Dreams Adrift (A River Dream Novel) (3 page)

Then it was Cynthia's turn. Her dress was a
shade lighter than the bridesmaids' and her bouquet a bit fuller.
Hans' cummerbund was the same blue as Cynthia’s dress. She stood
tall at the top of the walkway and looked towards me. Even at that
distance I could tell tears were filling her eyes. A smile formed
and, taking a breath, she began her trek down the aisle. As she
took her place on the bride's side of the altar, the music
changed.

As Clark's “Trumpet Voluntary” began playing,
Maeve and her father appeared at the top of the walkway leading to
the beach. With each step they took I could feel my pulse beating
faster. Maeve looked so beautiful in her wedding dress, a
tea-length white gown with hints of yellow along the frill. Her
bouquet was white orchids. White sandals adorned her feet. She wore
the pearl choker her mother had worn at her wedding. Her veil was
held on by a ring of small white flowers. The veil was thin, and I
could see Maeve’s smile beaming as they came down the aisle. My
heart swelled with love for her. My white tux, with a yellow
cummerbund, complimented her dress perfectly.

Due to the unique circumstances of our
wedding, being that it followed our marriage by several months,
Maeve and I, with the help of the preacher and other interested
parties, had made some changes to the wedding ceremony. As her
father walked her to the altar, I stepped down to take her hand
from him, and she joined me before the preacher.

Reverend McIntyre addressed our guests. “Who
supports this couple as they affirm their vows this
day?”

My parents and Maeve’s folks were supposed to
say “We do.” Instead, a chorus of “we do’s” came from our parents,
the wedding party, and most of the guests. I looked aside at Maeve.
She was looking at me with the same questioning look. The preacher
was smiling a conspiratorial smile. Evidently, someone made plans
of their own. We wondered what other surprises might await
us.

Reverend McIntyre continued the ceremony.
“Friends and family of the couple, we have gathered here this
beautiful morning to be with Michael and Maeve as they affirm
before God and this company their vows of marriage. They have come
together as husband and wife, devoted to each other in love, to
confirm their wish and intent to remain together in the bonds of
matrimony as long as they both shall live.”

The preacher then nodded to Rick, who’d been
my boat skipper in the Navy. He’d gladly accepted the assignment
when we asked him to read a passage from the “Song of
Solomon.”

“
My love spoke and said to me,
arise my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See, the
winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have
appeared in the fields; the season of singing has come, and the
cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its
figs, and the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise my
darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.”

After he returned to his seat, Reverend
McIntyre addressed the guests once more.

“
Marriage is not a covenant to be
entered into lightly. Michael and Maeve pledged their lives and
love to each other forever more. Today, in the presence of God,
their families, and their friends, they will make new their
vows.”

Maeve and I had given a lot of thought to our
vows. When we were married in the magistrate’s office, we’d taken
the standard wedding vows, but for our wedding we had written very
special vows to exchange.

Reverend McIntyre turned to me and said
softly, “Michael, please say your vow to Maeve.”

Maeve and I turned to face each other. Tears
filled my eyes as I looked into hers, and I felt the love flowing
between us like a current. Swallowing hard against my emotions, I
spoke my vow to Maeve.

“
Maeve, my love, my life, I
promise you this day all my love, my loyalty, my laughter, my mind,
and my heart. All that I have and all that I am are yours today and
forever. I will be your friend, your lover, your confidant; the
father of your children, your strength when you tire, your warmth
when you are cold, your shelter in the storm, the one who will
stand by you through all things.”

I stopped and turned to Hans, who handed me
the new ring I would place on Maeve’s finger.

“
I give you this ring as a symbol
of our unending love and unity.”

I slid the ring on her finger next to the one
she’d worn since that day in the magistrate’s office.

“
From this day forward we will
walk together as one.”

Maeve squeezed my hands tight and spoke her
vow to me.

“
Michael, my love, my life, I
promise you this day all my love, my loyalty, my laughter, my mind,
and my heart. All that I have and all that I am are yours today and
forever. I will be your friend, your lover, your confidant; the
mother of your children, your strength when you tire, your warmth
when you are cold, your shelter in the storm, the one who will
stand by you through all things.”

Maeve turned to Cynthia, her maid of honor,
and took the new ring she would place on my finger.

“
I give you this ring as a symbol
of our unending love and unity. From this day forward we will walk
together as one.”

The preacher nodded to Beth, whose beautiful
soprano voice soon filled the air with the words of “There is
Love.” While she sang, Maeve and I stood looking into each others’
eyes. I know the smile on my face matched the one on
hers.

As the final notes of the song were carried
away on the morning breeze, Reverend McIntyre once again addressed
our guests.

“
Michael and Maeve, as you have
affirmed your vows of matrimony here before God and this company, I
ask that the Lord’s blessing be upon your union.” Then he smiled at
me and said, “Michael, you may kiss your bride.”

I reached up gently and lifted Maeve’s veil.
Then we kissed a kiss that would be talked about by our family and
friends for years to come. It surpassed the kiss we’d shared on the
wildlife pier the night I proposed, even the kiss we’d shared that
night on the dune. I don’t know how long it might have gone on if
the preacher hadn’t coughed politely to remind us we weren’t
exactly alone on the beach. Maeve and I giggled as we moved apart
and turned towards our guests.

“
Ladies and gentlemen, family and
friends,” intoned Reverend McIntyre, “Michael and Maeve
Lanier.”

