“Ryan and Elizabeth, today you pledge your love. From this day forward you will travel together on a lifelong journey as husband and wife. The love that you feel for one another today can serve as your guide along this path. Hold tight to the kindness and wisdom that comes from that love.”
Still beaming, he turned toward Nolan. “Ryan, do you take Elizabeth to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and hold through sickness and health, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, till death do you part?”
He opened his mouth then snapped it shut. Staring up at him, Lynn had no idea what was going through his mind. He swallowed deeply, then nodded. “I do.”
“Elizabeth, do you take Ryan to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and hold through sickness and health, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, till death do you part?”
Suddenly, she knew what had hit Nolan when he hesitated. Even though this was a fake wedding, with fake information on the license and the vows said without their full legal names would not be upheld… even if they were not in a real church… even if it was a Justice of the Peace and not a minister… the solemnity of the moment struck her. Her mouth grew dry and she was uncertain she could speak. Searching Nolan’s face, his eyes held understanding. His smile had a touch of sorrow. She felt the tingles throughout her arms as he squeezed her fingers gently. “I do,” she managed to wheeze.
“Miss Junelle, will you give Elizabeth the ring?”
Not waiting for her to turn, Junelle thrust the ring into Elizabeth’s hand. Trying not to drop the ring with her hands shaking badly, she placed the ring on Nolan’s finger and repeated the vows the Justice of the Peace instructed. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Errol did not wait for any instructions, simply handing Nolan the smaller ring. Following the instructions also, he slid the ring on Lynn’s finger, wiggled it slightly to the base, and said, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“By the power vested in me by the great state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!”
Her breath left her lungs in a rush, and she stared up at Nolan wide-eyed. Because they had not planned on completing the sham, it never dawned on her that they would need to kiss. Ten years ago, she’d attempted a kiss, but in a fumbling, sixteen-year-old way, she’d managed to land her lips on his, catching him by surprise. And her humiliation had been complete when he grabbed her by her arms and pushed her away before whirling around and hurrying out of the room. Now, she froze in place, unable to move. “Uh…”
Nolan didn’t seem to have that problem as he slid one arm around her waist and pulled her in tightly. Banding his other arm around her shoulders, his fingers slid through her hair to the back of her head before taking her lips in a kiss. He moved his soft lips over hers, and as she sighed, he slipped his tongue inside, caressing hers. Her knees felt weak and her fingers dug into his shoulders, clinging for purchase to keep her upright. She lost track of time, reveling in a kiss she had been dreaming about since she was old enough to know what a kiss was.
“Yay!!!” cried Junelle, tossing rose petals in the air.
Nolan’s arms loosened slightly, and as he pulled back, she felt the heat of blush warming her face. Slowly becoming aware of the others, she glanced to the side to see Errol signing a piece of paper in front of the officiant. Junelle handed the bouquet back to her and rushed over to the small table to sign the paper as well.
Errol walked over and shook Nolan’s hand. “Congratulations, and thank you so much for choosing Cupid of the Mountains Wedding Chapel! Since we got started a little early, the photographer is on his way. So just take your time and congratulations again.” He cast his glance toward Junelle and said, “I’m heading out now.”
Still standing in the same spot as though her feet were stuck to the carpet, Lynn was uncertain how their plans had changed. Looking toward Nolan to get her cues from him, she was hoping the others would leave.
Junelle was still stuck in wedding mode and she continued to talk. “You two can sign your marriage certificate and then it’s my job to file it. You can get a copy online in about two days and then a certified copy will be mailed to you in a few weeks. The photographer is going to be here in a few minutes, and you’ve paid for a lovely package. He’ll take pictures of both of you, indoor and outdoor, some of the beautiful bride, some of your hands with the rings. Any special pictures you want, like kissing pictures, you just let him know.”
“Um… I thought we could get a picture with Mr. Hightower, but I believe he’s already left?” she asked, wanting to make sure he was no longer in his office. Nolan’s hand tightened around her shoulder, and she hoped he appreciated her foresight.
“Oh, I am so sorry, but yes. He’s already gone to lunch and when he goes on Wednesdays, he’s gone for quite a while.” Junelle beamed her smile at them again and said, “I’ll be back in the front area, so take your time with the pictures.”
She hustled off, leaving Nolan and Lynn with the officiant. Looking down at the wedding license, her hands shook as she left off ‘Lynn’ and just signed Elizabeth Cox. She watched as Nolan signed as well and wondered once again what false information Rita had placed on their fake marriage license application. That thought was quickly shoved aside as the Justice of the Peace shook their hands and walked out the same door that Junelle had left through.
Now that it was just the two of them, she grabbed Nolan and said, “Can we do it now?”
Before he had a chance to speak, the door opened and in walked an older gentleman, several camera bags in hand.
“Hello, hello! I’m so sorry I’m late! They told me noon but Miss Junelle told me that you all got started early. That’s okay! We can make it just like everything’s happening right now.” As he made it to them, he shook their hands. “I am Chester Morgan, one of the photographers here at Cupid of the Mountains Wedding Chapel. I’ve been doing this many years and always take care of my couples.”
It took several minutes, but he set his cameras out on one of the benches nearby. “Okay, stand up in front of the flowers at the front here, let’s get a few.”
By now, the entire event felt so surreal that Lynn simply moved through the motions, following Chester’s instructions without question. She and Nolan posed with their arms around each other at the front of the chapel, some facing the camera and some staring into each other’s eyes. They followed Chester outside where they stood next to a stream, in the gazebo, under a weeping cherry tree, and by the cupid’s sign. There were pictures of her hand resting on Nolan’s, their white gold bands glistening in the sunlight.
She thought that with each picture it would get easier but, instead, the emotional toll of the sham wedding was weighing on her. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! We were going to get here early, get into the empty office, and then sneak out before the ceremony took place.
“You’re getting all dreamy-eyed on me, Mrs. Bell,” Chester called out, jerking her gaze back to his.
“I’m sorry?”
“I asked your groom if he wanted a kissy-kissy picture.”
Before she had a chance to reply, Nolan turned her gently and pulled her flush against his body. Mumbling against her lips, he said, “I know we need to get inside, but how about a kissy-kissy picture to remember this crazy-ass day?”