A Winter’s Wedding (Christmas Cove #3)

Chapter 5

The next morning, as America waited in the lobby for Leo to arrive, she couldn’t help but play the events of last night through her mind. Her heart flittered just thinking about the most magical date she had ever been on. She weighed the date against the next best moment of her life when Leo proposed at midnight on Christmas Eve while the snow fell around them. That night, too, had been a surprise, but never in a million years did she think Leo would sweep her off her feet so unexpectedly in Las Vegas.

Dinner at the Eiffel Tower restaurant had been delicious, and she could still recall the taste of that nutty mountain cheese, Comté, and the fresh baked bread that had practically melted in her mouth. After dinner, they had danced in the shadow of the fountain light show at the Bellagio hotel to the most beautiful violin music. Later, they had shared a scoop of pistachio gelato beneath the glow of the Las Vegas Sphere which had quite literally been displaying the night sky like a reverse planetarium. When they kissed while riding to the top of the largest ferris wheel she’d ever been on, she had totally forgotten about how cold she was.

The thrill of last night still warmed her through and through. But now, as she checked her watch and wondered where the heck Leo was and why he was late, irritation built in her stomach. She tapped her pointy toe on the tile floor of the lobby and watched the couples who were there for the big ceremony begin to congregate.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Leo said as he startled her from behind, with his hands clasping her shoulders.

America turned and kissed him quickly on his lips. “It’s fine. I’m just a little nervous.”

“Why? It’s not like you’re the one getting married today,” Leo joked.

“You’re right. Take a breath, America,” she said to herself out loud, the way she had learned to do to calm down. There was power in saying things aloud that the human brain tended to listen to better than just saying things in one’s head. She sucked cool air, chilled by the constantly opening and closing lobby doors, in through her nostrils.

“You good to go in?” Leo asked. “I’m excited to be part of this, or at least witness it. How did you get me a place inside anyway?”

“I called Margarete, the manager, and told her all about you. You’d think she would have had enough of hearing people’s sappy love stories this week, with all the couples in town for the mass wedding today, but she lapped up our story.”

America took Leo’s arm, and they walked through the ringing bells and flashing lights of the casino on their way to the conference center at the east end. The hallways were crowded with couples of all shapes, sizes, ages, and cultures. America was surprised to see so many people wearing traditional wedding attire from all over the world. She wanted to snap photos but was told the official photographer would distribute the images directly to the magazine. America committed the sight to memory for writing’s sake, and escorted Leo to the ballroom where she had held the interviews yesterday.

At a registration table a tall, thin man stopped them. “Name please,” he said.

“Oh, we’re not here to get married,” she said. “I’m a journalist, and this is my fiancé?—”

“Name.”

“America Greene,” she said.

“Leopold Thorpe,” Leo said and shrugged at her.

“Thank you,” the man said. “You may go in.”

Once inside, they had a good laugh about it. “Is your job always so intense?” Leo asked.

“Not usually, though I did try to save a town once.” she winked.

“That didn’t go so well, did it?”

He was referring to the time when they tried to save Christmas Cove from being incorporated by the next town over, and even though they failed, she knew that everyone had still come out ahead by the new arrangement, herself and Leo included. “I think we did alright.”

“I think so too.” Leo winked back at her.

Taking in the romantic space, Margarete had not understated the ballroom’s transformation. From one end to the next, the space was dotted with pink and white floral arches that created little intimate areas for the couples to stand. Tulle swags hung from the center of the ceiling and draped to the outer walls. Sparkling twinkle-lights played with the tulle and pooled along the edges of the room. The over-the-top décor was to be expected from the city of love, even if that meant she was in Nevada and not France.

Margarete spotted America and waved her up to the main stage. America dragged Leo, who was busy investigating the room, up the stairs to the narrow platform covered in a maroon carpet. The backdrop of the entire scene consisted of yards and yards of pink and red velvet and tulle cascading from an overhead structure. Studio lighting and cameras hung from positions over head, and dozens of chandeliers were positioned on brass stands of varying heights. Light scattered around the ballroom like the mirrors of Versailles at sunset.

The room looked more spectacular from this new vantage point. “This is extraordinary,” America said to Margarete as they kissed each other’s cheeks.

Margarete took a turn gazing out at the room. “Do you think the brides will like it?”

“Absolutely,” America said.

“And what about the grooms?” Leo acted offended.

“No one cares what the groom likes as long as he likes the bride,” Margarete quipped and checked the time. “The press is positioned over there, but I thought you would like to be up here with some of the officials from town. It won’t be long now. The couples are already filtering in.”

Several double doors along the perimeter opened simultaneously. No sooner did the staff get out of the way, than the couples paraded in. Each stopped at a designated table at the entrances and presumably registered their attendance as America and Leo had been forced to do.

