
Ember’s eyebrows pulled together. “You’ve asked me.”
“I want to marry you now. Tonight. Here. There’s
nothing we could plan that could possibly be more perfect than this moment. Right here. Me. You. Our family and friends. I’ve wanted to marry you since the very second I met you, Ember. I don’t want to wait any more.”
Ember slowly rose to standing, tugging my hands so I’d follow. The humidity ran her waves in wild patterns around her face and shoulders. Her tears seemed to dry in an instant, and I was shaking as I waited for her response. Though the fire in her yes gave me all the answer I needed.
After an eternity and a half, her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath, and sank again as she exhaled. “Right now.” She smiled and bit her lip. “I want to be your wife tonight. And tomorrow morning, and for all the mornings we have left. And, even after those run out. I’ll marry you tonight, Bo Cavanaugh, because I’ve been waiting for you to ask since before I even knew you.”
The world got loud, then. The sound of our bodies crashing into an incredible kiss. One we usually saved for the privacy rarely afforded to us. Squeals from her friends and parents and band members, and slaps on the back from Regan and Josh were like the champagne bottle breaking on a newly christened ship.
“Wait,” Ember shook her head, seeming to try to shake some sense into herself, “how? How can we, tonight?”
I looked through the small crowd and locked eyes with Journey, who graciously placed her hand on Ember’s shoulder.
“If you’ll have me,” Journey stated kindly, “I’d love to officiate. Of course you’ll need to handle the license and all of that in the morning … but, hell, that’s just paperwork. We can join you tonight. If you’d like.”
Ember looked at me hopefully. “Are you okay with that?”
I grinned. “I already asked her.”
“I can’t wear this.” Ember seemed to start to panic, but her mom, Monica, and Georgia fluttered to her side in an instant.
“I’ve got a dress for you, sweetie.” Raven wrapped her arms around her daughter and me at the same time. “I’m just beside myself for you two.”
“Wait!” Ember shouted, striking silence through the crowd. “Daddy?”
On command, Ashby moved next to his daughter. “What is it?”
“You said it was okay, right?”
Everyone broke into loud laughter as Ember and her dad hugged again. It was a beautiful sight, given the past few days.
“He’s a good man, Ember. And, if I have to let you go,” his voice pinched as he wiped under his eyes, “it could be to no one better.”
Ember pulled her dad closer. “You’re not letting me go,” I caught her whisper into his ear.
“Okay,” Ember said as she pulled away from her dad. “I need to freshen up.”
Georgia and Monica stepped forward. Before they could say anything, a small rental sedan screeched it’s way to the campsite, stopping just behind the RV.
The door flew open in a flash, and Willow ejected from the driver’s seat, running toward us. “Did I miss it? Did I miss it? I got here as fast as I could!” She caught up with Ember, panting with her hands on her hips.
Suddenly everyone’s eyes were on me once again. I shrugged. “Everyone needed to be here.” I held my breath that I’d made the right choice in calling Willow during her road trip back to San Diego.
Apparently everyone else was holding their breath, too, because the air seemed really quiet as Ember and Willow stared at each other.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” Ember wept as she drew Willow into a hug.
Willow squeezed her arms around Ember even tighter. “Are you kidding? This is all we talked about when we were little. I’d never miss it.”
Through the mixture of sighs and tears, Georgia and Monica commanded attention once again.
“I’m cupcakes and hair.” Georgia smiled and put her hands on her hips.
“And I’m jewels and makeup. Let’s go.” Monica grabbed Ember’s hand and led her into the RV I’d waited in for what seemed like hours this afternoon.
While everyone bustled around me, placing freshly-picked wildflowers at the table and talking about who was going to sit where, I kept my feet rooted in the spot she’d said yes, and the spot where we’d soon—sort of officially—become husband and wife.
My favorite spot in the entire universe.
***
Less than ten minutes later, the door to the RV cracked, and Ashby grinned as he held it in place. I was so lost in the exchange, I didn’t notice Raven sneak up beside me.
“Let’s have a look at you,” Raven cooed as she turned me toward her. “That was a nice thing you did. With Willow and Ember …”
“It was nothing, Raven. It seemed like the right thing to do.” I never in a million years before this morning thought I’d ever call Willow Shaw for anything. Turns out, for my future wife, I’d do exactly anything.
