Текст книги "That Wedding"

Автор книги: Jillian Dodd

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Текущая страница: 23 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

I'm ready. Ready to go meet Phillip. Ready for him to see my dress for the first time. Mrs. Mac and Mrs. Diamond are gushing about how pretty I look.

Mrs. Mac says, "So you haven't followed any traditions, but we're making you do this one. Do you have something old?"

Lori nods her head. "Yes, the satin at the base of her bouquet is from one of her mom's bridesmaid's dresses, and she has lots of new things."

"What about something borrowed?" Mrs. Diamond asks.

I squint my eyes. "Um, I don't have anything borrowed."

Mrs. Mac grins. "I was kinda hoping you'd say that. I have something for you to borrow." She rummages through her bag and pulls out a beautiful four-strand pearl bracelet. "It was my grandmother's. Both my mother and I borrowed it for our weddings."

"I'd be honored," I say and hold out my arm.

She slides it on my wrist. "It looks really pretty with your dress."

I hug her and try not to cry. Even though we went with the waterproof mascara, I don't want to mess up my makeup right before I see Phillip. "Thank you. It's beautiful."

Chelsea says, "What about something blue?" She has a sneaky little grin on her face.

"Hush," I say.

"What? You don't want Phillip's mom to know you have a sexy something blue thong on under there?"

I'm standing outside a doorway at the top of a winding staircase. Phillip's waiting for me at the bottom. I can't see him, but I know he's there. I can feel him.

I love the way I look. I love my dress, the way my hair is perfectly curled, the way my veil poufs out, and my soft bridal makeup.

I know brides are supposed to fret and worry about every detail of their wedding.

I'm not.

This is the only moment I really care about. I want to remember the way Phillip looks at me for the rest of my life.

I want this moment to be perfect.

Amy is getting the photographer all set up. After this, we're going to take pictures at our fountain and a few other places around the Plaza, and then we'll come back and do more photos with the wedding party.

Amy says, "Okay, we're ready."

I glide through the door. There is something about this wedding dress. I've never felt so beautiful, or so graceful, or even anything so close to perfect in my life.

I pause at the top of the stairs. Phillip turns around to face me. I've been so focused on how I would look for him, I hadn't thought about what he'd look like.

Oh. my. gosh.

He looks perfect.

Seriously.

He looks so incredibly handsome. His freshly shaven face, his perfectly styled hair, his big brown eyes, and that gorgeous smile. His black tuxedo drapes exquisitely across his tall, muscular frame. I love the way his shoulders are broad and then taper down to his lean waist. Phillip is perfect all the way down to his custom black Nikes with their purple swoosh.

I'm looking at my dream. My prince.

Our eyes meet. He looks at me so adoringly, and I can't believe I ever doubted this. All the worrying I did. All the should I marry hims. All the will we work outs. All the tears.

They all come down to this very moment.

This moment when I know I'm exactly where I belong.

He holds my eyes the whole time I'm slowing descending the staircase. When I'm about to the middle, he starts walking up toward me. Like he can't help it, like he can't wait any longer to touch me.

Three stairs from the bottom, he touches my face and says, "You look like my dream come true."

I get tears in my eyes because that's exactly how I hoped I'd look. He continues. "You look amazing, gorgeous, beautiful. I don't even have the right words."

"Those sound like pretty good words to me. So do you like the dress?" I ask as he leads me down the final three stairs.

"I love the dress. My mom cut out all those mermaid dresses. I really thought that's what you were getting. This is so much better." He grins and tilts his head at me. "You kinda look like a princess."

I grab the skirt of my dress and twirl it a bit. "I know. I think that's why I loved this dress so much. But even if I would've got the dress all wrong, I know I did one thing right."

"What's that? Your shoes?"

"No, silly. You. I can't believe I'm marrying you today. You're everything I've ever wanted and more. And you're looking pretty damn fine yourself. I even like the tennis shoes."

