The Day Has Come (Counting on Hockey #4)

Chapter 28.5: Vows

After Noah leaves me with a kiss on the cheek, and wiping a tear away from my eyes, I step up the two steps to stand in front of Cole. He looks at me up and down, doing nothing but smiling, tears of joy in his eyes.

"We are gathered here today, to witness the marriage of Meredith Eleanor Jude Adams, and Cole John Anderson", the Justice starts. He goes on about what marriage means to everybody, not just Cole and I. "Have you prepared your vows?"

Cole and I both nod. The Justice nods at me to go first.

I take a deep breath, remembering the first line of my long vows, and trying to hold back more tears, though that won't last long. "Cole John Anderson. You are the one person I never thought I would see myself with. When we met, I felt as if I wanted nothing to do with you, and if you had wanted nothing to do with me, I would have been fine with that. I had told you to leave me alone, and looking back now, I'm really glad you didn't listen to me". The crowd laughs slightly, and I sniff back a tear. "Without your stubbornness or your courage, I wouldn't be anywhere I am today. You have helped me through every single thing in my life for ten years, and for that, I will be forever grateful".

"Meredith Eleanor Jude Adams. We met in a hallway, and the second I met you, I knew I never wanted to let you go. We've spent just about half of our lives together, and I will never forget the amazing things we've accomplished together. You have made me the man I am today, and I have no clue where I would be without your love, support, and help. Never in a million years, would I have thought that I would love someone as much as I love you. You have showed me everything amazing in my life, and I hope and know that that will continue for the rest of our lives. Marrying you today, right here, right now, will be a moment of my life that can't be beat by anything. For everything you've done, I will be forever grateful".

"Meredith Adams, do you take Cole Anderson to be your lawfully wedded husband, through thick and thin, through richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to never give up?"

"I do".

"Do you, Cole Anderson, take Meredith Adams to be your lawfully wedded wife, through thick and thin, through richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to never give up?"

"Hell yeah, I do", Cole says. Everybody laughs.

"With the power vested in me, in the state of Illinois, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Cole Anderson. Cole, you may kiss your bride".

Without wasting a second, Cole grabs my waist and pulls me closer to him. Our lips connect immediately, and move slowly against each other. I wrap one arm around Cole's neck. The applause in the background seems to disappear in my happiness and excitement.

A moment later, Cole and I move apart, our foreheads against each other. He sends one last kiss over my lips, and we turn to the crowd. They continue to clap for us. I grab my bouquet from Addison next to me, and Cole and I run down the aisle.

I just married the love of my life.