The Hidden Billionaire

A good day for a gathering. The priestess walked in a circle making a ring, blessing and chanting around the circle while the priest stood inside with the couple. The heat of the sun, warm and inviting. The perfect day for a handfasting. Declan stood inside next to her. He stood on the left while she stood on his right. Trembling hands signified his nerves. Her hand atop of his, she could feel it. The nervousness he exuded. Her eyes held a warmth in them he had seen many times before. A warmth he couldn’t help but fall in love with. Once the priestess finished, she made her way to the side of the priest. “Thank you for attending this handfasting ceremony. Blessed be to all that have joined to celebrate this lovely couple in coming together.” The priest spoke next. “We thank the gods and goddess. The blessing of this union between Declan and the wonderful lady standing next to him. We will give thanks to the elements. Once the handfasting ceremony has finished, then we shall give thanks and be merry.” Declan looked to her and smiled. It may not be an official wedding, but to him, and her, it was significant enough. He spoke to her in a cheeky tone. “No going back afterwards.” “Oh yes, there is.” “You’re stuck with me, love. I’ll do everything I can to continue being the man you fell in love with.” “And I’ll continue to be the woman that captured your heart and had your family fall so in love with me they can’t picture you without me.” The priest and priestess cleared their throats to gather their attention. There was no annoyance on their face only smiles. The two of them took turns officiating the handfasting ceremony. Taking a red cord binding them at the wrist, wrapping it around them. Declan was half listening as his body slightly turned towards her. She was radiant. The way her hair went against the wind. The light breeze made everything about her stand out. Declan fell more in love with her. Though there were issues leading up to their dating and eventual marriage, everything they went through together were memories he looked back on fondly. The priest and priestess had finished. Declan had been too absorbed in his thoughts. He hadn’t heard them. The priest opened the circle, and the couple stepped out. Beau stood next to Marina, smiling. “Welcome to the marriage club.” Richard, a new friend, congratulated him next. “Yeah, now you’ve joined the ranks of men that will love and cherish their wives until the last days.” Tina smacked Richard on the chest. “Don’t go telling him that it’ll be all sunshine and roses.” “Yeah!” Marina spoke up next. “Marriage is a partnership. Plus…”She looked down at her twins. Mareux looking down, no doubt tears in her eyes. “It takes two to make a marriage work.” Declan kneeled down to her level to speak with Mareux. “Hey pretty lady? Are you ok?” She lifted her eyes to meet his. Her arms across her chest. “You could’ve waited until I was old enough to be married to you.” His new bride took that opportunity to speak. “’Reux, I love him just as much as you do. And you never know when you come of age Declan would be this old potbelly man that is grumpy and you’re youth, beauty, and intelligence would be wasted on him.” Mareux sniffled, then smiled. “Grumpy Declan wouldn’t be cute at all. I wouldn’t want to be near his ass.” Declan and his bride stood up. Eyes wide. They both knew what was about to transpire. He lead her away, hoping to save their ears. Mareux and Junior looked up at their mother, who was glaring and Beau. His eyes pleaded with those around him. Declan remembered the conversation the two of them had about Beau’s use of profanity around the twins. Marina was about to give him hell and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Sweetie, did daddy teach you that … delightful word?” “Yes mommy. He said that ass is just another word for donkey.” Beau attempted to slip away, but Marina caught his arm. “Well, it’s a naughty word that you shouldn’t use until you’re older. Mommy is going to talk with daddy. Maybe you two can speak to the priests about what kind of ceremony we just attended.” She leads Beau away. Declan turned to his bride. “Can you believe we get a full four months paid vacation?” “Yes, but I feel sorry for the others that will have to take care of the work while were gone.” “I managed to do it by myself for years until Mrs. Mari came around. I can’t thank her enough for getting him to add another assistant and to getting her own.” “We do owe a lot to them. Maybe we should wait to go on our honeymoon until the actual ceremony?” “Whatever you want.” She leaned towards him. Her finger rubbing against his chest. “What I want, I can't say yet, but I’m sure you know what I mean.” He cleared his throat. Adjusting his collar, he tried to let in the cool breeze to extinguish the burning desire growing. “You minx you. What will I ever do with you?” “Love me until your dying breath.” “That I do. I’ll love you until my dying breath. And even after.” Their day ended without incident. Despite the scolding, Beau got from Marina for his lack of awareness. Different from how it was before in the beginning. In the beginning, the two of them had their issues that made everyone around them place bets on when they would kill each other or if they’ll do the deed. Wondering who Declan would find love with. Serena, Makena, or Cynthia. Each a wonderful woman in not just name alone. The trials Declan went through because of them would forever live on in his memory and heart.