Chapter 5 Married at last

The servants brought the rings. Jane took the one she was supposed to make Karl wear and he took the other for Jane.

"Now, in everyone's presence, the groom and the bride shall exchange their rings. The groom shall go first," said the father.

Karl takes a step forward and holds out his hand to Jane. She hesitated to take his hand.

"Hold out your hand. Everyone's waiting,"Karl whispered only for her to hear. Jane nods and places her hand on top of his. He holds onto her left hand, took the blue diamond ring into his other hand, and placed the ring onto the fourth finger. Everyone claps.

"Now, the bride."

Jane took the ring for Karl and he holds out his right hand to her and she helped him to wear it. The crowd claps again. The ceremony is now complete.

Now, we shall take the vows, the bride and the groom stand in front of each other and repeat after me," said the father.

When the Father was done chanting the vows, he turns to Karl.

" Jane and Karl, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?" the Father asked.

"Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"

"Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"

Karl just stared at Jane and responds without any thought, "I will"

"Very well, then chant after me."

"I, Karl Jude, take you, Jane Collin to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. I won't ever leave your hand," Karl said with a smile.

Jane almost fell for his pleasing smile that she couldn't believe who was standing in front of her.

Everyone claps in the midway. Then the father turns to Jane.

"Do you, Jane Collin, take Karl Jude, to be your husband and promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. Will you love him and honor him all the days of his life?".

Jane was instructed to go along with the flow, but she didn't say yes right away. She tried to read the face of Karl, but she was unable to do that. His face puzzled not able to understand her intentions.

"What are you doing?" he whispered.

"Say yes."

"Is there any kind of confusion? Do you not want to marry this person?" asked the Father, turning to Karl.

"Uh.... no...that's not it," Jane replied, getting back on her feet.

"Yes, I take him as my husband. I take him," she replied, meeting the eyes of Karl whose face had gone pale out of fear.

"Very well, now I declare you both lawfully as husband and wife."

"You may kiss the bride now."

Everyone claps again. Jane's mom was on the verge of tears to see it happening.

Karl loosened his necktie and faced Jane.He moved closer and placed his hand behind her back, pulling her closer by the waist. He had a pleasing smile on his face so he won't scare her

Jane's heart was going to jump out of her chest anytime soon as this is the first time she'll be sharing a kiss with someone.

"Wish I had dated back in school when I had the time to,"Jane closed her eyes in response.

He touched a part of her face and brought his face closer to hers, and within split seconds their lips brushed each other softly.

"Congratulations," shouted the crowd.

Jane's mom joined in as well along with her father.

Karl broke the kiss moving away from her. They faced their family members, but Jane's face was still red from the kiss that she shared with Karl just now.

"Throw the flowers," shouted Jane's mom from a distance. She backs away and faces her back against the family members and threw the flower in her hand towards the crowd without looking.

"I did it. I caught it," shouted Karl's mom in a loud voice.

Everyone was laughing to see that. And at last, it was time to cut the wedding cake. Karl had ordered a cake with a size around Jane's height. Their family members stood by their side as they cut the cake. He picked up a piece of cake, forced it into her mouth, and kissed her. He took her by surprise.

His mom and dad both walked up to Jane and talked with her, along with his grandpa and grandma and aunts and family. They decide to have a meal together.

"You know, I finally feel better to see him with his wife. He's been a lot of headaches for us to handle," said his dad with a sigh. "I can finally die in peace" said the grandma. I didn't know that boss you were the dad of our son-in-law," said Jane's dad when they were sitting on the table altogether.

"Ah, Even I didn't know whom he was going to get married as he had kept it a secret till last night when he announced that his marriage will be the next day. So no need to worry about it."

"We are relatives now, so no need feels self-conscious. Everything will be okay. I am glad to have someone like Jane as my daughter-in-law. She's such a cutie," said Karl's mom.

Jane and Karl were made to sit side by side, which was making her feel uncomfortable a little.

Still, she bore with that. Both of their family members were chitchatting. His grandma was in a wheelchair, and her husband was feeding her.

She kept glancing over his relatives which were making her feel nervous all this while. He noticed this and placed his hand on top of hers to make her feel at ease.