“Bridger Jefferson Adams,” she says. “Is it your intention today to make Loren Elise Cane your lawfully wedded wife?”
Lawful. Exactly. Way to go, Susan Pantsuit.
He takes a beat. Then he says, “Yes.”
“And will you stand by her side in times of scarcity and plenty? Enduring moments of weakness and strength? Remaining steadfast through seasons of sunshine and rain?”
She pauses to read her notes, and I swallow. These vows are a mouthful. But at least they’re all things I can honestly say I’d do for and with Bridger.
“And will you, Bridger, promise to comfort and keep Loren from this day forward, until you draw your last breath?”
My heart skips a beat.
Just yesterday, I told Bridger I’d step aside when he met someone he truly wanted to marry. So I’m not sure he came here prepared to make a lifetime commitment to me.
Still, he clears his throat and says, “I will.”
“Yeah,he will,” Dex cheers.
Susan Pantsuit ignores the interruption and shifts her attention from Bridger to me.
“Loren Elise Cane.”
“That’s me,” I say, on a nervous chuckle.
“Is it your intention today to make Bridger Jefferson Adams your lawfully wedded husband?”
“It is,” I say.Lawfully. Yes.
“Will you stand by his side in times of scarcity and plenty, enduring moments of weakness and strength, remaining steadfast through seasons of sunshine and rain? And will you, Loren, promise to comfort and keep Bridger from this day forward, until you draw your last breath?”
Yep. Still a mouthful.
Still promising my last breath.
But the truth is, I’m not planning to marry anyone else anyway. Not in this lifetime. And honestly, that choice won’t ever change for me. So yes, I can commit these things to Bridger for as long as we both shall live. No other man will come between us.
My eyes slip down and snag on his. “I will,” I say.
Susan Pantsuit says, “Rings?” and I startle. I’d almost forgotten the part where we exchange rings. Just a couple of outward symbols broadcasting our marriage to the rest of the world.
No big deal.
Dex produces two plain platinum bands from his pocket. The lack of bling shouldn’t surprise me. Bridger’s not a flashy guy. But I kind of assumed Margaret Adams would expect a four-carat rock.
Susan Pantsuit takes the rings and talks for a while about the circle representing a never-ending symbol of eternity. Then Bridger goes first. She has him repeat some vows with thee and thy in them, then he slips the ring on my finger. Across the band, engraved in cursive, are the lettersLCA.
“Wearing simple rings for the first year of marriage is a family tradition,” he says. “A chance to prove to the world—and to each other—that we’re united for real. Later, we can add a diamond to yours if you want. But the bands just haveour initials for now.” His eyes search mine. “I hope that’s all right with you.”
I bob my head. “More than all right.”
I’m not a fancy jewelry kind of woman in the first place, and we probably won’t be wearing our rings unless we’re specifically taking pictures or videos for his mom. Either way, I’m actually relieved that Bridger didn’t spend too much on a big diamond. That kind of money can be put to much better use.
And a year from now, we may not even need these rings anymore.
“Your turn, Loren,” Susan says. She repeats the whole process with me, and I slide Bridger’s band on his ring finger. I’m his wife now.
Mrs. Loren Cane Adams.