Disclaimer: The characters of Scarecrow and Mrs. King belong to Shoot The Moon Productions and Warner Brothers. Darn the luck!
Summary: The story centers on a wedding in the Stetson/King family. The setting is an Arlington, VA Church. This story happens in May of 1997, so there will be a few new characters and a few changes since the end of SMK in 1987.
Author’s Notes: This is only the second story I’ve submitted to fanfic. The first was the first parter of a reunion story. I’m still working on the second part of it, but this story was a nice break. Hope you like it!
Rating: G
“Come on fellas, squeeze in just a little bit more. I need you to get just a bit closer to take your picture,” Amanda Stetson said adjusting her camera.
“Come on guys. If we don’t squeeze now your mom will just make us take another picture after this one,” Lee Stetson said to his two stepsons and younger son.
“Okay, but do you think she’s going to be like this all day?” Jamie asked with a smile on his face.
“She’s your mom. You should already know the answer to that,” Lee said putting his arm around Jamie and standing closer to him.
“Come on Mom. My mouth is going to be permanently stuck like this,” Phillip said through clenched teeth.
“I’m trying to but the flash just doesn’t seem to want to work,” Amanda said examining the camera.
“Mom, I’m getting tired of standing here,” Will said with a whine.
“Get used to standing Will. You and DJ will both be standing for a while today. You guys all just look so handsome in your tuxes. I just want to get a good picture.”
“Okay Amanda let me see it,” Lee said stepping out from his position in the line.
“Lee I can figure out this camera,” she said with a hint of aggravation in her voice.
“I’m sure you can sweetheart, but I want to help you with it,” Lee said starting to grab the camera.
“I can do it,” Amanda said not letting go of the camera.
“Amanda be reasonable and let me see it,” Lee said reaching again for the camera.
“I told you I can do it,” Amanda said putting her hand over the camera once more. Then a beam of light shot out of the camera right up in to Lee’s eyes.
“Oh my gosh!” Amanda shouted as she watched Lee put his hands over his eyes. “Oh honey I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”
“Yeah yeah I’m fine,” Lee said taking his hand from his face and blinking a few times. “You just had to figure it out on your own didn’t you?”
Amanda smiled. “I told you I could do it,” she said with a small laugh.
“Oh you,” Lee laughed back. “Life with you has been anything but boring.”
It was then that they heard three big laughs behind them.
“Mom boring? No way!” Phillip said with a laugh as he looked towards his two brothers.
“Since I’ve figured out the flash now, can I get my picture?” Amanda asked Lee.
With a grin on his face he answered “Yes” and took his place back in line with his sons.
“Okay say cheese,” Amanda said readjusting the lens.
All four males smiled as Amanda took their picture complete with flash. “Oh fellas, that picture was great. You guys look so handsome. But wait a minute, you seem to be missing something. Oh my gosh! Where are your boutonnieres?”
“Boutonnieres? Oh they’re upstairs in Kim’s dressing room,” Jamie said to his mother.
“Well Jamie why didn’t you bring them down?”
“Mom you know I can’t go upstairs and risk seeing Kim. It would be bad luck.”
“Oh that’s right! It’s so hard for me to believe my little boy is getting married today,” Amanda said straightening Jamie’s bow tie. “It just seems like yesterday that I was taking you to soccer and baseball games. Now you’re a college graduate. In the fall, you’ll be a teacher, and here you are today getting married. It’s just hard for me to believe. I feel like I’m losing one of my boys.”
“You still have Phillip,” Jamie said with a sly smile.
“Hey. I just haven’t met the right woman yet okay?”
“Well big brother when you do meet her, you’ll know it.”
“You really love Kim don’t you?” Amanda asked smiling.
“Mom she’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. I knew right away I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. You and Lee have been a great example to me of what love is all about. Have I ever told you that before?”
“Once or twice,” Amanda said smiling. “Lee and I have a great marriage because we always put each other first.”
“We’re partners,” Lee said giving his wife a smile. “In every way, whether it’s at work or at home. We’ve been fortunate to be able to work together, and I think it’s made us that much stronger. Just remember Jamie that marriage is a job. It’s wonderful but you have to work at it. Your mom and I have been doing that for ten years. Your mom is the best thing that ever happened to me,” Lee said putting his arm around his wife and kissing her on her cheek.
“Oh gross!” Will said watching his father kiss his mother.
“Ten years from now when a girl is kissing you you won’t think it’s gross,” Phillip smiled.
