What did he just say? Her mouth fell open. Is this happening?

Raucous applause broke out. Even whistling. Zack looked at her, still grinning. Then he turned to the Rose Garden crowd again.

“I am hoping that this will not be a long and arduous campaign. In fact, I am hoping that this victory will be won in this moment, here at the White House, in the Rose Garden, before the president and Almighty God. As I turn now to the woman that I love, pray for favor and blessing.”

He turned to her, took her hand, went to one knee, and slowly kissed her hand. “Diane, you’re the one that I love. There may be no more tomorrows. Will you marry me? Right here? Right now? In the Rose Garden?”

“Oh, Zack.”

“We’ve even got a chaplain, I have a ring in my pocket, and the president told me that he would stand in for your father and give you away.”

“That’s right,” the president said, gently resting his hand on her back. “It would be my honor.”

“Stand up, Zack.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He stood.

“I might, on one condition.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Anything.”

“First, I have to decide if you’re a good enough kisser.” Laughter from the audience.

“And just how are you going to decide that?” More laughter.

“Let’s just say the jury is still out, and you need to figure out a way to bring the jury in!”

He pulled her to him, and their lips met, igniting a hot, instant electricity and sustained applause. She pulled away. “The jury is with you, Commander. If you’ll promise to give me another one of those after the ceremony is over, I accept.”

He kissed her on the cheek to more applause and looked over at the chaplain. “Admiral Lettow?”

The experienced chaplain smiled at the couple. “Diane, why don’t you take the president’s arm, since he is giving you away, and Zack, why don’t you walk around to the front of the podium with me?”

They walked around to the front of the podium, with their backs to the SEALs and other members of the press corps. She stood between the president, still holding onto his outstretched arm, and Zack, whose hand was on her back.

The tears were flowing like a river now. How embarrassing, she thought, to be weeping in front of the president of the United States. “It’s okay,” the president whispered, which reminded her of her father, sending a new wave of tears down her face. The president offered her a handkerchief as Admiral Lettow began to speak.

“We are gathered here in the presence of Almighty God to join these two, Diane Jefferson Colcernian and Zachary Mitchell Brewer, in holy matrimony…”

The rest was a blurry dream that she would never fully remember, until she heard the final words, “You may kiss the bride!”

At that point the details would never fade from her memory. Zack’s powerful kiss was long and electric, even better than a few moments earlier. What a remedy for the stream of tears!

They turned away and saw that the SEALs had formed two long lines, stretching at least fifty feet into the Rose Garden.

“SEALs!…Draw!…Swords!”

In a swift and synchronized motion, the SEALs drew their stainless-steel swords into an archway, clinking as they touched and glistened brightly in the sun. Diane took her husband’s arm and followed his lead into the arch of swords.

The applause was enthusiastic as they stepped slowly under the sharp blades of shining steel.

This was a walk she never wanted to end. If only her father could see her now.

As they approached the end of the arch of swords, she saw photographers pointing their cameras into the archway and snapping away.

Zack slowed their pace, just before they stepped out the other end. Cameras whizzed and flashed at the end of the tunnel.

Then she remembered. She was about to become the victim of a time-honored naval tradition.

She winced.

As they stepped out of the archway, one of the swordsmen brought his sword down and swiftly popped her on the rump with his blade.

“Ouch!”

“Welcome to the navy, Mrs. Brewer!”

Don Brown