With radiant smiles on our faces, we received
the applause of our guests. The applause faded and we waited for
the organist to begin playing the recessional. We’d picked “Jesu,
Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach. At the first strains of organ music
Beth stood with her flute and, accompanied by several of our
musically inclined friends, joined the organist in playing the
song. Maeve and I looked at each other and laughed before walking
up the aisle and across the wooden walkway to the resort’s patio
area where our wedding party joined us to form a receiving
line.

As the guests filed past, they were shown into
the banquet room where the reception luncheon would take place. The
band was already set up and began playing background music as
people started to fill the room. Maeve, her bridesmaids, my
groomsmen, and I still had pictures to take. After the last of the
guests filed past, Maeve reached up and turned my head to face
her.

“
Well, Mr. Lanier, I think that
went well.”

“
Yes, Mrs. Lanier, I think it
did,” I said.

“
This may sound funny, Michael,”
Maeve said as we made our way back toward the beach for pictures,
“but I now feel like we’re Married with a capital M. Do you know
what I mean?”

Now that she'd put it that way, I realized
she’d described perfectly the feeling I was feeling. “I hadn’t
thought of it like that, but I think you’re right.”

Maeve smiled and hugged me.

It seemed to take forever to get all the
pictures taken, but at long last the photographer announced we were
done. Relieved, we made our way to the banquet room. Maeve and I
had to wait until our bridesmaids and groomsmen had taken their
places at the head table so that we could be announced.

The clanking of glasses began as soon as we
reached our seats. I wasn't sure if Hans or Chase started it, or
perhaps it was Cynthia. Regardless, Maeve and I gave in with a
quick kiss. The serving staff was filling glasses in preparation
for the toasts. We would be toasted by both the Best Man and the
Maid of Honor.

Always the gentleman, Hans insisted Cynthia go
first. One of the staff brought her a microphone. She stood and
raised her glass.

“
As her big sister, I’ve known
Maeve all her life.”

Cynthia paused to let the expected chuckles
die down.

“
She was the typical annoying
little sister, but she did have her good points. She's grown into a
fine young lady and was blessed to find a fine young man like
Michael to fall in love with. Sis, when you first brought him home
I wasn't sure he was the guy for you, but seeing you two together,
now I have no doubts. I wish you love and happiness through all
your days.”

She raised her glass high, “To Maeve and
Michael.”

“
To Maeve and Michael,” echoed
through the room. Maeve and I both rose to our feet and embraced
Cynthia. We were all in tears.

Then it was Hans’ turn. He looked at Cynthia,
Maeve, me, and finally back at Cynthia. She handed him the
microphone.

“
That is going to be a hard act to
follow,” he said quietly, for our ears only. Taking a deep breath,
he picked up his glass and stood.

“
I haven't known Michael quite all
his life; it just feels that way,” he started, earning his share of
laughs. “We’ve been friends since as far back as I can remember. He
is closer to me than a brother. They say you cannot pick your
family, but you do get to pick your friends. Michael is the kind of
friend I would pick to be family.”

I felt tears welling again.

“
I remember the first time Michael
told me about Maeve. That was many years ago. I could see in his
eyes and hear in his voice that there was something special about
her, something that touched a place in his heart.”

I remembered telling Hans about Maeve but
hadn't realized I'd given him that impression.

“
Last fall when he found her
again, I saw that look in his eyes and heard that something in his
voice that had been missing all those years in between. I believe
it was because he’d rediscovered his soul mate. There is love and
then there is LOVE.” He put special emphasis on the second
love.

“
May Michael and Maeve always know
LOVE between them, and may they always be happy
together.”

He raised his glass high, “Here’s to Michael
and Maeve, long life and good times.”

Once again, “To Michael and Maeve,” echoed
around the room.

Maeve and I rose to embrace Hans.

“
That was beautiful, Hans,” Maeve
said through her tears. “I never knew that.”

Hans, his hands gently upon her shoulders,
said, “You never knew what?”

Maeve sniffed and said, “What you said about
Michael, from when we first met. I didn't know about
that.”

Hans smiled and nodded.

We no sooner sat down than it was announced
lunch was served. During the planning it was debated among the
ladies involved whether to go with plated meals or a buffet.
Offering my two cents worth, I’d expressed a preference for a
buffet. Much to my surprise, that’s what we wound up
doing.

The kitchen staff outdid themselves preparing
the buffet. They’d included a little something for everyone.
Chicken, beef, pork, seafood, and a selection of vegetarian items
all adorned the tables. Salads of every description, vegetables,
diced fruits, and potatoes prepared in ways I could never have
imagined complemented the main courses. There were soups and
chowders. There was certainly no reason for anyone to leave that
party hungry.

Maeve and I got to make the first pass at the
buffet so we could eat our lunch and then mingle with our guests
while they ate theirs. This allowed me to meet some of Maeve's
family, aunts and uncles and such, and her to meet some of mine we
probably wouldn't have otherwise.

As lunch began to wind down, we made our way
back to the head table. Again, glasses were clanked and again we
responded with a kiss, though it was hard to kiss while we were
giggling.

With lunch done it was time for dessert. That
meant cutting the cake. Our wedding cake was a beautiful four-layer
cake. Each layer was separated by columns, making it look even
bigger than it was. Rather than little bride and groom characters,
our cake top was a blown glass heart encompassing two crystal
swans.

As we approached the cake for the cutting, I
reminded Maeve, “We're going to keep this dignified. No smooshing
cake in my face, right?”

Maeve gave me a look of utter innocence. “Who,
me?”

I knew I was in trouble.

The band broke into a rendition of “the bride
feeds the groom,” as the first piece was cut from the cake. The
photographer made sure she had a good angle for the shot. Maeve
carefully picked up the piece of cake, carefully held it up to my
mouth, and as I carefully took a bite, she cheerfully mashed it
onto my nose.