Marriage by Law (50 page)

I gripped his hand, maybe a bit too tightly, as I blindly shoved the ring on and it slipped on perfectly. Why couldn't I get a plain ring, too?

"Gentle much?" whispered Rose and I rolled my eyes, letting go of the hand quickly. Okay done, can I breathe now?

"I now pronounce you man and woman, wife and husband. You may kiss the bride."

Key word being ‘may’ since it was quiet for a whole second before my parents, mainly my father, coughed loudly as he came up to us.

"Congratulations! Now you have a plane to catch."

Thank you, dad, from saving this old man from kissing me. I was engulfed in his hug and I could feel my eyes prickle. I was doing this for you, dad, so you can live happily.

"I love you, Ivory." 

"I love you, too, dad,"

Of course, my mother had to say something and ruin the moment and pull me down the stairs. Rose was beside me in a second, holding my hand as I nearly tripped over.

The walk outside felt forever in these heels as I followed him and his parents to a white limousine. 

"Get in," said Rose, holding the door open after he got in.

"I have to get in?"

"Duh."

"I don't think I can."

"Ivory, get your arse in there."

"No," I said as I firmly shook my head. "I think my dress is going to pop. I can't breathe. I need to pee, too! I can -" I grunted as she shoved me in, my head clipping the side of my door. 

"Hold it and don't faint."

The door slammed shut and I jumped. I watched as they waved and I turned, looking at the seat in front of me. Deep breaths. Don't faint.

Present Time

"You ready?"  

I looked at the fifty note she slammed on the dressing table and raised my eyebrows at her. "What are you doing?"

"I bet my fifty that he will jump you at the altar."

"Rose, you're in a church," I said, rolling my eyes as I fixed my veil, one that I can see out of.

"Okay, he will jump you in the limo?"

I roll my eyes and hid my smile as I grabbed the bouquet.

“No bets,” I told her, shaking my head.

"Okay, ready," I said, taking a deep breath. It was finally happening. I was getting married when I wanted, where I wanted, and how I wanted. Well, most of those since Adrian and Rose planned the majority of the wedding details. I was quite surprised to know they worked together. I was sure Rose was about to behead him.

I looked in the reflection at my simple but elegant dress, made out of satin. It was my size, allowing me to breathe.

It had a low fancy back and a belt that was really just a pattern on the dress, an appearance. It had a small trail, simple and perfect.

The door burst open and Adrian walked in, dressed in his white suit. He claimed he was going to match me, and for once I was glad Rose helped him dress. He didn't look like a total idiot.

He wore a navy blue shirt underneath the white jacket, and somehow he pulled it off. 

"Well, hello there. You sure you don't want to marry me?"

"Get your arse out and at the altar. She's coming," Rose said, sighing. She was already fed up with Adrian even before the wedding started.

"I was just saying, no point since Darius isn't at the altar."

"What?"

"Whoa! Okay, I was joking. Jesus, calm down. I came to give you this." He pulled something out of his pocket. "You're supposed to wear something blue."

I looked at the blue mystique orchid headpiece he had. Some of the bulbs have lost their petals, no doubt from being squashed in his suit pocket. 

"Thanks."

He waved a hand, gushing as Rose rolled her eyes and crossed her hands across her chest.

"Here." 

I lifted up my veil as he placed it on my head. "Wow. See? Now you look good. Before you ugly, now you pretty."

I rolled my eyes dramatically, giving him a push as I pulled my veil back on.

"Alright, you go down. I'll be there."

Adrian said, "Take your time, please. I'll tell him you aren't here and make him panic."

I laughed as Rose scolded him. Imagining Darius, he probably would be panicking. He had asked me four times if I was sure before he left to stay at Adrian's last night.

Adrian was pure evil, I liked it.

"And by the way, that is one hot dress."

"Adrian, go," I told him and watched as Rose tried pushing him out the door. It seemed to be hard work. 

"I am so fed up with him,” Rose was telling me with a shake of her head. “Can't believe you're going to be related to him now."

"Technically I still am. This is just a re-marriage. We are already married, remember?"

"Duh. So, are we going to make him wait?"

I looked in the mirror.

Something old, the veil that was my grandmother’s.

Something blue, the orchid headpiece. It was beautiful with white stones in the middle. Did Adrian make this?

Something borrowed, Rose's silver heels which, I was surprised, I could walk in.

And last but not the least, something new. He had given it to me before he left for Adrian's. A simple silver necklace with one blue teardrop at the end. Of course, that could have passed for something blue but it was miniscule. It sat perfectly just below the middle of my collarbones. It had soft diamond and silver work at the sides of the drop.

"No,” I was telling Rose, “that'll be too cruel. Let's go."

Walking down the aisle this time was different. I wasn't sure if it was Rose holding my hand, my dress allowing me to breathe or the fact I wanted to be re-married to him.

