Lovesong

Chapter 51

We were sitting at the table enjoying a homemade chef salad. Kate had told me she'd been craving salads of all kinds these days, so I was good with that for a light lunch. I stared at her as she brought each bite to her heart shaped lips. She was so adorable. I couldn't help but to pucker my own lips and smile at her. I am
truly blessed to have her in my life. My Kitty Kate. I couldn't wait to embrace my little bundle of joy, and to see his or her face. Or the day I make Kate my wife. I was so happy to know we were having a baby. It is what I've always dreamed of...even when I didn't know what I wanted in life. I only knew I wanted to spend every waking moment with Kate, and experience all that I could with her. To build a life with the one that I loved. My parents are going to freak out, and probably wonder what the hell I'm doing and why I did it? They've never really been fond of Kate. All because she's half American and half Korean. And on top of that, I never told them I was divorcing Mari. Very soon I am going to have to face them, especially when the baby is born. Or maybe sooner if Kate and I decide to marry before the due date. But first, I need to get everything finalized with Mari. Then I'll make the call to my parents. I was lost in the wonder of my beautiful fiancée. She was glowing. A lustrous glow. She looked at me with a mouthful and ranch dressing creeping from the corner, "What?" My smile broadened as I reached for her left hand, my fingers teasing with hers, "I love you, Kate." She chewed and swallowed, "Cookie, I love you, too." Then it hit me. I must be thinking crazy, "Let's do it, baby. Do it today. Let's get married." Her eyes widened, "Cookie, are you serious? You want to marry me?" I nodded. She stated, "Today?" I nodded again, "More than anything, Kate. I know it's spontaneous. It's crazy. A little bit exciting. I know you wanted the outside wedding, and we can do that at a later date, with the guys and our families. I want to leave here knowing you are mine. You belong to me. I want our baby to be born a Choi." She choked on the tears rising up in her throat, "Oh, Cookie. What about the Mari situation?" I reached up and wiped away the dressing from the corner of her mouth with the pad of my thumb, and brought it to my mouth. My eyes narrowed slightly and I puckered my lips with a coy smile, "Technically I'm already free man. Remember, baby? So, we're good. So, what do you say? Will you marry me?" Kate stared at me in shock. She thought to herself...is he serious? This is all I ever wanted. To be Mrs. Beomgyu Choi. She broke out in tears and nodded, "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you." I moved out of my chair and embraced her with a passionate kiss. Our lunch forgotten, we consummated our love. We laid in the bed, the sheets tangled around our limbs. Kate was in my arms, her head on my chest. I picked up her left hand, imaging the engraved ring on her index finger, moving to her ring finger, nestled below the diamond ring. She wore the wedding from the very beginning. The engraved ring had been her wedding band all along. It was a timeless piece I'd given her our senior year of high school. I knew then I was so in love with her. Before I went to the music academy, I was already earning money as a trainee for BigHit. So I saved up to buy her something unique...that was her own, and something that would be a little piece of me. It was a gift of my love, a reminder that I was always close to her, forever in her heart. I turned my head and kissed her forehead, my fingers caressing her own, "Kate, it's always been you. You know that. Since that day in the park. I was just a crazy boy. I wasn't looking for love. It never even crossed my mind. I had a free day from my guitar lessons, from training, and I was out having fun...and you fell into my life." I lifted her chin with the crook of my index finger, and traced her jaw, "I was doomed right from the start. My whole world stopped, Kitty Kate. And I knew in that moment I had met the love of my lifetime." She looked at with eyes full of love. I continued, "Not everyone can say that. I felt it all over, from head to toe. Some days I wished I'd told you sooner, and not been so stubborn. Then other days, I think I was blessed to hold out." I turned her onto her back, "You're mine, Kitty Kate. And I am yours. There is no better couple than you and me. And today when I make you my wife, please remember that. Remember how much I love you, and how much I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you, and loving only you." She lightly caressed my cheek with the tips of her fingers, "How did I get so lucky? After everything I've been through, you're still here with me. If anyone is the lucky one, it's me." A tear slid from the corner of her left eye. She wasn't the only lucky one. I never dreamed I'd find someone like her. Her thumb moved over my slightly parted lips, "You loved me and stood by me through it all. You believed in me, Cookie. You are the reason why I'm here today." Her words tugged on my heart, and through all the ups and downs, I thought I came out with the winning hand. All the while she was always with me, cheering me on, believing in me. She never gave up on me when I felt like throwing in the towel. She opened up my eyes to other possibilities and shined a light to show me the way. Even when I held back my secret of Mari and the baby from her, she was still there. When all was said and done, she didn't turn her back on me when I thought I'd lost her for good. Kitty Kate is my best friend, and the the best thing that's ever happened to me. Our relationship hasn't been an easy one. It's been tested and out through the wringer. And here we