A Reunion to Remember

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

When they decided to end the kiss, Josh looked at Ronnie. He said, "I know this is not the way any girl dreams for this to happen, but would you want to marry me today?" 

Ronnie looked shocked. "Today?" she asked. "In front of all these people?" she whispered. 

"We can have a better wedding at home," he explained, "with all of your friends and family. We can move your three buddies up to the front row," he said, motioning to the row that was once occupied by Mia's family. They had since left to console Mia, who had run in the direction of the cruise ship. 

"Okay, because I love you, but they still make me nervous."  

Josh smiled. "Just focus on me," he instructed. "Pretend that Kara, Kristy, and Maggie are the only ones watching." Of course, everyone was staying to see the reality TV-like wedding play out. 

The minister looked like he just wanted to be done with the craziness and get out of there. "Do you have rings?" he asked Josh. 

"Um, no, not really," he stumbled, looking at the ring from a few minutes ago that was still on his finger. He quickly slipped the ring off and put it in his pocket.  

"Use these for now, son," his dad spoke up, holding out his hand. "You can buy some of your own when you get back home." 

In his father's hand were Josh's parents' wedding bands. He looked lovingly at his dad and gave him a big bear hug. "I love you, Dad. Thanks so much." 

"You go marry that girl. I've been watching you pine over her for a couple of decades," his dad said. 

"Will do, Dad, will do." 

Josh turned back toward the minister, handing him the rings. 

Ronnie and Josh stood face to face as the minister began the wedding. When it came time for the vows, Josh whispered to the minister that he wanted to say his own.  

He turned toward Ronnie, looking into her eyes, and began, "I'm not sure when the exact moment was, but I fell in love with you the first week of high school. It was your brain that made me take an interest in you, but it was the way you weren't afraid to be yourself that made me love you. I used to watch you anywhere I could, at lunch, in science class, when you were with your friends, when you were searching after at Austin. I knew I wanted you. When it was obvious you didn't return my feelings, I felt my only option was to move on. I had to practically ignore you to do that, but it was self-preservation. It took me twentysome years to actually admit my feelings to you, but better late than never. I estimate that we have another forty years left, so we'll just have to fit sixty years worth of marriage into forty. I hope you're up to it. I love you, Ronnie." 

"I love you, too," Ronnie choked through her tears. She looked at the minister. "Is it my turn?" 

"Yes," the minister smiled. 

"I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that I had already met 'the one' when I was fourteen. I've searched all over for someone that was right in front of me the whole time. You are an amazing, not to mention, extremely patient, man. I love you so much. I am glad you didn't fall in love with my brain, because it was pretty stupid to have let you slip away. I love you with all my heart, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." 

Josh, also teary, was staring into her eyes. He reached out to her, as if hoping to kiss her, when the minister cleared his throat. Josh stopped and looked at him, suddenly aware that the kiss wasn't happening quite yet. The crowd chuckled. 

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may NOW kiss the bride." 

Josh took Ronnie into his arms and planted a warm, loving kiss on her lips. "I love you," he whispered when they had finished.