Margarete approached their location again with a short little man following close behind. “America, this is the official overseeing the count for the record bid,” Margarete said.

America shook the man’s hand, all the while a flashback of her first December in Christmas Cove played in her mind. Then, Leo had stood by as an official had performed a headcount of the town’s population. That particular count had come up too short to make a difference, which led to Leo losing his job as the mayor. She only hoped this count would go the right way for the people gathered in the ballroom.

“Nice to meet you,” America said. “I’m a journalist and writing a story about the city of love. Did you know that more marriages are performed in Las Vegas each year than anywhere else in the country? Would you like to give a quote for me to use in the article?”

He nodded and she pulled out her recorder. “State your name and that you agree to be recorded.”

After he complied, he began. “As someone that counts things for a living, I’m thrilled to be the official presiding over today’s attempt at the world record for most simultaneous marriages performed in America at one time, giving Las Vegas the undisputed title as the City of Love.”

“Do you think they’ll have it?”

“I can’t give anything away, but it’s looking like a good day to have a wedding.” He nodded that he was done and thanked her before walking away.

The room was quickly filling to the max. Staff busied themselves with corralling couples to certain areas of the room. A paramedic and firefighter positioned themselves near one of the doors with an EXIT sign lit up in green above their heads. Margarete moved through the crowd with ease, greeting many of the couples.

“I should walk around and get some more sound bites,” America said. “Will you hold our chairs? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

America weaved between the couples, being careful not to step on any dress trains, or coattails. Every kind of dress imaginable was on full display, but the more people huddled together, the more stifling the room became and the harder it was for her to move amongst the people. She let her breathing normalize and spotted a rather unique looking couple, dressed in matching silver sequined suits from head to toe.

She approached them. “Hello, my name is America and I’m a journalist with Jet Trek Magazine. Can I ask you about your rather spectacular outfits?”

One of the men answered, “We met on New Years eve in Times Square. Fitting, isn’t it?”

America agreed. “Six weeks ago? Why did you choose Las Vegas, and specifically this event, to make it official?”

“When you know, you know. Plus, what better place to get married than the city known for so many famous weddings?”

“Like Britney…”

“And Bennifer. Can’t forget about them.”

“Or Zach and Kelly.”

“Zach and Kelly?” America stopped their listing.

“You know,” the first man chuckled. “From Saved by the Bell .”

“I don’t know if you can count that one, it was just a show.” America giggled along with them.

“Just a show?” one of them said and placed a hand over his wounded heart.

“I get it. You want your wedding to be in good company?”

“Absolutely, and with all these other beautiful people. Who wouldn’t want to get married here, like this?”

Me , she thought, that’s who . As fun as the event looked to be for the waiting couples, it wasn’t the kind of wedding she would ever have wanted for herself. She thanked the couple for their time and congratulated them on their marriage.

Snaking her way through the room and talking to a few stand-out couples, the crush of bodies only intensified. She thought it was best she return to the stage and find Leo before getting lost in the sea of tulle and crystals. She arrived beside Leo just as the officiant entered the stage from the back side behind all the draping.

He tapped on the microphone and waited for the room to quiet. “Good morning to all of you beautiful, glowing brides and grooms here today. If everyone is finished registering, what do you say we begin?”

The people cheered and the sound was deafening. As the room stilled again, the lively atmosphere was replaced with one that felt more serious, as though each person present realized the magnitude of what was about to happen. Leo took America’s hand and pulled it to his lap as they sat off to one end of the long stage. Even though she and Leo were a week away from their own wedding, the weight of their choice was in the air around them too. She looked down at the ring on her finger. The delicate lace setting and tiny stones fashioned in the shape of a snowflake reminded her of the reason she loved him so much. He had known her before really getting to know her, like their love was meant to be.

“We are gathered here today, to celebrate the joining of two souls in matrimony. As this is a civil ceremony, you will simply repeat after me. I, say your name, take you to be my lawfully wedded spouse.”

The unison in which the group repeated was beautiful; a choir of people professing their love. So much tenderness could be heard in the way they emphasized certain syllables. She caught Leo mouthing the words. “Are you practicing?” she leaned over and whispered.

“Why not?” he said and ran his free hand through his blond hair.

The officiant continued, “Before these witnesses, I vow to love you… Care for you… And honor you all the days of our lives.” When the couples finished, he said what everyone was waiting for. “You may now seal your union with a kiss.”

Leo tugged America towards him. His eyes were full of love and maybe a tear, though he would never admit it, and he licked his lips. She knew what he wanted and leaned into him, shoulder to shoulder. She loved this man more than words could describe, which was a lot to say considering she was a writer for a living, but some things were indescribable.