“I’ll be nineteen then. Now I’m nine and it’s gross to see your parents kiss,” Will said wrinkling up his nose.
“Oh you,” Amanda said hugging Will and kissing his cheek.
“That’s even grosser,” Will said rubbing lipstick off his face.
“Come on Will. You can come upstairs with me and we’ll get those boutonnieres and see if your sister needs any help getting ready,” Amanda said prodding Will through the door with her hand on his back. “We’ll be back down in a little while. I want to see Kim too before I come back.”
“Okay Mom. I’ll see you in a few,” Jamie sighed.
“Oh Jamie I’m so proud of you,” Amanda said shutting the door behind she and Will.
“So are you nervous?” Lee asked taking a seat across from Jamie and Phillip.
“I don’t know if it’s that I’m nervous as much as just wanting to get it over with. I keep telling myself we should’ve eloped.”
“Would’ve been cheaper and saved you some headaches,” Phillip laughed. “Plus you wouldn’t have had to wear this monkey suit,” he said looking down at his tux.
“But I also wouldn’t have gotten to see Kim come down the aisle. I just love her so much. It’s like she completes me.”
“I’m so happy for you Jamie,” Lee said smiling at him. “You’ll realize later in life that as much as you think you love Kim today, it will increase every day.”
“I just want to get it over with so we can go on our honeymoon and start our life together,” Jamie said looking down at his watch. “We still have an hour.”
“It’ll go by fast,” Lee said with a laugh.
“What?” Jamie asked hearing the laughter in Lee’s voice.
“Oh I just remember ten years ago when your mom and I got married and we sat in this same room together. ‘Course you guys were a bit younger then.”
“I can’t believe you and mom have been married ten years. But then Will and DJ are nine. See you guys were smart. You eloped. I wouldn’t have had the wedding if I was you.”
“If we hadn’t had a wedding, your grandmother would have never let us hear the end of it. Plus, some people didn’t know we’d had a secret ceremony and still don’t. “
“Speaking of grandma, I’m surprised she’s not down here,” Phillip said.
“Mom said she and Grandpa Robert were going to be a little late today. They had to stop and get some balloons for the reception before they came to the church. You know we also sat in this same room six years ago too for Grandma’s wedding.”
“Yeah, I guess we did. It still amazes me to think that Dottie and my uncle got married. She definitely got him to loosen up,” Lee said with a laugh.
“She did didn’t she?” Jamie said smiling. “You know Lee there’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you all day. I think now is the perfect time,” Jamie said clearing his throat.
Lee looked at Jamie and saw the seriousness on his face. Lee had known that today would be hard on Jamie, as now his father was gone. Even though Lee had felt some jealousy towards Joe in the beginning of his and Amanda’s relationship, he always knew Joe was a good man. Joe had been a great father to Jamie and Phillip and had always put them first. Joe and Lee even became the best of friends and wanted nothing more than to raise Jamie and Phillip up to be decent men. They had succeeded.
“I don’t tell you often enough what a good influence you’ve been on me. In the beginning when you and mom started dating, I felt some real jealousy towards you. I felt like you were taking my mom away from me. I now know that was ridiculous. You love my mom, and have always put her first as well as Phillip and I and Will and DJ. Today is going to be hard on me without Dad. I can’t believe he’s been gone a year. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about him or miss him. And when I look out today and see Carrie sitting in the sanctuary, I’ll miss him even more. But I want you to know that you’ve also been a great father to me,” Jamie said his voice starting to crack.
“Jamie you don’t have to…” Lee said seeing what a strain it was for Jamie to say all of this.
“No Lee I have to finish. When you married my mom, you never wanted to be a substitute for my dad. You never tried to replace him. Instead you were yourself; a good friend and an even better step father. You and my dad worked together in raising Phillip and I. You were both always there for us. As men, you were both a great example of what husbands and fathers should be. I knew by the time I was ten that my parents were not going to get back together. For a long time it had just been Phillip and I and mom and grandma. Then you came in to the picture and I gave you such a hard time at first, but you were patient with me and even helped me develop an interest in photography. When I graduated from high school and decided to go to college to teach science, you supported me. You’ve always supported me, and you’ve always been there. That’s why I asked you to be my best man today. Because you’re the best man I could have standing next to me. I know it’s not real ‘manly’ to say this, but I love you Lee and thanks for being here today for me.”
