Martha and her sisters came out of the guest bedroom where they were getting their hair and makeup done and escorted her down the steps to the outside. She’d wanted Martha to be one of her bridesmaids, but the woman had insisted on being the wedding planner instead. How could she refuse? The lovely chairs, adorned with cream and tangerine sashes, were now occupied by family and friends. Jack had a larger family than she’d ever have expected. They came from all over Alaska, and the few that lived out of town, including his funny and kind brother, had also shown up. Askuwheteau stood at the end of the runner, below a canopy of soft white lights and gardenia flowers. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were present, but where was Jack?
Her heart began to pound, and a strange sense of foreboding set in. Martha snatched her out of her thoughts by whispering in her ear, “Calm down. He’s here. There’s a surprise coming… a change in the schedule.”
Her’s, ‘What Once Was’ drifted from the speakers. People began to clap and sway to the music in their seats.
Kim braced herself, taking a few steadying breaths. She’d been a bundle of nerves all weekend, worried the caterers would mess up the quantity and quality of food, or the cake would be half melted in the summer heat, or perhaps Diesel would make an unplanned appearance, get out of the room he was in, and scare everyone to death. Kim’s mother wrapped her arm around hers and escorted her down the aisle. She looked about, smiling, but wondering about Jack again. Her mother kissed her cheek, then took her seat. The music grew louder and then, at last, she saw him…
Jack, dressed in a black silk button-down shirt and dress pants, and black cowboy hat with a snakeskin sash, came down the aisle, with Diesel on a black and silver studded leash. People began to laugh and holler, clapping and whistling as he tossed daffodils all over the place. His groomsmen, who included several of his cousins and brother, started to howl, as if there was a full moon. Diesel made an odd barking noise in return, which only caused more amusement from the crowd.
Jack grinned like a kid as he danced about, tossing the flowers in the air. Some of them landed on poor Diesel. Happy tears blurred her vision.
When he finished coming down the aisle, Martha took the leash and led Diesel away. Jack reached for her, taking her hand. He went down on one knee before her, then removed his hat, causing more flowers to fall out, and kissed her hand. Applause broke out as he got back on his feet. After throwing her a wink, he went to stand by his groomsmen.
Jill Scott’s, ‘He Loves Me’ set the mood in the background.
Askuwheteau stepped forward, holding a brown Bible in his hands.
“Today, we’re gathered to witness the union between this man and this woman.” He went on with further introductions, then began the vows. “Jack, will you have Kim to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her, as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
“Kim, will you, have Jack to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all others remain true to him, as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
They lit a beautiful ivory candle together, then stepped back from one another.
“Now, the bride and groom will share special words with one another. Kim, you may begin.”
She nodded and commenced.
“Jack, I wrote this stuff down, but I decided I’d rather look in your eyes instead of reading it off a piece of paper.”
“Okay.”
“I know you’re not a man of many words. Regardless of that, I’ve always known where you stand, and hear you loud and clear. With you, I feel loved. I feel appreciated. I feel protected. We laugh together. No topic is off limits. As I’ve gotten to know you, I see more of your beauty, each and every day. You’re intelligent and down-to-earth. You’re strong, yet vulnerable with me. You’ve been through a lot, but you’ve survived. You’ve taught me…” She paused, closed her eyes, then continued, “You’ve taught me how to stand still. Stand by. Stand firm.
“You say I taught you faith and love, but you’ve also taught me bravery and endurance. My life is so different from what I imagined. Not in a million years would I have believed it if anyone told me I’d get to move to Alaska and marry a big White man with a pet wolf, who drags bloody carcasses home from his backyard after playing in the park with snakes, rodents, and birds all day for a living, then falls asleep with a sharp knife in his hand. No need to be alarmed—it’s because of his wood carvings to ward off evil spirits…Unfortunately, it backfired, because after Jack carved that evil spirit deterrent, he woke up locked out of his own house.’”