The yellow Santa Claus guy began his speech. “We are here today to celebrate the joining of Timothy Caldwell and Penelope Casey. I’ve been told that their love has the depth of ancient soul mates. I can see the wisdom in their eyes as they look at each other with devotion, and I can feel the warmth of their emotion. It is a positive force that binds them fast.
“Do either of you, Penelope or Timothy, wish to share words with the group assembled here to witness your wedding?”
Timothy glanced at me, then nodded. “Yes.” Keeping my hand in his, he turned us to face the guests. “I have waited a lifetime for the wondrous gift of Penelope. She wears a pure heart, a loving nature, and an intellect that is keen and bursting with enthusiasm for the joy of learning. She is my everything, and I am delighted that she has agreed to join her life with mine.”
He looked away then from the crowd and stared deeply into my eyes. “I will never betray you, Penelope, in any way. I will stand by your side no matter what hardships we face. I will love you more each day, each month, each year, and into forever.”
He let go of my hand and bent down to his knee. Then taking both of my hands in his, he said. “I pledge my troth to you, my darling and beloved Penelope. Will you accept me?”
I think my heart melted a new into some kind of ecstatic splender. I nodded and then cried out, “YES!”
As I’d said, we had not discussed the ceremony, nor practiced it. I guess I’d thought the officiant would just say some silly words, and we’d be married. But Timothy’s tribute was so unexpected, I felt tongue-tied, yet I knew I had to reciprocate. I couldn’t leave him with only my half-way yelled Yes.
“Timothy,” I said, then tried to pull him up, but he shook his head.
“I kneel before you my gentle bride. I want you to know that. I am yours,” he said,
“Good, then stand up,” I ordered, pulling a chuckle from the crowd.
“I can’t say that it was love at first sight,” I told the guests, most of whom I’d never seen before, but they were there, so I figured they must care and were thus worthy of hearing how I felt.
“Timothy was really quite rude the first time we met. It was at one of those dinners that Judy plans so well. She and her husband, Ed, had invited me to what I thought would be a big group event. Not so. It was only Timothy who’d been invited, discourteous, Timothy.