Beyond Promise

by Karice Bolton

  Ayden and I stepped back onto the platform and turned to face one another, my hands still in his as Ayden’s father began.

  “Love is complicated. Love is brutal. Love is uplifting. Love soars with the eagles and slithers with the snakes. Love sees things that no one else does. Love understands what no one else can. Love doesn’t conquer, love overcomes.”

  Ayden squeezed my hand.

  “Love defines lives. Love helps two people choose how to live. Love doesn’t make life easy, but it makes life worth living. Love seizes those small forgettable moments and creates a sensation so deep—so profound—that life becomes extraordinary. Love doesn’t predict the future. Love doesn’t promise a future because love is beyond promise. Love is one step better than promises. Love is potential.”

  Ayden’s gaze steadied on mine, and I took a deep breath in, trying to push down the lump that was already forming.

  “Do you have your vows?” Ayden’s father asked.

  We both nodded and I began.

  “Love is beyond reason. Love can be waiting for a person right in front of them, and they don’t see it until the time is right. Ayden, the time is right.”

  The guests twittered and Ayden’s lips curled into a glorious grin.

  “You’ve seen me at my worst and have lifted me to my best. I couldn’t ask for anyone more loyal, protective, kind-hearted, and fun loving. You’re full of life, a life I’m blessed to be part of. You broke down my walls and made me realize what it meant to truly love someone unconditionally. And you’re patient, which God knew I needed. I love you, Ayden Rhodes, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together in or out of the ring, jumping out of planes, diving into the deep blue sea, heli-skiing, or watching movies at home. Sharing my life with you is heaven on earth, and I look forward to my own version of paradise.”

  Ayden took a step forward and leaned down, kissing me.

  “Not how it works, son,” Ayden’s dad laughed, along with the rest of the guests.

  Ayden’s lips fell from mine and he took a step back. I detected a slight smirk and my heart filled with glee.

  “Lily, something I don’t think you understand—truly understand—is that I’ve been in love with you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. My brother and the rest of my family can attest to it.”

  “It’s true,” Mason whispered.

  I blushed but basked in the glory as Ayden continued.

  “People roll their eyes when it comes to love at first sight, but I think they’re missing the point, and that point is that finding someone you connect with offers hope. It offers promise so the idea of love at first sight is really offering a promise to explore the idea of love. Being near you spoke to my heart. It showed me what I’d be missing if I couldn’t have you. I’d miss out on your jokes, your feistiness, your glorious laughter, your sultry voice. I’d miss out on the chance to get to know a person who offers me great promise. Promise to become a better man for the woman I love. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, Lily. You make me smile when I don’t feel like smiling, and when I can’t smile, you smile for me. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I want to be in the weeds with you as much as I want to soar with you. You’ve made my life extraordinary, Lily. And for that I thank you.”

  The tears I vowed to not shed were slipping down my face. Brandy stuffed tissue in my hand and I dabbed the joyful tears away. I glanced at Ayden’s dad, who was also swiping at a few strays as well, and I knew I was in good company.

  This time I leaned over and stood on my toes, sweeping a kiss across Ayden’s mouth.

  “I give up,” Ayden’s dad teased.

  I came back down and stood in place.

  “Do we have the rings?”

  Gabby walked over to Katie and took the pillow from her and stood back behind me.

  “Repeat after me, Lily. I, Lily, take thee Ayden, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this moment forward…”

  I, Lily, take thee Ayden, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this moment forward…” I paused and waited for more.

  “For better—for worse, for richer—for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part and even after that.”

  The guests chuckled.

  “For better—for worse, for richer—for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part and even after that.”

  “The ring?” Ayden’s dad asked.

  Gabby handed me Ayden’s platinum band and I slid it on his finger.

  “Like a glove,” he whispered and I giggled.

  “I, Ayden, take thee Lily, to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward for better—for worse, for richer—for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part and even after that.” Ayden squeezed my hands and took the ring from Gabby. He slid the diamond and ruby band up my finger, and I wanted nothing more than to be kissed by my husband.

  “I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  I wrapped my arms around Ayden’s neck, and our lips met in our first kiss as husband and wife as the excitement and realization zipped through my body at an unstoppable speed.

  Ayden slowly released his embrace, and I unwrapped my arms from his neck as the guests cheered. I turned to my two best friends and whispered, “You’re next,” as U2’s “Beautiful Day” led us down the aisle to a party and a life that was just getting started.

  The reception was like one big beach party. Hanging lanterns stretched across the sand, and short and tall tables dotted the beach where friends and family congregated. I looked over at my husband, who was drinking a beer and standing next to Mason, chatting away. He was leaning on one of the taller bar tables that had been draped with burlap. Orchids hung along the rough fabric, and seashells mounded in the center of the table created the perfect centerpiece with the candles flickering in the night’s breeze. Appetizers were being passed and soon the buffet would open. We decided to change up the order of events, and Jenny informed me now was the moment to grab Ayden for our first untraditional tradition.

  I made my way across the beach, sinking into the soft sand and shaking the granules off my foot with each step toward Ayden.

  “Ready?” I whispered, sneaking up on him.

