Heart On Fire

by A. L. Cook

  The scene that opened before her was utterly breathtaking. The wide open meadow was filled with a billion wildflowers and circled by trees, but for the far side of it across from where she was currently standing that was open and led down to the beach. The clear day allowed an uninterrupted view of the ocean, the Fairweather Mountains tipped in white in the distance, and forested shorelines meandering out of view. A flock of seabirds skimmed across the water, and wispy white clouds hung like gauze across the sun, softening the sunlight and making the whole scene seem almost unreal.

  But despite the stunning vista laid out before her, Erin could see nothing and no one but Cam, watching with a smile as Shelley and Mike made their way towards him. She was watching him so closely that she caught the exact moment he saw her: his eyes widened, his mouth dropped open a little and he straightened his shoulders unconsciously.

  Maggie led her down the ‘aisle’, a cleared space between the two groups of wooden white chairs. Erin was vaguely aware of the guests rising to their feet, cameras clicking and murmured words floating away on the gentlest of breezes, but she couldn’t look away from Cam.

  He looked beautiful, standing there with the glory of nature behind him. He was dressed in the same outfit as Mike, only without a tie and his top button undone, and he looked powerful and sexy. Erin could see the muscles of his shoulders clearly defined beneath his white shirt, and the light pants were a gift in and of themselves.

  But it was the look on his face as he waited for her to join him, the way tears began to fill his eyes and fall unashamedly down his cheeks and the way his hands seemed to reflexively reach for her before dropping back to his sides that made her own tears begin. She smiled to reassure him, and almost wished she could walk faster so she could be with him sooner.

  But sooner came soon enough, and it was barely a minute late that she was kissing Maggie on the cheek, handing Shelley her bouquet and moving to stand in front of Cam. His whole face radiated happiness, and as his big hands curled around hers, he smiled. “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful,” he murmured to her as their guests took their seats.

  “You either,” she whispered back, her heart filled to aching. “Hi.”

  “Hey, sweetheart.”

  Rufus stood in front of them, dressed in a black suit, cleared his throat softly, his lined face creasing into a smile as he linked his hands in front of himself. He had been ordained for a few years and was ready to officiate the ceremony, and had actually gotten teary when Erin and Cam had asked him. He smiled at them, took a deep breath and began.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, we are here to witness the creation of a marriage, the most intimate of all relationships. It is the ultimate commitment to love, share, trust and grow with another person. It is the beginning of a whole new life. By entering into this marriage Erin and Cameron are stating publicly the feelings and commitments they have held privately between them.”

  As Erin stared up at Cam, his own beautiful blue eyes meeting hers, she felt Rufus’ words sink deep inside of her, resonating in a way she hadn’t felt when going over the speech with him in preparation for the wedding. Perhaps it was the fact that they were standing here, before the people they loved most in the world and professing their love for each other that made all the difference.

  “They are proclaiming their love for, their trust in, and their loyalty to the one they cherish above all others. Marriage has been described as living in love with your best friend. Love is one of the few constants in the universe; it is reality, affinity and communication. Only love is capable of joining living beings by their deepest essence, uniting, completing and fulfilling them. Marriage is a symbol of the commitment to create a lifelong partnership based on love.”

  Cam wrapped his hands around Erin’s, warm and comforting. If he was being completely honest he would have to admit to not hearing a word Rufus was saying, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Not when Erin was staring at him like that.

  She had taken his breath away like a punch to the gut when she had emerged from the trees, looking ethereal and devastatingly beautiful in figure-hugging white lace. He loved the way her hair tumbled down her back, thick and glossy, and the makeup stuff on her face looked incredible, but it was the way she was looking at him that really humbled him, shook him to the bones with the sheer love and adoration in her green eyes.

  “As such, we are gathered here today to unite Erin and Cameron in marriage. This celebration is but an outward sign of an inward union of heart, mind and spirit, and is a celebration of the joining of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between a man and a woman, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgment be made. We are here to bear witness to the entry into the closer relationship as husband and wife of these beloved friends who are already one in spirit.”

  Rufus paused and smiled again. “Erin, you may speak your vows to Cameron.”

  Erin shifted forward half a step and took a deep breath. This was it. She was about to swear the rest of her life to this man… was she absolutely certain of her choice?

