Chapter Nine  

"Frank said you wanted to talk to me?" Alex said as she stepped into the tent. 

"Tell me what you know about Frank and this...Lilly."  Caitlin asked, her eyes shifting slightly to look briefly at Alex before returning to her gown.

"Oh, Caity..."

"It's okay, Alex.  I just want to know what went on between them before last night."  Caitlin stood in front of her gown, lightly tracing the beaded lace.

"Really, honey, there was nothing," Alex said softly, placing a hand on Caitlin's shoulder.  To be honest, Frank watched Lilly closely.  He thought she was involved in the drug and money-laundering ring we were investigating.  He went undercover as a patron and he caught Lilly's eye because he's so damned distinguished looking."  She paused to light a cigarette.  "Lilly wanted him, but to Donovan, she was just a suspect.  When she came on to him and he brushed her aside...she became relentless in her pursuit of him.  I was never as relieved as I was when that case ended."

"Thank you, Alex," she said, nodding.  Her face remained expressionless giving to clue to her intentions.  "I'd like to be alone, if you don't mind."  When Alex turned to leave, she stopped her.  "Alex...can I borrow your lighter?"

"Sure, Caity...why?"

Caitlin just smiled thinly as she took the lighter from Alex's fingers.  "Thank you, Alex."  She turned back to the gown as if fascinated by the intricate bead patterns.

Alex left the tent with a perplexed look on her face.  The waiting bridal party immediately circled her.  Alex shrugged.  "She wanted my lighter...and she keeps staring at her gown."

"You don't think..." Misty gasped.

Frank broke from the group and ran into the tent.  "Angel!" and stopped short at the sight of Caitlin hovered over the small metal basin.  She was setting the photographs aflame.  When she lifted her head to look at him, a light smile played on her lips. 

"Excuse me, Mr. Donovan, but you aren't supposed to see the bride before the wedding."

Before the words were out of her mouth, he crushed her to him in a fierce embrace.  He bent to kiss her but was met with the palm of her hand.  "Nope...don't muss the makeup or Elena will have a cow," she told him, laughing softly.  He laughed loudly, free of his anxiety and fears.  He twirled her about the tent, blessed with the knowledge Caitlin's love for him still burned bright.

The tent grew cramped as the Matron of Honor, Bride's Maids, Best Man and Ushers squeezed into the tent.  "Is the wedding on?" Monica asked.

"The wedding is on!" Caitlin shouted and hugged Frank tightly.  "No matter what, Mr. Donovan, I do love you...and I know you would never do anything...anything to hurt me.  I trust that none of this would have happened if you had the choice."

"Angel..." he looked deep into her eyes.  He longed to kiss her, to show her how much he loved her, but that would have to wait.

"Okay, get out," Elena ordered, ushering the group from the tent.  "We have work to do!"

"Caitlin, you look fabulous," Jake said, taking her hands in his.  "Pastor Glenn sent me to check to see if you're ready for him to start the Processional."

Caitlin drew in a sharp breath.  "Yes."  Jake looked nervous and she had a feeling she knew why.  "It wasn't your fault, Jake."

"Yes, it was." He hung his head.  "Caity, I'm so sorry." 

She touched his cheek lightly.  "Hush, now.  We'll never speak of this again.  It wasn't your fault...it was not something you planned or any of you wanted to happen."  She sighed.  "It hurts like hell to know he was intimate with someone on the eve of our wedding, but it was not by his choice or design.  So, I have two choices.  I can forgive him for something he had no control over and love him more than I ever have before.  Or, I can leave him, become eaten alive with grief and be miserable for the rest of my life."

"You're one special lady, Caity." 

"Thank you, Jake.  Now, forgive yourself and then go tell Pastor Glenn all is ready."  She gave him a quick hug and pushed him toward the exit.

The tent was quickly filled again as the women in the bridal party entered.  Daisy toddled to Caitlin and held her arms out.  Elena swooped her up in her arms.  "Sorry, darling, you'll have to wait until after the wedding to crawl all over Caitlin."

