Chapter 25

Rossalyn felt like she was on autopilot through the entire ceremony. She followed the minister's instructions, somehow absorbing the severity of the actions she was performing but too numb from nerves to feel the weight of her actions. Her hands shook as they exchanged rings, though she was a little gratified to see that Josiah's hands also had a bit of a tremble to them as well. Her eyes locked with his once again when she noticed and at the minister's instruction they clasped hands to receive the blessing of their nuptuals which seemed to steady them both.

After what seemed like forever, though was probably only about ten minutes after the rings were exchanged the minister announced that Josiah could kiss his bride and suddenly Rossalyn was shaking from nerves again. They'd not kissed up to that point and suddenly she regretted the lack of planning. Why hadn't they practiced that part? Why did she leave their first kiss ever to be in front of so many eyes? She inwardly groaned but braced herself as well as she could under the circumstances.

Rossalyn watched a little nervously as Josiah lowered his lips to hers in a simple, chaste kiss to the thunderous cheers and applause of their audience. Flashes went off as they held the kiss for a few seconds as they had been instructed to do during their rehearsal. Finally, Josiah pulled away and the minister was introducing them as Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Roja while Jessica handed her flowers back to her then Josiah was towing her back down the aisle.

"That was beautiful! Congratulations!" Helga and Sunshine met them immediately as the chapel doors closed behind them. "Come now! We're going to go shoot the photos while everyone gets to the reception location."

Their bridal party met them in the backyard of the church that had been set up for their initial photography session until the wedding guests cleared out then they'd move on to the other planned poses in the front of the church. Rossalyn posed as she was instructed, not even being given the time to process that at that very moment she was married to the man standing next to her in all the pictures that were being snapped.

"Look here! Look over here! Look at him! Press your forehead to hers!" Instructions on how to pose next flew rapid fire and in between each shot an assistant came in to position them, her dress, adjust her chin, move her hand just here. She'd never been interested in being a model, but if she had been it would have quickly been squashed by the frenzy of photography assistants constantly all over them.

Once the photographer was satisfied with the pictures he'd taken, he released them to get to the reception that was being held back at Josiah's house. It was the only location on such short notice that would be able to accomodate so many people that would have access too for the amount of time they would need to set everything up and decorate. The photography session had lasted just shy of a hour so when their SUV pulled up to the house, everyone was already placed inside the evet tent that had been set up in the backyard waiting for their arrival with flutes to toast their first appearance together.

They were instructed to wait outside the tent to be announced. They stood together, though neither of them seemed to know what to say to the other. She suddenly felt quite shy with him and only gave short peeks up through her lashes at the man that was now her husband. She felt him take her hand as the announcer for the reception took to the mic to welcome the crowd and give a little speech. A few minutes later she felt her heart stutter as their cue to enter arrived and he called out to the crowd in the large tent "Please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Roja!"

They entered the tent to applause and Rossalyn was shocked, not only with how loudly and genuinely everyone cheered for them but at the beautiful decorations and set up. They had both been asked their preferences, but had been forbidden to see the tent being decorated. Pictures snapped as they both looked around in genuine pleasure at the beauty that surrounded them. Flowers were everywhere they looked and the air was filled with the smell of fresh blooms. Tables were set up and decorated tastefully with beautiful center pieces everywhere she looked. Josiah led her through the cheering crowd to the bridal table in the front of the tent and assisted her in being sat down since it was a large under taking with her poofy skirts.

Once they were seated the crowd was instructed to take their seats for the meal to be served, and Rossalyn was very happy with that. With all the excitement of the morning, she was more than ready for lunch and Josiah seemed to perk up as well at the announcement. The room buzzed with conversation throughout the meal. The only table in the whole room that seemed to be quiet was their table. They simply ate their meal and watched as everyone enjoyed themselves. It wasn't necessarily an awkward silence or tense one between them. Simple relief that the worst was over and enjoying seeing so many people gathered to celebrate. Rossalyn had never seen a crowd so large in her life gathered in one place for any reason.

Once the meal was finished they were called out to the dance floor for their first dance which was the opening for the festivities of the reception to begin. The crowd gathered around them as tables were cleared and taken out to be relocated around the tent for people to still have access to them, but to give space inside the tent for a dance floor. The DJ dialed up the song they agreed on for their first dance and they took their places as the music started.

Rossalyn felt his arms around her and she looked up to meet his eyes. She let him pull her close as they swayed gently to the slow beat of the song. "Are you still glad of your choice?" She asked quietly as she looked up at him a little nervous.

"Yes, I'm very pleased with my choice. Are you?" Josiah answered giving her a reassuring smile, ignoring the flashes of the cameras around them.

"I'm not regretting my decision." She assured him which was the only thing she could say in complete honesty.

She hadn't yet quite come to grips with the choice she'd made just a week before so she couldn't tell him in honesty that she was glad of it. But she wasn't regretting the decision. She felt a connection to Josiah grow the last week and that made the choice easier to handle. Even though they'd both been very busy with the wedding planning and him still having his 'business' to run he'd made a point to spend time with her one on one every day. She'd made it even easier for them to bond together by agreeing to sleep in his room with him after the initial adjustment period. She thought that certainly helped them start developing intimacy together.

"I'm glad. Because we're bound together now, you and I." Josiah grinned at her then spun her out playfully before pulling her back to him and dipping her at the end of the song. He pulled her back up grinning as she laughed from the unexpected moves he'd pulled.

"That we are." She agreed as they made their way out of the tent as they'd been instructed to do so that she could be changed into something a little more comfortable for the rest of the reception. She'd been allowed to change before the reception but Josiah insisted that she remain in her wedding gown until after their first dance.

Josiah led her over to the people waiting for her with black screens set up around them to be closed for her to get changed behind. Once the screens closed he couldn't see anything but he heard the quiet frantic whispers as they tried to get Rossalyn changed into the sleep white strapless dress as quickly as possible. She came out from behind the screen about ten minutes later wearing the white dress that was fittet to her torso like a glove but flowed out into a loose skirt to her feet to give her better ease of movement.

"Are you ready to dance the evening away, wife?" Josiah asked offering his arm to her formally.

"If you are, husband." She said giving him a smile and taking his arm.