| Secret Admirer, Chapter Seven It was decided that the wedding would take place on the island, mostly for privacy. It was going to be a small ceremony with only a select few invited. Tents were set up as changing rooms, tables to one side of the beach for the buffet and an archway was placed before a platform for the Priestess who would perform the ceremony would stand. A white carpet was laid in the sand, it led to the archway. There were flowers and artificial doves lined the archway. Becca took me to get my wedding dress fitted while Lisa took Beth to get hers. We were not to see each other at all before the wedding so I didn't know what Beth would be wearing. My dress was a white one-piece, slim line gown with corset closure and had a lacy ribbon that wrapped loosely around my neck and attached just below my right shoulder. The Chiffon is gathered throughout the slim line of the gown and had a ruched Satin band about my waist. It also had an innovative detachable shoulder strap, embellished with a floral pattern. The hem was a soft illusion train. "This dress is absolutely fabulous, but it's also expensive." I told Becca as I turned from side to side in front of the mirror, admiring this lovely gown. "Nonsense, Michelle." She told me with a dismissing wave of her hand. "Think nothing of the price. I've got it covered. Now, go change while I take care of the purchase." With a playful swat to my butt, she sent me towards the dressing room as she escorted the sales lady towards the register. By the time I had finished changing back into my regular clothes and the fitter had carefully packaged the gown, wrapping it in a light paper wrap and placing it into a box, I had rejoined Becca in the front of the store. Seeing me approach, I noticed that she quickly closed her cell phone and tucked it back into her purse, turning and smiling at me. "Ready to get to the dock and head out to the island?" She asked. "I'm more than ready, Becca." I replied with a tremor in my voice. We got into Becca's Mustang GT convertible and headed for the docks. Little did I know at the time that Lisa and Beth were nearby waiting for us to depart and they went into the very shop we had just left. Hours later, a couple of hours before dusk, Beth and Lisa finally arrived and they rushed off to their tent to get changed. I paced anxiously in my tent waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was Lisa that came to escort me to the alter where the Priestess stood waiting. My veil covering my face as the light breeze played with the hem of my skirt, making the short train bellow just a bit. I held in my hand a bouquet of sunflowers and Baby's Breath mixed in, tied together by a yellow ribbon. Also in my hands were the vows I had written for Beth. I just hoped my sweating palms would not make the ink run. Although, I knew the words by heart after hours of rehearsing them in front of my full-length bedroom mirror. Nearby was a lovely lady with a synthesizer keyboard that was wired to speakers that surrounded the area of chairs for the guests… there were about twenty guests that came to witness our special day. After an agonizing fifteen minutes, the music was cued and the flaps to Beth's tent opened up. Out first was Sally, Sheila's niece, with a basket of rose petals. Like a pro, Sally walked up the carpeted path, dropping a few petals here and there. She was soon followed by Becca, who had Beth's arm wrapped in hers as they made their way towards me. I was surprised to see that, except for a minor alteration, Beth's gown was the exact same one I was wearing. The difference was, the ribbon around her neck was attached below her left shoulder, where mine was on the right. I could barely make out Beth's face due to her veil but I knew that she was absolutely glowing as much as I was. Behind her was another lovely young girl which I had just met once I had arrived for the ceremony. Her name was Carly, Ms. Albright's daughter, who carried a pillow bearing our wedding rings. The rings I discovered had belonged to Becca and Lisa's mothers and were being given to us to wear in semblance of our long commitment to each other. The wedding march continued until Lisa had guided Beth to stand before me at the altar. Like me, Beth also held in her hand a matching bouquet and her own vows to me. She fidgeted before me and I could tell she was as nervous as I was. Lisa now stood next to Becca, hands held together their gowns were a modest white design that almost matched ours except for being shoulderless and the skirt only reaching about mid-thigh, sandal-toe pumps and a bow-styled belt around their waists, a corsage around their left wrists. The music ended and the Priestess raised her arms to signal everyone to be seated. "Today, in the eyes of Sappho and Aphrodite, we join these two special ladies to the Holy bonds of matrimony. And for our guests, family and friends. This is the joining of two souls. Michelle Radnick and Beth Thompson. Who gives the betrothed to this union?" "Becca and Lisa Thompson, mothers of Beth." Becca announced proudly. "And who gives Michelle Radnick to this union?" The Priestess inquired. There was a brief silence as everyone looked around to see who would step up for this. I had not dared tell any of my family about this since they were all from very conservative, Christian beliefs and would be appalled at what I was doing. Luckily, it was Lisa that spoke up on my behalf. "We also give Michelle to this union." She announced. "Very good." The Priestess nodded as she opened up her book and began her recital. "This union shall be for now and forever, ever binding in the eyes of the Goddesses Sappho and Aphrodite. If there is any dispute to this union, please voice your concerns now or forever hold your peace." There was a momentary pause as nobody uttered a word. Hearing no objections, the Priestess continued. "Then we shall begin. It is my understanding that each of you have written your own vows, correct?" "We have." Beth and I replied in unison. "Who would like to begin." Even through our veils, Beth and I exchange glances. Beth's head was lowered just a touch as she fiddled with the paper that held the most important words of her little life. I could see that she was anxious to utter the sweet words she had created to form her life-vows. "Why don't you begin, sweetness?" I finally said softly, a smile developing on my lips. Beth seemed to radiate with my words and, with shaking hands she unfolded her vows and struggled to see the words through the veil. The Priestess nodded to me and I lifted Beth's veil to reveal her glowing features. I could see the tears of joy begin to swell in her eyes as she smiled at me before turning her gaze back to the page in her hands. She read the words with pride and admiration: "My loving Michelle Her tears were joined my own as Beth looked to me, the ultimate image innocence and beauty. I wanted to scoop her up into my arms and hold her close and never turn her loose. But I knew there would be plenty of time for that later as it was time for me to say my vows to Beth. "Beth, my sweet Beth's tears began to flow steadily. I could also see Becca and even Lisa were sobbing softly, from happiness not sadness. In fact, there wasn't a dry eye on the beach. Even the Priestess was dabbing tears from her eyes at the wondrous beauty of the poetic vows we had exchanged. With a nod of her head, Carly stepped between us holding the pillow, allowing Beth and me to retrieve our rings, then she stepped back, holding the pillow to her chest. "Michelle, place the ring on Beth's finger and repeat after me. This ring binds out hearts…" "This ring binds out hearts." I repeated. "Forever we share." "Forever we share." "Each day will have new starts." "Each day will have new starts." "Forsaking all others." "Forsaking all others." "We now are forever." "We now are forever." "Each other's wives." "Each other's wives." I placed the ring on Beth's finger as I concluded my oath to her. Beth's hand was shaking and she gasped, feeling the cool metal slide in place. The Priestess smiled approvingly as she turned to Beth and had her repeat the same lines to me, sliding my ting into place. I had to help hold my hand steady as it, too, was shaking from anticipation. "You may now kiss." Once the rings were set and we continued to hold hands, the Priestess placed a hand on our closest shoulder to her, tuning us to face our guests. "Ladies, allow me to introduce, Mrs. And Mrs.…" She paused, looking over to Lisa and Becca for the name that we would share forever. Lisa and Becca exchanged soft whispers before coming up with a solution. "Radson." Lisa announced proudly. "Is that agreeable to you both?" The Priestess asked Beth and me. "We agree." We replied in unison, squeezing each other's hands tightly, smiling. "Excellent." The Priestess smiled. "Ladies, allow me to introduce, Mrs. And Mrs. Radson." |