Eduardo's Arc

Chapter 105 of 115

The night before the wedding, Eduardo held Kiersten until she slept. He did not let go. He watched her breathe in the dark and kept one promise over and over in his head. She was safe. In the morning they rose and dressed. Kiersten slipped into the flowing gown stitched with vines and moons. Eduardo buttoned the groom coat sewn by the town's hands. Then he stopped. He looked at the bare shelf by the door. "We don't have rings," he said. Kiersten tied the last button at his collar. "I know." "I meant to get them. I spent everything on the house." He felt the old panic rise. He wanted to fix it fast, buy something, borrow. He breathed instead. "I don't have time to make this right." Kiersten took both his hands. "We don't need rings. We have the vow. That's enough." He searched her face for doubt. There was none. So he believed her. They walked to the chapel. The whole town had come. Jessica sat in the front row, her tired auburn eyes fixed on her daughter. Years she had warned Kiersten away from this man. Now she pressed a knuckle to her lips and said nothing. Her silence was its own blessing. Eduardo stood at the front. When Kiersten walked the aisle, the gown catching the light, his throat closed. He had never cried in front of a crowd. He did now, plainly, and did not wipe it away. Father stood before them in his white robe. He did not pad the moment with speeches. "Say your words," he said. Eduardo spoke his vow. Kiersten spoke hers. They promised to stay through the hard years. When the last word was said, Father reached into his robe. "One more thing," he said. He opened his hand. Two bands sat in his palm, dark wood and gold, each set with a warm tiger's eye stone. "A gift. From me. For the two of you." Kiersten gasped. Eduardo stared. "You said you had no rings," Father said. "Now you do." Eduardo had not known. Neither had Kiersten. Father had carried them in secret. Eduardo took the smaller band and slid it onto Kiersten's finger. His hand shook. She took the other and slid it onto his. Then they were both crying. Kiersten reached up and held his face. Eduardo wrapped his arms around her. They looked into each other's eyes and did not look away. The town stood and clapped. Jessica wiped her cheeks in the front row. "You kept your word," Kiersten said against his chest. "You stayed." "I'll keep staying," Eduardo said. Father watched them and gave a small nod. "Four hands," he said quietly. "Steady now." They were married. The vow was no longer a thing they were building. It was done, spoken, witnessed, ringed. Eduardo held his wife and knew the man he had always meant to be was finally here.