Doesn't Get Better Than This

Chapter 5

Ally's POV

I was seated by Trish and Jace, waiting for the ceremony to begin. I rarely got to see Trish anymore. When her and Jace got married, they moved to Orlando. They came back down every now and then for special occasions like today. "So, how's Austin handling the thought of becoming a father?" Trish asked me. "He's actually handling it well. You can really tell he's excited about the baby." I smile. We hear the doors in the back of the church open. I turn around to see Carrie's mother walk in and sit down. She's followed by Dez's parents who come in and sit down on the front pew. Next we see the pastor walk through the sanctuary doors. After him follows Dez. Dez walks down the aisle and stands by the pastor in the front of the church. Right behind Dez comes Austin. Austin gets to the front and stands beside Dez. Next comes Piper, Carrie's sister and maid of honor. After Piper walks in, we see two of Dez's little, adorable cousins enter. One is the flower girl, throwing petals in the air; the other is the ring bearer, slowly hobbling along, since he was no more than 2 years old. As soon as Dez's cousins had reached the end of the aisle, we hear the bridal march begin. Me, Trish, and Jace stand and face the back of the church. In the doorway appears Carrie and her father. Carrie looks absolutely gorgeous in her lace gown. I glance back to see Dez with a tear in his eye; Austin pats his back and Dez smiles. Carrie and her father slowly walk down the aisle. When they reach the front the pastor asks, "Who gives this woman to be wedded to this man?" "Her mother and I do." replies Carrie's father. He hands Carrie over to Dez and everyone sits down. The pastor begins to speak again, "We are gathered here today in the sight of God, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life's greatest moments. We are here to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and blessings to the words that will unite Carrie and Dez in holy matrimony." Dez and Carrie look at each other lovingly. "Carrie and Dez, marriage is the most important of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully and with full understanding of its sacred nature. Your marriage must stand by the strength of your love and the power of faith in each other and in God. Just as two threads woven in opposite directions form a beautiful tapestry, so to your two lives when merged together will make a beautiful marriage." Austin glances at me and I catch his eye and smile.

"Dez, please repeat after me. I, Dez take you Carrie to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."

Dez takes Carrie's hands in his, "I, Dez take you Carrie to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."

"I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully."
" I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully."
"Through the best and the worst. Through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there."
"Through the best and the worst. Through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there."

"As I have given you my hand to hold. So I give you my life to keep. So help me God."
"As I have given you my hand to hold. So I give you my life to keep. So help me God." Dez finishes smiling.
"Now Carrie, please repeat after me. I, Carrie take you Dez to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."

"I, Carrie take you Dez to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."

"I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully."
" I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully."
"Through the best and the worst. Through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there."
"Through the best and the worst. Through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there."

"As I have given you my hand to hold. So I give you my life to keep. So help me God."
"As I have given you my hand to hold. So I give you my life to keep. So help me God." Carrie giggles and smiles at Dez.
The pastor then begins to read from the Bible, "John 4:7-12.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God—for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us."

The pastor looks up and turns toward Dez, "Dez, do you take Carrie to be your wife?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her forevermore?"

"I do."
The pastor then faces Carrie, "Carrie, do you take Dez to be your husband?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him forevermore?"

"I do."

The pastor then addresses everyone, "The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken."

Dez's little cousin hands the couple the rings. Dez places the ring on Carrie's finger as he says, " I Dez, take thee, Carrie to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you. And with this ring, I take you as my wife, for as long as we both shall live." Carrie takes Dez's ring and places it on his finger, " I Carrie, take thee, Dez to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you. And with this ring, I take you as my husband, for as long as we both shall live."

Dez and Carrie embrace each others hands as the pastor says, "Let us pray." Everyone bows their heads. "Bless their marriage, O God, as they begin their journey down the road of life together. We don't know what lies ahead for the road turns and bends. But help them to make the best of whatever comes their way. Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met. Help them to realize that nothing nor no one is perfect and to look for the good in all things and all people including themselves. Help them to respect each others likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams and fears even though they may not always understand them. Help them to learn from each other and to help each other to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Help them to realize that no matter what happens to them they will hold on to each other and know that things have a way of working out for the good. Help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives. But most of all, dear God, help them to keep lit the torch of love that they now share so that by their loving example they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children's children forever. Amen"
"Amen." everyone echos.
"By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Dez and Carrie share a sweet kiss as me, Trish and Jace clap excitedly in the audience.
"I would like to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Wade." the pastor says.
Everyone stands and cheers as the newlyweds exit the church.

Austin's POV

I stand in the front of the church as every heads out, getting ready to head to the reception across town. When the aisle had cleared, I make my way to Ally who was siting in a pew a couple rows back from the front. Beside her I see Trish and Jace. I jog over to them, "Trish! Jace! How are you guys?" I say giving them both a hug. "We're doing great Austin! How have you been doing?" Jace asks me. "I've been doing great!" I say as I sit down next to Ally, intertwining our fingers. "I still can't believe you two are going to be parents." Jace says. I smile thinking about what the future holds for me and Ally. "I can't believe Dez got married!" Trish exclaims. We all laugh. "None of us ever expected it." Ally says giggling. I gently squeeze Ally's hand and she looks at me, "Guys, we better get going if we want to make it to the reception before the bride and groom." I say standing up with Ally. Me, Ally, Trish and Jace walked out of the church and headed to the Wade's reception.