{Patrick}
The bridal music starts playing from the organ.
It's the organ notes that they always play whenever the bride begins her walk down the aisle.
My heart is pounding in my ears, and I can feel my knees growing shaky.
There are a few steps leading up to the main "stage" area, where I stand, arms down, and my right hand clutches onto my left wrist.
My groomsmen, stand to my left, all in the same stance as myself.
The wedding officiant, Rick, stands just behind me.
Abigail's bridesmaids, stand to my right, all holding a bouquet of flowers with both their hands, with the exception of Erica.
Abigail's bouquet will be passed to Erica once she makes her way down the aisle.
All of the guests are standing, their attention towards the large wooden doors at the end of the hall.
Right then, the doors are swung open slowly, and way at the end of the hall, my eyes meet with Abigail, being escorted by her dad, Ben.
I lose my breath.
She's somewhat far from me, but even from here, I can tell how truly beautiful she looks.
Elegantly, and ever so beautifully, Abby and Ben begin to make their way down the aisle, Abigail holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand, the other clutching onto her dad's arm.
The organ is loud, but I can hardly hear anything.
Abigail's dress is stunning.
I wasn't allowed to see it, up until this moment.
It hugs her body, perfectly.
I can feel tears burning in the back of my eyes.
She's mine.
Abigail is my girl, and my emotions are beginning to take over as I comprehend that thought.
She continues strolling down the aisle, her veil pushed back over her head so that it isn't covering her face.
I can feel the longing in the pit of my stomach growing.
She grows closer with each step, and I swear to God I grow more and more in love with her, as she does so.
Her eyes are locked with mine, and she has a small smile on her face.
Her makeup is done perfectly, and her hair is styled beautifully.
I can't describe this.
I'm speechless.
She's really mine.
Abigail truly glows as she makes her way down the aisle.
Her smile is brilliant, and she's glimmering like a star.
She's my star.
In a dark sky, Abigail is my star.
The tears begin to push at my eyes, harder.
As she moves closer, I notice that her eyes are glossy as well.
One hot tear falls from my eye suddenly, and I quickly wipe it away, carefully.
She smiles at me, tilting her head, and a tear in her eye glistens as it catches the light.
Before I know it, Abigail has made her way all the way down the aisle, to the point where she is standing right in line with the first row of pews.
My legs moving my feet to where I need to go and my mind not comprehending what is happening, I make my way over to where she is standing with Ben.
Ben has to hand-off Abigail to me.
Ben has to give his little girl away.
I'm standing right in front of her now, looking down at her slightly.
And up close, she looks even more beautiful.
If that is even possible.
Before Rick speaks, I choke out something quietly.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life, Abigail Quinn." I say, my breath escaping me.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
She bites her lip, as her lower lip trembles.
A tear rolls down her face, quietly.
She reaches up, and gently rubs my tear away with her thumb, biting her lip.
I sniffle, watching her with my fervent eyes.
Rick speaks, before anything more happens.
"Who gives this woman to this man in marriage?" Rick asks, his voice moving through the wedding hall because of the microphone he has.
"I do." Ben says, as he reaches his hand out to shake mine.
I shake his hand, looking him straight in the eye.
He smiles at me, and then our hands part.
With that, he places Abigail's right hand in my left hand.
I close my hand over hers, and she does the same to me.
We quickly, intertwine our fingers, and our creases fit together like puzzle pieces.
Abigail smiles up at Ben, before he goes to stand at his spot, next to Abigail's mom, Angela, and near my parents.
Both Angela and my mom are crying at this point.
Abigail looks up at me, and a tear rolls down her cheek as she smiles.
I quickly wipe away her tear gently, careful not to smear her makeup.
With that, the two of us make our way up the few steps carefully, and I make sure she doesn't fall by leading her up by the hand.
We reach the top, and both of us stand, facing each other, sides to the guests, right in front of Rick.
I hold Abby's right hand in my left hand, and her left hand in my right hand.
Rick stands, facing the crowd.
I catch Abigail's eyes glancing towards her bridesmaids, and then back at my groomsmen.
Her eyes are full of passion.
Her brown eyes are a dark, beautiful, majestic storm.
"You may be seated." Rick says, and the guests all sit back down at their spots.
Abigail looks up at me, and she's smiling.
I smile back at her, my emotions running wild.
The anticipation I feel to want to kiss her already is driving me insane.
She's irresistible.
Her beauty is gravitational, and as she stands so close to me, I feel the need for her love growing.
Her hands are slightly shaky, simply because she's nervous.
I hold her hands tightly, steadying them.
Right then, Rick speaks.
"Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Patrick Timothy Kane and Abigail Marie Quinn in marriage. Through their time together, they have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through the combined effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment, and family; and so they have decided to live together as husband and wife." He finishes, looking out at the crowd.
Abigail continues to look up at me, her smile growing.
Now, she isn't hiding her teeth.
Her smile is large, and beautiful at that.
I smile back at her, sniffling as a tear rolls down my cheek.
Rick then begins the reading.
"True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding," Rick begins.
Abigail nods, biting her lip.
I swallow, keeping my eyes locked in contact with hers.
In this moment, I'm not entirely sure if it is even possible for me to break contact with her eyes.
They are so powerful, so beautiful, and so elegant.
