Whiskey Wedding (Tasting Nashville series Book 3) (5 page)

He offers his arm, and I loop mine through his. I notice the board over the front door where glass had been. My nerves are shooting off like fireworks. Rick holds the door open. When I walk in, my knees go weak, leaving Rick attempting to hold me steady.

I can see to the far end of the room, toward the stage.

Mel wears a tuxedo, to the best of his ability. I see Clive in a suit and bolo tie with his jeans.

I jump as hands caress my shoulders. I turn to find Dean wearing his tuxedo, the one we had picked out. He looks at me with tears in his eyes.

He mouths the words, “I’m so sorry” before dropping to one knee.

My heart is in my throat.

“Joselyn, you are my entire life, with or without a piece of paper. But this wedding is important, to both of us. I am so sorry for nearly fucking it all up. I’m sorry for causing you pain and heartache. I’m sorry for causing you tears and confusion. You deserve so much more than I can ever offer. But, please, please,” his voice cracks. “Please do me the honor of marrying me, right here where we met.”

I look around. The place is empty. I hadn’t noticed, but even Rick is wearing a sports coat.

“I don’t have anything here. I’m not ready.”

“Sure ya are.” Judy comes from around the corner holding my dress, covered in plastic of course so Dean can’t see it.

“What about the people at the house?”

“There’s beer and food with a note that says, ‘Off to get hitched. We’ll be back soon to get quenched’.”

I laugh. The woman thinks of everything.

“Yep, Mel’s here to give you away and perform the ceremony. Rick’s my best man, and Clive’s gonna sing. Judy’s your matron of honor. We’re all set, sugar. Just say yes.”

My hands flew to my mouth, “Oh, yes!”

Dean picks me up and swings me in circles while planting kisses all over my face. Something he always did when I cried, to kiss away the tears.

Judy steps in, separating us. “Come on, doll. We’ve got a little work to do.”

We disappear into the small bathroom. The same bathroom where I used to take sink baths while living out of my car. Now, I’m a bride preparing for my wedding. Surreal.

“I’ve got your makeup, lingerie, dress, and shoes. Shouldn’t take but a second.”

I glance around. “Flowers?”

Judy winks. “They’re being carried in from the car at this very moment.”

Moisture rushes my eyes.

“No ma’am. None of that. This is a good thing. You’re like a daughter me. None of this is out of obligation, honey. I love you. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be such a big part of your day. Just let me have that joy.”

Speechless, I smile and nod.

In true Judy fashion, I was ready for Bride Magazine in less than ten minutes. She quickly changed into her own dress.

Here we go.

We opened the door. Mel’s chin drops as he sees me step out. He offers his arm, and I quickly take it. Flowers line the walkway to the stage. Judy holds her own bouquet and passes me mine, a simple array of carnations.

Our song, ‘I’ve Waited My Whole Life’ echoed across the building. Clive’s voice paired perfectly with his acoustic guitar playing. Judy begins to walk, and it draws my eyes to the front.

Dean.

He’s waiting, a smile beaming from his cheeks.

Mel and I begin to walk. As we get closer, I see that Dean is struggling to keep his emotions in check, which only send my tears spilling down my trembling cheeks.

I realize that I want this more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my entire life. I want him, all of him, even that signature on that certificate. I want the good and the bad. The ups and the downs. I want every piece of him.

Mel passes me onto Dean. I feel his skin move with his pulse and am relieved to find that I’m not the only one who’s nervous. But when he looks down at me, I know. I know he wants all of the same things. This is right. It’s more than right.

Mel takes his spot. “Today, we take ourselves out of the usual routines of daily living to witness a unique moment in the lives of Joselyn and Dean. Today they join their lives in the union of marriage. Yes, even with drama, these two know this is meant to be. To the few people here to witness this occasion, they are happy to share this moment with you. They have known you for several years. You watched them grow together. Because you are the ones who have supported them and known them so well, it is only fitting that you are the ones to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment with them, whether it be on a ranch or in a BBQ joint. Joselyn would like to thank Judy for providing a beautiful ceremony and being the mother figure that she’s so thankful for today. Today’s a big day for Dean. Although he’s like a son to me, we’re happy to Clive, Dean’s father with us today.”

“A wedding day is often a day when couples miss family members no longer with them. For Joselyn and Dean, would like to remember their mothers today. We know they happily approve and are with us now. And so it is that Dean and Joselyn present themselves to be married today…surrounded by the people who are most important to them. As Dean and Joselyn prepared for the ceremony part of this wedding celebration, they reflected on what it is that they love about each other. It was easy for them! Dean, Joselyn loves that you complete her, leaving her whole. She sees in you a funny, kind, and sweet man. She loves that you think she is funny and that you always find a way to compliment her. She loves that you always want to be close. You remember details of the stories she tells. You want to be part of her history. Most importantly, you are so close that even when she is at her worst, you have never made her feel like you want anything but to be closer to her.”

