Royally Duched Up: (Duched #3)

by Xavier Neal

  -Kellan

  I swallow the tears building and hastily rip off the lid. As soon as my eyes land on the objects inside the tears fall at the same time laughter explodes.

  God, how crazy and creepy do I look right now?

  Through the mixed response, I carefully remove the diamond tiara to be added to my head, remembering the heated argument. The eventual compromise we always make. The steamy all is forgiven sex. I grin wide as the feelings of dread finally dissolve.

  You can’t be a princess without a crown…

  After gently placing the fragile accessory to the side, I pull out the pair of cobalt blue Chucks. My smile expands to the brink at the clear message he’s trying to deliver. The message, I desperately needed to hear.

  Our fairy tale, right? We should live it out how we see fit…I may never learn who to curtsy for or which fork is the proper choice when eating squid, but I can stand up for what I love. For who I love. I will stand proudly to remind people it’s okay to be different. That it’s okay to love someone different. That you’re given a life and that you should enjoy it. I am ready to be a princess. I am ready to be a duchess. I am ready to say…I do.

  Nervously, I watch the large monitor plastered on the outside wall of the gallery. It’s typically used to display information about the exhibit inside, but today it’s rigged to allow me to watch my wedding before it’s my turn to walk down the aisle. I helplessly hum along to the opening notes of the unusual yet perfect wedding song.

  Isn’t it beautiful?! I know it’s difficult, but if you try hard enough you can see where the small reception area has been created to the left side of the room while the ceremony has been segregated to the right. I love how the chairs are gray with big blue bows on them. I love the fact the ceiling has blue, gray, and white heart shaped balloons covering it. I even love the fact he swapped the idea of having the bridesmaids hold bouquets of flowers with having them hold one single blue roses wrapped around a paintbrush. Should it worry me, he’s got a knack for wedding planning? Is this one of those ‘Hi I’m a red flag your fiancé’s gay’ moments and I’m just ignoring it?

  “He did a great job,” my father’s voice praises.

  I immediately divert my attention away from watching Soph and Kristopher walk down the path to over my bare shoulder. “He really did. From what I can see, everything is perfect.”

  “Because you’re here.”

  “Dad…”

  “Brie…” He mocks with a playful smile. His brown eyes give me an unexpected long, hard stare. I can’t help but notice the shift of expression.

  Too slutty? I mean I know the strapless corset top is a bit provocative when you’ve got a chest like I do, but I didn’t think it was that bad. I feel like the light crystal beadwork on it and the ball gown bottom help deliver a more romantic feel than a trashy one.

  Cautiously, I ask, “You okay?”

  Our eyes meet and he lets out a somber sigh, “I just can’t believe I have to give my little girl away…” Unlike my mother who has willingly continued to cry for the entire world to see, he swallows down his potential sobs and says, “I hope you know how proud I am of you.”

  “For getting married?”

  “For making the choice to follow your heart.” The correction tugs at my chest. “For being brave enough to endure all you have for the person you love. For not compromising your dreams for his. For always paving your own path.” He bends his arm for me to wrap myself around. “Just remember…Despite how much I love Kellan and how happy I am he is joining our family, I am more than willing to start an international crisis if he hurts you. Understood?”

  I giggle and tuck myself in closer to him. “Understood.”

  No more words are said as the doors open and Lifehouse’s “You And Me” floods towards us in a louder capacity. The small crowd stands to their feet and I take my first steps down the paint splashed pathway.

  No flower girl. No pedals. Just a strip of white rolled out fabric with paint splatted playfully on it. This definitely suits us better…

  While I know I should look at our guests, offer them smiles of gratitude for joining us especially on today of all days, I can’t. My eyes lock with Kellan’s and instantly every doubt, every worry, every smidgen of apprehension is dispelled. His bright blue graze leads me effortlessly towards him, towards a future I can’t wait to start.

  Before I realize it I’ve reached the end of the aisle and my father is placing my hand into Kellan’s.

  I give my dad one last look, mouth ‘I love you’, and turn to face the man I’m madly in love with.

  He barely gives me a moment to drink in his stunning blue suit that is the same shade as the bridesmaid dresses before he’s stating, “I can’t believe I get to marry you…”

  The desire to respond playfully arrives yet I decide against it.

  Truth is…I can’t believe I get to marry him either.

  Completely callous to the idea of a crowd watching us, we let our eyes aimlessly roam across one another as if it’s been decades since we’ve seen each other rather than hours. Everything about him looks perfect. His intentionally tussled blonde hair and decision against a tie brighten my already blinding beam. Knowing he’s wearing his hair the way I prefer and his suit the way we both do, fills me with a joy that’s hard to express. I note the other subtle touches of his attire like the gray engraved pocket square, the watch his mother gave him, and the cursive K cufflinks his father presented him with at eighteen. He too has managed to meet the perfect balance of who he is expected to be with who he actually is.

