I run everyone else out with one more look around to ensure everything is ready I close and lock the door. Now I go take a quick shower and dress again for Kara’s and Daniel’s wedding.
After we are ready I’m driving a nervous Daniel to the chapel. We are half an hour early because Daniel insisted that we leave as soon as possible. I drove slowly, the weather seems to be turning a little colder and I would love to see snow. But I seriously doubt we’ll have a white Christmas here. It’s not totally unheard of but it’s been decades. Who knows if we get another nor’easter in time to give us a white Christmas? I haven’t watched the news or the weather lately.
There is a small room, with a bathroom off of it the Reverend uses to get ready. Michael Junior is Daniel’s best man, and he’s waiting on us there. We send Daniel off to the restroom him use the bathroom now while he can. When he’s out of the room I ask Michael, “You got the marriage license ready?”
Michael Junior smiles as he points to his suit pocket and says, “I got it right here.”
I ask, “The rings?”
He reaches into his front suit pocket and is a little nervous when he doesn’t immediately find them both relaxes once does. He pulls out the two and puts them back into his pocket moving them back to the corner of it. We both relax waiting for Daniel. I can hear some people talking the remarking about how beautiful the bride looks.
Of all the weddings so far this year I’m not playing a major part. I’m the third groomsmen, Kathryn is maid of honor, and her oldest brother will walk her down the aisle. I will proceed down the aisle with one of Kara’s friends from school, I barely know the girl her name is Crystal Johnson. She is one of Kara’s long-term friends and a senior this year.
Michael Junior has gotten the pair an SUV for their wedding present. It’s a real nice hybrid, and has really good mileage. We decided to as a role in the family, the best man gets to buy a major wedding present. Since I already help with their home, it would’ve been inappropriate for me to buy the vehicle for them.
Daniel is still quite nervous, and we both chuckle tell him to fix his shirt, it’s poking out of the fly of his pants. We tell Daniel to relax. Getting married is not something that you die from. Daniel cracks up as he fixes his shirt. The last few minutes pass by quickly, Daniel walks into his place and waits. The groomsmen and I walk back ready to accompany the bridesmaids down the aisle. The music begins, Michael Junior and Kathryn start down the aisle. The next groomsmen one of Daniel’s friends who I only met during the rehearsal escorts Misty down the aisle. Misty is definitely showing in her bridesmaid dress. The next is Crystal and I find step with her as we proceed down the aisle. Sam looks lovely in her flower girl dress, a large basket of rose petals, all-white she spreads as she follows.
Michael senior, Dad walks with Kara he has a wide smile as he approaches, once at the end of the aisle Reverend Akins asks, who gives this woman away.
Dad without losing his smile says, “I give this woman.” He scoops up Sam and takes her to set with Helen, Mom and himself.
Reverend Akins begins, “I’ve known Daniel Akins his entire life, my nephew has grown into a good man. Kara Edwards, I have also known her entire life. Even as a young girl I could see her love for Daniel. Now as adults they found that love to have grown from puppy love to that of a husband and wife. We come together to celebrate their love, on the eve of Christmas.”
Reverend Akins begins as Kara and Daniel gaze into each other’s eyes they must become lost in their thoughts because the Reverend had to gently nudge them to get their attention back on the here and now. Asking again if Daniel takes this woman as his beloved wife, to honor and cherish above all others? Daniel quickly replies, “I do.”
The Reverend asks the same question phrased for Kara, and she quickly replies, “I do.”
They exchange the rings saying, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
The Reverend says, “You may now kiss the bride.” As the two kiss lovingly the Reverend shouts, “I give you Mister and Mrs. Akins.”
Everyone in the church stands and gives the two a standing ovation. We congratulate the two, and Michael Junior brings forth the marriage license for the two to sign and make it legal. When I get a hug from Kara she says, “Be sure and call us tomorrow morning we want to be there too.”
The photographer taking pictures and it takes a while for all the pictures to be done. Sam has one done with her Aunt Kara that I’m going to love to get a hold of. It’s nearly 4:30 PM little under an hour and a half for the wedding and pictures. When the bride and groom walk out only a few people are on the street most having gone to the reception. One reason is the weather has turned a lot colder and is actually snowing rather hard. More than an inch and a half already is on the ground, and its turn the world into a winter wonder land. Snow rest on tree limbs and pine trees making the world is white as Kara’s wedding dress.