I could see Adrian beside him at the altar. I hid a smile as Adrian looked at me, his mouth open, as he was saying something to Darius and his shoulders slumped.

"I think his joke failed," whispered Rose. My exact thoughts. 

I saw Darius turn around and my heart skipped a beat, seeing him standing there dressed in a simple black suit. And the look on his face was priceless.

"Go get him, tiger." Rose gave me a push toward the stairs and I handed her the bouquet.

This is it, Ivory, I told myself as I stepped up and he held out a hand.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, making my cheeks go red.

"Nice tie," I said to him, holding back a grin. It was a plain silver tie, the bottom was dipped blue which made me smile but the funny thing was his knot. He made a new definition of a tie knot. 

"I did it myself."

"I can tell." 

The priest began. "We are gathered here today -"

Last time, I was too busy trying to breathe rather than listen to the father, and majority of the ceremony was skipped. This time, I was too busy staring at my husband’s green eyes as I held his hands. And this time, I was in love with the man I was going to marry. Or re-marry. We were having another wedding, even when we were already married.

"If anyone objects to this marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

 Darius raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes. Of course, he asked the priest to include that phrase. It was outdated and rarely included in weddings anymore, but here he was giving me another chance to get out. Did he realise that even if I said no, we were technically still married?

"I do."

What?

Darius looked just as confused as we looked at Adrian who was standing there.

The priest said, "In that case, let us pause this ceremony an -"

"Oh no, I was joking," said Adrian, laughing crazily. Rose walked over and smacked him across the face with the bouquet.

"My son, this is a wedding. You cannot make such jokes," the priest scolded and Adrian frowned, cupping his cheek.

"You can carry on," said Darius, glaring at Adrian and shaking his head. "Shouldn't have invited him," he muttered as he pulled me closer, holding my hand. 

"Well, free entertainment," I said with a shrug, even though he did make it inappropriate half the time. 

 "Do you, Darius Quartz, take this woman, Ivory...Quartz?" he looked up and Darius motioned for him to carry on while I held back a smile. Maybe we should have told him that we were renewing our vows. That would have been a better thing to do.

The father cleared his throat starting again. "…to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

Darius squeezed my hands as he gave them a tug. He said, "I do," and my heart skipped a beat. If I was going to faint last time with the lack of oxygen and a tight dress, I felt like I was going to faint this time as well. 

The father nodded to continue as Darius bent down.

"I know I should have told you this sooner, but I wanted to save it for a special occasion."

I raised an eyebrow. Save what?

His thumb stroked my hand and I didn't realise my heart could beat any faster as he whispered, "I love you," in my ear before the priest told him he was standing too close.

"Sorry," he said, straightening up and clearing his throat.

My heart stopped. I stared at him as he smiled and winked at me before he narrowed his eyes. I didn't know what came over me as I pulled my hands back and placed them over my eyes. Was I seriously crying because of three words?

"What the fuck did you say to her?" yelled Rose. 

Then Adrian piped in. "Great! Can I marry her now? Ivory, come to me. Let me – Argh! Stop hitting me, damn it!"

"Guys, it’s fine," I said, waving a hand and wiping my eyes as Darius wrapped his hands around my waist to pull me to him.

"I'm sorry, I'm fine. The wedding can continue." I was flapping my hands around like a bird. 

"Do you -"

"I love you." Darius lifted up the veil and bent down kissing me and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"My son,” the priest began, “you can't kiss her before she says I do and I pronounce you -"

"I told you, I get the fifty bucks!"

"It's okay, dad-father-wedding dude. They're already married."

"If you both can stop dancing, we can eat the cake." 

"Leave them alone," yelled Rose, trying to drag Adrian away from us.

"Cake?" I asked, lifting my head up from Darius's shoulder. "Where's the cake?"

Darius laughed and shook his head as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me after a bickering Rose and Adrian. "Cake," I said excitedly as I saw it, my jaw dropping.

"You're getting a piggy back ride on it," said Adrian. "I bought it myself." 

I laughed when I saw the couple on top of the cook. Rose rolled her eyes and commented, "It looks like she's trying to stomp him." 

"That's what happens if you steal my cake," I said, grabbing the knife. "Are those flowers edible?" 

"No, don't eat them," Darius replied then placed his bigger hand on mine as we cut the cake. 

"There's also champagne." 

"Where?" I said as Darius fed me a slice.

"Oh my god." It was a tower of champagne glasses like a pyramid and I shared a look with Adrian. 

"Let's do it." I was about to rush to follow him when Darius pulled me back.

"What? Oh right, sorry." I grabbed a piece and raised it to his mouth. "Eat." 

He raised an eyebrow. “What?" 

Oh right. "I'll have one glass. I promise I won't spill any on your suit either," I said, crossing my fingers behind my back. Who the hell only has one glass of champagne?