Monica peeked out of the exit.  "Frank and Pastor Glenn are waiting at the altar.  The guests are all seated.  Wow, look at them all!"

Alex fidgeted.  "My palms are sweating!"

Monica laughed.  "You go undercover with the most dangerous criminals in the known world and you get nervous about walking down the isle!"

Alex shrugged.  "Go figure!"

"Oh! Jake, Cody and Jason have joined the groom," Monica updated them.

"Okay, Monica...go!  Alex, get ready," Elena sent the Bride's Maids on their way.

Donovan was nervous standing before the people of Calais.  He watched Monica step gracefully down the isle, followed shortly by a noticeably nervous Alex.  He almost grinned.  He had a feeling that was an indication how Alex would behave on her wedding day.

All heads turned to watch Misty take her turn down the isle.  Donovan noted the way Jason's chest puffed with pride.  He prayed he and Caitlin would be as blessed as they were.  Misty winked at Donovan as she took her place at the altar and then turned to watch her children make their way down the isle.  The crowd oohed and awed at little Daisy toddling next to her brother, gingerly tossing rose petals to the ground from her tiny basket.

The Wedding March began to play and Frank held his breath.  Would she truly go through with it? 

Jake heard Frank's audible release of breath when Caitlin appeared at the tent opening, holding Peter McClain's arm.  It was a rare moment to see his boss so nervous and Jake knew it wasn't a moment he was likely to see again.  Good.

He could tell his bride was radiant, even through her veil.  Her long, lustrous blonde hair hung past her shoulders and atop her head sat a shimmering beaded tiara that her veil was attached to.  The gown was breathtaking.  It was a sleeveless, tank neckline, ivory satin A-line gown with chiffon skirt, embellished with beaded Alencon lace and a chapel train.  Caitlin wore matching satin elbow length gloves and as she stepped, he could see the hint of her ivory satin sandals. 

When Caitlin reached the end of the isle, she was sure her face was frozen in a permanent smile.  Peter kissed her lightly on the cheek and released her as Frank held a hand out to her.  Caitlin smiled nervously at Frank when he gently squeezed her hand.  She felt Misty's hand at her elbow as a sign to turn over her bridal bouquet for safe keeping during the ceremony.

The bouquet was beautiful.  A Rose And Tulip Nosegay—it contained ivory roses, peach roses, porcelina spray roses, pink snowberry, bouvardia, rice flower, plumosus, peach tulip, and bound smartly with an ivory satin ribbon.

Pastor Glenn cleared his throat softly.  "Dearly Beloved--We are gathered here in the sight of God and these witnesses to unite Frank and Caitlin in holy matrimony. Frank and Caitlin, the vows you are about to take are not to be taken without careful thought and prayer. For in them you are committing yourselves exclusively the one to the other for as long as you both shall live. This love is not to be diminished by difficult circumstances, and it is only to be dissolved by death."

During his pause, the couple looked at each other.  They had just been through a difficult circumstance.  Caitlin smiled warmly at her soon-to-be-husband.  Yes, they could make it through anything.  She knew that now.

Pastor Glenn continued, "As God's children by faith in Jesus Christ, the relationship of marriage is especially meaningful. Let me remind you, Frank and Caitlin, your home will never be what God intends for it to be if you leave Him out of your relationship. As you are obedient to the Word of God, and allow God to control your relationship, your home will be the place of joy and testimony to the world that God intends."  He paused, and then asked, "Who gives this woman to this man?"

"I do," Peter exclaimed, standing in front of the seat he occupied.

"And you do so, willingly?"

"Yes, sir!" 

"And now I must ask if there are any objections to this union, let he or she speak now or forever hold their peace."

A hush fell over the park.  And just as Pastor Glenn was about to speak, a woman shouted from the fringes of the crowd, "I object!"

The wedding party and guests turned.  "Lilly," Frank hissed.  He felt the pressure on his hand as Caitlin squeezed tightly.