He holds his pant leg up, so I can see them better. "I love the shoes. Everyone loves the shoes. So turn around. Let me see this dress."

I do a slow spin. He looks me up and down and tilts his head. "I think you're missing something."

I look down at myself. "I don't think I'm missing anything."

"Yeah, you are. Let's see, do you have something old?"

"Yeah, on my bouquet." I show him the fabric.

"How bout something new?"

"Pretty much everything is new."

He scrunches up his nose at me, like he's evaluating me. "Something borrowed?"

I hold out my wrist. "Your mom let me borrow the bracelet both she and her mother wore at their weddings. It was her grandma's."

"I don't see anything blue."

"You don't get to see what's blue until later," I smirk.

He gives me the kind of sexy grin that makes me want to drag him up to my room.

"What about something from the groom?"

"Um, I'm wearing my engagement ring." I hold my right hand up and show him.

"No, that doesn't count." He pulls a little wrapped box from behind his back and holds it in his palm in front of me.

"Phillip, you already bought my wedding band. You didn't need to get me anything else."

"Oh, so you don't want it?" He snatches the box away from me.

I put my hands on the sides of his waist and pull my body close to his. "Oh, I want it."

"You're bad. Be good and open this."

He puts the box back out in front of me. I gently untie the ribbon, pull the small velvet jewelry box out of it, and open the lid.

Inside is a breathtaking pear-shaped diamond pendant. The larger center stone is surrounded by different sized smaller diamonds set in platinum. It's funky, yet classic.

"Phillip, it's beautiful! And it's pear-shaped just like my mom's ring."

"It is your mom's ring. I took the diamonds out of your parents' wedding rings and had them made into this."

"My parents' rings?" It feels like all the air just got sucked out of the room. I clutch my arm to my stomach like I just got punched, cover my mouth with my hand, and start to cry. I can't pry my eyes away from it. Their diamonds are together now, and they look so happy.

Phillip looks worried. "Oh, Princess, I'm sorry. I thought, well, you said it was sad they just sit there in your jewelry box. I wanted you to have them with you. I saved the settings. I didn't ruin them. We can put them back. I can fix it."

I poke my fingers into the corners of my eyes in an attempt to stop the tears from ruining my makeup.

I can't speak. I can't mutter out words. My heart feels like it's in my throat.

"It's beautiful," is all I manage to say again.

I lean my head back and fan my face, trying to stop the tears. Phillip leans in and kisses my cheek which makes me smile.

I reach out and touch his face. "Phillip, I'm so touched. I adore it. I'm trying really hard not to cry here, but...." I lose the tear battle. Phillip pulls a hankie out of his pocket and hands it to me. I dab my eyes with it. Then I look at it and laugh. "Your hankie has our wedding monogram on it!"

"Amy seriously thinks of everything."

We both laugh.

I clutch my chest. "This necklace, I never would've thought of doing something like this. Thank you. And to get to wear their wedding diamonds, like today, on my wedding day, it's amazing. You're amazing. I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

"I thought it was the universe," he teases.

I laugh and dab away the rest of the tears while he puts the necklace on me.

We went all over the Plaza with the photographer and took a bunch of great photos in front of all the fountains and the cool old buildings. We're in the limo heading back to the hotel. "Hey, we just passed the hotel," I say.

"Amy and I have a little surprise," Phillip says. "We thought it might make for some cool photos."

The driver pulls up to a park. Phillip pulls me out of the limo and leads me down a snowy path. We round the corner, and I cover my mouth. "Oh my gosh, Phillip. Swings!"

And not just any swings. Amy had these swings decorated. The chains have garlands running down them, and there are purple ribbons hanging from the snow covered trees. It's beautiful.

"Come on!" I grab Phillip's hand like I used to when we were little and drag him across the snow.

I can't wait to see these pictures. I even changed out of the purple Uggs I've been wearing out in the snow. The photographer took photos of Phillip pushing me on the swing, so that you could see the i do! I wrote on the bottom of my shoes. I'm pretty sure it will be my favorite picture ever.

