by Bella Street
“Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of the Lord to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.” He paused. Seffy kept her attention on Trent. Only his reactions mattered.
“Trent and...Persephone...the covenant which you are about to make is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness, and yet with a deep sense of joy; with the deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and caring love.”
Fenn paused and cleared his throat.
When Seffy glanced at him, she was shocked to see him blinking back tears. Her eyes flew to Trent's. Surely he recognized that Fenn was once again under the influence. But Trent seemed unconcerned. His focus was for her alone.
He reached for her hand.
Lani was suddenly there, tugging the bouquet from her other hand. As Trent's warm fingers wrapped around her own, the periphery faded once again.
“Seffy, you have taken Trent to be your husband. Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
A wedding suddenly didn't seem a ridiculous notion in their upended circumstances. The meaning of the words echoed in her heart until her throat clogged and moisture burned her eyes. This man would be hers. For real. Forever. “I do,” she whispered.
“Trent, you have taken Seffy to be your wife. Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”
Trent lightly squeezed her hand, his expression somehow serious and sweet at the same time. “I do.”
“Do you have the rings?”
Trent nodded and reached into his jacket pocket. Seffy saw the flash of gold from two wedding bands. Before she could wonder how he'd managed to get rings, he took her hand in preparation.
Fenn consulted his book. “These rings are to be a sign of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other.” He nodded to Trent.
Trent slid the plain gold band onto her finger. It was slightly loose, but the mellow candlelight made the gold luminous. Next, he nudged a larger ring into her hand and she duplicated the action, staring at the band on his finger—a band that matched her own. Seffy studied the rings, and by the minute scratches and dings, realized they'd had previous owners. Somehow that fact meant even more.
“Now that Trent and Seffy have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife.” Fenn's voice broke. He took a deep breath after a moment. “You...may now kiss the bride.”
Trent reached up and lifted the veil back away from her face.
She wasn't worthy of the aching tenderness and banked passion in his gaze. When he touched his lips to hers, she was only aware of the honeyed pressure of his kiss, the warmth of his hands at her waist. Her lips clung to his, unwilling to break contact.
When they parted, Trent rested his lips lightly against her temple. “Glad you made it,” he whispered.
She leaned up and stole another kiss. A few titters came from the guests. Seffy pulled away, aware that her cheeks were hot, but the warmth of Trent's touch eased her embarrassment.
Fenn cleared his throat again. “Allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Ellison.”
A light smattering of applause filled the room before trickling away to an awkward silence.
Lani was the first to come up, her eyes full of tears. She rushed to her side and embraced her hard. Seffy, slightly dazed, hugged her back. “Thank you, Lani, for everything.”
Without her friend's reassurances, Seffy wondered if she would've had the guts to go through with it. She only wished she'd had all three of her friends at her back, instead of just one.
Addison approached her then, her expression stark and pale, and gave her a quick, firm hug. Her nerves were steady when Gareth came next. He was wearing what he'd worn when they first arrived at the compound—his black turtleneck and designer jeans. His eyes sought hers for several moments, but she couldn't discern any emotion in his expression.
He took her hand and squeezed it, his voice low and strained. “I don't understand.”
Seffy swallowed. “That's okay.”
Gareth dropped her hand and turned away.
Before she could ponder the moment, Olga was there, crushing her in a Finnish-sized hug, her face wet with tears. Seffy hugged her back, glad the nurse had patched her together enough times to make this occasion possible. Olga turned to Trent and hugged him next. The other time-travelers offered disconnected smiles from a safe distance. Next came Eugene and Baxter with nervous nods.
Someone touched her shoulder and she looked up to find Fenn regarding her with a strange intensity.
“Seffy...” he whispered.
She noticed a fresh shine in his eyes. Edging slightly away as he reached for her, Fiona suddenly appeared between them. She grabbed his arm and moved him several paces down the aisle.
Seffy looked at Trent but he seemed unperturbed by the man's behavior.
“Come here.”
She took his outstretched hand, reveling in the warmth of his grip. He pulled her close and dropped a light kiss on her lips. It felt like spring rain on parched earth.
Wow, this wedding stuff is getting to me. She smiled, suddenly happier than she could ever remember being.
Lani appeared, holding up a clunky camera. “Just a few more pictures!”
“More?”
“Didn't you notice me taking shots of the ceremony?”
She glanced at Trent, her face heating. “Nope.”
“I just need a couple more. Fenn let me borrow his camera. Wasn't that sweet?”
Real sweet. Seffy indulged her friend's desire for several posed shots, which Trent often spoiled by sneaking quick kisses. When Lani finished the roll, she made a moue of disappointment, but promised to make sure Fenn got them processed as soon as possible.
Trent slid his arm around Seffy's waist and pulled her close as she headed out of the chapel. “Well? Any regrets?”
Seffy smiled up at him and shook her head. “No, not yet, anyway.”
