More than Expected

Part 70

May 17, 2015
     Johanna looks at her daughter as she stands in her lace, fit and flare wedding gown. Her hair is curled but the front strands are pinned back to both expose her gorgeous features and to create a place to attach her veil. She looks absolutely breathtaking. Lanie and Jenny just left the room to go get Royce from the men's suite where Rick is getting ready. She turns and looks at her mother, "Mom, you okay?" Johanna sniffles back the tears and smiles, "Yeah. I'm so happy for you, Katie." She says as she steps closer to her.
      "Thank you, Mom. And, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me. For my whole life, but specifically for the last year. I know it's been crazy with the move and then Rick being gone, but I really appreciate all of the love and support you and Dad gave all of us." Kate says. Johanna kisses her cheek, "Katie, you'll learn this when Royce grows up and gets married, but you'll always be our baby. No matter how old you get or how many babies you have — you'll be ours forever." Johanna tells her.
      Kate smiles as the tears well up in her eyes. "Well, Royce is never getting married." She deflects with a joke. They both chuckle as the door opens and Lanie and Jenny reenter with Royce. "Mama!" Royce exclaims and holds his arms out for his mother. "Hi Bubba." She smiles as she gladly takes him into her arms. She kisses his cheek and moves his hair out of his eyes. "You look so handsome." She whispers. His eyes are focused on her necklace. "About 30 minutes left. You ready?" Lanie asks. Kate smiles and nods, "I've been ready." She answers.
     There is a knock on the door and Johanna answers, "Bug, you ready for Dad to come in?" She asks. Kate nods and presses a kiss to Royce's cheek once more before handing him to her mother. The three ladies leave the room leaving Kate before her father enters. His eyes immediately become watery at the sight of his daughter as a bride. "You're beautiful, Katie. Just like your mother." He smiles as he pulls her into his arms. "Thank you, Dad. You cleaned up nice. How's Rick?" "He's excited. He just went out with the boys to get set up."
     Her smile widens. "So, you ready to do this?" He asks. She nods, "Let's do this." She grabs her bouquet and walks with her dad with her arm in his. The instrumental version of A Thousand Years begins to play and she watches as Martha and Johanna walk Royce down the aisle follows by Jenny and Kevin who are then followed by Lanie and Javi. Once the parties are set into place, all of the guests stand and Rick stands at the end of the aisle anxiously waiting for her to appear. "You ready?" Her dad asks. She smiles and nods.
      They begin walking and make it to the aisle. This is the first time she looks at Rick. A tear has already rolled down his cheek and she knows one is about to scurry down hers. Her father squeezes her arm and they begin walking. They finally make it to the altar. "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" The officiant asks. "Her mother and I." Jim answers. He kisses Kate's cheek and then sits in between Martha and Johanna who has Royce in her lap. "You may be seated." Their guests sit back down.
    "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Richard and Katherine. May we have the rings?" Lanie hands Kate Rick's wedding band while Javi hands Rick Kate's wedding band. "Richard, as you place this ring on Katherine's finger, please recite your vows." The officiant says. Rick slips the ring onto Kate's finger and stares into her eyes, "I, Richard, take you, Katherine, to be my lawful wife. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do us part."
    The tears free flow now and she doesn't even care that they are messing up her makeup. "Katherine, as you place this ring on Richard's finger, please recite your vows." Kate copies Rick's actions. "I, Katherine, take you, Richard, to be my lawful husband. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do us part." To them, the rest of the world doesn't exist. "Richard, do you take Katherine to be your wedded wife? To cherish and honor her as long as you both shall live?"
     He smiles at her, "I do." "Katherine, do you take Richard to be your wedded husband? To cherish and honor as long as you both shall live?" "I do." "By the power vested in me by the state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Richard, you make kiss the bride." The officiant announces. Everyone stands and cheers as Rick's arms find her waist and pull her to him in a kiss. The kiss is sweet and simple but still passionate and sends sparks through their veins. Once they break from the kiss, Rick goes and gets Royce.
      "It is my honor to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Alexander Castle!" Everyone cheers again as they make their way back down the aisle. They make their way to a private place away from the guests where they have their first few moments alone. "We did it!" Rick announces as he pulls her in for another kiss. "We did it. We're husband and wife." She smiles. He kisses her forehead before they have a family hug, "Officially all Castle's." She says staring down at her hand with now two rings.
     A few hours later, they find themselves swaying to The Good Ones by Gabby Barrett. "How are you feeling, Mrs. Castle?" He asks testing out her new surname. "I'm on Cloud 9. How about you, husband?" "Well, you see I just married this really hot woman who just so happens to be the love of my life." He says. She blushes, "Sounds like a pretty good time." She says. "Do you know what'll be an even better time?" She raises her brow in curiosity. "The rest of our lives." She nods in agreement and pulls him down for a kiss. Their situation might've been more than expected at their age, but it was nothing short of perfect.
Part 70! That wraps up this story! Please comment and let me know what you think! Stay tuned to my next upcoming story.