Designed to Love by Elle Davis

luck
before joining the others.
    With both her and my parents deceased, Cat
had nobody else's expectations to consider when planning our
wedding. I would have agreed to whatever she wanted, but wasn't
surprised when she chose to keep it intimate and authentic. Even
Alisha and Liz couldn't persuade her into a more extravagant
venue.
    The small room behind the altar is sparsely
furnished with two shabby club chairs against one wall and a large
mirror on the opposite. There is one small window near the ceiling
that provides the only source for natural lighting. I wonder how
many grooms have sat in the very chair that I'm in now, waiting for
their turn, and then I wonder how many were as certain of their
choice as I am of mine.
    At almost the exact time, the harpist begins
playing the prelude music, summoning me to the altar, the clouds
part and a brilliant beam of sunlight streams through the window,
lighting the previously dingy room. In that brief moment, I have
what I believe to be a spiritual moment where I am overcome with
awe and gratitude. In any other circumstance, I may have fallen to
my knees and wept, but instead I fight back the tears and quietly
whisper, "Thank you," while exiting the room to wait for my bride
at the altar.
    ***
    The moment the processional music begins;
Claire and Burke enter the church and slowly make their way down
the aisle as everyone else stands and turns in their direction. The
others honor my wishes and avoid communicating with me
telepathically, with the exception of Claire. The minute she sees
me, she grins, "Wow Ronan, you're actually
glowing like an angel," she says, looking astonished as
she screens the energy field surrounding me.
    "You look beautiful
too," I reply, winking at her. As far as I was
concerned, there would only be a few instances where I would truly
block her from speaking to me mentally.
    Claire always has a certain angelic quality
about her, but today she seems to be "floating" next to Burke, as
they walk down the aisle. She is dressed in a long pale, pink gown
with tiny embroidered rose petals and her normally long wavy hair
is curled into soft ringlets. She has a flower crown on her head
with miniature pink and white roses that match the bouquet she's
carrying in her hand. As soon as they take their assigned places at
the altar with me, the harpist is joined by a person playing the
flute in a non-traditional version of the Wedding March.
    When I look up and see Cataryn entering the
church with Tucker at her side, time stands still. It could have
taken her a year to walk down the aisle and I wouldn't have budged
from where I stood. Seeing her for the first time in her wedding
attire, I'm glad I resisted the urge to peek. The white silk gown
is form fitting to the floor and perfectly accentuates every
flawless curve of her body. The tastefully low cut bodice is a
departure from her normal, cleavage sparing tops and she is wearing
the diamond pendant that I gifted to her earlier. Of course the
thing that stands out to me the most is her smile— big, beautiful
and genuine. Her dark eyes are brimming with tears and seem to
sparkle like the diamond on her neck. When Tucker places her hand
in mine, I immediately bring it to my lips. All of my senses are
tuned into Cat; the feel of her skin, the faint sound of her
breathing, the movement of her chest as it rises and falls, even
her scent. I barely perceive the words of Pastor Nelson, but when
she speaks, I detect each syllable and even the slightest
fluctuation in her voice. I memorize everything about her today and
safely store the details in my brain where it will remain for the
rest of my life.
    Pastor Nelson finally says, "I now pronounce
you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," and I am more than
ready. Apparently, she is too, as she unabashedly wraps her arms
around my neck and presses her body close to mine as we take our
time experiencing our first kiss as husband and wife. Afterwards, I
contemplate trying to talk