"Patrick and Abigail, remember to treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Take responsibility for making the other feel safe, and give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at some time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not just the part that seems wrong. In this way, you can survive the times when clouds drift across the face of the sun in your lives, remembering that, just because you may lose sight of it for a moment, does not mean the sun has gone away. And, if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight." Rick finishes.
I nod, carefully listening to each of Rick's words.
Abigail's hands have stopped trembling.
They are steady, and strong.
And that is the Abigail I know.
Independent, strong, beautiful, and lovely.
My Abby.
Mine.
"You may now begin your vows." Rick says, taking a step back.
He passes the microphone to me, first.
I hold it in my right hand, keeping my left hand in Abigail's right.
I take a deep breath, my hands slightly shaky.
I look down at Abigail, steadying myself.
"Abigail Marie Quinn, I want to start out by saying that you are truly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life," I start, shaking my head.
She looks up at me, pressing her lips together, to keep herself from crying.
I continue.
"Abby, darling, through all that we have been through, the good, and the bad, I knew that you were the one for me. Our love is like the ocean, bold and beautiful, strong and powerful. With the tides of the water, come hardships, but with you by my side, I know I can overcome any barrier." I say, a tear falling from my eye quickly.
A tear rolls down Abigail's cheek, and she smiles up at me.
Her eyes are full of longing.
"Abigail, love, you are my star in a darkened night sky, and you have done more for me than you will ever know. Abby, I vow to love you with everything I am made of, because darling, you are the love of my life." I finish, breathing deeply.
My eyebrows are furrowed, and a few more tears make their way down my face.
Abigail giggles, a small tear rolling down her cheek.
Her makeup remains perfect.
With that, I pass the microphone over to Abby, and she holds it up to her mouth.
"Patrick Timothy Kane, I want to start off by saying you are the most wonderful man I have ever met. Our love is genuine, and is the most beautiful emotion I have ever experienced in my entire life," She starts, her eyes fluttering up to mine.
I smile, squeezing her hand.
"You, Pat, are my rock. You protect me, you hold me, and you put me first in everything that you do. For that, I am beyond thankful," She says, choking back a tear.
She sniffles, taking a deep breath.
"Patrick, sweetheart, I vow to be your best friend. I vow to always push you to be the best that you can be, and support you because I know that you can do all things. I vow to always be your number one fan, and I vow to be the best wife I can be, as long as we both shall live," She says, pausing to exhale deeply to keep herself from crying.
I smile down at her, inhaling quietly.
She takes a deep breath, and then continues.
"Patrick, I vow to love you with everything I am and ever will be, forever and always. I'll do this because you aren't just my star, you are my entire sky. And this love is ours." She finishes, breathing deeply.
I squeeze her hand, and close my eyes for a moment.
A few tears roll down my cheeks.
"This love is ours." I reply, nodding.
We both laugh, looking at each other fervently.
Never more passionately in love.
Never feeling more connected, or infinite.
Abby hands the microphone back to Rick, and he speaks the last set of vows.
"Do you Abigail, take Patrick to be your lawfully wedded husband, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?" Rick asks, turning his attention to Abigail.
"I do." She replies, nodding.
Rick then turns to me.
"Do you Patrick, take Abigail to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?" He asks.
"I do." I nod.
Abigail smiles up at me, and I do the same to her.
"Can we have the rings please?" Rick says.
Right then, little Colton Keith makes his way up the few steps to where Abby and I are standing.
Colton Keith is Duncan and Kelly-Rae's first born child, and he has the prestigious job of bringing the rings up to Abby and I. The Keith's have been extremely supportive ever since I first got drafted to the Blackhawks.
Duncs took good care of me when I first started playing in Chicago, and Colton seemed like the right little guy for the job.
The rings are silver, and are truly beautiful.
Abigail takes a ring in her palm, and I do the same.
"Patrick, you may place the ring on your bride." Rick says.
I nod, and Abigail extends out her left hand.
Her engagement ring is temporarily placed on her right hand, at the moment.
"Through this ring, I accept you as my wife, now and for all time." I say, as I slip the silver band on her finger.
Abigail looks down at it, and then back up at me, a smile written on her face.
I smile back down at her.
With that, I extend my left hand out for Abigail, and she speaks before slipping it on for me.
"Through this ring, I accept you as my husband, now and for all time." She nods, as she slips it on my finger.
I nod down at her, and her eyes are bold and bright.
I can see my own reflection in them, to be honest.
Rick speaks, once again.
"And now, by the power invested in me by the State of Illinois, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife." Rick nods, looking at me, and then over at Abigail.
"Patrick, you may now kiss your bride." Rick says, smiling.
I swallow, as I begin to move closer to Abigail.
She wraps her arms around me, and places her hands on the back of my neck.
I wrap my arms around her waist, leaning in.
The moment that I have truly been waiting for, this entire time.
I lean in closer to her, and quickly press my lips against hers.
We both close our eyes, our lips moving together in-sync for a few moments.
Cheers erupt from the guests, the sounds of clapping and whistling moving throughout the hall.
She runs her hands through my curls quickly, before we part.
She looks up at me, her eyes wide, and her smile large.
I smile back down at her taking her hands.
"I love you so much," She says, amongst the cheers.
She says it loud enough, for just the two of us to hear.
"Goddamn I love you too, Abigail Kane." I shake my head, squeezing both of her hands.
She smiles up at me, her large, beautiful brown eyes piercing through mine. A tear rolls down her cheek as she lets out a small giggle.
And with that, Abigail and I are no longer longtime partners.
We are husband and wife.