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The music
carried her down the aisle until she stood in front of Jack. She
turned and passed her bouquet to Tabitha and saw the two empty
chairs on the front row. She smiled, managing to hold back the
tears, and turned back to Jack, her hands firmly held in his. The
music quietly drifted away.

“
Please be
seated,” the registrar said.

He looked
ancient, almost like he couldn’t survive the entire ceremony. His
back stooped, as a few strands of grey hair that held on for dear
life, waved in the breeze. Topaz eyes twinkled with mischief as he
prepared to address them and their family.

Everyone sat
and Cora could feel their eyes were focused on them. She tried to
ignore the fact that she hated to be the centre of
attention.

“
I would like
to welcome everyone to this special day, a glorious day where we
finally unite Cora Device and Jack Whittle after waiting for over
four hundred years.”

“
What? Did I
hear that right?” Mrs Rogers gasped and turned to look around for
confirmation.

Cora laughed
as Ryan tried to explain that the registrar had said four
years.

“
Sorry, dearie,
it’s my age, my ears aren’t what they used to be,” Mrs Rogers
sighed and waved her hand for the registrar to continue.

Jack grinned
at her, his eyes shining as his hand held hers tighter. Their party
laughed as Mrs Rogers sat with a smile on her face.

“
Okay, Cora and
Jack, you are about to be married in accordance to the law in my
presence and the presence of witnesses. Before you are joined in
matrimony, I have to remind you of the solemn and binding contract,
although after all these years I’m sure the two of you know,” the
registrar said with a smile.

“
Oh, yes,” Jack
whispered. “We know.”

The man
smiled. “Who gives this woman today?”

Ayden stepped
forward and cleared his throat. “I do.”

“
Thank
you.”

Cora smiled at
Ayden and watched him as he sat down next to one of the empty
chairs. His hand resting on his knee, just in case her mother
wanted to hold on.

“
On this
beautiful day, I will hand over to the lovely couple who have
decided to say their own vows. Jack?”

Jack looked
into Cora’s eyes, held her hands and smiled. “You are so beautiful,
but to me, everyday you look beautiful.”

“
But the makeup
looks good,” Ember muttered, making them laugh.

“
Yeah, the
makeup looks great, Ember. Cora, I can’t believe that you are
finally mine. I knew this day was coming, and I have spent ages
trying to think of what to say to you, trying to put everything we
have been through into words. I couldn’t. I thought back to the
moment I first met you, the second time, and I remember how
horrible I was to you. I hurt you. I shouted at you, and you kicked
my ass.”

The men
laughed.

“
I don’t know
whether I believe in love at first sight, but I do believe in true
love. I do believe in soul mates. I believe there is one person out
there for someone, and I’ve been so lucky to find mine... twice.
From the moment I threw a chip at your head, I’ve fallen more in
love with you as each day passes.” Jack waited as a few of their
friends laughed. “You are my true love, Cora. I’ve loved you for
many years, and I look forward to what may come. It is going to be
one hell of a ride.”

Jack slipped
the ring over her finger, “I love you.”

Cora sniffed,
holding back the force of tears as she held the ring over Jack’s
finger.

“
Jack Whittle,
what can I say about you...yes...I kicked your ass, and just so you
know, I will continue to do it every day of our lives that we are
together. I required a little help...” Cora turned to Tabitha and
accepted the book from her.

“
Our family
books?” Jack asked, confused.

“
Yeah, but I
just need to do one thing. She turned to their friends and family,
trying to ignore the jump of nerves when she saw the sea of faces.
“Mrs Rogers, I wanted you to know that you are surrounded by
witches.”

Mrs Rogers
smiled serenely. “I know, dearie.”

Cora laughed
and shook her head. “You know?”

“
Oh yes, only a
witch could sell the magic in that shop. I am glad you’ve finally
admitted it.”

Cora shrugged
as everyone around her laughed. She couldn’t believe it.

“
So, you have
been together four hundred years?” Mrs Rogers asked.

“
No...but the
book helps to fill in the gaps,” Cora told her as she turned back
to Jack. In this book I see the details of our time together. From
the beginning, through to this day.” She took a deep breath and
told everyone the entry.

18
^th
July 2014-

Cora Device
and Jack Whittle marry.

“
From my book,
I can see that we have been friends since 1609, how can we not have
been, especially when our parents were friends. I can’t say I loved
you then, like I do now, but I can say you were a part of my life,
a constant...Tabitha has revealed something to me, something I want
to share with you. It is the night we were engaged the first time.
Tab?”

Tabitha stepped up
onto the platform and looked at the two of them, tears shimmered
her eyes. “I’m going to tell you about the day you finally dared to
reveal your love for each other.”

Jack swallowed as he
looked at Tabitha, his hand squeezing hers.

“
We
were all
celebrating your move home. Alizon
loved her gatherings, she’d find any excuse for one. You’d been
living with Jack and his family since your roof was set on fire.
Another story for another time.” Tabitha waved her hand and
smiled.

“
Cora, you walked out
with a potato salad, put it on the table with all the food and
dropped onto the floor whilst wearing your best dress. I remember
your mother looking at you in anger, dismay. She told you that you
will get your dress dirty, and your response was, ‘at least it’s
still in one piece.’ You were terrible at keeping your dresses as
they were. For some reason, you cut them, to make them smaller. You
are also just as sarcastic today as you were then.

“
The moment Jack
arrived, you changed. You glowed. You smiled. The moment he asked
you to dance, I swear, I could hear everyone inhale a breath. Even
I looked on, just to see what would happen. We all knew. We all
waited. Jack pulled you close to him and I thought he would kiss
you, and risk a beating, but he didn’t. The feelings were clear
though.

