One Thousand Miles

Chapter  |  Here Comes The Bride

Part  |  Two

All eyes were on me as my father and I slowly walked down the aisle with our arms linked together. But I somehow managed to block them out and focus on one person only. John Schmidt. That man I would be married to in at least ten minutes from now. He was staring at me with shock, joy, and love. I thought I saw something else there, but I didn't know what.

Soon we came to a stop next to the preacher and John, and I couldn't help the small smile that formed on my lips. My father whispered the words, "I'm so proud," in my ear before letting go of my arm and taking a seat next to my mother, Kate, and Ethan in the front pew.

"You look beautiful, Steph," John whispered, so only I could hear.

I smiled just as the elderly preacher cleared his throat and began to speak. "You may be seated," he says, and waits for everyone to take a seat before continuing. "Dear family and friends, on behalf of John and Stephanie I welcome you all for this marriage ceremony. We are here today to encourage, celebrate and support the covenant these two people John and Stephanie are going to make and to share in the joy that John and Stephanie experience as they pledge their love and commitment to each other. We rejoice in the manner God has led them to each other and got them to the place where they now stand."

He then turns to John. "The woman who stands by your side is going to be your wife. She will look to you for comfort, for support, for love, for understanding, for encouragement, and for protection. You must never take her for granted, and always stand by her for good or ill."

He then turns to me. "The man who stands by your side is going to be your husband. He will look to you for comfort, support, love, understanding and encouragement. You must never take him for granted and always stand by him for good or ill."

He turns to John again, but this time I notice a smile forming on his lips. "Since it is your intention to marry, join your right hands and declare your consent. Do you take Stephanie to be your lawful wedded wife to have and behold from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

John smiles over at me, before turning towards the preacher with a huge grin on his face. "Of course I do. I love this woman with all my heart and I'm lucky to call her mine."

He nods his head before shifting so he was facing me once again. "Do you take John to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and behold from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

 I grin. "I do. I love this man with all my heart and soul and I too am lucky to call him mine."

The preacher nods before signaling over a man holding our rings on a expensive looking pillow. "The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. And today John and Stephanie exchange these rings as confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to create a life that is complete and unbroken and to love each other unconditionally. May the Lord bless these rings which you give to each other as the symbol of your love and fidelity," he says before turning to John. "Take this ring and place it on your bride's finger, and state your pledge to her, repeating after me."

John places the ring on my finger before repeating the after the preacher. "With this ring I thee wed. I offer you my hand and my heart as I know they will be safe with you. All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

"Take this ring and place it on your groom's finger, and state your pledge to him, repeating after me," the preacher says to me.

I place it on John's finger and repeat the same words John had. "With this ring I thee wed. I offer you my hand and my heart as I know they will be safe with you. All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

"John and Stephanie you have given and pledged your promises to each other, and have declared your everlasting love by exchanging the rings. Your vows may have been spoken in minutes, but your promises to each other will last until your last breath. As they have pledged themselves to meet sorrow and happiness as one family before God and this community of friends, I now pronounce them husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

John grins widely before wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me in for the kiss. The kiss is slow and passionate, just how I pictured it to be. I slowly wrap my arms around his neck and the kiss continues for a few more seconds before we finally break apart.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. John Schmidt!"

"Words can't even explain how beautiful you look," John whispered in my ear as we sat at a table in the corner of the room. I had been married for almost four hours and I already liked it. John still treated me the same, but there was something a little different about him, a good different.

"Oh would you stop it. People are looking, and are probably getting the wrong idea," I say while blushing.

He smirks before whispering the words, "Let them get the wrong idea. At least they'll think they know what I have planned for you tonight."

I internally groaned before reaching across the table for a piece of cake on a saucer. I cut some off with a fork before shoving it into his mouth. "Oh shut up and eat your cake."

He rolled his eyes and swallowed. "Yeah shove it in there why don't you. I'll be shoving my---"

I stomped on his foot under the table causing him to groan in pain. I smirked over at him just as two people came to a stop in front of our table. A huge smile formed on my face and I quickly stood up and brought them in for a hug. "Hey guys!"

Tanya laughed. "Hey, congratulations you two!"

Tyler smiled and wrapped his arm around Tanya's waist. "Yeah I'm happy for both of you."

I smiled. "Well thank you guys so much. John and I are glad that you two could attend. Isn't that right, John?" I turn to John who is looking at both Tanya and Tyler as if they were both a bad stench. I knew he didn't like them, but he could at least act civil with them. It was our wedding day for Pete's sake! He was slowly ruining it with his new found attitude.

"Um, yeah well Tanya and I better go find Rebecca. I'm sure Taylor is giving her a hard time," Tyler says. I nod my head and watch as they leave.

Once they are gone I turned toward John and glare at him. He just looks at me as if he didn't have a clue as to why I was giving him that look. "What?"

I frowned. "You know what. Why couldn't you just act like you were glad they came? I get that you don't like them and feel as though they're a bad influence, but whether you like it or not, they are my friends. John you will treat my friends with respect, you don't have to like them, just respect them. Now if you can do that then I'll be the happy wife."

He just looked at me for a moment before slowly nodding his head. "Okay, I'll do it for you, and because it's our wedding day."

I smile. "Thank you so---"

"Oh, and also because I'm looking forward to the honeymoon."

My mouth drops open and I playfully smack him on the arm. "That is it. I want a divorce!"

"Well too bad you're not getting one. I wouldn't let you leave me anyway," he says sounding serious, but I don't take it that way. 

I laugh and grin widely at him. "Yeah well I love you too much to leave anyways. I'm yours forever."

His serious expression quickly turns into a more playful one at the sound of my words. "And that's right. I love you too Stephanie Schmidt."