 

The woman moved into view.  "I just want to save this woman from making the worst mistake of her life."  She walked unhindered to the altar to stand in front of Caitlin.  "Didn't you get my message?" She asked.

"Yes," Caitlin growled, stiffening her spine.  Lilly's eyes were crazed, and Caitlin felt a well of hatred and disgust at the pit of her stomach.  She shook loose from Frank's grip and walked toward the strange woman.

"And you're still going to marry him?"  Lilly was astonished.  "You really are a stupid bitch."

"No, not stupid," Caitlin said, inching closer to Lilly, "but I definitely feel like a bitch."  She balled her right fist, cocked her elbow back and punched Lilly square in the nose, sending Lilly flying to land flat on her back.  The crowd gasped in both shock and amazement.

"Ow...ow...ow," Caitlin moaned, shaking out her fist.  Frank chuckled as he rubbed her knuckles.  She looked at Frank and whispered, "I think I broke her nose." 

"I think you did, too," he said, noting the spattering of blood on Caitlin's glove.

Peter McClain called to his deputies to have the uninvited guest escorted to the jail, then quieted the crowd and told the Reverend to continue.

"Um...where were we...ah, yes.  The Vows." 

Frank and Caitlin turned toward each other and Frank took her hands in his and recited the vows Pastor Glenn had given them.  "Caitlin, I now take you to be my wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and comfort you, honor and keep you, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live."

Caitlin swallowed.  She smiled into Frank's loving gaze.  "Frank, I now take you to be my wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy relationship of marriage. I promise to love and comfort you, honor and keep you, and forsaking all others, I will be yours alone as long as we both shall live."

"Do you have a symbol of your love and promise to each other?" Pastor Glenn asked.

Jake bent down to untie the rings that Devon guarded on the Ring Bearer's satin pillow.  He handed them to Frank, who in turn, placed them on Pastor Glenn's bible.  Pastor Glenn then handed the smaller ring to Frank.

Frank took the ring and held Caitlin's left hand, gazing deeply into her green eyes and placed the ring on her ring finger.  "Caitlin, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Caitlin could feel the tears building behind her eyes and she willed them back as she took the larger ring and placed in on Frank's left ring finger.  "Frank, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"

Pastor Glenn smiled.  "For as much as Frank and Caitlin have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and these witnesses, and thereto have pledged their faithfulness each to the other, and have pledged the same by the giving and receiving each of a ring, by the authority invested in me as a minister of the gospel according to the laws of the State of Maine, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those that God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

He took a deep breath before continuing.  "Join with me as we ask God's blessing on this newly wedded couple. Shall we pray?  Eternal Father, creator, redeemer, lover of our souls, we now turn to you, and as the first act of this couple in their newly formed union. We ask you to protect their home. May they always turn to you for guidance, for strength, for provision, for direction. May they glorify you in the choices they make, in the ministries they involve themselves in, in all that they do. Use them to draw others to yourself, and let them stand as a testimony to the world of your faithfulness. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen."

"Amen." The crowd repeated.

"Congratulations, you may now kiss your bride," Pastor Glenn announced proudly.

Donovan carefully lifted Caitlin's veil and gazed into emerald eyes brimming with tears.  He cupped her cheeks softly and lowered his lips to hers in what was meant to be a light kiss, but when his lips met hers, the anxiety of the last day took hold and his need to possess her overwhelmed him.  He kissed her hard and passionately and moaned softly when she twined her fingers behind his neck and returned his kiss with a fierceness of her own.  He was vaguely aware when Pastor Glenn spoke again.

"Now it is my happy privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Donovan."

When the crowd cheered, Frank broke the kiss.  "I love you, Mrs. Donovan," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Caitlin melted in his arms.  "Mmm...I like the sound of that...Mrs. Donovan.  I love you, Mr. Donovan."  The crowd was once again forgotten as their lips met, sealing their union with future promises of a cherished love.

 

 

 ***segments of the ceremony were obtained from the site www.bible.org

The End.