  Ayden set his beer on the table and spun around. His molten gaze secured mine, and I liquefied on the spot. His eyes were so arresting that it wouldn’t take much for me to forget we had a beach full of guests and follow him to the suite never to return.

  “Absolutely, Mrs. Rhodes. Whatever you say.” He bent down and gave me a long kiss. My short veil shrouded us from the guests as his kisses deepened, and my stomach stirred with a pull that told me to leave the reception far behind.

  “Really?” Mason interrupted.

  My giggles ruined our kiss, and Ayden released me, smacking his brother’s arm. “You just wait.”

  “Yeah. You just wait,” Tori goaded.

  Ayden slid his hand around mine, and we wobbled our way over to the cake table. Jenny handed me a microphone and the music softened. I flashed a dimpled grin and felt Ayden’s embrace as I began

  “Because in life, I don’t think we should ever have to wait for cake, we’re cutting the wedding cake now.”

  “My kind of wedding,” Brandy seconded.

  “Since I think cake is one of the most important aspects of this whole event, feel free to grab a slice whenever you like.”

  Katie jumped up and down, clutching onto Gabby’s small arrangement of orchids, and shouted, “cake,” to the world as if it were the most exciting thing in Bermuda. And maybe it was.

  Ayden and I stepped toward the three-tiered cake, and I glanced at Ayden and whispered, “It’s so beautiful. I feel bad for cutting it.”

  “It’s beckoning us,” Ayden assured me as we both stood holding the knife as the photographer snapped away.

  Even though the wedding cake was three
tiers, the form itself was narrow. The base was ivory, and tiny aqua fondant ribbons draped each layer, and centering each bow was an edible pearl. The flavors varied by tier with banana-blueberry chiffon on the bottom, raspberry champagne in the middle, and strawberry vanilla on the top. Fondant seashells were scattered the table, each containing a fortune.

  Ayden steadied my hand and gripped it tighter as we sliced through the first layer.

  Our friends and family cheered behind us as the chant began. Ayden promised there would be no cake in the face and I believed him, but there was a certain glint in his eye that told another story.

  We toppled the slice onto a plate and held it, each of us gently taking a piece, readying to feed it to the other.

  I didn’t know what came over me, but a charge of adrenaline coursed through my veins and rather than feed him gently, I smashed the cake on his mouth. When his gaze met mine, I realized he, too, had planned the same, but I beat him to the punch.

  Shaking his head, he dipped his finger in the frosting and dotted the tip of my nose, beaming.

  “I knew you couldn’t be trusted,” he murmured.

  “I don’t know what came over me,” I giggled.

  “That was totally premeditated.”

  “I swear. It wasn’t.”

  “Sure it wasn’t.” He dabbed the crumbs with a napkin and then wiped away the frosting from my nose.

  “I saw it in your eyes and I knew I had to act,” I countered.

  “I’m a complete gentleman. You’re mistaken. I would never do that to my bride.”

  He grinned wryly and kissed me.

  “Come on,” Ayden’s uncle shouted. “That was too tame for the Rhodes clan.”

  I hugged Ayden and closed my eyes as Jenny began cutting small pieces in case anyone besides the bride wanted cake before dinner.

  The music was turned up again, and the mingling commenced as Ayden and I snuck away for a few moments of peace.

  “How does it feel to be Mrs. Rhodes?”

  “Pretty incredible, and if I let myself think about it too hard, I’d say surreal.”

  “Surreal?”

  I nodded. “To come from what we faced a few weeks ago to this? Yeah, I’d say a bit surreal.”

  Ayden drew me into an embrace and rested his chin on the top of my head.

  “Mason was just telling me that the prosecutor didn’t find enough evidence to support Viktor’s claims. My mom talked to someone at the prosecutor’s office this morning, who told her it was considered an instance of self-defense since the victim couldn’t defend himself, and they had to step in.”

  “Oh, thank goodness.” I exhaled. “That’s the best wedding gift ever.”

  “It is.”

  “Should I have even bothered to tell you? Would you’ve rather I kept it from you.”

  “I think you know the answer to that, or you wouldn’t have told me. No secrets, remember?”

  “Brandy and Gabby wondered if we had any names picked out for our daughter?”

  His squeeze tightened. “And what did you tell them?”

  “Ethel,” I whispered.

  “Ethel?” Ayden’s laugh drifted into the air as he shook his head. “That’s awesome.”

  “I thought it would throw them off for a little while.”

  “Indeed.” His arms fell away from my waist, and he took a step back. “I guess we should go back.”

  “I guess. Can’t we sneak off to where the magic happens?” I wiggled my brows.

  “I think the magic already did.”

  I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you for being the man you are.”

  “I couldn’t imagine being anything but.”

  Jenny waved us over to the buffet line. Dinner was served. We both reached for plates and began piling on the delicious food. There were spicy chicken kabobs, grilled vegetables, and rice pilaf. And that was just this table. The next table had a beautiful rib roast on display, along with mashed potatoes and green beans. I piled my plate high and waited for Ayden before we walked over to our table and took a seat.