  The powerful proclamation slides my bottom lip between my teeth.

  Kellan softly groans and instinctively lowers his face towards mine.

  “Not yet,” Kris gripes from over his shoulder.

  He leans back and grouses, “Have I mentioned I bloody hate traditions?”

  I wink. “Me too.”

  Swiftly, Kellan wraps a hand around the nape of my neck and tugs our lips together. A combination of giggles and groans surrounds us, but the noises promptly fade away leaving only the sound of my heartbeat to thrum in my ears. The instant my lips part his tongue gingerly brushes against mine, caressing it with the care and concern alike. I push back with confidence. Reassurance. I let my mouth wash away all the insecurities he’s teeming loudly with. Our kiss deepens, strengthens, and eventually mollifies all the voiceless vacillations we’ve been facing.

  All of a sudden the harsh clearing of a throat manages to break the trance we slipped into.

  Oops…

  Kellan abruptly pulls away and breaks out into a smirk coated with guilt and gratitude for being granted the kiss.

  “The quicker you allow us to begin the quicker you can return to…kissing your bride,” the older man who has a Doctenn accent states.

  We share a slight chuckle and divert our attention to him.

  After a chortle of his own, he adds, “If it makes you two feel better, Kenneth responded similarly to seeing Hannah on their wedding day. He…didn’t break tradition, but he had to be reminded several times to mind his…manners.”

  Kellan lightly laughs, but I ask, “How do you know that?”

  The man offers me a kind smile. “I married them as well.”

  My mouth falls open.

  Holy shit…This is…This is huge!

  “I would’ve married Kristopher and Sophia, however, I was…dealing with a death in my family at the time.” He pushes past the opportunity for sadness to dampen our situation. “It is an honor to marry another set of Kenningstons. Are you two ready to begin?”

  Kellan’s hand reaches for mine and I allow our eyes to lock. “Whenever you are, Love…”

  There’s no hesitation in my voice. “Now is perfect…”

  An unsuspecting blush hits my groom’s cheeks.

  That’s new and adorable…

  Kellan gives a nod to the minister.

  He clears his voice, folds his hands together, and states, “You’ve
all gathered here today to witness the marital union of Kellan Kenningston and Brie Sanders. As you’ve already experienced from the choice of entrance song to sharing one last kiss as unwed couple, nothing about this ceremony will be traditional aside from the infamous words ‘I do’.”

  There’s a chuckle among the crowd and I helplessly join in.

  Gotta say…I’m relieved to hear that.

  “But that is what makes this joining so exciting. It’s unique. From how they met, to how he proposed, to the fact the bride is basically in for one evening filled with a combination of surprises. It’s hard to think of a better metaphor for marriage.” My eyes swing to him as his land on us. “Your relationship has been one whirlwind of unexpected. The truth is that’s what happens in a marriage. You have ideas. You have intentions. You have plans. But unpredictable things happen. Mistakes get made. Pain gets caused. Situations suddenly are not so cut and dry like you imagined. Sometimes you go in knowing exactly what should happen next,” his hand motions towards Kellan, “and others you have no choice but to truly trust your significant other will do what’s best for you.” He motions his hand my direction. “Marriage is about trust as much as it is love. It’s about understanding the unforeseen. It’s about growing and changing together, even in the most unideal circumstances.”

  “Love,” Merrick speaks up, moving my eyes over Kellan’s shoulder to where he is standing in his blue suit that matches the bridesmaid dresses as well, “recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

  “Maya Angelou,” Jovi adds immediately receiving my attention.

  “Love is friendship set on fire,” my sister says next with a wide grin.

  “Jeremy Taylor,” Hugh indicates from his position next to Merrick.

  I’m only given a brief second before Kristopher and Sophia state in unison, “True love stories never have endings. Richard Bach.”

  Suddenly, the sound of a small motor causes me to snap my head to the aisle where a tiny Blue Devil monster truck is zooming our direction. Unable to stop my giggle, I attempt to catch it with my freehand while Kellan lets his laugh go freely.

  Unbelievable…

  The vehicle stops and I glance around, curious to who has the controller. Merrick makes the truck spin quickly to display the back area, winks, and tucks the remote back in his pocket.

  Kellan retrieves his ring and lifts my left hand higher for everyone to see. “Love is getting to wake up next to you every morning. It’s knowing that no matter what the world throws at me or takes from me, that I will be alright because you are by my side.”

  My jaw begins to tremble in an effort to cease the urge to cry.

  Ugh. I can’t be one of those people!

  “Love is knowing that you are more than my best mate. That you are more than just the woman I was blessed to fall in love with. Love is knowing you are not just a piece of my soul, but the entire thing in beautiful brown flesh, with beautiful brown eyes, and a beautiful spirit that I would rather die than have to live without.” Slowly, Kellan begins to slide the thin gold band along my finger. “With this ring, I, Kellan Edward Kenningston, seal my love for you, Brie Adelyn Sanders. I vow to love and trust you, in sorrow and success, in sickness and health, ‘til death parts us.”

