Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) by Ruthie Henrick Page B

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    “Ben, we need to go to the courthouse for a marriage license.” She mentioned this as she dropped pasta into a pot of boiling water. Reese was at dinner with a new boyfriend and they had the apartment to themselves. “Can you take off work and meet me?”
    Ben set the newspaper aside. “Sure, babe. Let me know when and I’ll be there.”
    That was easy.
    “How about your tux? Have you and Jake gotten fitted?”
    Eyes wide, his look was sharp and cautious, a deer caught in the headlights. “Tux?”
    She’d mentioned the black tuxedo to him several times in the past two weeks. She didn’t bother to rein in her temper as she glared. “Yes, Ben. Tuxedo. The suit you’re going to wear to your wedding. I’ve asked you several times to get measured so you get the right size.” Her frustration boiled over like the fettuccini on the red-hot burner. “Can you do that please? That one thing?”
    “C’mon, Al. I’ve done more than one thing. It’s all we talk about anymore. All you do. Everything’s this for the wedding, that for the wedding. I can’t wait till it’s over.”
    Oh, really? On a huff, she let the bite of each word sting. “I’m sorry if this is tiresome for you Ben, but there are more details than you can imagine in putting a wedding together.”
    Ben closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest, then scraped back his chair, sauntered toward her, took her in his arms. His eyes were hooded and a smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “Allie, honey? Will you be there?”
    Had he lost his ever-loving mind?“Of course I’ll be there.”
    “Good. That’s all I need. I love you. I don’t care about the writing on the invitations as long as they say Allie is going to marry Ben. I don’t care about flowers, or cake. I don’t really care about the dress you’re wearing.”
    Then he paused for a beat with a long thoughtful gaze and his smile turned wicked. “Although.” He drew the word out in that way he had. “I do care about what’s under the dress. Make it sexy, okay?” Toning the smile down again, he went on. “You could wear silk or a gunny sack. I. Don’t. Care. I don’t care if there are only three people there.”
    He paused again, long enough to tighten his arms around her, each word emphasized with a kiss. “What I care about is you, and me, and the preacher. Saying you will be mine forever. That I get to love you every day for the rest of my life. Now do you understand?”
    Ah, hell, how sweet could one guy be?
    She could only nod.
     
    Finally—at last—their wedding day was here. Standing at the head of the aisle, dressed in white satin and lace from the skin out, her eyes wandered the sanctuary. She gazed at her groom and his best man, both tugging bow ties and shuffling their feet. But they were stationed beside the minister in perfectly fitted black tuxedos. She tugged her father’s hand. “Look, Daddy, he’s almost as handsome as you.”
    Will turned a watery smile her way, squeezed her hand. “You’ll always be my little girl, Alexandra Jane. But nothing makes me happier than the love I see when he looks at you.”
    Waiting for the music to change, her eyes misted over. Her heart was full, as full as the small church bursting with family, with friends. On cue she took her first step, glided down the aisle to the man she chose to love for always.
    Through a cloud of gossamer the preacher said his words, “ Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today …” Reese held her bouquet while Jake handed Ben his mother’s wedding band. He lifted her veil, sealed their vows with a lusty kiss. And grinning foolishly at one another, she scampered beside her husband back down the aisle, a brand new bride.
    Standing in the receiving line, their future was full of promise; their lives were full of hope. They’d settle into a home of their own—a cramped two bedroom apartment near her school that they’d put a deposit on last month.
    As she accepted congratulations