Keep Me Safe

Chapter 51

Spencer smiled at the sight of her soon-to-be husband standing at the end of the aisle, dressed in a black tuxedo.

As much as she wanted to savor every single second of the ceremony, everything was blurred. Her mind was frozen, her limbs being propelled forward only by muscle memory. She only felt her sweaty palms, holding tightly to the thick bouquet of tulips.

So she barely noticed when her father kissed her on the temple and proceeded to his seat.

"C'mon Spence, get it together," she thought.

She felt her smiling lighting up her every feature as Emily took the heavy bouquet from her and she stepped in front of Toby, who encased her hands in his larger ones.

She stared into the azure eyes she knew so well as the priest droned on about eternal love and promise. As much as she loved long, meaningful speeches, she couldn't fully concentrate. All she heard was the murmur of the mans deep voice and the thudding of her heart.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Thud

"Mr. Cavanaugh, your vows," the priest demanded.

Toby's eyes crinkled as he smiled, a sight Spencer would never get tired.

"Spencer, we have truly gone through everything. Hatred, mistrust, betrayal, pain, loss, heartbreak. But we have overcome all of that. By our passion and never ending love for each other. I love you with every cell of my body. With my entire heart and soul. I love you beyond promise, beyond reason. And I give you my heart, and devote my life to love you, and to keep you safe in whatever comes next."

Spencer blushed and gave his hands a squeeze as he mouthed, "I love you."

"Miss Hastings, your vows."

"Never did I think in my wildest dreams that I would find someone like you. Someone who completed me in every way possible. Someone who supported me through everything. Someone who I grow more and more in love with every single day. But I did. I found you. And god knows where I'd be if I hadn't shown up at your door to tutor you in French. And I want to assure you, every word I say to you I mean with my entire heart. And thank you, for everything. I promise to be faithful to you, for the rest of my life."

Before her was a rare sight, a stray tear sliding down Toby's cheek. She brushed her thumb across his cheek.

"Don't cry," she whispered.

"Rings, please."

Joshua stepped forward, handing both Toby and Spencer a ring.

"Spencer, with free and unconstrained soul, I give you all I am and all I am to become. Take this ring, and with it my promise of faith, patience, and love, for the rest of my life."

Toby slid the ring onto Spencer's finger, his hands trembling as he did so.

"Toby, I give you this ring to symbolize my unending love and devotion to you."

She proceeded to slip the ring onto Toby's finger.

"Do you, Toby Cavanaugh, take Spencer Hastings, to be you lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?"

"I do," Toby choked.

"Do you, Spencer Hastings, take Toby Cavanaugh to be you lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?"

Spencer gulped.

"I do."

"By the power vested in me and by the state of Wisconsin, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

No kiss could've amounted to this. All of their love, all of their passion, contained in a single movement of their lips. He pulled away and smiled down at her.

Spencer took his hand, thrusting their fists into the air. The audience applauded loudly as the newly married couple made their way out of the room.