Lee suddenly felt a lump in his throat. Lee and Jamie rose up from their seats and Lee hugged his stepson. “I love you too man,” Lee said clapping Jamie on the back. “You too Phillip,” he said as he pulled away from Jamie. “You two mean more to me than you know.”
“What Jamie said goes for me too. Thanks for being there,” Phillip said giving Lee a small hug.
“Your dad would be so proud of you,” Lee said looking at Phillip and Jamie. “I know he would be because I’m so proud of you today.”
“Hey how’s the groom holding up?” Dotty said opening the door to the room. She walked in and looked at the smiles on each of the three men’s faces. She knew she had just walked in on something special between them. As she looked at each of them, she realized how lucky she was. Lucky to have two wonderful grandsons and a wonderful son-in-law. They all treated her with such respect that most days she felt like a queen in their presence.
“I’m doing great Grandma. How are you?”
“Very happy to see you getting married Jamie,” Dotty said kissing him on the cheek. “You guys all look so handsome. But you’re missing one. Where is Will?”
“Upstairs with Amanda,” Lee said.
“Oh. I must have missed her. I have to tell you that Kim looks simply beautiful.”
“You’ve seen her Grandma?” Jamie asked.
“Yes. Her dress looks like it was made just for her. She looks so much in love. Kind of how you look today,” Dotty said with a smile.
“Oh Grandma,” Jamie said hugging the woman that had always meant so much to him. “Hey where’s Grandpa Robert?”
“Supervising the food.”
“Huh?” Phillip asked.
“Don’t ask. He decided he needed to supervise the caterers. ‘Course he’s also sampling the food,” she said with a laugh.
Lee returned the laugh. “Sounds like my uncle.”
“Oh and you should see your sister. DJ looks so cute. Her hair is up, and she looks simply adorable.”
“Speaking of DJ, I’m going to take a trip upstairs to see what’s keeping your mother. I’m surprised your sister hasn’t been down here yet.”
“Okay,” Jamie said a look of uncertainty starting to cloud his face.
“Hey I know you feel like a caged animal down here, but just think a half hour and you’ll be standing upstairs. I’m going to go ahead and find your mother, “ Lee said shutting the door behind him.
“There you are,” Lee said finding Amanda standing outside the bride’s room with a curling iron in hand and Will and DJ in tow.
“Oh I’m sorry I didn’t come down earlier but DJ’s curls fell so we had to do heat up the curling iron again.”
“Her hair looks fine to me,” Lee said with a laugh.
“Dad it has to be perfect,” DJ said looking up at her father.
“Your grandmother said it looked good.”
“That was before it fell,” DJ said with an exasperated look on her face.
“Okay, chill out here.”
“I’m sorry Dad, I’m just nervous.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone will be looking at me.”
“You’ll have Will right beside you,” Lee said looking at his youngest son.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. He’ll let me trip,” DJ said as she watched a smile invade her twin’s face.
“Oh DJ, you’ll do great,” Amanda said hair spraying her curls one more time. “Okay honey, what do you think?” she asked positioning her daughter in front of the mirror.
“It looks good,” DJ said surveying her mother’s work.
“I’m so glad,” Amanda said stifling a laugh. Even at nine, her daughter was so picky when it came to her appearance. Will, on the other hand, was a complete contrast. He would have worn sweat pants today if it had been up to him. As twins, they had the same dark brown eyes and light brown hair, but their personalities could be markedly different.
Will was practical; DJ was a dreamer. Will was into all sports; DJ just liked karate. Will was an adventurer; DJ liked to play it safe. Yet they could be so similar in mannerisms and gestures. Will looked so much like his father and Grandpa Matthew, while DJ had her mother’s chin and cheekbones. And, as much as Amanda hated to admit it, DJ had picked up her gift for rambling.
“So have you seen Kim?” Lee asked Amanda.
“No, I’ve been working on DJ’s hair. I haven’t even gotten the boutonnieres yet.”
“We’ve got twenty minutes,” Lee said pointing to his watch.
“Oh you’re right,” Amanda said glancing at her wrist. “Let me knock on the door and see if we can go in,” she said rapping her knuckles on the bride’s room.
“Come in, “ she heard a female voice say.
Amanda opened the door to see her future daughter-in-law standing in the middle of the room with her mother and two bridesmaids. Kim Harlow was everything Amanda could’ve asked for in a daughter-in-law. She was friendly, outgoing, gracious, intelligent, and best of all she loved her son with all her heart. She was everything Amanda had wanted for Jamie.