“
Eli finished playing
his song, and you decided to risk the kiss, Jack. Once you’d
finished, Cora’s grandfather asked if you were going to marry. He
was a very straightforward kind of man.” Tabitha looked at Cora,
smiled before looking at Jack.

“
And Jack, your
response was, ‘it’s a distinct possibility, Sir.’ Your mother was
saying how she knew, but your grandmother wasn’t happy. She wanted
to know a date. She wanted you to commit, and now you have... I’m
sure your whole family is smiling with you today. I just wanted to
share that little piece of history with you.”

Tabitha stepped down
off the platform and stood with Ember, tears were falling down
Ember’s cheeks. Cora was struggling to breathe as Jack’s warm
chocolate eyes shimmered.

Cora took a deep
breath. “So, we set a date four hundred years ago, and now today,
it has become a reality. Jack, you
are my
rock, my constant, my everything. We’ve been through some hard
times. I’ve lost my way on many occasions, but you’ve always been
there for me, fighting for me. I think of my life and I can’t
imagine it without you. From the boy who I loved, to the man who I
adore, I will love you until the end of my days.”

The ring
slipped over his finger. As she did so, she could hear the sniffles
of the ladies around them.

“
By the power
invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss
your bride, Jack.”

Jack grinned
and slid his arm around her waist. As the sun dipped over the
hills, Jack pushed her over and kissed her deeply. The cheer from
the crowd drowned out the blood pumping in her head.

Jack let her
stand up right before he kissed her again. “I love you, Mrs
Whittle.”

“
Device-Whittle,” Cora laughed.

“
Please, ladies
and gentleman, follow me.” Ember led the way around the vines and
into the reception area.

“
Jack, Cora,
you look beautiful. Look at me,” Cameron instructed, suddenly
appearing from nowhere.

Ember gave him
the thumbs up. “Hold on, beautiful,” he said with a wicked
grin.

She giggled as
Jack’s energy wrapped around her. His hands held her waist as they
floated up together. Cora’s skirt floated around her.

“
Lovely!”
Cameron called.

“
He hasn’t seen
anything yet,” Jack said as his lips brushed up against hers, his
tongue parted her lips as he deepened the kiss. Her hands fell to
her sides, the bouquet hanging down by her side as Jack spun them
in a circle in the air. Her dress flew around her, the material
shimmering from the pink hue of the setting sun.

50

Home

After
thousands of photos and standing around as people congratulated
them, they finally walked into the enchanted vine area to the sound
of applause. The vine balls were subtly alight as the bulbs above
the dance floor cast a soft glow. It looked like a
fairytale.

The tables
looked beautiful with the twinkling lights and the balls of
lisianthus and gypsophillia sitting on top of them. Jack’s hand
held hers as they made their way to the dance floor. She floated
with him, her dress sliding over the dance floor. Jack’s hand slid
around her waist, pulling her into his body as he moved smoothly
into their first dance. He kissed her neck, just a soft brush of
his lips, as they swayed to the music.

“
Are you
happy?” Jack murmured, his lips brushing her ear.

“
Blissfully
so,” Cora sighed.

“
We can start
living our lives together, the one we should have lived for some
long. I found you and I’m never letting you go. You’re my beautiful
wife now. I can let my fingers wander around your body in front of
everyone, if I wanted to,” Jack teased with a wicked
grin.

“
Whilst I have
eyes in my head, don’t do that in front of me,” Ayden said as he
walked past Jack.

Cora laughed
as Jack spun her around and pulled her back into his arms. She
watched their family, their friends dance around them. Flynn held
Ember close, whisking her around the floor. For a moment they
looked at each other, Ember shrugged and Flynn’s lips fused with
Ember’s. Cora giggled. It was about time.

Their song
ended and she was passed a flute of champagne from Tabitha, who
appeared to be everywhere at one time.

“
Ladies and
gentleman, your dinner awaits,” Tabitha told them and stepped down
from the platform.

Cora, with
Jack’s help, sat at their table, the largest vine swaying above
their heads. They watched as everyone took their seats. The happy
banter, the laughter, filtered into the lovely evening air. She
felt warmth brush up against her and looked at Tabitha who smiled
as a waiter appeared and put the dish on their table.

Cora looked at
it for a full minute before laughing. Jack held her hand to his
lips and kissed it, before he got to work on the fish and
chips.

“
Don’t throw
any chips tonight, Jack!” Clay shouted.

“
I will see how
the mood takes me,” Jack laughed.

As they ate, a
steady flow of people joined them. Ember had put an extra chair at
their table for just the occasion. Their guests shared kind words,
a memory, something to brighten their day. Jack and Cora must have
spoken with everyone before they’d finished desserts. Cora had
never felt so relaxed. It had been a good idea of Ember’s so they
didn’t have to circulate the room themselves.

Clay had made
them laugh as he approached their table holding a plate. On that
plate was a scone, jam and cream. Cora smiled as she looked at
it.

“
To what may
have been,” Clay joked and bent down to kiss her cheek.

Jack laughed
and punched his arm before standing and hugging him. Cora heard him
tell Clay that if Jack wasn’t here, there was no one he trusted
more with her.

Cora nibbled
on the scone, ignoring the burning in the back of her throat. Her
beautiful make up was no longer beautiful. As the last of the
dishes was cleared away, they were ushered to cut their three
tiered cake. The bottom layer was emerald green, the second layer
was red, the top layer was purple. On the top of this cake was a
witch’s broom with two realistic icing people that looked like Cora
and Jack sitting on the back of it. The entire cake shimmered from
the glitter. Cora loved it. They held the knife, smiling for photos
before slicing the cake and eating it. As they made their way back
to their table, everyone had stood as Tabitha stepped up onto a
platform, holding a glass in the air. Ember sauntered by them,
placing a glass in each of their hands. Conversation ended as
everyone waited for Tabitha.