“I really like you a lot,” I say to her as we press our foreheads collectively, and the gang round us cheers.

“I really like you, too,” Charlotte replies.

We make our means down the aisle, family and friends throwing black rose petals over the each of us.

The celebrations solely get higher because the day wears on. Our reception is within the haunted home the place I took Charlotte dancing on one in every of our first actual dates, and once more, the ambiance is completely good. Our friends benefit from the buffet, catering to any and all creatures – ghosts, vampires, monsters, and even people, making certain everybody feels welcome.

The music is a mixture of human hits and extra conventional fare, like fingers scraping the within of a coffin or the screams of the undead. There are even a few Dill Cucumis songs thrown in there to pay homage to our bonding over Pickle Fest.

Our first dance, nonetheless, is one thing we co-created only for immediately. It’s a piano ballad that Charlotte at all times beloved, overlaid with the sibilant snake-song of my individuals. It’s the right option to rejoice our union.

“Congratulations to the 2 of you!” comes a voice from behind us as we step off the dance flooring.

Charlotte and I flip to see Fred grinning at us in his normal inane however completely honest means.

“Thanks, Fred,” Charlotte says from beside me. “It means lots to us that you simply’re right here.”

“And never simply in a private capability,” Fred tells us, his one eye doing that factor once more the place it appears to be like off in a barely totally different route to the opposite. “I wished to ask in case you’d be okay with me overlaying the marriage for the Herald?”

Charlotte and I take a look at one another, just a little puzzled.

“I assumed you weren’t working for the Herald anymore?” I ask, confused.

Fred simply grins. “I’m not, however I assumed this might be my wedding ceremony current to you. One final hurrah for my good pals Charlotte and Mason.”

I smile, and after I flip to take a look at Charlotte, I see she’s grinning too.

“Oh, Fred, that’s very candy of you,” she says. “After all, you may cowl the marriage.”

Fred smiles and spends the following couple of minutes interviewing us about all of the unsuitable particulars of the marriage — whether or not our sneakers have been snug, what time we’re planning on going to mattress tonight, and if he can take some leftovers dwelling after the reception.

“That’s going to be one attention-grabbing article,” I say to Charlotte as soon as Fred has gone.

“Effectively, being married to you is essentially the most attention-grabbing factor I’ve ever carried out, so it higher be,” Charlotte retorts with a smile.

She folds herself into my arms earlier than kissing me tenderly.

“Have I ever informed you the way fortunate I’m to have discovered you?” I ask softly whereas the celebration thrums round us.

“Have I ever informed you I really feel the identical means about you?” Charlotte replies, and I really feel myself fall for her another time. It’s one thing I’m beginning to perceive is simply a part of my new life with my lovely bride.

33

CHARLOTTE

I’m actually and completely exhausted. The night time was a blur of laughter, meals, hugs, dancing, and tears. And in some way, all of it glided by within the blink of a watch! I’m undecided how that occurred.

However right here we’re, again dwelling within the pitch black of night time. The celebs above appear to be twinkling nicely needs only for us. Even the hooting owls sound like they’re singing a congratulatory tune for our ears solely.

On this city? Something appears doable.

“I’ve at all times wished to do that,” Mason says after opening the door. He turns again and picks me up in a single fast swoop. I snort laborious as he rapidly realizes he can’t cross the brink with out pivoting, until he needs to hit my head on the doorframe! We make it a number of steps inside earlier than he units me down on my toes and turns to shut the door.

“My great-grandmother used to say a bride tripping over the brink on her wedding ceremony day was a nasty omen. She did, and that’s why her husband had unhealthy luck his complete life,” Mason explains.

“Oh? And what occurs if the groom journeys whereas carrying the bride?”

Mason takes the query critically and ponders it for a second. “A visit to the hospital.”

Supply: www.seynovel.com