“Oh Kim you look beautiful,” Amanda said admiring Kim’s long dress. “That dress is beautiful on you.”
“You think so?” Kim asked with a hint of hesitation in her voice. “I liked it in the store but now I’m not so sure.”
Clarice, Kim’s mother, turned to Amanda. “I keep telling her she looks wonderful but she won’t listen to me.”
“Well if you want a man’s opinion, you look great.”
“Thank you Lee,” Kim said with a smile. “How is Jamie holding up?”
“He’s doing okay. He just wants to get this over with,” he said with a laugh.
“I understand the feeling,” Kim said smiling back. Then her face turned serious. “How is he really doing? I know today will be hard without his father.”
“He’s doing okay with that too. We had a talk about that just a little while ago, and I think it made him feel better.”
“You did?” Amanda said smiling.
“Yes, we did. We’ll talk about it later,” Lee said squeezing her hand and smiling from ear to ear. He loved Phillip and Jamie as his own and their talk had done his heart a world of good.
“Oh I almost forgot! We came up for the boutonnieres.”
“Amanda they’re right there in that box,” Clarice said pointing to a box on the table.
“Thanks,” Amanda said handing some of them to lee and holding on to the other two.
“I have to tell you Amanda,” Clarice started standing in front of her, “Kim’s dad and I think the world of Jamie. You did a great job raising him. You and Lee both,” she said looking at him as well. “I couldn’t ask for better in laws for my daughter,” she said as she hugged Amanda.
“Oh thank you Clarice. We feel the same about you and Craig.”
“I just wanted to let you know. You two and Carrie have been nothing but gracious to Kim. I just wish Joe could be here.”
“Me too,” Amanda said her eyes starting to well up.
“Amanda we better get these downstairs,” Lee said seeing the tearing up in his wife’s eyes.
“You’re right. We’ll see you in about fifteen minutes Kim. I’m so glad Jamie found you,” Amanda said with a smile.
“Me too,” Kim said her face radiating love.
“Don’t stick me Mom,” Jamie said as his mother pinned his flower on his lapel.
“I’m trying not too. It’s just that I’m starting to get nervous and my fingers are starting to shake.”
“Why are you getting nervous?” Jamie said with a laugh.
“Because I want this wedding to be everything you and Kim hoped it would be.”
“Mom,” Jamie said putting his hands on his mom’s shoulders, “it already is. I have Kim and I have my family. What else could I want?”
“Oh Jamie,” Amanda said hugging him, “We’ll miss you at home.”
“I’ll miss you too,” he said returning her hug. “But it’s not like you’re never going to see us. We won’t be living that far away. And the hospital where Kim works is not that far away from the IFF building.”
“I know, but it won’t be the same. You’re going to be someone’s husband. It’s hard for me to believe.”
“You’re not going to start crying are you Mom?”
“No Jamie I’m not. I’ll save that for the ceremony,” she said with a small smile.
“Speaking of ceremonies, we need to get upstairs,” Lee said looking at his watch.
“Oh my gosh you’re right. Does everyone have on their boutonnieres?” she asked, inspecting the four males in front of her.
“Yes Mom, we need to get upstairs,” Will said.
“I know that Will. You act like you have ants in your pants,” Amanda said laughing as she followed her sons and husband up the steps.
Five minutes later, groom and groomsmen were standing on one side of the church while the bride and her attendants stood near the front door of the sanctuary. Amanda, Dotty, Carrie, and Kim’s mother and grandmother stood outside the door waiting for their time to be seated.
Kim looked at the attendants behind her and realized something, or rather someone, was amiss. “Where is Will?” she asked in a panicked voice.
“He’s over on the other side with Jamie,” Amanda answered.
“He’s suppose to be over here with DJ. They’re suppose to go in together as junior groomsman and bridesmaid.”
“Oh my gosh! Kim I totally forgot about that,” Amanda said panicked herself. “What are we going to do?”
“I can get him,” DJ volunteered.
“No!” Amanda, Kim, and Clarice shouted and then realized they were probably loud enough for the whole church to hear them.
“No sweetheart, we don’t want you in the wrong place too. Avery,” Amanda said to one of the ushers, “can you go get Will and bring him over here?”
“No problem Amanda, ” Avery said already starting to walk to get Will.
