Guy looked back at Charlotte’s door, wanting to risk Sabine’s wrath just to see his bride one more time, but his feet began carrying him down the stairs instead. He regretted having to leave Charlotte for even a minute, but his sister was right. Guy was stopped several more times on his way to the chapel behind the château by friends and family migrating from the house to the church to take their seats for the ceremony. More than one of them looked quite surprised to be there for the purpose of attending his wedding. Guy could only laugh at some of their comments. After all, they had known him his whole life, and he was as surprised as any of them to find himself in such a position.
“Warren, come back!” Guy’s mother called out shortly after he stepped into the crowded foyer of the church.
The shout drew Guy’s attention, but he only smiled as the excited little boy crashed into him. Warren was grinning from ear to ear as he announced, “Uncle Eli and Uncle Vance were telling jokes about you, saying you climbed out a window to run away!” He laughed hysterically at such an idea.
Guy chuckled as well. His friends knew there was no chance of him ever running from Charlotte, but they could still appreciate the levity of finding themselves at Guy’s wedding when he had spent the last ten years complaining about the futility of commitment and marriage.
Taking Warren’s hand, he led him over to where the rest of the wedding party was milling around. Eli, Vance, and Leo were off to the side, out of the way of guests who were coming through the foyer to take their seats, no doubt laughing at him still. Intending to thank his friends for telling such jokes in front of his son, Guy started toward them, but he was derailed by his mother bustling up to them looking somewhat frantic.
“Guy, where have you been? I told you to be down here half an hour ago.” Her expression was one he knew well. She expected an apology, but he could not muster up even a little regret for having snuck in to see his bride instead of arriving on time.
“Charlotte was too tempting to resist, but I am here now.”
She frowned at him, but there was a hint of a smile beneath. “Well, it is time for you to both take your places.” Her eyes pinned Warren to the spot. “You must stay right next to your papa, yes? Once you walk up the aisle, do not sit back down until you are told. No running around during the ceremony.”
Warren nodded eagerly. He was bursting with excitement, but Guy knew he would take his role as Junior Best Man very seriously. Michael and Carmody were the actual Best Man and Matron of Honor, as well as the witnesses, but Guy had wanted to make Warren’s role special. He had begged to be able to hold the ring in his pocket, but didn’t want to be the ring bearer carrying some silly pillow, as he put it, so they settled on the title of Junior Best Man and let him carry Charlotte’s ring. Warren had been thrilled his request had been granted, but Guy thought it best to hold onto the ring until right before the ceremony.
Clearly, Warren knew it was time. “Where’s the ring? Do you have it? I need to put it in my pocket, please! Let me see the ring, Papa!”
Guy chuckled at his enthusiasm as he took Charlotte’s ring from his breast pocket and held it out for Warren. The little boy grabbed for it excitedly, but Guy held it back. “Now, you must be very careful. Do not take it out of your pocket until you are told. Do it just as we practiced, oui?”
“Oui, I can do it. I won’t lose it, I promise.” When Guy finally allowed him to take the ring, Warren held it reverently and quickly slipped it into the little pocket on his suit coat. He kept his hand pressed against the opening of the pocket, clearly worried it might fall out.
“Guy! Guy! Guy!” Lily squealed as she ran through the doors to launch herself into Guy’s arms. She had also wanted to carry a ring, but Carmody paled at the idea of letting her be in charge of something so important. Charlotte had been the one to come up with the perfect solution.
Lifting the simple silver chain from the front of her dress, Guy dangled the platinum band back and forth. “You are taking good care of my ring, oui?”
Lily nodded frantically, her freshly styled curls bouncing all over the place. “Mommy said, don’t touch! I just wear it.”
“Good girl,” Guy said with a laugh.
Guy’s mother hurried up behind the two children and pulled them both into a warm hug. “It is time for you two to line up. Are you ready?” They both bobbed their heads up and down. “Good, good, then follow me, little dears.”
As Guy stood, he saw that the adults were being rounded up as well. Eli, Vance, Leo, and Michael trooped past him, all pulling him into a hug or clapping him on the back as they passed. The bridesmaids followed close behind. Carmody hurried ahead to help get Warren and Lily settled. Guy did not mind at all that they were holding hands and spinning in circles, but Carmody looked mortified. Stephanie and Leila walked together to meet Sabine, who had just arrived to usher them all into their proper places. She was quite efficient at lining up the bridesmaids and groomsmen with Michael and Carmody at the end of the line to serve as the two witnesses. The only ones not wrangled into place were the smallest members of the wedding party.
Guy could not help tearing up a bit when he saw Warren break free of Sabine and run over to hug Leila. He watched as his son pressed his face into Leila’s growing belly. Warren’s lips moved, talking to the baby he already referred to as his cousin. Warren had asked on more than one occasion when he would get to have his own baby. The answer was always the same. As soon as Mommy is better.