He laughed softly.
She touched his chest, her teasing tone dissolving before a wave of fresh affection. “Thank you for...this.”
His eyes shone in the candlelight. “I didn't want anything to be between us. No confusion, no uncertainty...no doubt.”
She could only nod and hope he understood the love and thankfulness swelling in her heart.
A gravelly voice interrupted them. Seffy glanced up to find Malone staring at them with a disinterested look. “Fenn told me you two need to sign the paper on the way out. And make it snappy, because I'm supposed to escort you back to your rooms, too, and I've got other things to do today.”
Trent led her down the aisle. They found a Montana marriage certificate on the last pew next to a ballpoint pen. All the information was filled in except for their signatures. Lani and Fiona had signed as witnesses. Fenn's name was scrawled on a line above 'ordained minister.'
She glanced at Trent. “Fenn's a minister?”
He shrugged.
“Let's get a move on, people,” Malone grumbled from behind them.
Seffy scanned the document, looking for a county clerk address or other identifying information but found none. She quickly signed her name and stepped aside to allow Trent to do the same. She decided the certificate was just a memento. They'd probably receive it framed in the near future. Or something.
Trent's fingers tightened on her hand and together they returned to her room, with Malone like a gloomy shadow dogging their steps. Once the door was shut behind them, Seffy let out a nervous giggle. “Wow, he was
a grump.”
Trent put his hands around her waist and pulled her close. “Kiss me.”
Seffy tipped her lips to his and kissed him with the fullness of her heart, hardly able to believe a moment like this was possible—present circumstances notwithstanding.
He sighed when he lifted his lips. “Now that's what I'm talking about.”
She took his hand, looking at his ring. “Where did you get these?”
His mouth quirked. “Well, there's not really a jewelry store here, but there is something like a pawn shop. This set is apparently from a couple who recently cashed them in and left the compound. I used the rest of my old Friday night date money to buy them.”
Seffy stared at her ring, wondering about the person who'd worn it before. “Wow.”
“I thought we'd give the rings a second chance. Kind of like we've been given, right?”
“I'm all about second chances.” She looked up at him. “You know, I thought the whole wedding thing to be kind of silly, like it was just some tired out cliché. But it was so meaningful...so powerful. I had no idea.”
His gaze was caressing. “I just wanted you all the way.”
She hugged him tight, needing a few minutes to collect her emotions. His returning embrace was all she could hope for.
Trent released her, then took her hand. “C'mon, I want to show you something else.”
Seffy was surprised when he opened her door and looked out into the hall. All the votives were gone. Perhaps every vestige of a wedding had also been eradicated from the chapel. Fiona was probably behind the cleanup.
Seffy followed Trent down the corridor and around several corners. He stopped at the door where they'd met Lani for clothes in the middle of the night.
She raised her brows. “Why here? We still haven't figured out why that fake track suit was in the closet.”
He opened the door. “Trust me.”
Seffy entered the room and immediately knew what he was up to. A ladder reached up to the ceiling opening, which led to the Light Room. Trent closed the door behind them.
“I thought this would be better than crawling through the attic in our wedding clothes.” He turned the bolt on the door.
She bit her lip. “It's a great idea, but—”
“Sef, I swept the room for listening devices, cameras, anything. I used heavy duty magnets. I even installed a deadbolt, overriding the keyed entrance. The room is safe.”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. Trust. It was something she was going to have to offer this husband of hers.
Like he said—all the way.
“And we'll have easy access to a bathroom and shower. It's basically a split-level love shack.”
She let out a faint laugh, then pressed a hand to her mouth. “Okay, I'm sold.”
“Go up the ladder.”
Hitching up her skirt, she headed up the ladder, then peeked back at Trent. “Don't look up my dress.”
“Very funny.”
She heard him following as she reached the top.
“Right above you is a handle to go the last step.”
Seffy raised her hand in the blackness, bumping into something that felt like a handle. Gripping it, she hoisted herself up into the room.
She didn't detect any of the mustiness she'd smelled before. “Did you really get this place dried out?”
Trent stood up next to her. “Yep.” He put his hand on her waist. “Now you have to close your eyes.”
She did as she asked, wondering what he was up to.
“Are they closed? I can't tell up here.”
“Yes,” she said around a smile. There was a fumbling sound, then a click.
“Okay, open up.”
Seffy opened her eyes and caught her breath at the sight of multi-colored lights stretching all around the room toward the opening at the skylight. The lights twinkled intermittently, creating a magical space.
“Thanks to me, Christmas will be a lot less sparkly down in the compound this year.”
“Oh, Trent, it's so beautiful.” The awe in her voice reflected what she saw with her eyes.
“And notice all the new cushions and bedding. It's extra comfy now.”
