It was getting late. The sun began to set Katie was still missing from the chapel. Brent’s mom and some of Katie’s siblings had set out to look for her. At the request of Danielle, Jeff had even gone back to the house to look for her and returned with no success. Dani had curled up in one of the pews in the very back of the chapel, shifting between tears of worry and trying to figure out where her best friend was.
Brent’s suit bore a little dampness from a combination of sweat and rain drops from the downpour. “She wasn’t at the club, she wasn’t at your house or Dani’s. She’d never go to my place, at least not without throwing on a hazmat suit. According to her reaction the last time I tried to get the four of us to hang out at my place. The Bishop that was supposed to perform the ceremony had to leave to get dinner and be with his family. What do you wanna do? Should we just call off the wedding and tell everyone to go home?” Jeff said with an of doubt in his voice. ”Most of the guests have left already. I don’t like to be the one to admit it, but this wedding feels like a natural disaster.”
“No. . Not yet. “ Brent said, removing the keys from the ignition of his car and falling back against the driver’s seat. A silence fell over the two friends as Brent let his thoughts take over. Most of what Jeff had just said started to disappear into the depths of his mind. All but a few words. He paused as the thought finally hit him. “Wait. . which park is it that’s down the street from here?”
“Richards park?” Jeff answered with a confused look on his face. ”I’ve taken a lot of date’s to that park. The Garden Maze is like the best picnic spot to appeal to their sensitive side. Why do you ask?”
Brent went quiet for a minute before stuffing his keys in his suit and pushing open the door of the car. “Get Dani and finish setting things up. I have an idea.” Brent said, making his way back through the doors of the church. He took off down the hall, his mind set on the back door of the chapel. The rain was coming down hard and he could barely see the distant silhouette of a familiar figure crossing the street in the distance. He had only just stepped back out the door when the figure came running toward him. Her facial features concealed by the heavy rain and light reflecting off the puddles that formed among the asphalt. As She drew closer a sigh of relief washed over the long blonde haired man. Her dress was soaked, and he could see the makeup running down her damp cheeks. To anyone else she might look like a trainwreck in a white dress, but Brent she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He stared as if frozen in place watching as the ginger haired beauty ran toward him. Her arms wrapped around him tightly causing him to catch himself with a step back. Her wet hair and wet clothes sent a cold shiver through his body, but he didn’t care.
Brent opened an Umbrella and wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I’m so very sorry.” He whispered into her ears softly. “I never want to lose you again.” he continued as Katie’s hug tightened over his torso. After what felt like minutes, Brent finally opened his eyes and looked around. His focus landed on the familiar face of Nat. “You’re here?” He asked as Katie shifted, laying her head against his chest. Her eyes closed peacefully as a sigh of content escaped her lips.
“Allow me to offer my services.” Nat said as she watched the young couple. “Who better to perform a marriage ceremony than Mother Nature herself?” With that, Nat cupped her hand over the young couples. The vine-like tattoos on her arm began to shift and slither along her forearms. Katie could feel the vines curling up in her palms. Stalks of thornless roses bloomed between her fingers.
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“If you’d be willing to.” Brent replied, casting a glance down at the bouquet of roses that formed in his fiancé's hand. “I don’t think we’d turn down the help.”
“I wouldn’t. . “ Katie said, watching the petals form and blossom in front of her eyes. “These are beautiful.” she spoke up softly, her eyes widening at the sight. “How often do you get the chance to have Mother Nature as your minister.”
It didn’t take long to gather what little crowd was left of their guests. The rain persisted outside the church, but a glimmer of evening sunlight peered in through the clouds. Much to Dani’s Dismay, they didn’t have enough time for her to fix the bride’s makeup before they started the ceremony. Another text from the bishop urging Brent to finish up and return his keys, arrived right as the ceremony started. Brent chose to shake it off and ignore it. He glanced up at the organ player and stared, trying to figure out where he recognized him. Then it hit him, It was Nat’s friend from the mall.
Music rang through the chapel walls at the same time Brent’s nerves hit him. The evening sunlight outside the windows pierced the clouds more brightly. Brent’s concentration zoomed in at the end of the aisle anticipating the sight of Katie. Then she rounded the corner standing at the end of the Aisle. The glow from the evening sun surrounded her. Her dress was still soaked and her make up was still running. Brent was taken back at the sight of her. Where some men would see an imperfect beauty, Brent's heart raced at the sight of her. She was like nothing he’d ever seen before. He knew at that moment, there was no one else he’d rather see making her way toward him at the end of that aisle. That thought stayed with him through most of the ceremony. Even as the Minister started to speak, Brent was at a loss for words to just whisper to Katie about how beautiful she was to him. Katie smiled warmly at him as he took her hands. Her emerald eyes met with his.
Katie couldn’t help, but grin as Brent stared into her eyes with a look she had never witnessed before. The memory of the vision popped into her head. The thoughts she heard running through his mind. That’s how she knew what he was thinking at that very moment.
“I believe you two have prepared your own vows?” Nat asked as her gaze shifted between the two. ”You may recite them now if you so choose.”
“I have, '' Brent replied gently, patting his tux in an attempt to find the paper he’d written them down on.. When he finally found the paper it had been smudged and torn, most likely from holding his rain soaked bride. “I guess I’ll just have to speak from the heart.” He said, looking up into Katie’s eyes. “I Brent Moore, take thee, Kathrine Benson, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, In Sickness and in Health, To love and to Cherish, Till Death do us part. Katie I promise to love you in this lifetime and in any lifetime that may come. The love I have for you is eternal and I know it will stand the test of time. I vow to strive to show you that every day of our lives together.”
Tears began to stream down Katie’s face. The grin on her face stretched from one ear to the other. She tightened her grip on the bouquet as He slipped the ring over her finger. Katie didn’t need to search for her vows, she could feel the paper she had tucked away in her water soaked dress plastered to her ribs. “I, Kathryn Evelyn Benson, take thee, Brent Moore to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, In sickness and in health, To love and to Cherish. Till Death Do us Part. Brent, My love, My soul’s counterpart. . No one else could even begin to match the love I have for you. In this life and for the rest of eternity, I want only you. The bond we share could never be broken. I know from the bottom of my heart that this is what true love feels like.”
Brent found himself lost in Katie’s gaze. Each word that poured from her lips like a sweet melody putting his heart at ease. “If any should object to the union of this Let them speak now” Nat said as Katie slipped the ring over her husband’s finger. “By the power invested in me by . . nature itself. I now Pronounce you man and wife. You may Kiss the bride. Vines grew from the bouquet as the couple kissed, their hands temporarily wrapped by the green as a Heart formed around the Bouquet.
