14 ACROSS: One who accompanies; helpmate
Richard clutched Cassie’s hand in his, and he lifted it to his lips and planted a kiss on the center knuckle.
“You look so beautiful,” he told her. Cassie beamed back at him. “Any regrets?”
“None. I’m really happy that I’m here,” she admitted. “I’m not sure when I fell in love with Holiday and the people in it, but it happened.”
“So you’re in love with the people of Holiday,” he said, mulling over the words. “Any Holiday-ite in particular that you love?”
Cassie chuckled and squeezed his hand. “All right, Richard, I love you. Okay? Are you happy now? I admit it. I love you.”
“I am happy now,” he confirmed.
“It doesn’t change anything, though,” she warned him. “Just because I love you, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be giving up anything for you. It’s much too soon for that. I want to make sure you get that.”
“Oh, I get it,” he conceded. “You are an independent woman, with your own life.”
“That’s not to say I won’t share that life with you, Richard, but I’m not going to hand it over to you completely. You get that, right?”
“Yes, Cassie. I get that.”
“I mean, just because I love you…that doesn’t necessarily point to a full surrender of my independence quite yet. Or maybe ever. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“I do, Cassie.”
“Not yet, Richard,” Pastor Sullivan interjected. “Be patient. That comes later.”
Richard and Cassie shared a smile and stepped up to the flowerdraped altar before them.
“We are gathered here today, before God and the good people of Holiday, Florida, to join two of their own, this man and this woman, in the holy state of matrimony,” he told the three dozen or so people in the pews behind them.
Cassie smoothed the slate blue taffeta skirt with her palm and then turned around and handed her bouquet to Rachel.
“If anyone here has good reason to object to a union between Richard and Cassandra, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
Richard’s hand jerked up toward Cassie’s face, and he placed one finger over her lips.
“Not a word, my love. Not one single word.”