Renewing our Vows

Chapter 4: Reception

The next hour passes quickly. We eat our dinner, drink champagne and are approached by friends who all congratulate us. Dylan and Emma give beautiful toasts and the DJ announces our first dance.

Alex immediately rises from his chair and holds out his hand to me before leading me to the dance floor. As he sweeps me into his arms, the music begins and he holds me close, swaying me gently to Nat King Cole's Unforgettable. Suddenly my mind flashes back to 5 1/2 months ago.

***

"Just go pack your bags..." I sobbed in defeat. He stared at me for a moment before closing his eyes. 

"Okay," he whispered and my heart shattered into a million pieces. This is it, he's really leaving me, I thought, looking down because I couldn't watch him go. And then the unimaginable happened.

"Where are we going?" he whispered. 

I looked up at him. Did he really just say that? The tears filled my eyes as I realized he was serious. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he clutched me tightly, tangling his fingers into my hair. I sobbed against his shoulder and he reached down to lift me off the ground. I wrapped my legs around his waist and continued to cry into his neck as he carried me up the stairs.

He pushed open the door to our bedroom and laid me down on the bed, kicking off his shoes before pulling mine off as well. When he laid down next to me, he pulled me into his arms again and rubbed soothing circles into my back until I had calmed down.

Finally, when I couldn't cry any longer, he said, "So you never told me where we're going." I pulled back to look at him.

"Really? You want to go somewhere?" I asked

"Yes. You need a break, Norma. We should just get away. We can drive up the coast. We'll stay in a cabin on the beach and watch old movies, walk on the sand, build a bonfire. Whatever you want, Norma," he replied back, wiping my cheeks with his thumb.

I smiled softly at him and stretched my face up to kiss his lips. "That sounds absolutely magical."

"It really does," he said back.

"Is tomorrow too soon? We can leave when you get off work and stay the whole weekend," I said beginning to get very excited.

"Whatever you want, baby," He smiled at me and then his eyes lit up and he jumped out of bed.

"What are you doing?" I asked, laughing at how boyish he looked in that moment.

"We have to pack!" he yelled back from the closet as he searched for our suitcases.

The next day as we drove up the coast towards Canon Beach, hand in hand, all the windows down and Nat King Cole playing on the radio, he turned to me and said, "This is our song, Norma."

***

"What are you thinking about?" he whispers in my ear, bringing me back to the here and now.

"I was just remembering our trip to Canon Beach," I reply back as he spins me around the dance floor. I feel him smile against my cheek.

"I meant what I said that day in the car, you know," he says. "You will always be my 'Unforgettable Norma.'" 

I clutch him tighter against me. "I love you so much Alex," I whisper to him. "I love you too. I always will," he says back and kisses my cheek. 

We continue to sway to the music and he sings low and seductive in my ear, "... how the thought of you does things to me..." His hand slides lower and I shiver, my breath hitching in my throat. He laughs gently, knowing the effect he has on me. 

As the song drifts to a close, he dips me before bringing me in for a kiss and the audience applauds.

As the dance floor fills with people and the next song begins, Norman cuts in.

After about a minute, I pull back to look at him. "How're you doing, honey?" I ask as we sway to the music.

"I'm doing much better. Dr. Edwards says he thinks this has been really good for me," he says, smiling.

"I'm so glad to hear that, sweetie," I say. "But I could tell there was something bothering you at the ceremony. Do you want to talk about it?"

"It really was nothing, mom. I'm just having a hard time with the idea of you being married again. I don't know Alex very well and I just want to make sure he treats you the way you deserve to be treated," he says, looking down at his feet. 

"I really appreciate you saying that, Norman. But I promise you, this one's different. He absolutely treats me right. He's a really good man," I say looking over to where he and Emma are swaying awkwardly from side to side. When Norman follows my gaze, we both laugh at how uncomfortable Alex looks.

"Well then you have my full support. I'm really happy for you, mom," he says back becoming serious again.

"Thank you, honey," I say, tears spilling down my cheeks as I hug him tightly. The song drifts to an end and I pull back to brush his cheek with the back of my hand. "I love you, Norman," I say.

"I love you too, mom," he says.

I look over at Alex again and he is already staring, a huge smile spreading across his face as he takes in the exchange between Norman and I. 

Alex and I spend the rest of the evening dancing, with the exception of one song I have saved for Dylan. As the reception comes to an end, the guests line up with sparklers and we run through and jump in his SUV. I roll down my window and wave to everyone, blowing kisses to Dylan, Emma and Norman before we drive off, eager to begin our honeymoon.