Forgive Me, Katherine

Chapter 5: Wedding Day

Wedding day jitters, often known as 'cold feet', to me always seemed to be something that was made up in the movies. You'd see the groom dressing himself in his Sunday's best, all the while mentally contemplating every decision he had made leading up to this point. All of your emotions are set out on a silver platter, it's do or die. 

The wedding can go one of three ways: the groom could leave the bride at the alter, never to be seen or heard from again and leaving her with no explanation. The bride could ultimately leave the groom standing there at the alter, again never to be seen or heard from again with no explanation. Lastly it'll end solidified with a kiss, followed by a reception, and then being pelted with grains of rice as the newly married couple ride off into the sunset. 

It seemed as if every part of me was sweating, from my head down to my toes. Perspiration was dripping down my face as I was in a near panic, anxiety was getting the best of me at this point. Chad appeared from behind me hoisting the heavy jacket over me, "Calm down, man. You don't want to ruin the suit before the actual wedding. What's gotten into you?"

"I don't know," I stumbled over my words, "Wedding day jitters, am I making the biggest mistake of my life?"

Chad shrugged his shoulders, "That's something I cannot answer. It's not too late to back out, but just remember, you could be making the biggest mistake of your life or the best decision of your life. Katherine's great, a truly remarkable woman. I don't think she deserves to be deserted at the alter, and I don't think that's what you would want to do either. What's making you think this way? Just last night you had high expectations about the wedding, you were excited and ready to be a husband."

"If it's the best decision of my life," I started, "Then why isn't my father in here getting me ready for my big day? This do or die moment, and he's out there like a child throwing his own temper tantrum over some papers."

Wrinkles filled Chad's forehead, "She didn't sign the prenuptial agreement, did she?"

"Katherine has never asked me for a single penny in the years we've been together, it seems silly to ask her to sign those damn things. I want my father's blessing, I want him standing by my side at the alter. The whole thing just seems absurd," I peered at myself in the mirror straightening out any slight imperfections in the suit.

The memory of my father's ill words filled my brain in thought, prenuptial agreement or no wedding. While he couldn't control who I decided to marry, or when I decided to marry, his blessing laid in the ink that was within those papers. My heart ached over the idea of having to ask Katherine to sign them, in fears that it would ultimately cause her to turn the other cheek and run for the hills.

I walked out of the suite and into the presence of my father who was waiting just beyond the door. He looked over my appearance from head to toe, and for a moment I could make out glistening within his eyes. "Son, you look incredible," he walked towards me wrapping me in a warm embrace, "I think you should see Katherine, give her one last chance to sign the papers. Let today be the first day of the rest of your life. She signs those papers and it'll concrete that she is in this for love and not for the money this family is based upon."

"You mean well father," I began, "Katherine isn't in this for the money, she hasn't asked our family for anything since we have been together. She didn't know about the wealth behind our name for awhile, and it didn't change her independence. She always did for Katherine, and never expected it out of me."

He shook his head in disappointment, "All I asked is that you try, I can't bless a wedding I don't approve of. I won't have my son giving our last name to an ungrateful female. She may have been independent during your relationship, but the tables can easily turn once that marriage license and certificate is signed. I've seen it one too many times, and I don't want that for you! I want for you to have better and to have true love, but you are just choosing to go the sorry route of getting it and throwing it all away over the first woman that shook her ass at you."

"I'll talk to her," I replied angrily, "But let me just say you are wrong about Katherine, father, and way out of line with your words. She's an amazing woman, inside and out, there isn't a walking soul on this Earth that could come close to compare. I'll see you at the alter." I hollered for Chad, "Have the girls gather Katherine for me, I need to speak to her." My father's attempt at stopping me fell short, I was back in my own little world. My own bubble.

Katherine had wanted a traditional wedding. We had looked at so many venues in Seattle, none of which had caught her eye. She finally came to the last place on our stop, a small church. This church was decorated with numerous stained glass windows, filling the rooms with an amount of colors. The benches were decorated now with a single bouquet of flowers, tied together with an overly large ribbon tied into a bow. The rest of the church was tied together with pictures of Katherine and I over the course of two years, roses and daisies scattered all around.

My hands were sweaty, and beginning to feel clammy, as I waited for Katherine's presence to be just beyond the church doors. Our joining before the ceremony was brought on by my father who was adamant on his decision of not approving of the wedding without Katherine's signature being on the prenuptial agreement. 

Katherine opened the abnormally large door causing for it to creek, making her presence known and causing me to jump. Her voice was high pitch as she stumbled over her words, "Don't open the door anymore! I don't want to see you, it's bad luck. I want this day to be absolutely perfect, even if it means following silly tales I know you don't believe in."

I put my hand through the crack in the door that separated me from her, interlocking and intertwining my fingers with hers. I knew she could feel the trembling of my body, "You can follow all of the tales in the world baby, it's not taking our perfect day from us." I bit the inside of my cheek wincing from the pain, "I want it to be perfect too, but it won't be unless we give my father what he wants. Have you those about it? Can you please do this for me Katherine? I know it's not something I should be asking of you, you've never given me any reason to believe the only reason you're with me is for my family's wealth. There will never be another, there will never be a divorce. As long as there's a breath in me, I'm going to be there and you'll always be taken care of." My heart was on a high speed chase waiting for her to reply. As each moment passed, my chest would grow heavier and heavier with anticipation. Each fleeting moment caused for my anxiety to shoot through the roof, it was as if my body was anticipating that she was about to walk away.  My father's happiness had always come before my own, and I couldn't marry Katherine that day without his blessing. His blessing laid in the ink of the paper, mine and Katherine's fate solely relied on this decision. 

"Stefan I have never been after your money or the legacy your father plans to leave behind. I fell in love with you before I knew your last name, before I knew there was even a cent of wealth to your name. I'm going to love you more today than I did yesterday, and I'll love you even more tomorrow. Have the papers brought to my room, and I'll sign them before the ceremony. Gather yourself and let's do this," she squeezed my hand reassuringly, her words filled with happiness. I couldn't help but sob uncontrollably, all the while hiding my bits of laughter.

The birds chirped a little higher and the sun shined a little brighter that day. I was at the end of the aisle standing a little taller and straighter. My father appeared at my side and stared at Katherine beaming with pride. A smile like that had never escaped from my father's face, a smile filled with genuine happiness.