Someone Else's Fairytale (51 page)

I heard a commotion in the other room, then the opening strains of the concerto that Jason had picked out. Kyra came to stand with me behind the fridge, only she peered out into the front room. “So... go now,” she said.

All of the sudden, I was nervous. I smoothed my dress, took a deep breath, and stepped out into the living room.

Jason stood over by the fireplace (someone had moved the presents aside) and stared at me with those blue eyes like I was some kind of angel. I focused on him as I made my way across the room, both the shortest and the longest walk I've ever taken in my life. Finally I was there, able to slip my hands into his.

The officiator started to talk, but it all washed over me. I was getting
married,
to Jason Vanderholt of all people. My life had gotten certifiably bizarre, not that I would have changed it for anything.

Jason started to recite his vows, about taking me as his wife to have and to hold. My head was spinning. I couldn't keep track of what he said. At a couple of points the chopper got extra loud, and he paused until the sound subsided again.

Then it was my turn. I just blanked my mind and repeated the words. No one laughed, so I must've gotten them right. I heard a few sniffles.

Steve stepped over and handed us our rings. Jason slipped mine onto my hand, reciting, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

I took a deep breath, afraid I'd drop his, but I didn't. I slipped it on his hand and said, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

And then the officiator said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Just like that, it was over. Jason and I kissed, for the first time ever in public, and then we faced the room while Doug's golfing buddy said, “May I present: Jason and Chloe Vanderholt.”

Everyone got up and blew bubbles at us and cried and hugged each other. Maddy yelled out, “Aunt Chloeeee!”

We'd done it, and without a single opportunity for the media to get a photo. Not everyone's idea of a fairytale wedding, but I couldn't have asked for more. Later we'd have to face the hordes of photographers who tried to find us on our honeymoon, and I had the hassle of dodging reporters as I went to school, only to face a bunch of dumbfounded classmates who'd had no idea whom I was engaged to (a lot of people ignore the tabloids, I've found).

But all that passed too. And I didn't much care, because as Jason pointed out, what makes a story a fairytale is the ending. We had our ups and downs over the years, but I'd say those generic words they put at the end of fairytales described our life together pretty well.

Author's Note

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