Dawn, Denise, D and Arianna arrived at the courthouse at ten thirty exactly. As they reached the front door, Dawn stopped, looked down and smoothed out the fabric of her dress.
"How do I look? Do I look okay?" She asked nervously.
"You look beautiful, honey," Denise answered, squeezing her arm.
"Are you sure? I don’t look fat or anything?" She looked down at her stomach.
"Dawn, you are not fat. You look gorgeous, you’re gonna knock that fiance’ of yours right off his feet," D said, smiling.
She smiled back and gave her a hug.
"Thanks, I hope so. I’m so nervous," she bit her bottom lip.
"Mommy, don’t wowwy. You wook pwetty," Arianna said, taking Dawn’s hand.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she bent down and gave her a hug.
She stood up and smoothed out the fabric of her dress on last time, then took a deep breath.
"Okay, let’s do this".
They opened the door and walked inside. She looked around for AJ and Nick, but didn’t see them.
"Omigod, he’s not here," Dawn started to panic.
"Dawn," Denise said.
She turned to look at her.
"Right over there," she pointed.
Dawn looked over in the direction that Denise had pointed out and saw AJ walking towards her with Nick close behind. She had never seen him look so good. He was wearing a black suit with an off white, silk dress shirt underneath.
D stood off to the side, snapping pictures, and Denise took Arianna’s hand. Dawn’s whole body was numb, she couldn’t move. All she could do was stand there and watch him walk towards her with a big smile on his face.
Finally, he was standing right in front of her. He took her hands in his and just stared at her, unable to find the right words for the moment.
"Wow…just when I thought you couldn’t be anymore beautiful," he said softly. "You look like an angel, just like I knew you would".
"Thank you," she smiled as a teardrop slid down her cheek.
He reached up and wiped it away as he pulled her into his arms. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder, hugging him tightly.
"You look incredible," she whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, I do look pretty hot, don’t I?" He teased, trying to make her laugh.
It worked. She pulled away from him and just stared into his eyes.
"I love you so much".
"I love you, too, baby" he smiled as he caressed her cheek.
"Hey, lovebirds," D called to them.
They turned around to face her and she snapped a picture.
"You could have at least warned us!" Dawn laughed as she blinked her eyes.
They posed for a couple more pictures then Denise walked up and pinned a flower on the lapel of AJ’s suit.
"Gotta have a few formalities," she smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss.
"Thanks, Mom," he smiled, hugging her tight.
"You’re welcome, sweetheart," she ruffled his hair a little. "My baby is all grown up," she said, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
AJ smiled at her, "I love you, Mom".
"I love you, too, honey. Now go on, your future wife is waiting for you".
She pulled away from him and he walked over to Dawn and took her hand. They sat down on the bench and waited for their names to be called.
D sat down next to Nick on the other bench. He smiled at her and grabbed her hand.
"So, you got her here, huh?" He joked.
"She was nervous, but she’ll be fine," she smiled, looking over at Dawn and AJ.
"You look amazing," he whispered in her ear, giving her an affectionate kiss on the cheek.
"So do you," she smiled, fixing his shirt collar. "Just wait until I get you home".
Arianna came over and sat in AJ’s lap.
"Mommy wook pwetty, wight Daddy?"
"She sure does. You look very pretty, too, in your green dress".
"Yep! I got my hairs done!"
"I see that! Very nice. I really like the green ribbons."
"I pwetty, too!" She beamed.
AJ kissed the top of her head as Dawn sat fidgiting with her hands. AJ took her hand in his and felt that she was trembling. He thought that it was cute that she was so nervous. He was surprised that he wasn’t.
"You have the rings, right?" Dawn asked.
"Yep, Nick’s got ‘em".
"The marriage license?"
"Got it right here in my pocket, ready to give to the judge," he patted the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
"Okay," Dawn took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to relax.
AJ glanced down at his watch.
"Five minutes," he looked over at her.
"I think I’m gonna puke," she stated, opening her eyes and looking over at him.
"You’ll be fine," he squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
Just then, someone walked out of the courtroom and called their names.
"Dawn Simon and Alex McLean?" She called, looking around the room.
"Right here," they both stood up.
"You’re next," she smiled.
AJ turned to Dawn,
"Are you ready?" He smiled.
"As ready as I’ll ever be," she smiled back.
She turned to look at her friends and almost began to cry again when she saw their faces. She walked over and hugged Nick first.
"Keep that boy in line, will ya? He joked as he hugged her tight.
She laughed then turned to D and hugged her next.
"I’m so happy for you guys," D tried to hold back tears.
"Thank you…for everything," Dawn said, pulling away from her as they both just looked at each other.
"Now, go get that ring on his finger," D smiled as Dawn turned to Denise.