  Tears fall onto my cheeks against my best efforts. I softly whisper in a choked voice, “You’re not supposed to make me cry.”

  Kellan kisses the back of my hand and grins. “I warned you from the beginning I was much more charming in person.”

  Don’t agree with him right now…

  I giggle and swallow the next batch of tears building up. Rather than slow down the smooth process, I swiftly swipe his ring from the pillow, brush away the evidence of my eyes betrayal that landed on my face and mentally rearrange my vows to better match his.

  “Love is getting to paint the world with you every day. It’s knowing that no matter what somber colors may have splashed onto my canvas they can be washed away with a simple laugh from you. Love is knowing that you’re more than my best friend, more than my muse, more than the man I fell head over heels for. You’re the artist of my soul and I would rather die than allow another person to ever grace my canvas.” He swallows a sob of his own. I lift his hand higher. “With this ring, I, Brie Adelyn Sanders, seal my love for you, Kellan Edward Kenningston. I vow to love and trust you, in sorrow and success, in sickness and health, ‘til death parts us.”

  As soon as the gold band is settled on his hand, his mouth drops unexpectedly. His blue eyes pierce mine with warmth. “There’s a tie on my ring…”

  A playful smirk greets him. “Well, duh. I’m tied to you and your insane wardrobe way for life.”

  Kellan’s smile beams brighter and he curtly questions, “Can we get to the part where I kiss her?”

  The minister chuckles and rolls his eyes. “On this day, by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may-”

  Our lips are joined and parted before the sentence is finished. Kellan’s mouth dominates mine with passion and devotion, delivering delicious promises rather than dreary doubts. He tugs me closer with both hands stroking the sides of my face. My hands grip onto his jacket with equal ardor as the cheers from our witnesses fade away once more.

  This was the perfect ending to this chapter. I can’t wait to see what he has planned for us to start our next one…

  Kellan

  Have I told you how bloody lucky I am lately? No? Well I am. See that woman out there head banging while playing air guitar to ‘Turbo Lover’ by Judas Priest in a ball gown and blue Converse sneakers? She actually married me. Me of all the people in the entire world. Someway, somehow I managed to be given her endless love. I damn sure don’t deserve it, so it must be luck.

  “I can’t believe she’s giving Fredrick a run for his money out there,” Uncle Trenton states joyfully, dropping his arm around my shoulder. “Should we worry they’re going to break out into tug of the troupes?”

  With a wide grin, I question, “Did you know here in the states they call those battle of the bands?”

  His face frowns. “That’s bloody ridiculous!”

  “That’s what I said!”

  See. Americans are very strange…including the one I married.

  “Battle of the bands,” he grumbles his disgust. “Sounds like some sort of war involving hair ties.” The two of us share a chuckle and he tugs me into him closer. “You’re bloody married, nephew. How does it feel?”

  My eyes gravitate to where Brie’s jumping around beside Soph and my brother who are acting like backup singers. For a moment more, I continue to watch her own the dance floor the same way she owns my heart. Effortlessly. In a fainter tone than intended, I reply, “Fucking fantastic…”

  There’s a brief pause followed by an unexpected statement. “Never take it for granted, Kellan. That is my word of advice.”

  Before I dig deeper or discover if maybe I was wrong about him never having been in love, the D.J. announces, “Alright wedding people! It is time for the first official dance of the bride and groom! So, if you will all kindly clear the floor to allow the Kenningstons their moment in the spotlight.”

  Ha. There’s something I typically hate hearing…

  Uncle Trenton enthusiastically takes my half drank pint out of my hand and I saunter directly towards Brie who is standing in the middle of the floor patiently rocking back and forth on her feet.

  When I finally reach her, her smile transforms into one of teasing. “You picked something corny, didn’t you? Trying to punish me for beating your family at air guitar?”

  I offer her my hand. “You only beat them because I wasn’t out here to destroy you.”

  She places hers in mine. “Big words coming from a man who plays the air drums like he’s drunkenly banging on bongos.”

  “We are not having a tug of troupes for our first dance.”

  Her face gags. “That’s not w
hat it’s called!”

  Knowing the D.J. is waiting until we are completely in position, I expedite the process by placing my hand on her hip. She wraps the other around my neck, eyes still swarming with mirth.

  Finally the music to “Everybody Loves Somebody” begins. Our bodies gently begin to sway and she asks, “What made you pick this one?”

  “This was the first song my parents danced to at their wedding.”

  The awe in her eyes is unmistakable.

  “My mother was a huge Dean Martin fan, so in her…absence I have picked a few of his songs to mark her memory…To help it feel like she is here celebrating with us. I hope you don’t mind.”