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A Sunday afternoon never looked so inviting. Perhaps it was the clear crystal sky with not a single cloud gathering. Perhaps it was the smell of October ripening the harvest for winter and bearing orange gifts and yellows for Mother Nature. Or perhaps it was because below the beautiful weather, a nuptial was occurring. The sky stood witness, and the trees blew in celebration, and the sun cascaded rays of lilted light gently on the gathering family and friends of
Dominic Fyres and
Serena Piper. And a marvelous day, it most surely was.
It was a
torrid affair that brought them together. But
Dominic Rodney Fyres had never been so sure about anything in his entire life than the woman standing in front of him right at that instant. He didn’t care about the elaborate wedding, or the gallery of upper class family and friends who watched in anticipation… or judgement. Nothing seemed to matter to him right now. Not even that his daughters declined the wedding invitation. Everything in his life culminated to this very moment. And for once he felt like he was doing something right.
A Beethoven melody played in the background, and the smell of frangipani blossoms that were over pouring in a large three-tier water fountain imported from Dubai overpowered the air in a mixture of fragrance with Freesia, Lilacs and Gardenias. Hyacinth, Jasmine and Peonies too.
Dominic did not study his wedding vows, he didn’t have too. It came straight from the heart:
““I promise to be your lover, companion and friend,
Your partner in parenthood,
Your ally in conflict,
Your greatest fan and your toughest adversary.
Your comrade in adventure,
Your student and your teacher,
Your consolation in disappointment,
Your accomplice in mischief.
This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things. All things.”
Serena had waited her whole life for this moment. Her mother and her father’s love was an inspiration to her. And she knew as a little girl that she one day wanted that same love. She thought it would never come, and had to climb mountains to reach
Dominic, but alas, she reached the top.
Serena as stunning and as cute as ever, tried to refrain from tearing up. She had cried during her makeup twice. And she needed to get this beat right. She smiled looking at
Dominic, who looked as handsome as he ever had, and seemed to grow more handsome each and every day. A tinge of shyness overcame her as she let out a deep sigh which caused everyone to laugh.
Her light star colored eyes locked with
Dominic’s dark brown ones as she began her vows, citing Rumi’s
‘Looking for Your Face’
“From the beginning of my life
I have been looking for your face
but today I have seen it
Today I have seen
the charm, the beauty, and
the unfathomable grace
of the face that I have been looking for
Today I have found you
and those who laughed and scorned me yesterday
are sorry they were not looking as I did
I am bewildered by the magnificence of your beauty
and wish to see you with a hundred eyes
My heart has burned with passion and has searched forever
for this wondrous beauty I now behold
I am ashamed to call this love human
and afraid of God to call it divine
Your fragrant breath like the morning breeze
has come to the stillness of the garden
You have breathed new life into me
I have become your sunshine
and also your shadow
My soul is screaming in ecstasy
Every fiber of my being
is in love with you
Your effulgence has lit a fire in my heart
for me the earth and sky
My arrow of love has arrived at the target
I am in the house of mercy
and my heart is a place of prayer
You have been my best friend, mentor, playmate, confidant and my greatest challenge. But most importantly, you are the love of my life and you make me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved than I ever thought possible…. You have made me a better person, as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live my life. So I am truly blessed to be a part of your life, which as of today becomes our life together."
Dominic picked
Serena up as if she were as light as a feather and looked her clear in her eyes, "you know you’re my wife now right? And I’m never letting you go?”
And he savored every moment…
Before finally kissing his bride.
Please welcome, the new
Mr. and
Mrs. Dominic Rodney Fyres!
“And their daughter too,
Mackenzie Marie Fyres!”
Mackenzie joked as she stood in front of the audience of people.
Everyone laughed and accepted
Mackenzie walking onto the patio as an invitation for everyone to go up. And so they all did. Congratulating the newlyweds.
There were so many guests, at least 110 people out of the 150 that were invited. There was
Bella and
Mortimer Goth,
Don Lothario and wife, and even
Marcus Flex stopped by with his son to wish
Serena good luck on a new life.
And also
Bob and
Eliza Pancakes, who had just become new parents!
Serena laughed and joked with all of her family and friends, looking around at everyone as they congratulated her, and chattered away.
She never thought that she could be so happy in her entire life. If only
Ryn could see her, she would be at a loss for words. So much has happened and
Serena was relieved to finally experience some good. All of her worries would have to wait, because tonight was hers and
Dominic’s to share and to finally be happy. Genuinely, peacefully, authentically, happy.
But happiness would have to wait. A loud wailing scream for help caused everyone to stop and turn around.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no. Stay with me honey, SOMEONE CALL 911”
Oscar yelled
Guests looked around in frustration,
Serena could barely make out her father on the ground holding someone in his hands. Instinctively she ran down the stairs, holding her dress, like a Cinderella who’s fairy tale had come to an end. The pianist began playing, Bach’s, ’
Cello Suites No. 1’ as
Serena continued scurrying across the wedding chapel. Her heart racing, everything moving in slow motion.
When she reached her father, she saw her mother,
Julianne, lying unconcious.
Yes, happiness would have to wait.