are, still together, still strong as ever. The ito that binds us together refuses to sever. I took her hand into mine and held it in between us, "Kitty Kate, you're my ito. I'm half of the thread, and you're half of the thread. I love you. Let me sew you tightly." My eyes searched her face, her eyes, her mouth. Here was the woman I would sacrifice anything for. All for her. All for us. For all time." She nibbled on her lower lip, "Cookie, how is you know all the right words to make me fall? Anything to make me feel whole, so complete. When I'm with you it just seems to fit. This love of ours. You take the weight of the world off my shoulders. And when you kiss me, I always know you'll miss me. And when you're with me, the world just goes away. The way you hold me, the way way you show me, you adore me. You are the one. With you, my life has begun. I can always see the two of us together, and know I'm gonna be with you forever. Cookie, this love couldn't be any better." We didn't need to say anything more. I sealed the gap between us with kiss and pulled in, loving her in the sweetest way I knew possible. We arrived at the courthouse mid afternoon. While Kate had been in the shower I was able to call ahead and schedule an appointment. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was shaking in my black dress shoes. I never dreamed marrying the love of my life would make me so nervous. I started to wonder if we were doing the right thing, doing this on a whim. I wanted this. I wanted to make Kate mine. Kate saw my nervousness and laid a hand on my thigh, reassuring me it was going to be all right. I looked at my future wife and smiled. She always knew how to ease the butterflies. I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it, "What would I ever do without you?" She whispered with a wink, "Just for the record, I'm a bundle of nerves too." I cracked a smile. Of course I couldn't tell with her. I got out of the car, and walked over to her side and helped her out. She slipped her hand into mine, her sexy heeled strapped sandals dangling from her right fingers. I opened the passes back door, and took out the dress bag, and carried by the hanger over my left shoulder. I draped an arm around her shoulder as we made our way inside. Luckily I had decided to fully dress at home, so I left Kate alone at the women's restroom to get ready. Now I was more nervous than ever as I sat alone on the bench filing out some paperwork. I had my eyes lowered when I caught sight of her from my peripheral vision. I was rendered speechless. Kate was wearing a white vintage shirt sleeve, cold shoulder summer dress. There was lace around the neck line and lace as part of the cold shoulder sleeves. It was simple yet beautifully perfect for her. I don't recall ever seeing that particular dress on her. She stood there holding a bouquet of spring tulips. I felt like she'd stepped right out of a fairytale wedding. Do guys even think of fairytale weddings? My Kitty Kate made such a beautiful bride. Her hair fell loosely in tendrils over her shoulders and down her back. I could see the tears of joy in her eyes. We were really doing this. She did the wedding match straight towards me. I dropped the pen and rose to my feet. I laid my right hand against her cheek, tears filling my own eyes, "You're the most beautiful woman in the world, Miss Blue. Absolutely beautiful." Her lips shined and her eyes sparkled, "Cookie, don't ruin my makeup." I smiled, "You ready to be my wife?" She handed me her flowers and removed the engraved band from her index finger, and handed it over to me. I noticed the engagement ring was on her right hand now. She took the flowers from me, and I tucked the ring into the pocket of my pants. The judges secretary came and got us, escorting us to the judges chambers.
The closer we got, I was shaking in my skin. I was happy. I was in love. Nervous wondering what the guys would think. Kate grabbed my fidgeting left hand and whispered in my ear, "You look amazing, Cookie. We're almost there. Stop thinking. Just feel and do." We stood before the judge face to face, taking each others hand. He smiled at us, "What a beautiful couple we have here today. Beomgyu Choi. Katelyn Blue." His secretary nodded clutching Kate's flowers. He said to us, "I see here you've written your own vows." I stated plainly, "Yes, your honor." He motioned, "Since you're already facing each other, be my guest." I reached into my pocket and took Kate's left hand. I slid the band halfway to the knuckle, and held her gaze as I said, "I, Beomgyu, take you, Katelyn, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children and my wife. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity." I slid the ring completely down on her finger. Tears glistened in Kate's eyes. She pressed her lips together and turned to the secretary. The secretary removed the white gold band from the delicate ribbon tied around the flowers. Kate turned back to me, taking my left hand, doing the same with the ring, as her eyes held mine, "I, Katelyn, take you, Beomgyu, to be my best friend, my partner in life, and my one true love. I vow to comfort, encourage and inspire you each day for the rest of my life. I will forever be there to laugh with you, to lift you up when you are down and to love you unconditionally through all the adventures of our life together. You are my love, my happiness, my everything. I love you." Now I was the one crying. She slid the ring further on my finger. Beautiful. Absolutely stunning. My Kitty Kate never ceases to amaze me. Wow! We did it! The judge announced, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Choi, you may kiss your bride." I gathered Kate up in my arms and kissed her fully on the lips.