Pulled out of his thoughts by a hand landing firmly on his shoulder, Guy turned to face an old family friend. Guy had known the priest his entire life, and would not have wanted anyone else to officiate. Pulling the man into a hug, Guy said, “Thank you for being here, Father Deniau.”
Guy half expected a wry comment from the man, but instead, all he said was, “I am proud of you, Guy, and very happy to be here today.” He pulled Guy into a brief hug before Sabine ushered him up to the front of the processional line.
It seemed like ages before Charlotte and her parents finally arrived. As soon as they stepped into the church, Guy tried to approach his bride, but Sabine would not allow it. She pinned him with a glare that promised severe consequences, and pulled Charlotte away from him. She did not go far, though. When Guy’s parents stepped away from their duties as hosts, they each took one of his arms. Seeing his mother near tears when she took her place was not surprising, but seeing his father struggle with his emotions affected him deeply.
“I am very proud of you, my son,” his father said. “We are both so happy for you. You will be a wonderful husband and father.”
For a moment it was too difficult to speak. Guy’s emotions would not let him, so he pulled his father into a crushing embrace instead. When he finally released him, all he could say was, “Thank you, Papa.”
Before either of them could say anything else, the music began. Guy looked at Charlotte, who stood in front of him with her parents, and found her looking back at him with a brilliant smile lighting up her face. He returned her smile, excitement filling him as the processional began moving.
As they walked up the aisle, Guy could not take his eyes off Charlotte. He knew others would be taking in her dress and flowers. The dress was magnificent, having been designed by Leila, with Sabine’s input, whether it was wanted or not. Charlotte had adored the strapless bodice covered in delicate ruching, embroidery, and organza flowers, but what had truly made her fall in love with the design was the full skirt layered with ripples of organza that had somehow been gathered into grand, beautiful rosettes over the entire length of the skirt and train. It was amazing, and every guest in the assembly appreciated its beauty, but Charlotte outshone the dress with her joy.
Before Guy knew it, they had arrived at the altar where Father Deniau waited. Smiling, he watched as the wedding party took their seats and the couple’s parents hugged and kissed their children before handing them over to the priest. Guy had always imagined that if he somehow ever found himself involved in such a
ceremony as the groom, he would be panicking, but he only felt a sense of peace as he took Charlotte’s hand and they stepped up to kneel at the altar.
“My dear friends,” Father Deniau began, “we come here on this beautiful afternoon to celebrate the Holy Sacrament of marriage with Guy and Charlotte.”
Guy did his best to pay attention to the priest’s words and through the first and second readings. Sabine and Leo both struggled to get through their parts without letting their emotions get the best of them, but it was not easy. Guy wanted to remember every moment, but Charlotte stole much of his attention as they sat in front of the assembly and listened to the liturgy. He was almost startled when Father Deniau asked everyone to stand again. Guy realized they had reached the Rite of Marriage, and immediately his attention was focused.
“Dear friends, you have gathered here in this church so the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of the Church’s minister, this community, and the Lord. He will enrich and strengthen you through this special sacrament that you may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity. Now, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions.
“Guy Rémi Saint Laurent and Charlotte Elizabeth Brooks, have you come here of your own free will, without reservation, to give yourselves to each other in marriage?”
Guy and Charlotte were both smiling as they said, “Yes.”
“Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?”
“Yes.”
“Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church?”
Before either of them could answer, Warren turned to Eli and whispered, rather loudly, “See, he said child-ren. I told you I get to have my own baby when Mommy’s better.” He said it so happily, so focused on proving his point to Eli, that he was quite startled when everyone began chuckling. Red faced, he slunk down in the pew, but Charlotte and Guy only smiled at him.
Turning back to Father Deniau, they both meant it wholeheartedly as they said, “Yes.”
Father Deniau continued happily, saying, “Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands and declare your consent before God and Church.”
Guy took Charlotte’s right hand in his, but the sight of her tearful eyes stole his words. In that moment, he could not understand how he had been so lucky, so blessed to have her in his life. Struggling to overcome his emotions, Guy said, “I, Guy, take you, Charlotte, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness…”
His voice broke, and nearly everyone in the assembly seemed to break down. Guy had heard these same words so many times, but never had they impacted him, or anyone else there, so deeply. Charlotte had tears running down her cheeks as she stared up at him. Guy’s chin quivered as he fought to continue.
“In sickness, and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.” Charlotte reached up and wiped away Guy’s tears as her own continued to fall.
“I, Charlotte, take you, Guy, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Both Guy and Charlotte turned back to Father Deniau, expecting him to continue, but he was wiping his face with his handkerchief. He was not the only one. Half the assembly seemed to be in the same condition. Guy’s hand tightened around Charlotte’s. She returned the gesture. She had once been so hesitant of accepting help from his friends and family, but in this moment, they both felt the love of everyone around them.
