Page 100 of Plight

I nodded and cleared my throat. “I first fell in love with you, Danielle, when I was eight years old. You were kind and caring and had the cutest button nose, apple cheeks, and dark brown, chocolate curls for hair. The second time I fell in love with you was when you ate my Cheezel ring and said you’d marry me. The third time was in a butterfly house. The fourth, on a Merry-Go-Round. The fifth, when you ate my Cheezel ring again.The sixth … now.”

Tears streamed down her face, so I caught some with my thumb and wiped them away.

“And I will continue to fall in love with you, because that is something that will never stop. I was put on this earth to love you.”

“Wow,” she said with a laugh. “That’s a tough act to follow.”

A low hum of amusement sounded and blew with the breeze.

“But I’ll try.” She took in a deep breath and blew it out. “Lots, you once told me you wanted to be my firsts. And you were. My first best friend, my first true love, my first kiss, and my first broken heart. But from this day forward, you’ll also be my lasts. My last best friend, my last true love, my last kiss, and my one and only heart. You’re my firsts, lasts, and everything in between. You’re my complete circle … my Cheezel.”

I sobbed like a near happily married baby, and I didn’t care. I was her Cheezel and she was mine.

“Now, who here has the rings?” Sarah announced, looking at me.

I glanced at Laura who was once again displaying that I-know-something-you-don’t-know smile, except now it also said, and-you’re-about-to-find-out.

Furrowing my brow, I mouthed, “rings” to her.

She shrugged and gestured toward Danielle.

Danielle clapped, excitedly. “Puglyette, I mean, Juliette has the rings.”

Puglyette? Juliette? What the fuck?

Hearing the coos of our guests, I looked up to see a pug puppy being walked down the aisle by my brother-in-law. She was wearing a pink dress with two wedding rings attached to her little bow.

“Meet our daughter, Lots.”

Pugly barked.

Puglyette barked back.

And Danielle squealed and clapped again.

“Isn’t she just adorable?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, my heart pounding in my chest over the insane surprise Danielle had orchestrated together with knowing my shirts will never be safe again.

She squatted down and picked up the cute little ugly dog/bat, Puglyette licking and squirming like crazy.

“Hello, my beautiful girl. Did you miss me? Yes, you did. Yes, you did. Come and meet your daddy.” She placed her in my arms. “Here, hold our princess while I untie the rings.”

If you’ve ever held a fish out of water or a hose with full water pressure, then you’ll understand what it felt like to hold Puglyette.

“Okay, it’s time to go to Uncle Chris and be a good girl with your brother.” Danielle took her from me and carefully shoved her into Chris’ arms. She licked his face and nipped his nose.

I liked her. She would definitely be a daddy’s girl.

Handing me her ring, Danielle composed herself once again and nodded to Sarah.

“Okay, Elliot, as you place the ring on Danielle’s finger, please repeat after me: With this ring I marry you and offer a symbol of my everlasting love.”

I did as I was told, repeating what she’d said as I slid the ring onto Danielle’s finger.

“And, Danielle, as you place the ring on Elliot’s finger, please repeat after me: With this ring I marry you and offer a symbol of my everlasting love.”

Danielle did the same, sliding my wedding ring onto my finger. I looked at it for a minute, sunlight catching the platinum band and illuminating its brilliance, its purpose … my purpose.

I smiled and twirled it twice.

“Ladies, Gentlemen, and adorable dogs, Elliot and Danielle have declared before me and before you all that they will live together in marriage, they have symbolised it by joining hands, taking vows and by exchanging rings; therefore, I declare them both to be Husband and Wife. Elliot, you may kiss your bride.”

Pulling Danielle to me, I caressed her cheeks, leaned in and kissed my wife … my life.