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"Charlotte, take his right hand and repeat after me," instructed Reverend Brenner.

"I Charlotte take you Adam for my my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance," repeated the young woman.

Charlie placed a gold band on Adam's finger and the Reverend began to pray.

"O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; Send Thy blessing upon these your servants, this Man and this Woman, whom we bless in Thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant that was made between them, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to Thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Reverend Brenner joined their right hands.

"Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder," he declared. "I now pronounce that you are man and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. You may kiss the bride, Adam," he smiled.

Adam lifted the veil and gave Charlie her first kiss. Their eyes met, but she could plainly see that he was concerned. To everyone's surprise, Adam lowered the veil over her face again before they went back down the aisle as man and wife.

The organ stirred as Mr. and Mrs. Clark walked down the aisle. Cheering could be heard outside, as fans of Wallace Shipley greeted them with cries of "Wal-lace!" and "Char-lotte!" As the couple exited the church, wedding photographers got into place to take pictures. Then, right on schedule, thousands of butterflies were released into the clear early evening sky, to announce the union of Wallace Shipley to his beloved Charlotte. The flutter of delicate wings quickly filled the sky, much to the joy of the crowd.

Sensing that things could get out of hand if he didn't act quickly, Kevin hurried the couple to their limousine and urged them to get inside. The vehicle pulled away, to return to the hotel for the wedding reception. Vera and the others would follow in other limos.

"Are you all right, Charlie?" were the first words out of Adam's mouth.

He lifted her veil and sighed heavily.

"You have a red rash behind your ears," he observed, "and it's just starting to break out around your hairline. Charlie," he concluded, "you have the measles."

The young bride looked at him disbelievingly.

"But," she whimpered, "I had the measles when I was a little kid!"

"I don't know what you had as a child," replied Adam, "but it certainly wasn't the measles."

At this, Charlie collapsed into a pool of tears, interspersed with the coughs that she had so valiantly smothered during the ceremony.

"There's no way you're going to be able to attend the reception," stated Adam, in a concerned voice.

"I have to be there," sobbed Charlie, "or else, everyone is going to know I have a little kid's disease! I mean, honestly! No self-respecting adult gets the measles! I'm not a runny nosed child, but that's just what everyone's going to say, Adam! All the people that said I was too young for you, are going to use this against you! If this gets out, you're going to be the laughing stock of... of simply everyone!"

Charlie ended the speech with a series of coughs choked with sobs.

"Take it easy," said Adam in a calm voice. "You're only making your throat worse. When we get to the hotel, I'm going to take you to your room, and I want you to get in bed and rest. Leave everyone else to me. All right?"

Adam tried to hug her, but she moved away and covered her face again with the veil.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Kevin, sensing that Shirley's plans would have to be dramatically changed.

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