“Thank you Avery. You’re a lifesaver,” Amanda said thinking Avery’s father had saved her life many times. Avery was so much like Billy; he was a strong person always willing to lend a hand. She wished Billy could be here with them today. Losing Joe and Billy in the same year had been a hard blow to she and Lee. Billy had been such a wonderful friend, and was just like family. He even walked her down the aisle when she married Lee. She knew he would be so proud of Jamie today. She was starting to feel tears in her eyes when she saw Avery bring Will over to stand beside DJ.
“How come you went to the other side with your brothers? Don’t you remember during rehearsal last night when you stood here and walked in with DJ?”
“Well that’s what I thought, but you told me to go to the other side with Jamie.”
Amanda smiled. “You’re right I did, didn’t I?” she said hugging Will. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Just tell me you won’t be like this when I get married.”
“Oh sweetheart,” she said mussing his hair.
“Amanda,” Dotty said to her only daughter. “They’re ready for us to go in.”
“Okay Mother. Kim, I just want to say that it’s wonderful you’re marrying Jamie,” Amanda said as she passed the waiting bride and her father.
“It’s wonderful that I’ll have a mother-in-law like you,” Kim said giving her a quick hug as she walked by.
The music started to play and the mothers and grandmothers were shortly seated. Avery escorted Amanda in to the sanctuary and seated her with Dotty on one side and Francine and her husband on the next. Joe’s wife Carrie sat next to Dotty and Robert. Amanda and Carrie shared a smile and Amanda looked up to the front of the church where a bouquet of white and red roses had been placed on a table. They were placed there to remind everyone about those who couldn’t be with them today in body but were with them in spirit. It was Kim and Jamie’s idea to place the roses up front where everyone could see them. They were to honor the memory of Joe, Billy, Amanda’s father, Kim’s grandparents, and Matthew and Jennifer Stetson. Just as Amanda was starting to tear up again, she felt a tug on her sleeve.
“How’s the mother of the groom doing?” Francine asked her.
“Okay I think. I just really miss Joe and Billy today.”
“I know what you mean,” Francine grabbing Amanda’s hand and giving it a quick squeeze.
“Francine, I’m so glad you’re sitting beside me today,” Amanda whispered.
“Where else would I be?” she questioned with a smile.
“You’re my best friend Francine,” Amanda said not knowing if she had ever told Francine that before.
“You’re mine too,” Francine smiled back just as the men came out to stand in front of the guests and await the bride.
When Amanda and Francine had met fifteen years ago, they would have never dreamed they’d become best friends. Francine thought of Amanda as being frumpy and an out of style housewife with two children. Amanda thought of Francine as being shallow and pretentious. However, as the years passed they came to rely on each other quite a bit and to respect each other. When Francine had gotten married to her husband, Tony, Amanda was her matron of honor. Francine had also become Aunt Francine to Amanda’s children and Amanda had become the same to Francine’s daughter.
Amanda watched as Phillip and Lee joined the bridesmaids at the altar and walked with them until they took their place in front of the pastor. She watched as Will and DJ walked up the aisle together and saw the smiles on people’s faces as they walked by them. She watched as Will stood on the step above DJ to help her get up the steps so she wouldn’t trip. She knew she was blessed to have four wonderful kids and such a handsome, giving husband. She hoped that Jamie and Kim could be as happy as she and Lee had been. They’d had their share of arguments and struggles as every couple does, but their love for each other never faltered. It just grew stronger every day.
Standing beside his sons, waiting for Kim to come up the aisle, Lee Stetson thought about how lucky he was. He had four great kids and the most wonderful wife anyone could ask for. Amanda completed him. He had been so gun shy when it came to make a lasting commitment to someone until Amanda came in to his life. ‘My Amanda,’ he thought. He suddenly remembered how beautiful she looked at their wedding, both of them actually. He remembered how he was at her side when she had Will and DJ. But he also remembered bad times too; such as the battle Amanda had fought and won over breast cancer. Those were some of the darkest days of his life when he thought he would lose his wife. But as always, Amanda was resilient. ‘My Amanda,’ he thought as he winked at his wife starting to rise as Kim came down the aisle.
Jamie King saw his bride coming towards him and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. Kim was all Jamie had been waiting for. She was independent, had a great sense of humor, was giving, and beautiful. There were often times that Jamie realized that Kim and his mother were quite similar in personality. He hoped that their life together would be as blessed as Lee and his mom’s had been.
“Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to witness a wedding. A wedding that brings two people together. A wedding that unites James Joseph King and Kimberly Ann Harlow, “ the pastor started looking intently at the young couple in front of him.
