They reached the centre of the foyer where the pastor, Clyde, and the girls with Four were waiting.
“Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.
Clyde grasped Lily Ann’s hand and escorted her the few steps up the raised platform. Once in the middle, they locked hands and stood facing each other.
In the background, the pastor opened the ceremony with a prayer.
She felt overwhelmed again with the crowd’s eyes on them. Her nerves caused her hands to tremble but were quickly calmed by Clyde rubbing his thumbs on hers.
Thank goodness he understands that it is the crowd that makes me nervous and not him. She heard the pastor asking Clyde to recite his vows.
“My beloved Lily Ann,” Clyde paused. “From this day forward, I promise to love you forever. I will be there for you no matter what the cost or the sacrifice. I will do my very best to be the husband that you need me to be. To love you when you’re on cloud nine and to love you when you’re broken. I promise to cherish, respect, and treasure you every day we are together. I promise to walk beside you through the good and the bad times. Our lives have collided together through numerous events, and I have shown you that I will be there, no matter what. I promise to never stop loving you, never stop holding you, and never stop encouraging you to be yourself. You, Lily Ann, are the centre of my universe forever.” Clyde dabbed his eyes with a tissue. “I love you with all my heart.”
Lily Ann rapidly blinked back the tears that were forming in her eyes. Her mouth quivered. “Clyde,” Lily Ann paused. She glanced down at his hands embracing hers. His thumbs continued to rub her knuckles. She swallowed hard and locked her eyes with his. “You are the man of my dreams, the man I thought I would never meet. Within two months of knowing you, you altered my life. You flooded me with unconditional love. No matter how difficult the conversations were, you remained calm and loved me. I promise to encourage, respect, and love you for the rest of our days together. There will be easy and difficult times, but I promise to love you no matter how difficult it gets. I love you with all my heart and I want to be the best wife I can to you. Clyde, you—” Lily Ann stopped and fought back the emotions welling up inside of her. She felt as if she was going to burst apart. Her breathing became labored and she felt lightheaded.
Not now. This is my big day.
Clyde sensed the urgency and engulfed her with loving arms.
Lily Ann calmed down and tried to collect her thoughts. Her memory drew a blank. “Clyde, I love you.” She sighed in relief.
In response to the pastor’s questions, Clyde backed up and untied the rings from Four’s collar. He held Lily Ann’s hand. “I do.” He slipped the ring on her finger.
Lily Ann’s eye’s sparkled. She placed the ring on his finger. “I do.” She felt Clyde’s hands slide around her waist as he drew her body close to his. His tender warm lips brushed against hers. His reassuring hand molded around her jaw as if they fit together perfectly, their commitment to each other sealed with a tender kiss.
Wife and mother of 6, Rita Peterson is an ambitious woman. Along with enjoying time with family, she spends her time reading, writing, homeschooling, maintaining a small hobby farm, and sharing knowledge on her YouTube channel, Everything Homemade. Rita loves to laugh and live life to the fullest on her property in northern Alberta, Canada.
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Heart's Cry Page 15