The horse-drawn sled awaits the bride and groom, a quilt covers the backseat just to keep it dry, and add a little warmth for the couple. Daniel helps Kara in to her seat then climbs in with her cuddling close against the cold; they cover themselves with the quilt. Jamie dressed in a nineteenth century costume begins driving the horse drawn sled to the reception.
Jamie takes a long route around the park as the light fades and the Christmas lights come on it’s truly a beautiful scene. The snow adds to the experience this time of day on Christmas Eve the street they’re driving not a single car passes them. Daniel and Kara nearly have the entire world to themselves. The ride isn’t so long as to severely chill them, but gives the rest of us time to be at the reception to greet them. The photographer has taken several pictures of their sleigh ride the best she could, the snow made it difficult for a long shot, and her flash was useless. Several of the shots she’s taking were silhouettes of the two against Christmas lights.
The photographer to get a good break as the snow nearly stopped when they arrived at the reception. She can use her flash and only enough snowflake shown up to let you know that it was actually still snowing without interfering with the photograph.
After the two come in from the cold everyone hurries to join them. Fortunately the reception hall is quite warm compared to the outside weather. We dance late into the night, Kathryn and I spent a lot of time on the dance floor. Occasionally Sam will let me get her out on the floor too. We notice how Daniel and Kara move as one on the dance floor. They truly were made for each other.
Ron and Reese actually dance a few dances together, but even without his injury I think Ron would be out of place on any dance floor. I know he’s only trying for Reese. He would try to do anything to show her how much he is willing to live for her. Reese knows and seems to be very happily setting in his lap most of the night.
There are a few children Sam’s age, and they played together and talk of things like Christmas and school. Sam listens intently at what the kids say to her, most believe in Santa Claus and want to be home before midnight when he makes his deliveries.
At about eleven most of the crowd leaves shortly after the bride and groom. I tell Sam, “We’ll be going to a mass given by Father McCoy. Then we will go home.” Sam is a little tired, but she doesn’t complain.
Sam still in her flower girl dress, Kathryn in her bridesmaid’s dress and I my tux take seats together, Sam slides into my lap and leans against me. Father McCoy starts his mass with all the traditional Catholic rights. Kathryn and I are not Catholic but we do enjoy the mass. They read the traditional verses from the Bible explaining how Joseph and Mary traveled to have censes taken, a small Christmas pageant accompanies the start. Sam watches intensely the story seems to have awakened her.
After the mass is completed and it was time exactly the end at midnight all the chapel bells ring in Christmas. Shortly while were on her way home Sam has a few questions and I try to explain. Halfway home Sam yawns and closes her eyes unable to stay awake any longer. Kathryn is nearly as tired but fights sleep, I slowly pull into our drive and push the garage door opener several times until it opens.
I pull into the garage and start the door back down once it’s below the windows is when I shut off the SUV. Sam must be very tired. She doesn’t awaken when the engine stops. Kathryn bites her lower lip and I know she wants to go and take a look at Sam’s Playhouse.
I mouth, “You’ll just have to wait.”
Kathryn gives me a playful pout, to which I shake my head. I open my door and slide out opening Sam’s door I gently lift her to my shoulder. Kathryn is tempted to take a look at the house, but she reluctantly goes with me knowing she will get to see it in the morning.
Coming into the house I see the trail of bows that leads to the up the stairs and into the front door. On the front door is a rather large sign that reads, “Sam, go get Mom and Dad before you leave the house. Santa Claus”
I send quick text message to the family, saying Sam made it in without spotting her present. Kathryn has Sam in her pajamas, and she dresses in her pajamas and places a flannel housecoat over an arm of the sofa. I get in my pajamas, and lay my robe beside Kathryn’s. I set a pair of our shoes down for us to use in the morning. I finally crawled into bed, and Sam moves onto my chest. Sam relaxes quickly, her and Kathryn both falls asleep almost instantly. I whisper I love you, I don’t even know if they replied because sleep took me.
I awake to a nearly panicked Sam. She is asking Kathryn what happened to all the presents. Kathryn wasn’t in on our decision to move the presents. Dressing in our robes after using the bathroom, Kathryn insisted Sam go with her. That gave me time to send a text to the family. I called Kara too, and just got off the phone when Sam and Kathryn returned. I tell Sam, “Kara said all her presents are gone too.”
Leave a Reply