CHAPTER 39

I knew that I was prejudiced, but I thought in that instant that Sara was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She also wore a full length gown in a shade of off-white silk. Like her twin, she carried a matching bouquet. Playing his part to the hilt, Dad kissed Sara's cheek as he passed her hand to mine. I was ready to get started, but first Sara wanted to greet my mom and meet my godparents, as well as Rob and Allison.

Even with all the introductions and subsequent conversation we still began the ceremony almost on time.

It was short and to the point. Mr. Osborne identified himself as the Northport Village Magistrate, informing everyone that he was authorized by state law to perform marriages as part of his elective duties. He began with several passages from the bible. Sara squeezed my hand when he got to the part about a wife being submissive to her husband. I knew that would come later, once everyone had gone home. Rob and Allison would spend the night as the guests of my parents, not that their presence would stop us from expressing our love for each other as often as humanly possible.

We had written our own vows and I went first, holding her hands in mine. "Sara, I thought I knew what love was before I met you, but I was wrong. I love you unconditionally and I always will. I swear before God and our families and friends that I will always love and cherish you. I will always care for and protect you, placing your needs above my own. We have just begun our journey and I pray that it will be a long and joyous one together as partners…partners forever."

I knew what Sara would say. She had practiced for weeks. "John, I have known you personally for only a few months, but I learned almost everything about you vicariously through my sister Cara who has worked closely with you for the past two and a half years. I knew that I could easily fall in love with you from what she told me long before we ever met. She told me how strong and moral you are as a person, how hard-working you are, and how considerate you are to everyone. Imagine my surprise to learn that she was wrong. You weren't as good as she had said. You were even better. My heart melted with our first kiss. I regretted tricking you, but I've never regretted even a single second since that day. I love you more than anything or anyone I've ever met and I can't imagine ever loving anyone even a fraction as much. I will love you until the end of time. John, you make me complete. I promise that I will do everything I can to be the perfect wife for you, not until the day we die, but forever. I know that I don't have your education or your vocabulary, but I hope you know that I speak from my heart when I tell you that I love you completely with every cell of my body. Thank you for loving me just as much."

Rob produced the rings right on schedule. Sara's was a brushed yellow gold band with a continuous row of diamonds—almost five carats--running all the way around. There was a "V" cut into one side to make room for her Marquise-cut diamond solitaire. In fact, they fit together perfectly. My band had a single half carat diamond, but was identical to Sara's in every other regard. We placed them on each other's fingers and were declared husband and wife. I kissed my bride and Sara showed me how much she had missed me last night. The kiss lingered for several minutes until Cara told us we should get a room.

"We have a whole house, Cara, and I'm going to do John in every room starting with tonight." Everyone laughed even though I knew that Sara was being completely honest. She'd told me of her plans more than a week ago—sort of a honeymoon at home. I couldn't wait to get her in the washer and dryer. I thought the vibrations from the working machines would drive her wild.

We were greeted with hugs and handshakes and more kisses than I could count even from our small group. I was in the middle of a hug from my Aunt May when the doorbell rang. Dad went to answer and a few seconds later he led a small horde of caterers from Peter Luger's through the living room to the kitchen. When I looked through the glass doors to the deck I saw several men placing two large Lucite tubs by the electrical outlets. Once their plugs were in the outlets, streams of bubbles floated up to the surface of the water within. I'd given everyone a choice, either prime ten ounce filet or two-plus pound lobster. They'd all chosen the lobster, thus the two large tubs.

It was only a matter of minutes before we had a bartender and, despite the early hour we all had champagne for Rob's toast. It was great, but even better Sara had held my hand the entire time. Yes, she had held me—my hand in hers or her arm around my waist every second since the last congratulatory hug had ended. Trays of boiled shrimp and sliced lobster tail with cocktail sauce as well as hot hors d'oeuvres were carried by waitresses and they were supplemented by a tray of cold fresh vegetables with a dip of ranch dressing and another with corn chips and salsa that were placed on the coffee table for our enjoyment.

Cara turned on my Bang and Olufsen stereo and we began to dance. I went first with my new bride then most of the others joined us. I danced the next one with my mother-in-law and then with my mom and Aunt May. I danced with Cara and with Allison, but mostly I enjoyed holding my wife close to my body and she must have loved it, too because she rubbed against my all too obvious erection at every opportunity.