  “I just realized I haven’t eaten anything since eggs benedict this morning.”

  “You fit in eggs benedict?” Ayden asked, cutting through the prime rib.

  “I did and a massage and hair and makeup.”

  “Sounds like a nice day.”

  “A pretty incredible day.”

  One of Ayden’s uncles took a seat, along with Mason and his parents.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask. I noticed a hint of a shiner on your cheek there,” his uncle stated, pointing at Ayden. Pretty much all hints of Ayden’s escapade in the parking lot had vanished, but if you looked closely, rosiness rested under his skin.

  Tori took a seat next to Mason and took a sip of water.

  “A little scuffle,” Ayden said. “A lesson learned.”

  “Something I’ve never told you about your nephew,” Ayden’s dad began. “He’s a fighter. Does it as a hobby.”

  Ayden turned his head toward his dad. “And just how long did you know?”

  His dad laughed and tossed the napkin on the table. “I think I caught your very first fight. Mason was slinking around the garage, evading my questions about his plans for the night so I got curious. I followed him, parked, and went inside.”

  “You’re kidding,” Mason said.

  “I never would’ve guessed,” Ayden told his dad.

  “So you lost the fight that gave you that?” his uncle asked.

  “No. I’m undefeated. This happened in the lot after the fight.”

  “You should’ve seen the other guy,” Mason chuckled and looked around at us all. “Wait. Was that inappropriate? Too soon for jokes?”

  “Only your kind,” Tori whispered, trying to keep the smile off her lips.

  “I’ve learned my lesson, though,” Ayden announced. “I’m done. Might as well get out while a person’s ahead.”

  “Smart move, son,” Ayden’s dad agreed.

  “Smart,” Ayden’s uncle echoed.

  Unlike most brides, I was determined to enjoy my dinner and savored each and every bite until it was announced that the first dance was about to take place.

  Ayden clutched my hand and led me out to the dance floor that hovered over the beach. The lanterns bobbed gently in the wind, the flame flickering as Ayden wrapped his arms around me and began to move with me without music.

  “I love you, Mrs. Rhodes.”

  “I love you, Mr. Rhodes.”

  And our very first dance began as the “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes came echoing through the air. I rested my head on his chest as we swayed back and forth to the beautiful acoustic melody.

  “I’ll take care of you from this day forward,” Ayden whispered, pressing his lips to the top of my head. “I’ll be there for you. I promise.”

  “I promise more.” I raised my head from Ayden’s chest, and our eyes locked as we continued to dance. Between the smell of the salt air and the faint murmur of our friends and family commenting on how blissful we looked, I felt like were in our own version of heaven on earth.

  “Did you mean that about being there for me if I jump out of a plane?” he asked.

  I chuckled and nodded. “Yeah. But I’ll be there with you jumping out of it.”

  “You’d jump out of a plane?” he asked, his blue eyes wide. “That kind of makes me worried.”

  “No. Kidding. Imagine how it makes me feel. My track record’s been a little better, might I add.”

  “Such a low blow,” he chuckled. “So we can both scratch off jumping out of a plane?”

  “Maybe until after the kids are grown.”

  “Good call,” he chuckled.

  “Kids, huh? As in multiples?” His brow arched.

  “Yeah. What the heck? Lily Rhodes against love of all kind gets married and wants lots of kids to make our life exhausting and…actually, I’m not sure what comes after exhausting.”

  “At least you’ve gotten
good practice with me,” he teased.

  His embrace tightened as our song slowly wound down, and more couples began to spread on to the dance floor as the next song, “Stand by Me” by Ben E King, came on.

  “Can this be any more perfect?” I asked, the waves crashing in the background.

  “Not if we planned it.”

  “We kind of did.”

  My eyes scanned the crowd that had grown, and it was almost impossible not to get teary eyed as I saw my two best friends dancing with the loves of their lives, and Ayden’s parents holding onto each other even tighter than Ayden held me.

  Ayden’s one hand slipped from my waist, and I twirled into the crowd before he pulled me back into him.

  Gabby and Jason cheered, and I sunk deeper into Ayden’s arms as the song changed to the son and mother dance. As Ayden let me go, I smiled and took a deep breath in, taking in the best moment of my life.

  Ayden’s dad asked for my hand, and I appreciated the gesture. I’d done a good job of pushing out certain moments, like being walked down the aisle by my father or the first dance, but sometimes it was nice to be remembered along the way. Not all parents were created equal, but if I had to choose some, these two were at the top of their form.

  “Ayden is one lucky man and we are the luckiest parents. We couldn’t have handpicked anyone better to join our family.”

  “Thank you so much. I feel like the luckiest girl.”

  I looked over at Ayden, and his eyes were on me as he danced with his mom. My heart fluttered as if it were the first time I let myself realize that I’d fallen for Ayden. His dad somehow danced his way next to his son and traded me away for his wife. The bouncier “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros pumped through the air, and Katie started jumping all around the dance floor, followed by Gabby and Brandy right behind, bobbing their heads and twisting their hips as Katie grabbed their hands.

  “You should go,” Ayden whispered, gently pushing me to them.