Offer To The CEO

Saturday, continued …

As he spotted Anna at the door of the church with their fathers, on either side of her Hou Yi realised how much the day had passed in a blur. The only thing that made any impression on him was meeting for the first time Susan and Wayne's son in his wheelchair. He was a lovely child, who despite all the challenges he faced was as bright as could be expected.

Given he was the only niece of nephew of Anna's that was not in the wedding party, after talking to Wayne, he decided that he could bring forward a little pillow with their rings on it when the minister asked for him. It was easy to see that he was delighted at being given such a big responsibility from his new uncle. Hou Yi just hoped when Anna saw what he had done, she was happy.

His second glance made his realise that he had been right the day he had seen Anna's dress design. It was perfect for her. It blended cultures and the shade of red with the gold through it was striking on her. The closer she came to him at the altar the more Hou YI felt that his heart would stop. This would be a totally memorable afternoon.

While the day they obtained their marriage certificate would always be a day he could not forget, as he had been able to secure as his bride his love, it was even more special today. They had been through so much to get here, and they both knew that the loved each other, meaning that today was a true and total expression of their commitment to each other.

When Anna was three paces away, even he was shocked. His grandmother had leant Anna her own wedding tiara. He had asked her, but she kept telling him no. It was totally perfect for the day.

Anna on the other hand, could only see Hou Yi waiting for her at the end of the aisle. It was, as she moved towards him there was only the two of them in the world. Their family, friends and the guests meant nothing, and it was almost as if they were not there.

The moment their father's placed Anna's hand in his, Hou Yi, felt a jolt flow through him. He turned and whispered to Anna "I knew that that dress would be perfect on you." All Anna could do was look at him with a sweet shy smile on her face.

Unlike for everyone else around them, for both Anna and Hou Yi, the start of the ceremony simply drifted by. They both felt in a small bubble, that was them and the minister, and that no one else was there, much like the day they obtained their marriage certificates.

The breaking moment for them, was when the minister asked them to join both hands and turn towards them. Repeating after the minister, Hou Yi firstly said his vows, followed by Anna. When the minister asked for their rings, out of the corner of Anna's eyes she saw her oldest nephew in his wheelchair with the help of his sisters coming forward with a pillow with their wedding bands attached to it.

Anna had not thought about that and was touched he had been involved. As he arrived Hou Yi bent down, to untie the rings and take them off the pillow, and quietly said "Thank you for doing this when I asked you so late."

The smile that hit his face, as Hou Yi said this, had Anna bend down, and give his cheek a kiss before saying "I am so proud of you," with tears running down her eyes. She could not believe Hou Yi, as he had made sure that today was even more special for her.

As they both came back up, Hou Yi handed the rings to the minister, who continued with the ceremony. Anna noticed as Hou Yi slid her ring back onto her finger his hands were slightly shaking. He felt more nervous that the day when they obtained their marriage certificate doing this. As Anna returned the favour her hands were also shaking, as this was much more than then when they first did this for her, it was a true commitment.

The balance of the ceremony passed in a blur until the minister told Hou Yi that he could kiss his bride. The moment that their lips met in the church, for both Anna and Hou Yi, it was for them as if they were the only people in the world. As they gentle pulled away, Hou Yi, took Anna's hand in his and briefly placed them both on her stomach as if to bring their babies into this ceremony.

It was only at that time, that they heard the minister say, "I Give you Mr and Mrs Hou."

Shaking themselves out of the daze that they had been in throughout the ceremony, they turned to great their guests, slowly making their way down the aisle pausing every step or two to speak to their quests. Anna carefully looked at her mother right as they started to walk back down the aisle, who seemed to be on her best behaviour, but given her reactions now, Anna was just terrified that she would react and spoil the day. Thank goodness, Georgina was with her, and keeping a close eye on her.

After about ten minutes they finally reached the church door, and walked outside into the sunlight, and slowly everyone followed them out.