"You take care of my baby," she said, hugging her.
"You know I will…always," Dawn replied as she pulled away from her and looked down at Arianna.
"Wedy Mommy?" She asked.
"I sure am," she smiled and gave her daughter a hug and kiss.
She stood up and walked over to AJ who had just finished giving everyone hugs as well. She stopped in front of him and took his hand, noticing that the promise ring she had given him was on his other hand.
"Let’s go get married," she smiled.
"Let’s go get married," he smiled back and tenderly kissed her on the lips.
They turned and headed into the courtroom with Denise, D, Nick and Arianna following behind them.
They entered the room and the judge greeted them with a smile.
"I’m Judge Robert McCormick, it’s nice to meet you both," he shook their hands.
AJ introduced everyone then handed the Judge the marriage license.
"Thank you, are we ready?" He asked, looking at AJ and Dawn.
AJ looked over at Dawn who nodded her head. AJ looked back at the judge.
"We sure are," he smiled.
They stood in the front of the room, facing each other, their hands joined. D and Denise stood with Arianna next to Dawn, and Nick stood next to AJ.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Dawn and Alex in marriage. Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace".
He paused for a moment as AJ closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was the part of the ceremony that he could have done without. Even though they kept things as quiet as they could, he wouldn’t have been surprised if something leaked out somewhere along the line. Asking if anyone had any cause for he and Dawn not to get married was just asking for trouble.
‘Please, please, please, don’t let anyone burst through the door right now,’ he silently begged.
He was almost afraid to open his eyes until he heard the judge continue.
"Dawn and Alex, life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and by our friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life - and is the shared goal of a married life".
Dawn and AJ stared into each other’s eyes, listening to the judge’s words.
"Alex, do you take Dawn to be your Wife?"
"I do," he answered quickly.
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?"
"Always," he smiled. "I mean, I do".
He turned to Dawn.
"Dawn, do you take Alex to be your Husband?"
"I do," she smiled, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?"
"I do," she choked out.
The judge turned to Nick and nodded.
Nick took Dawn’s ring off his pinkie finger and waved Arianna over to him. He bent down and whispered in her ear.
"Give this to your Daddy."
She nodded, took the ring and held it up to her father. He smiled down at her, took the ring and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He turned to Dawn and held it out to place it on her finger.
"Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage."
He then nodded his head for AJ to begin reciting his vows.
"I, Alex, take you, Dawn, to be my wife, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love."
He gazed into Dawn’s eyes as his hands began to tremble. He started to get choked up as he saw the tears already starting to fall down Dawn’s cheeks.
"On this special day, I give to you in the presence of God and these witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful husband in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I further promise to love you without reservation, honor and respect you, provide for your needs as best I can, protect you from harm, comfort you in times of distress, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live".
He slipped the ring on her finger, and they both tried to stop crying as they smiled.
Dawn looked up at the judge and he nodded for her to proceed. She turned to D who wiped away her own tears and handed AJ’s ring to Arianna.
Arianna smiled up at her mother as she held up the ring.
Dawn tearfully smiled at her and kissed her cheek. She took the ring and turned back to AJ, slowly placing the ring on his finger as she recited her vows.
"I, Dawn, take you, Alex, to be my husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love".
She looked into his eyes as her tears started to fall again. She tried to calm down so she could get the rest of her vows out.
"On this special day, I give to you in the presence of God and these witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad".
She heard Denise crying and it made her cry even harder. She took a deep breath and continued.
"I further promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live".
She smiled at AJ as tears streamed down her face. He reached up and gently wiped away a falling teardrop. They joined hands and waited for the judge to continue.
"Dawn and Alex, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as this day affirms your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other".
Neither one of them could stop smiling as they listened to the judge. Everything he said seemed to make so much sense, it was strange that it could be put into words.
"A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments," the judge continued. "But it also is a declaration of love. Alex and Dawn, you have asked that I read what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love I hope you pursue in your marriage," he continued.
"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them."
AJ squeezed Dawn’s hand and winked at her.
"Alex and Dawn, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in the bond of marriage, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife".
They both took deep breaths and smiled. Neither one of them were able to stop the tears of happiness from flowing freely down their faces. They looked up at the judge, awaiting his next words.
"Congratulations, you may kiss your bride," he smiled, looking at AJ.
AJ reached over, placed both hands on Dawn’s face, and tenderly kissed her on the lips. They wrapped their arms around each other and held each other tightly.
"I love you, Angel," he whispered into her ear.
"I love you, too," she smiled, looking back up at him.
"It is my privilege to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Alex McLean," the judge announced.
"It’s about time!" Nick exclaimed as they turned to face their friends and family.
They all laughed as everyone clapped with happiness. They were quickly bombarded with hugs and congratulations.