She noticed. He had been busy. Seffy turned to him, enjoying the rainbow hues softly lighting up his face. “Did you have help? Your ribs—”
He stretched his arms above his head. “I think Olga was wrong about cracked ribs. I feel great.”
Seffy responded by giving him a fierce hug. “Thank you,” she breathed. “It's all so amazing.”
“It's the best I could do in the absence of Hawaiian islands.”
She pressed her face against his neck, inhaling his scent. “I love you, Trent.”
“I love you, too.” He leaned his cheek against her temple for a long moment. “And if you'll notice, I moved the bedding toward the ceiling entrance. That way, if you...oh, I don't know...wanted to slow dance with me, we could be right under the skylight.”
She tipped her head back. “Ah, now I get it—multi-colored lights, a mini dance floor...you are into disco, aren't you?”
“Let's just say it's growing on me.” Trent knelt down and closed the ceiling tile, then led her to the middle of the Light Room where they could stand up straight. He popped the skylight open. Cool November air rushed in. He shrugged out of his jacket, then wrapped his arms around her waist.
“What music would you like? I have some Slim Whitman, Billy Joel, or Donna Summer. And of course there's always the soundtrack to Zannytu.”
Seffy leaned against him and closed her eyes, absorbing his strength. “You pick something.”
“Nope, it's gotta be you, 'cause you're like the bride and all.”
She smiled, relishing his warmth in contrast to the cool air above them. A song sprang to her lips and she began to quietly sing.
“Young and foolish
certain I could do without anyone
running from my heart
but now that I'm in your arms
it's telling me
I can't do without you
But how will this flourish?
We need a revelation
so I beg you
let me stay with you
anchored in time and space
This moment can never end
When we're together
we make up the rules as we go
So if you feel the same
let me stay
anchored in time and space
in your arms.”
Trent had stopped moving. Seffy looked up at him and saw his wide eyes. Her face flushed under his scrutiny. “What?”
“God, Seffy, your voice.” He shoved up his shirt sleeve. “Look at the hairs on my arm. You gave me the chills.”
She smiled, chagrined. “I guess the song just kind of happened. Sorry.”
He tipped up her chin. “I mean, your singing is so pure, so clear, so...angelic.”
“You know how I feel about that word.”
He gripped her arms. “I'm serious. With a voice like yours, why would you ever go into acting?”
She averted her gaze, her fingers pleating the fabric of his shirt. When she looked up at him, she couldn't hide the pain from her expression. “Because I just wanted to be someone else.”
Trent's eyes reflected the colored lights overhead. “Sef...”
She touched his face where the bruise had been. “It's okay,” she whispered. “I'm with you now. That's all that matters to me.”
His kissed her then, lightly, as if she was something fragile.
But their contact grew heated and hungry, and soon the colors above swirled together like enchanted starlight.
Chapter Nine
Seffy woke up the following morning to find Trent noisily snuffling his nose along her neck.
She tried to hug him, but he resisted as if he didn't want to be interrupted. “What are you doing?” she asked, squinting at the morning light that bleached the colors of the Christmas lights still tw
inkling above them.
He leaned further over her body, breathing deeply. “God, you smell so good.”
Seffy wrinkled her nose. “Doubtful. I'm not wearing any perfume so it must be that well-known stale compound bouquet. Maybe we could bottle it up and call it 'L'aire de Fugere'. It could be our ticket out of here.”
Muscles aching from their long, strenuous night, she longed to sleep the day away, but Trent was insistent. He continued sniffing further down her chest, his hair brushing under her chin. She giggled and twisted away from him. “That tickles.”
He blocked her efforts and soon his sniffing turned to tasting when he ran his tongue down her rib cage.
“Hey, I'm not an ice cream cone.”
He glanced up at her, his gaze sleepy, yet strangely focused. “No,” he said slowly, “not ice cream. Something darker, warmer. Something that satisfies.”
Seffy propped herself up her elbows and stared at him, a teasing smile on her face. “I'm not sure whether to be flattered or grossed out.”
He didn't answer, but raised his head and nibbled her shoulder.
She sat all the way up and reached for the wrinkled mess that was her wedding dress.
Trent grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head against the bedding. “You're not going anywhere.”
Seffy arched her brows. “Um, I have to go to the bathroom.”
He stared at her for several moments, his face tense.
Her smile faded. “Hey, are you all right?”
Suddenly Trent released her. He sat up, mumbling an apology.
Seffy grabbed her dress and slid it over her head, wondering at his strange vibe. The pastel light sent a soft aura around his form.
She leaned over and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, reluctant to leave him even for a moment. He turned to her, pulling her into his arms. His kiss went a long way to erase the awkwardness. When he lifted his lips, he hugged her hard.
“We can pick up where we left off when I get back,” she whispered.
He nodded as he released her. Seffy went to the floor opening and clambered down the ladder as gracefully as possible considering her bare feet and the Laura Ingalls dress.