“…man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” Pastor Ryland intoned, beaming at the two love birds in front of him.
Mariah turned to her new husband and blushed as he drew her in for a kiss.
Their kiss felt deeper, as if it held more meaning, and Mariah melted into it.
“Who knew so much could change in less than 48 hours.” Bryce whispered as they broke their first married kiss.
She couldn’t bear the distance and pulled him back in for a quick peck.
In their bubble of newly wedded bliss they were oblivious of the empty chapel and the decided lack of well wishers. There hadn’t been time.
As they climbed into his waiting black Audi, Mariah giggled.
“Where to, Mrs Lorssen?” Bryce gave her another kiss.
“Mrs Lorssen has a nice ring to it.”
He leaned in close and smiled an inch from her face, his lips temptingly close to hers. “And where does Mrs Lorssen want to eat?”
She looked down at her wedding dress. It wasn’t a big grand poofy dress but she felt conspicuous in all white. “In this?”
His smile kicked up a notch. “What’s wrong with what you’re wearing? I’m proud to have such a wonderful, beautiful bride seen on my arm. Then everyone will know we are married.”
“Aren’t the rings to tell people we are married?” She laughed. “I can’t wear a wedding dress for the rest of our lives.”
“Why not?”
They both laughed and gave each other a short kiss. “Back to important things. I vote to go somewhere that has yummy cheesy fries.”
“Done.”
After a few minutes of quiet hand holding as they drove, Mariah squeezed his hand. “I haven’t seen where you live. Is that bad?”
Bryce stopped at a red light and looked over at her with concern. “You sound upset. Are you worried I live in a dump?”
Her heart lightened at his smile. “I guess I just realized how fast this all has happened. I haven’t even told my parents. I haven’t even met your parents.” Her eyes went round as she grabbed his knee. “You do have parents, right?”
“Yes Mariah, I have parents. And they are alive and well up in Maine.”
She sank in her seat. “Your mom is going to hate me. Is that why you haven’t told me about her? Does she know about me?”
“Mariah. My mother knew about you about five minutes after I met you.”
She cut him off. “That was only two days ago. She IS going to hate me.”
“I made you sound pretty wonderful.” He paused and Mariah’s breathing hitched at the silence. “Mariah, don’t be mad. I may have told my mother that I had found the one I was going to marry after that first time.”
“No!” She nearly fainted. A strained laugh bubbled out instead.
“Let’s take it one step at a time.” His calm tone kept her from a full-on panic. “Food first. Then we can tour each other’s apartments to decide where we are going to move in. I’m open to either one. As long as you live there with me I’ll be blissfully happy.”
“Then we tackle parents.” Mariah nodded. With a plan laid out, it didn’t seem so overwhelming.
“Not literally I hope. My parents wouldn’t be too thrilled to be tackled by a daughter in law they had never met.” Bryce flashed her a charming smile.
“Ha ha Bryce. I was not saying literally. Although if you want to try to tackle my dad I would love to see you try it. He is built like a rock.” She leaned in to whisper. “But he gives the best hugs.”
“I think we should stick with a phone call today and then focus on what sort of honeymoon we want to have. We didn’t really give ourselves the time to plan one and I want to do a real one.”
Mariah laid her head on his shoulder as he continued to drive. “I knew I married you for a reason.”
“Because I want a honeymoon?” He laughed.
She kissed his cheek. “No. Because you are so level headed. I have been panicking about 5 different things all at once and you haven’t even twitched your eye in concern.”
“I can’t promise I’ll always react this well because I am not perfect but I am going to do my best to make you feel safe and protected with me so that you know I will be next to you, supporting you in fulfilling your dreams in the same way I know you will be standing next to me in the pursuit of mine.”
Mariah looked up into his eyes. “That was beautiful.”
He shrugged, glancing toward her with a slight blush making an appearance. “It’s what I grew up seeing from my parents and I want to have the same kind of relationship with my wife, with you. And I know that I won’t have the same marriage as them but I know that if I don’t put in the effort, there is no chance of it evercoming close.”
“Good point.” She nodded. “Cheesy fries? Are they still happening?”
“Yes, love.” He pointed ahead of them. “Just another minute. Have you ever been to Daryl’s Tacos?”
She shook her head. “I’ll admit that I don’t like going out to eat alone so I haven’t been out to eat much since moving here.”
“And you moved here how many months ago? 4?”
“A little less than 6 months. But it has felt longer because of work and not willing to go out alone. I don’t have very many friends.”
“Well, lucky for me that we happened to stop in at the same grocery store and were looking for the same sandwich.”
Mariah laughed as she pushed at him. “With only one left, I am glad you were willing to share it.”
“I’ll forever consider us sharing that sandwich as our first date.”
“I love you, Bryce.” Mariah once again leaned onto his shoulder.
“And I love you too, Mrs. Lorssen.”
