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"Thank you," I said, as the wedding an to play in the chapel

"Ready, kiddo?"

I smiled, and took a deep breath "Ready"

Both doors swept open, held by two young local boys, and our smal audience stood

Eli leaned into , by the way" He took a step, and I fol owed his lead Together alked slowly down the aisle

The sanctuary was a bit dihting the different faces of our friends and family The dust motes slowly floated in and out of the sunshine, delicate and graceful I saw Jared’s Uncle Luke, first I was surprised to see him, and it must have showed, because he and his wife Maryse chuckled softly atnext to h it wouldn’t have occurred to her to feel…wel , anythingI didn’t want her to be alone Lil ian, Luke and Maryse sat together in the first of the heavy, wooden pews, paral el to Cynthia and Chad Luke whispered so a deep, satisfied breath

And then, I saw him Jared stood next to Bex at the head of the chapel, at the top of a few steps that lead to the pulpit and the rest of the stage Eli waited before he took a step, sensing that I had stopped in my tracks Jared was dressed in a khaki suit with a white-button-up shirt The top button was undone, and he skipped the tie He looked perfect, and his bright blue-gray eyes were locked ons, I took a step, now anxious more than ever to be next to hi the rest of me next to the man I lovednorh to conquer fate and beat death In that , and I wanted to be nowhere else but in that chapel,the easy promise to love him forever

The reverend was short, sed by his officiant’s gown His brown skin was dul and wrinkled, but his kind shtened his face He spoke in a thick accent "Hel o, Nina I’ to Jared

"We gather here, in the presence of God and this company, that Jared and Nina be united in holy lorious act that God is about to perform--the act by which He converts their love for one another into holy and sacred state of e

"This relationship is honorable and sacred, established by our Creator for welfare and happiness of hu all ned to unite two sympathies and hopes into one; and rests upon mutual confidence and devotion of husband and wife May it be in extrehtfulness and reverence, and in dependence upon divine guidance, that you enter now into this holy relationship"

Jared didn’t take his eyes from mine Just a few feet away from him, Father Julian stepped down to meetassured that your love and your choice of each other as lifelong companions are in God's wil and that you have your faives this woman to be married to this man?"

"We do," Eli said with confidence He spoke for ht have even spoken for Gabe, but I felt Heaven was s on the moment

Eli lifted my hand to his lips and kissed ently under mine With a smal , tender squeeze, Eli left us alone at the botto behind the double doors he had just helped h

Jared raised an eyebrow, a permanent smile etched on his face "That was unexpected"

"Jack sent hiloss over

Jared touched ain This tiround as I watched the blues and grays of Jared’s eyes shine in ways I’d never seen them His expression was relaxed and nervous; happy and concerned; every emotion he’d ever felt col ided inside of him in a beautiful display of the barely noticeable shifts in the skin around his eyes and mouth No one could have noticed it but led with a lifeti me promise myself to him

"Jared Ryel?" Father Julian said "Are you ready to enter into thisthe love you share and your faith in each other wil endure all things?"

"I am," Jared said simply

"Nina Grey?"

"I ahed at my haste Jared chuckled as wel

Father Julian regrouped, and then finished his part "Are you ready to enter into thisthe love you share and your faith in each other wil endure all things?"

I waited for the minister to correct his mixup, but he never did

I nodded quickly "To Jared Ryel Yes I’m ready"

Father Julian didn’t skip a beat "Nina, do you take Jared to be your wedded husband? Promise to love him, to honor and cherish him, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to hi as you both shal live?"

"Yes"

Father Julian repeated Jared’s vows The closer he caers were around mine Final y, when it came time for Jared to speak, he didn’t hesitate

"Yes, and after that," Jared said "For a thousand years, and then a thousand more…I wil love you"

A smile stretched across ht, and his body leaned into erly This was the moment he had waited for, and he seemed to want to take it all in and rush it at the sa could keep hiht switch in a dark roo and everything that had ever saved anyone

Father Julian closed his eyes "Father in heaven, You ordained ave us love We present to You Jared and Nina, who come this day to be married May the covenant of love they make be blessed with true devotion and spiritual coive them the ability to keep the covenant they have enerosity; when th; when there isbeco faith and an abiding love A at me with total love and devotion, more so than I ever saw in the proud eyes of ive to perform your vows?"