“I apologize,” Father Deniau said as he stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket. After settling himself, he picked up where they had left off. “You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in His goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with His blessings. What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen.”
Father Deniau gestured for the rings and the two little keepers leapt from their seats eagerly, making everyone chuckle. Father Deniau smiled as he accepted Charlotte’s ring from Warren, but grimaced just a bit when he took Guy’s ring from Lily. Everyone figured out why when he reached for his handkerchief again and wiped away the sticky slobber left over from having her fingers in her mouth prior to handing over the ring. Carmody and Michael shook their heads in embarrassment, but Guy and Charlotte only laughed.
With a smile, Father Deniau set both rings on a small tray prepared for the blessing of the rings. "Lord, bless these rings, which we bless in your name. Grant that those who wear them may always do your will and live together in peace and compassion. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Reverently, Father Deniau sprinkled each of the rings with Holy water. He smiled as he held them before the couple, and said, “May these rings be a symbol of true faith in each other, and always remind you of your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Guy took the proffered ring and slipped it onto Charlotte’s finger as he said, “Charlotte, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”
Taking Guy’s ring from the priest, Charlotte placed it on Guy’s finger as she repeated the words as well. “Guy, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”
Guy knew there was much more to the ceremony, but it all slipped away as he stared at his new bride. The prayers and the rest of the liturgies would follow, but she was his and he was hers. This one woman who had somehow managed to redefine who he thought he was, who had drawn him out of his singular life into a world ruled by love, compassion, and sacrifice… she was everything to him. It was a world he never imagined wanting to find himself in, but now, he would never want anything different. Charlotte was the only one who could show him what love truly meant, the only woman capable of breaking his heart if he had lost her, and she was his for the rest of his life.
No one objected as he leaned down and took his wife into his arms. His kiss was gentle and soft, but filled with more love than he had ever thought himself capable. They still had so much to battle, but he was not afraid to face it with her.
The End
Acknowledgements
When I wrote book one of this series, not a soul besides the Limitless team had read the entire book. That certainly wasn’t so with Shark Out of Water. This was one of those books that got written within two months because I simply could not stop working on it, and then went through a ridiculous amount of revisions. Mainly the first seven chapters.
I owe a huge thanks to my beta team for helping me straighten out the beginning so I could introduce readers to Guy in the right way so they loved him as much as I did. So, thank you so much to Michelle Zeplin, Sandy Totz, Brittany Willis, Mylissa Demeyere, Yvonne Ravenwood, Sneha Mohite, Robyn Steele, Amy Bartelloni, Rachel Hamm, Rebecca Engelmann, Kristy Hamilton, Apryl Baker, Nikki Jeffrey, Samreen Ahsan, Leticia Santiago, and SeriouslyGina.
Mylissa Demeyere deserves a special round of thanks for slogging through all my bad French, making corrections and keeping Guy from saying anything offensive! She is awesome and I really appreciate her taking the time to tune up my sorely rusty French. Rachel Hamm deserves a special thanks as well for cramming this into her busy schedule and giving me detailed comments on what needed to be fixed and why, and telling me what parts she loved when I really needed to hear it. I always turn to her for advice on writing romance because she’s simply amazing at it and everyone should read her books. I also owe SerioslyGina a big thanks for giving me that last piece of advice I needed to make the first chapter grab readers' attention and pull for Guy and Charlotte from page one.
Thank you as well to the wonderful team at Limitless Publishing for all the hard work they’ve done on this book, from editing and cover art to answering questions and marketing. This is a great team and I’m so glad to be working with them
.
My husband and two children deserve a mountain of credit and thanks, for putting up with me on a daily basis and keeping me from losing sight of what’s really important.
About the Author
DelSheree Gladden was one of those shy, quiet kids who spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn't speak a single word for the first three months of preschool, but she had already taught herself to read. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting and perfecting it before having it published.
Native to New Mexico, DelSheree and her husband spent several years in Colorado for college and work before moving back home to be near family again. Their two children love having their seventeen cousins close by. When not writing, you can find DelSheree reading, painting, sewing and trying not to get bitten by small children in her work as a dental hygienist. DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series, including "Invisible" which was part of the USA Today Bestselling box set, "Pandora." The Date Shark Series is her first contemporary romance series.
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/AuthorDelShereeGladden
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DelSheree
Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/4305414.DelSheree_Gladden
Website:
www.delshereegladden.com/
Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/delsheree/
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCvhRQvJy3KJhllsepnX6ogQ/videos
Linkedin
www.linkedin.com/pub/delsheree-gladden/65/990/744/
Shark Out of Water Page 28