Chapter 14-
Over the next few weeks, Jake started to plan. He asked his sisters and everyone at the library to help. When the plans were set, he made his move.
On June 4th exactly a month after their son was born he woke early. The sun was just starting to peek through the window as Cassie stirred from her sleep. He knew the moment she was truly awake, because she immediately turned to him.
"Good morning," she grinned.
"Good mornin' darlin'. Did ya sleep well?"
"I always sleep well with you next to me," she laughed, moving to get up and check on the baby.
"Hey, before you go anywhere," he mumbled, pulling her back. "I want to ask you something."
"Of course, you can ask me anything," she smiled.
"Cassandra, I love you more than anything else in the world, and I can't imagine my life without you…"
"OH MY GOD," she yelled her eyes growing to the size of dinner plates as he produced a velvet box.
"You gotta let me finish."
She nodded dumbly, tears in her eyes.
"Will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?" he asked quietly. For his answer, she tackled him. Showering his face with kisses and whispering yes a thousand times. They were interrupted several minutes later by the baby monitor.
"It sounds like someone wants breakfast," she laughed, pulling away again.
"You get him set up, and I will make some pancakes for us."
"Sounds like a plan," she said before slipping into her robe and heading to the nursery. When she joined him in the kitchen, he was plating the pancakes.
"So, when should we do it?" she asked, as she strapped Will into his bouncy seat.
"I was thinking," he paused to check his watch. "About five hours from now."
"Five hours? Are you crazy? We can't plan a wedding that fast," she said looking at him as if he had lost his mind.
"But if we could, would you do it?" he asked grinning.
She narrowed her eyes, but gave it some thought.
"Do you think we're ready?" she asked.
"I don't know, but here is the thing. I love you Cassie. Why wait for something we should have done a long time ago? All I need is you to be there and it will be my dream wedding," he said honestly.
"But where would we do it? The court house?"
"You let me worry about that. You just get a dress and meet me at the annex at two o'clock."
Though she wasn't sure about his plan, she trusted Jake. So, she packed the baby into the stroller, and went dress shopping. On her way she called Zeke to keep an eye on the baby while she tried on dresses. Knowing that a normal bridal shop probably wouldn't have anything she could wear that day, she met Zeke at a vintage shop.
She tried on everything that was her size. Eventually, she settled on a tea length lace dress with the palest hint of pink. They were headed to get a cup of coffee, when they passed a jewelry store.
"Oh god, I forgot about a ring for Jake," she said looking down at the beautiful ring on her finger.
"I have a few to my place if you want," Zeke offered.
"Are they stolen?" she asked. When he didn't answer, she shook her head. "I think I'll just buy one."
They walked into jewelry store and started to look around. After a few minutes, they found the perfect one. Cassie asked for it to be engraved. When it was finished, Zeke said he had somewhere to be, so she said goodbye and headed home. After feeding the baby and herself, and putting him down for a nap, she got ready.
Her heart beat fast as she looked in the mirror, it wasn't what she imagined as a girl, but she was happy. At exactly 2, she walked into the annex.
"You look nice," Colonel Baird smiled gently as she picked up Will. "And this little man is pretty dapper himself."
"Are you trying to make me jealous?" Flynn asked, coming up behind her and tickling the baby's chin.
"Not much of a competition," Baird teased.
"Have you guys seen Jake? He was supposed to meet me here," Cassie interrupted.
"He got held up, but he wanted us to bring you," Baird said, handing the baby to Flynn.
"Bring me where?" Cassie asked nervously.
"You'll see," Baird laughed. When they stepped through the door, they were in a field facing a huge barn.
"Come on, we don't want to be late," Flynn grinned.
As they walked closer, Cassie recognized Jake's sisters standing outside.
"What are you guys doing here?" Cassie asked in amazement.
"This is our grandparents' farm," Jennifer explained.
"And do you really think we would miss our only brother's wedding?" Jamie asked.
"Plus, we brought you a gift," Jasmine said, pulling hat box from behind her back.
"You didn't have to do that," Cassie smiled, tearing up a bit.
"But you are going to need it if you want to have your dream wedding," Jessica explained.
Cassie opened the box curiously. Inside, was a beautiful crown of wild flowers. Jamie pulled it out very carefully and placed it on her head.
"Now, you're ready to join the family," Jennifer pronounced happily.
Just then the door opened and Ezekiel popped his head out.
"We are ready in here if everyone wants to go in," he said. Jake's sisters went inside with Flynn, Baird and the baby.
"Would you do me the honor?" Zeke asked offering her his arm. She looked at him in surprise, and then noticed that he was actually wearing a suit. She took it without a word. When she looked down the aisle, she couldn't stop the tears in her eyes. There he was, the man of her dreams. She felt like she was floating as she walked to him, her eyes never leaving his.
It wasn't until Ezekiel handed her to Jake that she noticed Jenkins was standing up as the officiant. He said a few words about marriage, before he came to the exchanging of vows.
"Mr. Stone has opted for nontraditional vows. Go ahead, Mr. Stone," Jenkins said smiling at the two.
"Cassie, When you need someone to encourage you, I am there. When you need help, I am there. When you long for someone to smile with, smile with me. When you have something to share, share it with me. For with this ring, I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward, you shall never walk alone. May my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home." As he slid the ring on her finger, he almost leaned down and kissed her, but Jenkins cleared his throat.
"Miss Cillian, you can use the traditional vows if you'd like," Jenkins offered, knowing that she had been put on the spot.
"I'm ok," Cassie smiled, pulling Jake's ring from her pocket. "Jake, when you came into my life, I was barely living. You pulled me back together. You ground me. I promise to always see the real you. I promise to accept and love every part of you. I promise to remind you to laugh, when you get too serious. I promise not to keep score, even when I am totally winning. I can't promise to be with you forever, but I do promise to love you forever."
Once Jake's ring was slid into place, Jenkins pronounced them man and wife. They kissed long before Jenkins gave them permission, and long after.
That night Jake was spinning his ring around his finger when he felt a slight catch. Slipping it off, he noticed an infinity symbol engraved inside the band.
"Do you like it?" she asked as she came out of the nursery.
"I love it. I was surprised though. I just figured that we could buy one after the ceremony," he said, still looking at the engraving.
"Speaking of which, it seems like you have been busy. There is no way you did all that today," she said, sitting on the couch next to him.
"I may or may not have heard a certain conversation between you and my sisters a while back. Was it what you dreamt of?" he asked.
"It was perfect. Thank you for being amazing," she smiled, crawling over to kiss him.
"Thank you for saying yes."
The End