Chapter 17

Following the brief prayer, Downing hugged each of the grooms and provided kisses to their cheeks. He instructed the two men to face each other and to hold hands. Downing opened his Bible and read from Ecclesiastes, chapter four, verse nine.

“‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lay down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?’”

He paused, grinning. Then he read from Solomon, chapter eight, versus six and seven. “‘Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.’”