Chapter Seventy-Three
Kelley straightened up as the inner doors of the chapel opened and he clasped his hands in front of him as a woman appeared with a small bouquet in front of her. Kelley recognized her as Fernanda, the older sister.
She was even more beautiful in person but Kelley saw past that. She wore too much make-up and her dress was too tight, revealing too much cleavage and her heels were ridiculous in the chapel, essentially a holy place.
Kelley looked past her and the two other sisters that followed and he exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding when Ernesto came into view and on his arm, his bride. The music softened and slowed as they entered the chapel.
Lee and Mason stood behind him and he caught Carey’s gaze. Her eyes held love and pride and she smiled encouragingly at him. Kelley smiled back at her and then Ernesto was right in front of him. Ernesto gripped his hand tightly and Kelley cringed inwardly at the sweaty feel.
“Who gives this woman to this man?” The pastor’s voice was loud inside the small chapel.
“I give my daughter to this man.”
Kelley held out his hand and looked at her intently. She was looking down but she placed her hand in his and they both turned towards the pastor. She pulled her hand away and Kelley clasped his hands together in front of him.
Kelley glanced at the woman standing next to him as the pastor opened with a prayer. Her head was bowed demurely and he was surprised to see that her dress was beautiful on her but very plain for a wedding dress.
He hadn’t expected that. He’d expected something flashy and he also noted that she wore no jewellery, no veil tiara, just a simple ivory clip in her brown hair that looked well used. It had one blue stone and it winked at him under the lights of the chapel.
“Amen.”
Kelley jerked his head back to the front and looked at the pastor again. He could feel Mason and Lee’s eyes bore into his back and he knew that if he turned around they’d both be giving him questioning looks.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Kelley Alexander, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honour her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
Kelley looked the pastor straight in the eye. “I do.”
“Milana Gabriella Romano, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honour him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
Milana hadn’t looked at Kelley once and he saw her clench her fist around the bouquet she was holding. “Yes.” Her voice was a whisper but loud enough for the pastor to hear her.
If the pastor noticed her reluctance he didn’t say anything, instead turning towards Kelley. “Repeat after me. I, Kelley, take you, Milana, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
Kelley repeated the words after the pastor as he stood looking at Milana. He got the distinct feeling that she didn’t want to marry him just as much as he didn’t want to marry her and that made him think a little.
“Milana, repeat after me. I, Milana, take you, Kelley, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
Milana’s voice sounded clearer now and she repeated the words. Her sister, Fernanda, was staring at him and Kelley locked eyes with her. She smiled at him and he averted his gaze once again. He had different responsibilities now.
“You may now both exchange rings.”
A ring was pushed into his hand and Kelley gripped it tightly. He hadn’t picked it out, hadn’t even seen it. Marella had done it all and he felt guilty now as he looked at Milana. He couldn’t even do that for her.
“Milana, I give you this ring as a token and pledge of my fidelity, my love and my commitment to you.”
“Kelley, with this ring I pledge my commitment, my fidelity and my love to you.”
“By the authority vested in me under the laws of God and Edinview, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Applause erupted in the small chapel and Kelley felt he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, his wife now. “You may kiss your bride, Kelley.”
Kelley stepped forward and Milana stiffened, her intake of breath audible to him as he invaded her personal space. She smelled like soap and lilies, a soft fragrance he found surprisingly pleasing. He’d never liked the overuse of perfume.
He lifted her veil and looked into her caramel-brown eyes. He had no idea what was going through her mind but he got the distinct feeling that kissing him was the last thing she wanted to do. He turned slightly so his body blocked her from view and then lightly pressed his lips against hers.
“I give you, Mr and Mrs Kelley and Milana Alexander!”
Mason slapped him on the back hard and Lee shook his head as Kelley took Milana’s hand and they walked towards the side where they signed the register. Mason and Lee signed as witnesses and Kelley noted how Ernesto looked anywhere but at them.
The chapel cleared and Lee stepped forward, towering over Milana. She was on the short side, her head not even reaching Kelley’s shoulder. She was a small thing over all and Kelley wondered for a split second if her ribs would show if he saw her naked.
‘Why are you thinking of her naked?’ he chided himself and mentally slapped the side of his head to clear his thoughts.
“Hello, Milana, I’m Lee Munroe, Kelley’s brother and the family lawyer.”
“Hi.” Her voice had softened again and she sounded afraid. It was the last thing Kelley wanted, for her to be afraid of him.
“Mason James, brother and confidante.”
Milana smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Hello.”
