Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I look back to Jude. Then I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and begin.
“I made you a promise on the very first night I met you.
“I promised to protect you and keep you safe.
“Since that day, I have tried to live up to that promise, but today, I want you to understand what is behind it.
“My father taught me that a promise is your word, your bond, your pledge.
“It is the fabric of who you are, the fabric of the person you wish others to see you as.
“Without that fabric, you are not a person, a soul, or anything of substance.
“You are simply an empty vessel moving through the world, taking up space.
“You cannot be relied upon, trust cannot be built upon your shore, and faith cannot be invested in your achievements or goals.
“My promise to you requires that I protect you and keep you safe from all things.
“It means fighting for you and beside you for what is right.
“It means building resources for your future.
“And it means protecting you from harm caused by me.
“It also means being a man you can respect so that you can join me under my shield.
“I pledge my life to you this day. In service to your dreams, in devotion to your causes, in support of your power and independence, and in joy for the experiences we have ahead.
“I ask you to accept me and my faults, knowing that all the days of my life, I will work to earn the right to call such a magnificent woman, my wife.”
The final few words cause my voice to crack, but I don’t care. All that matters is that she heard them.
“Jude, will you share your vows with Lex?”
She nods and hands her bouquet to Lily before opening the slip of paper tucked in the small satin gloves that stop just short of her wrists.
“Lex, my love. In such a short time, you have brought me joy and freedom and a sense of purpose and confidence in the world that I did not know I would ever be able to find. You have shown me what it means to be a woman. Dependent only on herself and her ideas and her imagination to find her joy.
“I have now within me a life growing. But not just one. Two.
“I have the one that we created together, that will bring us joys and sorrows and confusion, laughter and pains. For the first time in my life, I know what it means to be a human. It means having the freedom to choose. To have a thought and enjoy it for what it is but also have the choice to make it into something else. To pursue a dream or a goal simply for the pleasure of it.
“I’m alive. You have saved my life. Literally and figuratively. I wake up every day wanting to be me now when before all I could want was to not exist. I had no idea that someone like you and this beautiful family could exist and welcome me into it. You, all of you, have shown me such love. You have made me feel worthy of having such an experience. I want nothing more than to reflect back to all of you some small measure of what you have given me. If I do that before the end of my days, I will have succeeded at living.
“I am yours, from this day forward. Thank you for having a space in your life for me. I always hope to be worthy of it.”
She wasn’t able to completely say her vows without breaking several times to wipe away tears, and I’m certain there is not a dry eye in the house after she read them.
I pull her close for a small embrace, feeling so incredibly tender toward her and so proud.
“That’s enough hanky-panky, kids, get on with the rings, there’s a wedding pie waiting!” It’s Pops, ever the comedic sidekick causing us all to break into laughter.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say, “it’s always all about the pie.” More laughter ensues.
“We have rings?” The officiant asks.
Seb and Rem both step forward, holding a ring.
The officiant receives the rings and then holds them high overhead.
“Let these rings symbolize the faith each of these individuals hold in themselves and each other. May they represent their union. And may they signify the seal that is placed around their hearts, binding them together forever.”
He hands one to each of us, and again, I go first.
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
Then Jude.
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
“Let no man or woman put asunder what occurred in front of this beloved fort. I now pronounce you, husband and independent wife!” We all chuckle merrily, knowing just how true that proclamation meant, and how good it was for Jude to hear. “You may now kiss the bride!”