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Vance
The door of the courtroom opened, and there was Teresa, accompanied by her bridesmaids. Vance was taken aback. He expected her to look gorgeous, stunning, amazing – but she exceeded his expectations. Teresa was like a dream come true. Like an angel sent from heaven to make his life worth living.
He could not take his eyes off of her as she walked down the aisle, and when it was time for her to take his arm, he stumbled and almost fell over, much to his chagrin. He regained his balance, cursing his damn luck, and Teresa linked her arm with his. Her skin felt hot, and he breathed in her wonderful scent.
“Are you nervous?” Teresa asked him so low he had to make an effort to understand her words.
“A little. I mean, who wouldn’t be? I’m about to marry a goddess. That should make anyone nervous,” he whispered in her ear. She chuckled, but it was no joke: he felt that way. “And you?”
“A little too, actually. I’m going to marry a mere mortal, and my fellow gods and goddesses are going to judge me for that,” she joked back. Vance had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from laughing in the middle of the courtroom.
He loved this woman. Even when he was on edge, about to throw up his breakfast, she knew exactly what to say to calm him down. They faced the judge, and the ceremony began.
“We are gathered here today to join this couple in holy matrimony,” the judge began. “As a representative of the state, I have the power of marrying these two people, who have come to me willingly and on their own freedom. I will let them express their love to each other, and you all shall be witnesses of their vows.”
The judge looked at Vance, who cleared his throat and began.
“Right here and now, everything feels like it was worth fighting for...” he said, his voice shaking. He had prepared a few words, but he could not remember a word, and really did not know what to say.
“It was.” Teresa encouraged him on, and Vance smiled. Hearing her voice boosted his confidence.
“I know we haven’t known each other very long and that, to some people, this wedding may seem rushed, but in my heart, I feel like I have always known you, and I know that I want to spend the rest of my days getting to know you, if you will have me.”
He paused and waited for Teresa’s turn.
“You have saved me, Vance, in more ways than you realize. And I want to spend the rest of my days thanking you for it, and telling you... telling you that I love you. I love you more than anyone in this world.”
She said it. The words were so simple and so new that his heart skipped a beat and he knew it was true. He could hear it in her voice and in her eyes, which were shining with tears.
“I love you too,” he whispered in shock.
“Your vows, please,” the judge said, motioning for them to continue.
“I, Vance Tate, take you, Teresa Love, to be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, until death do we part,” he recited. He took the ring and placed it on her finger, and she smiled at him with loving eyes.
“I, Teresa Love, take you, Vance Tate, to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, until death do we part.” She carefully placed his ring on his finger.
“By the powers granted to me by the state, I now declare you husband and wife,” the judge pronounced. “You may now kiss the bride,” he finished with a gentle smile.
Vance did not need to hear it twice: he took a step closer to Teresa and crushed his lips against hers, in a kiss full of love and promises for the future. She answered with the same love and passion, and by the time they parted, the whole room was cheering.
They both signed the papers and turned to leave. Vance took his now-wife by the hand, and they rushed down the aisle while being showered with confetti. They headed to the car and crawled into the back seat, waiting for Karin to take them to the restaurant.
Karin, merciful as she was, gave them a moment of privacy. Vance looked at Teresa up close for a moment: she was radiating with happiness. He looked in her eyes and cupped her face in his hands before closing the space that separated them and kissing her again, brushing her lips with his tongue and drawing ragged moans from her.
“I love you,” he repeated when they parted. He felt, more than he saw, her smile when he said that.
“And I love you too,” she replied. Vance could not be happier. He felt that nothing could ever spoil his happiness now and made up his mind to come clean after the wedding night. He felt in his heart that she could forgive him – or at least he hoped so. She loved him and that had to mean something.
The car engine started, and Karin drove them to the restaurant. Everyone was already there, waiting for the happy couple. Everyone that they had invited was there... And someone who they had not.
Jimmy Love was dressed up in a gaudy suit and was waiting among the guests, with a large, fake smile on his face and a dangerous gleam in his eye.