Debbie Doll | Ringo Starr ✅

25

I had never seen Ritchie so happy before in the very little time that I had known him.

He couldn't stop beaming from ear to ear. From the registry office and for the entirety of our cab ride, he had the biggest grin plastered on his face. Seeing him happy made me happy. "Let me get that," he said as we were approaching John and Micky's flat. He twisted the door knob, gently bowing his head as he smiled, "after you, Mrs Starkey."

Mrs. Starkey.

Hearing that from Ritchie rippled some kind of excitement down my spine.

We were finally man and wife.

I was now his and only his forever, officially and exclusively.

I returned his smile and walked in. John was spending the night with Cyn at Brian's empty flat, meanwhile Micky and Suzie were spending the night at her parents' house, meaning it was just me and Ritchie in the entire flat. I really wasn't sure whether they had all planned their evenings to give us the flat to ourselves on purpose, but it was well known what a newly wed couple did on their wedding night... and as promised to Ritch, I was going to give myself to him tonight. Everything I had was his.

"Well that wasn't your average Saturday," Ritchie chimed happily, catching me by surprise.

I shrugged my shoulders, putting down the small bouquet of violets I had been holding throughout the ceremony on the milk crate. "Guess not," I agreed.

Ritchie frowned. "What is it? You seem stressed."

"What? No, I'm not..." I sighed, knowing that he would know if I was lying. "Well, it's just that I was thinking about dad and Elsie, you know? I mean, how are they going to take all of this?"

Previously, I hadn't cared about what others thought about mine and Ritchie's relationship, but I felt guilty for not telling my father that I was getting married... or that Ritchie and I were even in a relationship in the first place.

"Hey," he walked up to me and reached for my face, holding it in his hands. I looked into his gorgeous blue eyes, "weren't you the one who was so sure about all of this? Why are you worried, now?"

"I'm not worried," I replied, "just a little guilty, that's all.."

"Look we didn't do anything wrong. In the eyes of the law, we're just two strangers who aren't related. That's why we got married so quickly... so if the law has no problem with it, our parents shouldn't have one, either."

He gently stroked my cheek with his slightly calloused thumb.

"Besides," he continued, "we love each other. Our love is so strong that it's going to melt even that arsehole father of yours."

"Hey!" I playfully pushed his chest away and Ritchie chuckled as he took a step back to steady himself.

I love the sound of his laughter.

"Oh come on, Debbie... my doll... it's our wedding day. Don't be sad. Don't feel guilty. We should remember this day as something joyful and happy, and not be filled with guilt, because today is the day we became two hearts and one soul..."

Perhaps it was all the roller coaster of emotions I have been through in just a single day, but his words made butterflies flutter in my stomach.

He was right, of course.

I couldn't be sad on my wedding day. It was just wrong.

"You're right." I agreed, "I shouldn't overthink it."

"You shouldn't be thinking at all," he replied quietly, stroking my cheek again slowly, before he put his hands on my hips and pulled my body closer to his. "Tonight's our wedding night and I finally get to please you... to give you what you need."