Amanda could already feel the tears starting to pour. She looked down the row to see Robert holding Dotty’s hand as she used her other to dab at the tears in her eyes. Amanda smiled and thought about how similar she and her mother could be at times. “James Joseph King, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to honor her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer until death do you part?”
With a big smile on his face, Jamie simply said “I do.”
The pastor then turned to Kim. “Kimberly Ann Harlow, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to honor him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer until death do you part?”
“I do,” Kim replied smiling up at Jamie.
“May I have the rings?” Pastor Grayson asked, looking towards the matron of honor and Lee.
Lee felt in his pocket, but he couldn’t find the ring. He switched pockets and couldn’t find the ring there either. The guests were stifling laughter when Phillip leaned over and whispered to Lee, “You put it in your suit pocket. You didn’t want to lose it. Remember?” he said wanting to burst with laughter.
Lee sent Phillip a look and pulled out the ring from his suit jacket. “Here you go,” he whispered to the pastor.
“Thank you,” he answered. “When we look at these rings we see that they are a circle. There is no end and no beginning. This is the way God’s love is as well. It never ends. And He gives us the love of each other as one of our greatest blessings. Jamie and Kim, I’ve had the chance to know you both personally. I know that you love each other deeply and these rings will be a symbol of that love.
“Jamie, here is your ring. Please place it on Kim’s finger and repeat after me ‘With this ring I thee wed.’”
“With this ring I thee wed,” he repeated smiling as he placed the ring on Kim’s finger.
“Kim, you take this ring and repeat after me ‘With this ring I thee wed.’”
“With this ring I thee wed,” she said winking at Jamie as she placed it on his finger.
“By the authority given to me by God and this great state of Virginia, I now pronounce you man and wife. Jamie, you may kiss your bride,” Pastor Grayson said smiling at the young man before him.
Jamie lifted Kim’s veil and bent his head to kiss her. After they broke away, Kim wiped her lipstick off his lips, which caused laughter in the guests.
It was at that moment that Amanda remembered the ‘sham’ wedding that was performed on an assignment she and Lee had their second year of working together. At the time, Lee had told Amanda that that first kiss had all been a part of the assignment. Later, after they were married, he admitted to Amanda that a part of him had wished they’d really been married.
“May I present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Jamie King,” Pastor Grayson said as the guests stood up and applauded.
“I can’t believe I’m actually getting to sit,” Kim said sitting across from Amanda. “After cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet, and taking pictures, I need a rest.”
“You better rest while you can. Your music will soon be starting and you and Jamie will have the first dance.”
“Oh my goodness you’re right. I never knew weddings could take so much out of you,” she said with a laugh.
“Where is Jamie?” Lee asked Kim.
“Oh he’s over there,” she said gesturing towards a table of men he’d gone to college with. “I want to tell you again how much I appreciate what you’ve done for us.”
“Oh it wasn’t that much,” Amanda smiled.
Kim smiled back. “Yes it was and we’re really grateful. You gave us a wonderful rehearsal dinner, and you’re letting us rent your old house in Arlington until we can buy one of our own. You have done a lot.”
“Well,” Amanda shrugged, “you and Jamie mean the world to us.”
“Okay it’s time for the first dance of the evening. Jamie and Kim come on down,” the DJ announced as she started to dim the lights and get the dance floor ready. v “I guess that’s my cue,” Kim said rising.
Journey’s ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ started to play and Jamie and Kim began their first dance as husband and wife.
Lee put his arm around Amanda. “Do you know how lucky I am to have you?” he asked kissing her forehead.
“Just about as lucky as I am to have you,” she replied as Lee kissed her on her lips.
“I never would have dreamed fifteen years ago that I would’ve had such a full life with you. You’re everything to me Amanda. Everything.”
“I know,” she said smiling at her husband and seeing him shake his head.
“You. What will I ever do with you?” he said teasingly.
“Love me all the days of my life?” she whispered.
“I do that every day,” he said pulling her closer.
“Now,” the DJ started, “ the bride and groom have set aside a special song for the groom’s mother and stepfather. They also want the bride’s parents and grandparents, the groom’s grandparents, and the groom’s Aunt Francine and Uncle Tony to join in this dance. So for Lee and Amanda Stetson, here is your song.”
Lee and Amanda looked over at Jamie to see him smiling ear to ear just as Survivor’s ‘The Search is Over’ started. As they made their way to the dance floor, they returned Jamie’s smile. And as they held each other and danced, they knew their search for love had been over fifteen years ago.
END