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He led Haven into the church and they paused at the beginning of the aisle, giving her a moment to take it all in Her vision blurred fro The peere packed full of people, sonize, and they all stood up the moment they entered She knew a lot of theanization and their families, but she didn’t mind They came for Carmine, and out of respect for the lanced toward the front, her eyes falling upon Carmine He stood frozen in spot, a look of wonder on his face Haven lost the battle against her tears, a few strea down her cheeks as they started down the aisle
Corrado let go of Haven when they reached the front, nodding at Car his way over to the front peith Celia The music stopped and the priest said a brief prayer, followed by a collective shuffling as everyone sat back down Haven handed Tess her bouquet to hold as Car fro she always did when she saw hi sure he rehed when her eyes fell upon his feet
"Nike’s?" she whispered "What happened to your shoes?"
His sot them"
Her tears continued to fall He quickly brushed a few of the them "Carmine and Haven, have you coive yourselves to each other in e?"
"Yes," they said simultaneously
"Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"
"Yes," they said again, not even having to think about it
"This isn’t custorooreed to grant their request"
The priest glanced between Car to get the lu to disappear "The first tio You told me it didn’t have to be that day, or the next day, or even that year You just wanted me to swear I would when I was ready I said yes, of course, and Iand ured out, but one thing I never doubted was that ere meant to be"
Haven paused to wipe her cheeks as more tears spilled from her eyes "When I firstlike anyone I’d ever s youmore than to stay away froave me hope You believed in me and helped me, and most of all, you loved me Me Out of all the people in the world, you pickedinvisible, but you saw me I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you I love you, Carmine Marcello DeMarco, and I want you to know I’m ready now I’m ready to spend the rest ofon the word He was trying to keep his co to crack in front of so many people
"Se He was hers forever
"I’ in the kitchen in North Carolina, and what a disaster it turned out to be," Carmine said "I didn’t expect anyone to be there I droppedto help, and I, uh, well, you knohat I did"
Haven sry back thenso broken Carmine still had cracks in hi hiether now and that hat h, is that as we sat like idiots in that puddle of juice, all I could think about was how beautiful you were How beautiful you are You were scared and confused, and I knoasn’t helping that, but underneath it all you were just beautiful, Haven You hadlater thatto cohed to hi I knew, everything I believedall of it went out theYou turned ain You saved h I didn’t realize it needed to be saved I thought I was fine, that I didn’t need anyone else, but I rong, because I do I need you Christ, I--"
Haven’s eyes widened as the priest inhaled sharply Car what he had just said "Shit," he spat instinctively, staod--"
Haven knehat he was going to say before the word slipped out and clamped her hand over his mouth before anyone else heard He stared at her cautiously with panic in his eyes Haven smiled softly, so he wouldn’t think she was upset, and he visibly relaxed When she reainst hers She kissed hiue came into contact with hers
"Not yet,hi ahead of yourself"
The priest cleared his throat, and Carh "Sorry, Father"
"Would you like to finish?" he asked
"Uh, no" Carh"
"So since it is your intention to enter into ht hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church," the priest said, obviously wanting to get the service over with Carether and squeezing gently
"Carmine, do you take Haven to be your wife? Do you proood times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life?"
"I do"
"Haven, do you take Carood times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?"
"I do"