Carson sat down close to the altar, all kinds of thoughts running through his mind, quickly driving him crazy. He kept thinking Ellie would change her mind and run away, or Ellsa would crash the wedding or a natural disaster would blow the tent away. But mostly, the one thought that really drove him to the brink of madness was, what the hell he was doing standing there, next to a pastor? He was never a best man and he only went to weddings for the slutty bride’s maids at the reception. But now, he was at his own wedding.
All of a sudden it got hot and his collar felt too tight. He couldn’t breathe! He stood up tugging at his tie.
“Stop that!” Ann rebuked. But her stern warning only made his anxiety worse.
Dale Senior stood up and walked to him, “breathe,” he whispered, in his ear. “You are marrying the love of your life. You are not in line to get slaughtered.”
Carson chuckled, nervously, “How did you do this pop?”
He chuckled, “I was drunk!”
Hope! “You wouldn’t be carrying a flask by any chance?”
He shook his head, “your mother still hasn’t forgiven me for that. I’m not about to make it worse by getting you drunk!”
Carson tugged at his collar again, “All of this just feels too…. much, too fast.”
“I’m not the one who told you to have a baby and get engaged, within a year and a half of meeting the girl.”
“But I’ve loved Ellie since the first day I met her, and I’ll love her till the day I die.”
“If you feel so strongly and you are sure about your feelings, what’s the rush to get married? Wait a few more months or a year and have a grander wedding. Your mother would love to plan it for you.”
He snorted, “It’s because of her crazy sister. I can’t risk her separating us. It will be harder for her to drive a wedge between Ellie and me, when we are married.”
Dale Senior gave his son a worried look, “That shouldn’t be a reason to get married. Son, you need to have a good reason to do this. Marriage isn’t a joke.”
Before Carson could answer, the bridal march song started. “Pop, do you mind staying up here with me? Keep me from running?”
“Sure thing. And if you do start running, I’ll trip you and you can fake a concussion before your mother finds out and gives you a real concussion.” He said, with a laugh.
Carson laughed, “Mom doesn’t scare me as much as Ellie does.”
Dale Senior raised his eyebrow, “Really?”
“She threatened to kill me herself if I got shot again, and she meant it.”
Kris came first. She looked beautiful in her lilac dress that matched the purple and white bouquet. Then Audrey came next carrying Stacey-Ann. She was quiet and still before she saw Carson. But when they got close, she couldn’t stop laughing and jumping around. She reached out for Carson several times, but he kept shaking his head at her.
“That should be your first reason for marrying Ellie.” Dale Senior whispered.
And then Ellie came in from behind the curtains. She had a beautiful smile on her face, her eyes focused on Carson as she walked towards him, a lovely bouquet of lilies in her hand.
Carson looked at her and he felt like his breath had been taken away. He was relaxed and everything around him became still and very quiet. Nothing existed but the beautiful soul walking towards him. He couldn’t shift his eyes away from her. It was like he was under a spell, and all he could do was fall in love with her even more.
“Hi,” she whispered, once she got to him. “I thought you’d have run away by now.”
“Why in the world would I want to do that? You are never getting rid of me.”
“I know. I’m stuck with you for life.”