Sinners at the Altar (Page 54)

“Aggie might,” Jace said quietly. “If we find the right time and place.”

Jessica huffed out a breath. “Well… too bad. I caught the bouquet at risk of grievous injury, so we’re next.” She looked up at Sed. “And you’d better catch the garter or you’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”

Rebekah squeaked in surprise as the skirt of her dress was suddenly pushed up. Eric’s long warm hands grasped her bare thigh and then shifted to the other to slide the garter down her leg. He was surprisingly matter-of-fact about it. He tugged it over her foot and tossed it directly to Sed, who caught it against his waist with one hand.

“Are you happy?” Eric said to Jessica.

She flushed. “Yes,” she said quietly.

“Good. Now go cook your man some rice; we don’t need it.”

Rebekah snorted at Jessica’s wide eyes and even wider mouth. Jessica hadn’t managed to deliver a comeback before Eric tossed Rebekah over his shoulder, gathered her cumbersome train in his other hand, and practically sprinted the last few feet to the door. Giggling, Rebekah waved goodbye to all the smiling people in the church. Even Jon was grinning like a fool as he patted Jace on the back.

At the top of the church steps outside, Eric yelled, “My wife!” before jostling her uncomfortably as he bounded down the stairs with her still over his shoulder.

“My husband!” she yelled back.

He swatted her on the butt, which she barely felt through the layers of fabric. And then at last he set her on her feet next to the passenger side of the Corvette. Her heart threatened to beat itself right out of her chest as she gazed up into his smiling face. He leaned down to kiss her. Before his lips brushed hers, he was interrupted by a loud, “Wait! You’re not married yet.”

Her dad came rushing toward them waving a piece of paper. “You haven’t signed the license.”

“So much for a speedy getaway,” Eric said, “but I guess signing the license is pretty important.”

They signed their names, using the hood of the car as their writing surface. Jace and her mom signed as their witnesses, her dad signed as the officiating clergy, and it was finally official. They were married.

“Can we go now?” Eric asked. “I never realized that marrying her would keep me out of her arms for so long.”

“You can go,” Dad said. “Congratulations.”

The rest of the party had made their way to the car by this time. So everyone required another hug, another handshake, another kiss on the cheek, another pat on the back. Eric opened the passenger door and slowly herded Rebekah away from well-wishers and into the car.

He closed the door resolutely, took a deep breath, and circled the car to get into the driver’s seat. Jessica took out her camera phone and made them smile so she could snap a few photos. She’d taken some of the ceremony too. And Myrna had gotten a video on her phone. Rebekah spent the next several minutes thanking them profusely. She leaned out of the car to give Myrna a hug. And removed her veil to return it to Jessica, thanking her again for letting her borrow it. She turned toward Eric to find him with his jaw set, rolling his eyes at the steering wheel. He started the car, apparently ready to run over anyone still in their path.

From behind the car, Aggie said, “I think you need to change your sign. It says almost married.”

Eric slapped his forehead. “You people are driving me nuts! I don’t need all this ceremony. I just need her. Comprende?”

He shifted the car into first and revved the engine in warning.

“We’ll celebrate at the reception!” Rebekah called to the apprehensive friends and family backing away from the car. “It’ll be fun. We’ll even get a cake and dance and everything.”

Eric eased forward, waiting somewhat patiently for Dave to maneuver his wheelchair out of the car’s path. When they were finally clear to leave, Eric drove off, honking his horn all the way out of the parking lot.

Rebekah turned in her seat so she could wave at everyone over the open back of the car. When they were all out of sight, she turned around and sighed happily. She didn’t mind a bit of ceremony, but she’d much rather spend her evening with Eric than with well-wishers.

“Do you want to stay at a hotel tonight?” Eric asked, his eyes on the road.

“No, I want to stay at your house.”

“Our house,” he said.

“Our house,” she repeated with a tender smile.

Maybe the reason the ceremony was necessary was so a person felt married. She didn’t really feel as if anything had changed between them. Was she supposed to feel different? She’d given him her heart well before she’d said I do.

Rebekah looked down at her hand and then rubbed the wedding band on her finger. It was a well-worn ring, comfortable as an old pair of sneakers. She almost felt as if she’d always worn it.

“I’m glad Daddy let us use these rings.” She glanced at Eric, her eyes a bit on the watery side.

“I figured you’d feel that way.”

He reached over and cupped the back of her head, his own eyes shinier than usual.

“Did he tell you the story behind them?”

He shook his head.

“His great-great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from England during the mid-eighteen hundreds. The husband, Walter, was a skilled cabinet maker, but they struggled at first because any profit they made had to go back into the business. Apparently they had to sell their wedding bands to buy shoes for their children so the kids could go to school. After many years, the cabinet-making business began to make a profit. Walter and his wife were able to buy a house and shoes for their kids. Figuring the man they’d sold their rings to had melted them down for the silver long before, they even bought new wedding rings. One day old Walt was designing new cabinets for a used-jewelry dealer and what did he see in the display case?”