Thirty-Five
Someone had elevated Lisette’s bed slightly and taken the time to comb out her gray curls. Josie could tell by the way the corners of her eyes crinkled and the way her upper lip curled ever so slightly, that she was in great pain. Still, she beamed as she watched Christian walk, arm-in-arm with Josie, from the doorway of her room to the bed, where Noah and Chitwood waited. Drake had gotten the rings. Josie had no idea from where. The groomsmen had been in charge of those, and she’d lost track of everything concerning their wedding the moment Holly Mitchell was found in front of the Harper’s Peak church.
Misty had gone to their house and gotten Noah’s tuxedo. Shannon had done her best to smooth out Josie’s wedding dress and clean the dirt from the bottom of it. It was still a bit of a mess, but it would do for their purposes. Josie knew that in spite of her dress and the make-up and hair product that Misty, Shannon, and Trinity had sprayed and brushed onto her—covering the bruises left by Rory’s attack quite well—she looked just as exhausted as Noah did. Still, they both smiled, and neither of them cried. The others, even Sawyer, circled the bed, all of them shifting nervously. Josie also knew that the nursing staff waited eagerly outside, ready to disperse them the moment the vows were said.
Christian kissed Josie’s cheek, handed off her bouquet to Trinity, and left her facing Noah. Chitwood moved so that Lisette had full view of them both. Josie reached out a hand and placed it in Lisette’s.
“You look so beautiful, dear,” she said. Her voice was raspy, her breathing labored.
Chitwood cleared his throat. “We’re gathered here today to join Detect—to join Josie and Noah in the bonds of matrimony. Marriage is a promise between the two of you that you will love, honor, and trust one another for the rest of your lives. Today you will commit to support, encourage, and love each other as long as you’re both alive. You will dedicate yourselves to that commitment and be faithful to it and to one another. You will move forward as two unique individuals, but you’ll do so together, partners in strength, joy, and also responsibilities.”
Josie was surprised by Chitwood’s speech. She wondered if it was from a script he had learned or if he was improvising. Either way, it was lovely. She felt Lisette squeeze her hand when he said the words ‘move forward.’
“Now,” said Chitwood, turning his gaze on Noah. “Noah, do you take Josie to be your wife, in the presence of these witnesses, in sickness and health, in times of both joy and sorrow, for richer or poorer, and promise to cherish her as long as you both shall live?”
Josie stared into Noah’s hazel eyes, noticing the gold flecks in his irises. He smiled. His voice was husky when he said, “I do.”
Josie felt tears threaten but held them back, unable to stop herself from returning his smile. Chitwood turned to her. “Josie, do you take Noah to be your husband, in the presence of these witnesses, in sickness and health, in times of both joy and sorrow, for richer or poorer, and promise to cherish him as long as you both shall live?”
Josie felt the electricity between them, like something alive, and realized she’d never felt that kind of connection to anyone before. “I do,” she said.
“Now, as to the vows,” Chitwood said. “I was told that you two had something prepared?”
Josie and Noah turned their heads and stared at him. “What?” Josie said.
“Didn’t you prepare vows?”
“Oh,” Josie said, thinking of the weeks the two of them had taken to secretly prepare vows for one another, painstakingly writing them out. They’d brought them to Harper’s Peak for their wedding. She had no idea where they were now. Probably still in their luggage at the resort. Chitwood looked at her expectantly. She said, “We did, but—”
Noah silenced her by squeezing her hand. “I love you,” he said. “And I promise to always run toward the danger with you.”
Josie couldn’t help but grin. “I love you, too,” she said. “I promise to always come home to you—and never to cook, much.”
Quiet laughter erupted around the room.
Josie felt Lisette’s grip tighten on her hand.
“Those sound like good vows to me,” Chitwood said. He looked around. “Who’s got the rings?”
Drake stepped forward and deposited the rings into his open palm. He picked up the smaller one and handed it to Noah. “Place this ring on Josie’s finger and repeat after me.”
Josie relinquished Lisette’s hand and let Noah slide her wedding band onto the ring finger of her left hand. His fingers trembled slightly as he repeated Chitwood’s words. “Josie, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.”
Josie stared down at the shiny band and blinked back even more tears. Her palms were sweaty as she accepted the other ring from Chitwood. Slipping it onto Noah’s ring finger, she, too repeated the words. “Noah, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.”
There was a pregnant silence in the room. Josie glanced over to see Lisette beaming. She gave a little nod and Chitwood said, “It is my pleasure and my privilege to pronounce you two married. You may kiss each other!”
Noah cupped Josie’s cheeks with his palms and pulled her in, planting a long, soft kiss on her lips. Josie’s hand reached for Lisette’s and when she found it, Lisette’s grip was firm and unyielding. Josie kept hold of her hand while Trinity snapped some photos of them next to Lisette’s bed. Then everyone lined up to offer their congratulations. Already, Josie could feel the small bit of dizzying happiness that marrying Noah had brought her slipping away, knowing that her world was going to be shattered within a matter of hours. After several