  “Cameron, I love you,” she began, her voice strong and steady. “The things that I value in you as a person are the same as those I love about you as my partner, in life and all things. You are clever, loyal, funny, strong and brave. You are generous to a fault, you are forgiving and kind, and you are infinitely patient. You might not know it, but when we met, you saved me. You loved me more than I felt I had any right to be loved, and waited for me to realise I loved you, too.”

  She swallowed, glanced down at their hands and gathered her courage. “I am a better woman for having met you. I swear that there is nothing you could ask of me that I wouldn’t give you. I swear to honour you, to nurture you, to support you and keep you and share my whole heart with you. I swear to love you, fiercely and loyally for as long as I shall live.”

  She met his eyes at the end and watched, smiling gently, as his eyes began to fill with tears. He stared at her with something like wonder on his face, and kissed the back of her hand before speaking.

  “My Erin, you are truly the light of my life. From the moment we met my entire life became about trying to keep you with me forever, and now that you’re promising to do just that my happiness is complete. The way you love me humbles me, and raises me up at the same time. I promise to love and care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love.

  I will always be honest with you, kind, patient and forgiving. I promise to try to be safe, and not take risks that neither of us could live with.”

  He smiled, tear finally breaking free to slide down one cheek. “I see these vows not as promises but as privileges: I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you. I get to run with you and walk with you; build with you and live with you. I promise you myself, wholly and completely.”

  At that point Mike stepped forward and passed a ring to Cam, and Rufus spoke again.

  “These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”

  “Cam, place the ring on Erin’s finger and repeat after me: I, Cameron Elliott Thomas give you, Erin Campbell this ring as a symbol of my commitment to you. It has no beginning and it has no end. May its presence on your hand always
remind you of my eternal love.”

  Cam did, repeating the vow in a voice that was strong and sure as he slid the thin gold band onto Erin’s finger.

  “And now Erin, take Cam’s hand and repeat after me...”

  Erin swore her vow and placed a similar, wider band onto Cam’s hand, smiling widely when she was done. They both then turned to Rufus, who lifted his hands and took theirs.

  “Erin and Cam, you have sworn to love and cherish each other for the rest of your lives, and I have complete faith that the two of you will do exactly that. So it is that I have the greatest of pleasure on pronouncing you now, before your gathered friends and family, to be husband and wife. Cameron, you may kiss your bride.”

  Rufus stepped back and Erin turned to Cam, only to find him already wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close for a deep and lingering kiss. The guests began clapping and cheering, and Erin was sure she heard Shelley sob something about ‘perfect’ and ‘soulmates’, but all she could focus on was Cam, the familiar press of his mouth against hers and the solid strength of his body where it braced hers and dipped her back a little.

  They eventually separated, both flushed and grinning, and raised their joined hands in celebration as their friends and family swarmed them, words of congratulations and love weaving through the cool afternoon air to surround them.

  *

  The ceremony was well under way when Miranda suddenly stood bolt upright from where she was sitting across from Erin and Cam, a panicked look on her face.

  “Oh, shit!”

  It was the first time Erin had ever heard Cam’s mother curse, and judging by the stunned expression Cam was wearing, it was a first for him, too. “Mom, what’s the matter?”

  “I’ve left Ebony locked in the bathroom of your cabin! When I tried to warn her off making trouble she threatened to crash the ceremony so I just… temporarily… detained her. A little.”

  If there was ever a moment that Erin had been sure of having made the right choice in marrying into the Thomases, this was it. Cam still looked stunned but Maggie was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, slapping a hand down onto the table hard enough to make the cutlery rattle.

  Erin thought that maybe this was the best possible way for her and Cam to start the rest of their lives together: surrounded by laughter and love, and a family who would do anything for them.

  And with Ebony locked in a bathroom.

  Two Pink Lines

  Erin laughed as Cam spun her around once more and then dipped her right back, one arm securely around her as he held her steady. She felt the firm muscle flex beneath her hand as he did so and thought about the surprise in her coat pocket. She couldn’t have chosen a better partner- either for the dance or for what was about to come their way.