“Joselyn, Dean loves that you always think about your relationship and put it first in your decisions and actions. He loves your brain, your smile, and your beauty. He appreciates that you are “low maintenance.” He likes that you can be really silly. He loves your way with words. He loves your cooking. He loves your kisses. He just really loves you! You both look to a shared future that includes raising a happy healthy family. That future also includes a richly lived life together… The years will come and go…you won’t take each other for granted, you will laugh a lot, you will be the best parents you can be, you will grow older and wiser together. It’s a good story, and the ending is not in sight.”

“We come now to the words Joselyn and Dean want to hear the most today…the words that take them across the threshold from being engaged to being married. A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.”

“This is where you confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today. Joselyn, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Dean in marriage? If so, answer ‘I do’.”

“Oh, I definitely do.”

“Dean, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Joselyn in marriage? If so, answer ‘I do’.”

“I do without a single doubt.”

“Joselyn, please give your bouquet to Judy. Joselyn and Dean, having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now ask you to declare your marriage vows. Please face each other and hold hands.”

“Joselyn, please repeat after me…
I, Joselyn take you, Dean to be my husband. I will share my life with yours, build our dreams together, support you through times of trouble, and rejoice with you in times of happiness. I promise to give you respect, love and loyalty through all the trials and triumphs of our lives together. This commitment is made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives
.”

“Dean, please repeat after me…
I, Dean, take you, Joselyn, to be my wife. I will share my life with yours, build our dreams together, support you through times of trouble, and rejoice with you in times of happiness. I promise to give you respect, love and loyalty through all the trials and triumphs of our lives together. This commitment is made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives
.”

“Your wedding ring are the outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible bond which already unites you two hearts in love. May it be a joy for Joselyn to wear for the rest of her life. I ask Rick to give Joselyn’s ring to Dean. Dean, place the ring on Joselyn’s finger and repeat after me…. I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. As this ring has no end, my love is also forever. Rick, now please give Dean’s ring to Joselyn. Joselyn, place the ring on Dean’s finger and repeat after me…. With this ring, I marry you. Wear this ring forever as a sign of my love. May the wedding rings you exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love.”

“Dean and Joselyn, you have just committed yourselves – one to the other – by the pledge of your marriage vows and the exchange of wedding rings. Your life is now one. To celebrate your new union. Now, son, you may kiss your lovely bride.”

The smile on his face was more like a shit-eating grin as he swaddles his arm around my waist and uses the other hand to cup my face. He pulls me in for a kiss, the kind of kiss that curls your toes and causes every hair to stand on end.

For only a few people there was a lot of hooting and hollering.

Holy shit, I’m married.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dean

Holy shit, I’m married. Thank God!

We busted open a couple of bottles of champagne and took turns making toasts. It didn’t last long because we needed to get back to the house for the reception to end all receptions. This couldn’t have worked out more perfectly.

“Mel, we’re with you. We’ll see everyone back at the house.”

“Babe, where’s your truck?” I remembered not seeing it in the parking lot.

“Long story. We’ll talk on the way back.”

Everyone gathered wedding gear and waited for Mel to lock down the restaurant.

The weight on my shoulders has been lifted. “Throwing a punch or two can be therapeutic, apparently,” Dean added as he filled Joselyn in on his day.

“So, you wrecked your truck, hurt your head, hitchhiked a ride, got into a fist fight with your dad, broke Mel’s door, and pulled off a wedding? All in one morning?”

“Yeah, well, we did some talking too. Still a lot more to go, but I think we’re headed in the right direction. Your point was made, and he was at the wedding. After everything I put you through, I thought the surprise wedding might be just what we needed. Like always, Rick helped pull it off.”

“And now?”

“And now, it’s Shiner time.”

Pulling up at the house was quite the surprise. Cars, limos, and RVs lined the pastures. We spotted Rick around the back of the house holding Bella. That was the one thing my girl had missed out on, riding Bella to the ceremony. Now, she can ride her into the reception.

“Oh my god! Seriously! You thought of everything!”

Rick winked. He was happy to let me take all the accolades. He’s a good man.

“I’ll meet you out there,” Dean rushed and kissed her cheek before running off.

CHAPTER NINE

Joselyn

There it is.

The tune. The song.

Rick tugs the reigns and we make our way through the crowd. The whispers were hushed as the music rang through the fields. Rick pulled Bella right up front, where Dean and Clive stood on stage.

Last Call

The cool wind grazes her frail skin, nipping, last call.

The cold in her veins, the incessant waiting on the next pains, whispering, last call.

Because… When life calls.

When our world crumbles and we fall.

Yelling, this is the wrong hand, the wrong damn card,

When life whispers – last call.

Helpless, she sits by and watches as others move on.

Restless, she listens as others carry on.

Hopeless, she sees others live on.

Because… When life calls.

When our world crumbles and we fall.

Yelling, this is the wrong hand, the wrong damn card,

When life whispers – last call.

But… When life calls, sometimes our world crumbles and we fall.

We yell and we scream. We fight, and we dream. We shuffle and re-deal.

Until life whispers, Baby girl, this isn’t real. It’s not your time to end.

It’s not your time to fall.

Dust yourself off and start again.

It’s not your last call.

The party continues. The words ring in my ears. I think about the time I spent writing that song and how dark it was until my remission. My life is waiting. Tonight, there will be no last call.

Cheers, the end.

Kimmie’s other books: