Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 97951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Pastor Johnson began the wedding ceremony with a prayer, with all the guests joining in, bowed heads and a resounding “Amen,” at the end.
After the prayer was over, the couple were invited to each light a candle. One of the bride’s maid’s handed one candle to Nadia, and the other to Lennox. On a nearby table, a third candle was standing there waiting to be lit. The table was covered in a red and white checkerboard cloth, and there were forks and knives placed on the napkins, as well as glasses filled with cola.
Lennox chanced a glance at Nadia, and quickly regretted it. He turned away, resisting the emotions that bubbled just below the surface. His heart literally thumped like mad every time he dared to look into her eyes since the moment she exited the limo. They stood side by side, placed their candles together, then lit the third candle that was on the table. Once they were done, they handed their candles to the pastor who hurriedly extinguished them, and set them aside.
He went through the traditional wedding vows, and each of them said, ‘I do,’ when asked.
“Now we’ve come to the part where I ask Nadia if she has any words she wishes to share with Lennox. Would you like to speak?” Nadia nodded, then turned towards Lennox. “Go right ahead.” They faced one another, their eyes welling.
“You look so beautiful,” he whispered. He exhaled a long sigh of joy.
“Thank you,” she whispered back. “Everyone, I had written my vows down, but I decided last minute to just… talk to Lennox the way we normally talk. No pretenses. Just love leading the way.” She cleared her throat and looked into his eyes. “Lennox, it’s so cliché, but in our case it really is true. Today, I am marryin’ my best friend. You were there for me when I wasn’t there for myself. I was young and didn’t have everything figured out. I still don’t have everything figured out, but I have a clear direction on where I want to go in life, and who I want to take that journey with. The person I want right by my side. That’s you. My life partner. I want to take this ride with you, and only you. You are my strength when I am weak. You are my smile when I feel down in the dumps. You’re my encourager, and my truth teller when I feel discouraged, or need a dose of reality.
“We’ve been through a lot separately, and we’ve been through a lot as a couple—but the mountains we had to climb together were for growth, not because we didn’t love each other enough to see the tough times through.” He nodded, his heart full and about to burst. “I feel so incredibly blessed to have you in my life. To be able to soon call you my husband. To know that from this day forward, you and I are a team, not just in words but before God. You are my bodyguard when I feel afraid but am too scared to admit it. You just step in, knowing what I need, when I need it. My prayer…” She paused, briefly closed her eyes and swallowed. “Sorry.” Her voice cracked. “My prayer is to be a good wife to you. A good support system. A friend in every sense of the word.
“Someone you can trust and rely on. I may not be that young lady anymore that you met in the pantry of this very restaurant, who was cryin’ her eyes out over life’s misfortunes and uncertainties. But I still have the youthful optimism of a child when it comes to hopes and dreams, and I still get butterflies every time I look at you.” The guests aahed, and some patted tears from their eyes. “Today is a good day. The best day. A new start. Today, we are here with our loved ones to celebrate our union, and today, you are here in my heart and I in yours. Forever. We’re making a promise. Taking an oath. I love you, Lennox. There are no words to describe just how true and deep my love for you is. Just know that what God put together, nobody, no matter how meek, mild or Wilde,” she smiled and winked at him through her happy tears, “can dare to tear us apart.”
Their guests clapped and yelled out happy praises.
“Lennox, do you have anything you wish to say to Nadia?” Pastor Johnson asked.
“Yes… yes.” He took her hands into his and looked deeply into her eyes. His lower lip trembled and tears streamed down his cheeks. He looked away, then heard voices telling him it was okay, and to take his time. He faced her once again.
“The very first time I saw you here at the Red Rooster, I thought, ‘Damn, she’s cute as hell!’ Sorry for the colorful language, Pastor, but that’s what I actually thought.” People erupted in laughter, and so did he. Nadia’s cheeks flushed with color as she succumbed to the merriment. “But then, we got to know each other, and I saw you as more than just a pretty face. I saw you as a true friend. You used to put music on CDs for me, and we spent a lot of time opening the restaurant together. Just you and me…You intrigued me so much, Nadia. I had never met anyone like you in my entire life. I loved that you had a different background from me, and a different culture too, even though we’re both red-blooded Americans. We appreciated each other’s differences. Learned from one another.