  The song ended and Cam pulled her upright again. They shared a kiss as Mike and Shelley did the same, both of them radiant with happiness. The wedding ceremony had been perfect and the reception an absolute blast that was only just starting to wind down. Erin’s face was flushed, but whereas everyone else’s was from the freely-flowing champagne and beer, Erin’s was from dancing. Exclusively so.

  “I need to catch my breath,” she said loudly over the music, leaning up to speak speak directly into Cam’s ear. He nodded and laced their fingers together, his touch still giving her butterflies even now, and led her out onto the deck of the reception hall after they grabbed their coats from the backs of their chairs. The lights from the city glittered on the dark water of the channel and the night wind had an icy bite that promised winter’s arrival sooner than later.

  “This one is for the newlyweds,” the MC announced as the unmistakable opening notes of Etta James’ ‘At Last’ made their way through the closed balcony doors to where Erin and Cam stood close together.

  “Dance with me?” Cam asked, receiving his answer when Erin stepped close and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her cheek on his shoulder while he pulled her body flush against his.

  They swayed slowly together like that, intimate and alone in the earliest hours of the morning until the song was nearly finished. The night was quiet but for the music, and while Erin was reluctant to break the little bubble of peace they had created, she didn’t want to wait any longer to tell Cam her news.

  “I have something for you,” she told him softly.

  “Do you, now?” he asked distractedly, turning his head a little to kiss her temple.

  “I do. Close your eyes.” He did as instructed and she reached into the pocket of her jacket, pulling out the slim plastic object and pressing it into Cam’s hand, kissing the back of his knuckles as his fingers closed around it. “Take a look.”

  She stepped back a little to watch his reaction as he uncurled his fist to reveal a white stick with a pink cap on it. In the little window there was a distinct pink line.

  Two of them, in fact.

  “What- no,” Cam breathed, staring at it in the warm light spilling from the reception. His head shot up and he stared at Erin. “Is this... are you...?”

  “Pregnant?” She nodded, her eyes steady on his face.

  The smile that crept across it was magnificent. “You’re having a baby? We’re having a baby? I’m going to be a daddy?”

  “The best daddy ever,” Erin promised, laughing delightedly as he took a giant step to sweep her up into his arms and spin her in a circle, clutching at his shoulders as her feet came up off the deck. He captured her lips with his own and kissed her deeply, caressing her tongue with his own and holding her tightly.

  “How far along?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure,” she told him. “I’ve never had regular periods or anything, so it could be a few weeks to maybe even a month or two.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Sore boobs,” she told him. “And I’m hungry all the time. No word of a lie, Cam, I’ve been getting so hungry I feel sick until eat. But I didn’t really think anything of it until I realised this morning that I’ve missed a few periods, more than is usual even for me. I pretended I needed to go and get something from the drugstore for Shell and grabbed a test while I was there. And now here we are.”

  “Erin-” Cam began, then stopped and shook his head. “I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am right now.”

  “Me too,” she told him. “I’m so excited to see you hold our tiny little baby in your arms for the first time.”

  “Woah,” he breathed, his eyes focussing on a point just beyond her ear as he imagined the same thing. “Holy crap, a baby.”

  “That’s usually the end result of a pregnancy, yes,” Erin smirked up at him.

  “Smartass,” he told her with a smile. “I just meant that I’d thought so long about getting pregnant that I didn’t really stop and think much about the next part. Once we actually have said baby.”

  “Well, you’ve got a little bit of time to get used to the idea,” Erin said with a laugh.

  “I can’t wait,” Cam replied. He stared at her with a big grin on his face for a moment, then kissed her again, a slow, sensuous exploration of lips and mouths that soon deepened and became more of a prelude than a tease.

  “Please tell me it’s late enough we can leave?” she asked breathlessly as they broke apart.

  “Almost two,” Cam told her, checking his watch. “I’d say so.”

  “Good,” she breathed. “Because I want you, Cam.”

  “The feeling is so mutual,” he almost growled, and kissed her hard once more as he took her hand and led her back inside to say their goodbyes.

  The round of farewells and hugs took longer than anticipated, but after a ribald joke to the newlyweds about their wedding night that had even Shelley blushing, Cam and Erin were finally free to leave. Cam pulled out his phone to call a taxi but Erin shook her head and pulled his keys from his jacket.