Her hands smoothed over my shoulders and brushed across the front of my shirt before she dropped her hands to my wrists and held them tightly.
“They’re here, you know.” She brought our hands to my chest over my heart. “They’re always here.”
I lowered my head for a moment, the one intimate moment I hadn’t planned on happening tonight. One between me and Raven. And my deceased family. My jaw clenched briefly and I let my eyes fill with tears.
“I miss them,” I admitted, holding her hand tighter.
Raven’s long reddish hair had grey streaks weaving through its waves, leaving me smiling as I thought about how Ember and I might look when our children married. “I know you do, honey.” Raven smiled and wriggled one of her hands free to place under my chin. “And no one can, or could try, to replace them. But we’ll keep loving the hell out of you. You’ve given Ashby and me the greatest gift anyone could have given us. You helped our daughter believe everything we ever taught her. You made it real to her. You make her happy and keep her safe. You’re absolutely everything we could have ever asked for.”
Before I could answer, Regan struck the bow across the strings of his violin, signaling Ember’s approach. Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major sent goosebumps across my back. I’d heard the song played at a million weddings before, and never felt that reaction. Tonight, however, was different. Tonight it signaled that my wife was on her way.
“Here she comes.” I tilted my head toward the end of our makeshift aisle, lined with daisy petals.
“You’ll do perfect,” Raven whispered. She gave my cheek a quick kiss, then scurried a few feet in front of me to stand and wait for Ember and Ashby.
Georgia and Monica were the first out of the RV, holding tiny bunches of wildflowers. They’d changed into casual summer dresses, and walked with wide smiles toward me, stopping next to Raven. Monica wiped under her eyes several times, and I heard her cursing her mascara under her breath.
All of that faded into the periphery as I watched Ember’s hand reach for her dad’s and he led her down the stairs of the RV. The hem of the long, white, strapless dress her mother altered for her from her own collection of clothes brushed against the ground as she walked toward me.
While she clutched her father’s hand tightly, and he watched her with soft admiration as they walked, her eyes never left mine. No longer glistening with tears, her eyes were just like the first night I met her. Fierce. Glowing.
Her hair was half up, pinned on the side with a sparkly clip that had what looked like diamonds and emeralds in it. I’d seen Raven hand it to Monica before they boarded the RV, and it highlighted the depth of her eyes the closer she got to me.
Realistically speaking, the walk from the RV to me was only about twenty feet, but the wait was excruciating. When Ashby and Ember finally reached me, Ashby embraced his daughter once more, holding her at arms length before turning to me.
He put her hand in mine and squeezed our hands together, eyeing me.
“Take care of her,” was all he said before sniffling and taking his place next to Raven.
“You’re stunning,” I said as I pulled her close to me, kissing her softly on the cheek. We�
�d ignored every other conventional wedding protocol, why stop now?
Ember swallowed hard, and I could tell she was trying to ward off tears. “Thank you. For tonight, and forever.”
Journey had been standing just to my side the entire time, but only spoke once Ember and I were joined, and turned to face her. Her smile was as wide as Embers, and as wide as mine felt.
“Ready?” she asked, moving her eyes between us.
In unison, Ember and I looked over our shoulders, into the loving eyes of those standing behind us. Standing for us. We looked back into each others eyes and answered Journey.
“We are.”
And, that is the story of how I married Ember. Under the glow of twinkle lights somewhere in Northern California, we pledged for better or worse, for richer or pooler, and in sickness and health.
Boy, did we do that in the nick of time.
~*The End*~
In The Stillness
Nocturne (with Charles Sheehan-Miles)
Something's Come Up (with Michelle Pace)
November Blue
Ten Days of Perfect
Reckless Abandon
Sweet Forty-Two
Marrying Ember
Bo & Ember (coming Spring 2014)
I want to thank the following kick-ass people:
Randall's Bitchin' Betas for their tireless work to help sharpen the story line and make this the best reading experience possible for you. Pamela Carrion, Laura Wilson, Sally Bouley, Lisa Rutledge, Stacey Grice, Lindsay Sparkes, Beth Suit, Erin Roth, and Erica Ritchie. You ladies are funny, fierce, and perfectly critical. Thank you for all of your had work!
Erica Ritchie for once again providing a fabulous photograph for cover use in this series. Check out her Facebook page, guys. She's a genius with that lens!
Marrying Ember Page 8
