Chapter 29

 

I was having déjà vu.

I stood in the same position as I had before with Mum, Suzy, and Tia behind me as my bridesmaids and maid of honour, waiting outside the door to the chapel. Elvis was still sweaty as he told me that Brad and Hacker and Dad were inside, ready and waiting.

This time, I prayed there would be no shoot-outs, no undercover investigations, and definitely no deaths.

‘Are you ready?’ Elvis asked me.

‘You bet.’

‘I don’t want no “Crying in the Chapel” now.’ Despite the death of his sister, he managed to smile and put his game face on. This was show business, and Elvis was a professional performer. ‘OK. Let the music be our cue.’

After the first lines from ‘Burning Love’ sounded out, Priscilla opened the doors into the chapel. With mic in one hand and my hand in the other, Elvis belted out the song and lead me up the aisle towards my future hubby as I swayed in time to the music. The others followed.

Brad stood at the end of the room, looking thong-droppingly gorgeous, his eyes glistening with proud, happy tears. Hacker stood next to him. Dad stood on the opposite side.

My own happy tears pricked my eyes. When we reached Brad, Elvis twirled me around and positioned me alongside my future hubby, pressing my hand into his. Brad smiled down at me with adoration.

Elvis carried on singing, jiggling his hips and adding a few ‘Uh-huh-huh’s in there and doing Elvis’s signature knee twists.

All the others clapped in time to the music behind me. Mum sang along, very off-key.

The song finished to a grand finale of Elvis gyrating his hips in an exaggerated motion. There was definitely a ‘Whole Lot Of Shakin’ going on. Mum and Tia whooped in delight. I think I might’ve even heard Suzy giggle.

‘We are gathered here today to celebrate and witness the marriage of Brad Beckett and Amber Fox,’ Elvis said.

Tia jumped up and down, her fist in the air. ‘Woo, woo, woo!’

Brad and I laughed at her.

‘I’m honoured to be joining two very amazing people in holy union, and I know you’re going to be very happy together.’ He turned to Brad. ‘Have you got your vows?’

‘Uh-huh-huh.’ Brad did an Elvis impression, grinning at me.

I laughed again.

Brad turned to me.

Hacker handed him a piece of paper, but Brad waved it away. ‘I don’t need it. I’ve had years to memorize them.’

Brad took my hands in his. The room was silent as he spoke.

‘Amber, I love you more than anything. I love you enough to give my life, my love, and my heart to you. I will give you all my time, thought, and trust. I will protect you, care for you, comfort you, and listen to you. Around you, I have nothing to hide. I will share my dreams, my goals, my fears and hopes. I will share my entire life with you. I will always keep my promises and be loyal and faithful to you. I am willing to sacrifice myself for you. Whenever we’re apart, I’m not whole. I will never leave you or live without you. You saved me.’

Omigod! Cheek-fanning moment! My mouth flapped open, suddenly at a loss for words.

‘I made Amber speechless. That’s got to be a first.’ Brad glanced around the room. ‘Someone give me a medal.’

I laughed as more tears of joy welled up. ‘Hey, don’t push it!’

Elvis turned to me. ‘Amber, do you have any vows you’d like to read?’

‘Absolutely.’ I looked up into Brad’s face and took a deep breath. His blue-grey eyes I knew so well were soft and laced with emotion, radiating feelings for me that were almost tangible in the air. I thought about the rocky journey we’d been through to get here, but this wasn’t the end of that journey—it was the beginning of the rest of our lives. My heart melted inside as I gripped his hands tighter in mine, his warmth seeping into my skin. ‘Brad, I’ve spent too much time worrying about whether I’ll get the magical rose garden on the horizon instead of appreciating the roses outside my window today. The future is always beginning now, and my future is with you. Today is life, the only thing we can be sure of. Let’s make the most of today.’

Brad stroked the inside of my palms with his thumbs and gave me a huge smile.

‘You are my best friend, my faithful partner, my rock in the storm, my safe haven,’ I carried on. ‘I love you with all my heart and soul. And because of you, I dare to dream again. Now we’ll make that dream reality.’

Brad’s eyes glistened with tears.

Mum sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.

‘Beautiful words,’ Elvis said, beaming from ear to ear. ‘You “Can’t Help Falling in Love” when you hear words like that. Do we have the rings?’

Dad pulled two wedding rings from his pocket and handed them to Elvis, who put them on a red, heart-shaped velvet cushion.

Elvis held the rings out in front of us. ‘These rings symbolize unity—an unbroken circle with no beginning or end. Brad, please take Amber’s ring and place it on her finger.’

Brad took my left hand in his and slid the ring on.

‘Do you, Brad Beckett, take Amber Fox to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day on, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?’

Brad smiled proudly at me. ‘I do.’ Even though they were just two words, they caressed my heart and soul.

‘And now repeat after me: with this ring, I thee wed. I offer you my hand and my heart and trust they will be safe with you. All that I am, I give to you.’

Brad stared lovingly into my eyes as he repeated the words.

Elvis held the cushion towards me. ‘And now, “Little Darlin”, please place the ring on Brad’s finger.’

I slid it on.

‘And do you, Amber Fox, take Brad Beckett to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day on, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?’

‘I do.’

‘And now repeat after me: with this ring, I thee wed. I offer you my hand and my heart and trust they will be safe with you. All that I am, I give to you.’

I spoke the words, my heart soaring with happiness.

‘By joining hands and exchanging rings, you are consenting to be bound together as husband and wife. This is a promise to honour, love, and support each other for the rest of your lives.’ He gave us a huge smile. ‘Amber and Brad, you have declared your everlasting love and pledged your promises to wrap your “Lovin’ Arms” around each other “Today, Tomorrow, Forever”. I’m wishing you a life of eternal joy on your “Never Ending” journey. And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, folks! I’m honoured to pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!’

I felt Brad’s lips on mine—felt his love oozing from every pore. Who needed lucky knickers when I was already the luckiest woman in the world?

‘“Viva Las Vegas”!’ Elvis cried out.