America closed her eyes and felt the warmth of Leo’s pillowy lips touch hers. She returned the kiss and just let their connection last, not wanting the delicious kiss to end. The room was theirs in that moment. She could have heard a pin drop but for the rustling of hundreds of taffeta skirts and crinolines. As the couples broke off their kissing, the noise loudened until all she and Leo could do was giggle through the clapping and cheers.

“I love you,” America said, and Leo mouthed the words back to her. She was more excited than ever to marry this man in one week’s time.

The couples all congratulated each other, and she and Leo stood and joined the applause from their little corner. Even the first responders celebrated, and she swore one of the men wiped a tear off his cheek. The enthusiasm was palpable, like the hearts of all the people present beat in time with one another.

Several minutes went by before the representative from Guinness came to the mic. “Congratulations. I know you’re ready to begin your honeymoons but first we have to tabulate the official results. As you know, the current record was set in 2019 in New York City in honor of the city’s new I heart NY campaign. If you’re successful here today, with a total of four thousand and two couples, then Las Vegas Nevada will hold the record as America’s city of love.”

A woman walked from the set of double doors at the far side and made her way through the anticipating crowd, some still embracing while others danced to the soft ambient music playing throughout the ballroom. She handed over an envelope, but her smile gave it away before he opened the flap and retrieved the results.

He leaned into the mic, and it screeched. Backing off, he began. “Well, folks, it looks like you’ve done it!” He was forced to talk over the top of the cheering couples. “With a total of four thousand and two couples taking their vows simultaneously, Las Vegas has won it. Congratulations for being in the history books!”

America was overwhelmed from experiencing the shared joyous occasion and squeezed Leo’s hand in hers.

Margarete hung her arms over the back of America and Leo’s shoulders and nestled her head between theirs. “Congratulations, you two. I didn’t know you were getting married today.”

“Come again?” Leo bolted from his chair and left America’s hand floating in midair.

“I was surprised to see your names in the registry,” she kissed America’s cheeks. “I’m thrilled for you both. Simply thrilled.”

“I… I um, think you made a mistake. We’re getting married next week. Next Saturday. Not today.” America stumbled as her mind caught up.

Margarete’s face deflated. “Are you certain?”

“I’m pretty sure our wedding is next week on the other side of the country. Not here,” Leo said and kicked the invisible dirt on the ground. “And not today.”

“Margarete, there must be some mistake. I don’t know how they would have counted us…” America scratched her head while Margarete called the representative over to join them.

“Is there a problem here?” he asked.

Margarete spoke into a walkie talkie and instructed the staff to hold the doors for a moment. “Tell him what you told me.”

America cleared her throat and Leo stepped in. “We didn’t get married today, though somehow, we were counted.”

The man flipped through the registry print out and Margarete pointed at the pages. “Thorpe and Greene?”

Leo nodded and America gripped his hand like she was about to pull an emergency brake.

“It looks like you did get married today. Congratulations,” he said.

How could this happen? America replayed the whole morning in her mind and snapped her fingers. “When we came in this morning, a man,” she scanned the room and pointed at the tall man sitting behind a table, “that man took our names. Do you think he thought…”

“That you two were participating? I dare say so.” The man held up the list and pointed to their names. “But if you’re saying it was a mistake, I regret that I’ll have to withhold the record from all these soon-to-be unhappy couples, until we can get this figured out.”

“You mean…” The reality was sinking in. America took both of Leo’s hands and gauged his thoughts. Was he thinking what she was thinking? How could they accidentally get married? In Vegas, no less! As irritation traveled up her throat along with her breakfast, she caught a glimpse of all the waiting couples in the ballroom. “All these people, what do we do?”

“I did say my vows today, just like all of them did,” Leo said with a wink.

She cracked a smile and bit her lower lip as the truth set in. “So did I.”

Leo kissed her lightly on the mouth. “Does this mean we’re?—”

“Husband and wife? I think so. If we want to be.” It’s not that America wasn’t prepared to marry this man, but for all the sleepless nights and stress of planning the perfect wedding, this was not how things were supposed to go. America turned to Margarete. “We don’t have a license or anything though.”

“The Clark County Registrar is here with a pop-up office, I believe they are still processing all the registrations and certificates right now, we can slip yours in. Is that sufficient?” she asked the official. “It’s your call.”

“I don’t see any issue so long as you both agree, and I’ll keep all of this hush hush,” he answered. “Just get that paperwork done so that I don’t have to deal with four thousand angry brides.”

“Understood,” Leo said and took America in his arms. Pressing a more passionate kiss to her lips, he hugged her body tightly to his. She could feel his muscles flex around her in an unfamiliar way, like he was using the kiss to expel his anxiety. “Mrs. Thorpe,” he whispered between kisses, and the sound of her new name rolling off his tongue sent chills through her.

Whether she was ready or not, she was his now.