It's almost time!!!

The girls just left to get lined up for the walk down the aisle. I'm getting my makeup touched up when Danny strolls in.

He always looks so handsome in a suit. "You look handsome, Danny."

"I had to come tell you how beautiful you look. Really, Jay, you look amazing. Hard to believe the raggedy little girl who punched me in the face could grow up to look like this."

He gives me a big hug and gets misty-eyed. "I love you."

My eyes tear up too. "I love you too."

The makeup artist says, "Don't cry. We just got your makeup all fixed."

Danny gives the makeup artist his dazzling grin, probably because he knows any girl will let him do anything he wants in hopes of seeing that grin just one more time. Then he says to her, "Mind if we have some privacy?"

The makeup artist flashes me an irritated look. Like it's my fault. She probably thinks I'm getting ready to have a pre-wedding romp with him. Or at least I know that's what she's fantasizing about. Only she'd be the bride.

Danny shuts the door, raises his eyebrows up and down at me, and gives me his Devil Danny grin.

"What? What'd you do?"

"Nothing." He points his thumb toward the door. "You know, she probably thinks we're having sex."

I giggle. "Well, you are the best man."

"Come on, baby, just one last time? He'll never know," he says loudly to the door. The makeup artist probably has her ear up to it.

He whispers in my ear. "Maybe you should make some appropriate noises, then we'll walk back out, and I'll be zipping up my pants."

I laugh and smack his shoulder. "You're so bad."

He laughs with me, but then his face gets serious. "So, I have something to give you." His voice gets that aw shucks sound to it. The sound that has drawn so many people to adore him. That slight southern twang he can't seem to get rid of. "I want you to have good luck today. Anyone else would laugh me out of the room if I gave them this, but I know you'll understand."

I nod my head as he reaches in his pocket. "I'm only letting you borrow this. Like you CANNOT lose it. But I wanted you to have it for today."

He hands me a black Adidas bicep band.

"Really!!!? Your bicep band?! This is practically a state treasure!" In my hand is the sweat band that Danny has worn for every game since he won his first collegiate game.

"Today's your big game, Jay. I thought you should wear it."

"Danny...." I can't even say anything. You'd think Danny just gave me the Queen of England's heirloom tiara. I know how Danny is with his luck. The year they went undefeated and won the national championship, he wouldn't let anyone wash his game socks. "I promise to take good care of it." I wrap it around the base of my bouquet. "The black even goes with my wedding colors."

I throw my arms around him and give him another hug.

"I can't believe my two best friends are getting married today. You really are good, aren't you. You don't seem the slightest bit nervous."

"I'm not. I love him, Danny."

"And it's thanks to me that you're together. You know that, right?"

"No, it's not."

"Jay, we'll be sitting in rocking chairs at the old folks home, and I'm still going to be reminding you of how I told you he was getting serious with that Moaning Monica chick. It was Lori's idea, but I'm the one that pulled it off. I know that's what made you attack him. Admit it."

"You're right. Although, I'm pretty sure it's the first time you've been right about anything."

He opens the door, looks up and down the hall, and pretends to see if the coast is clear. He says, "S'up," to the makeup artist then looks down at his fly. "Shit, that'd be bad," he says and pretends to zip his pants.

I follow him into the hallway. He smacks my butt, like I'm getting ready to do the tunnel walk. "Go get 'em, Jay."

I'm holding Mr. Diamond's arm while waiting to walk down the aisle. The ceremony is decorated so perfectly. Guests are sitting in white chiavari chairs. There are huge glass hurricanes placed down the aisle with pale candles flickering inside them. The aisle runner is black and white damask. Even Pastor John, who I wanted to burn in effigy just a few short weeks ago, looks perfect standing at the end of the aisle.

My bridesmaids look beautiful wearing their icy purple dresses and carrying pale pink and purple bouquets. The groomsmen look handsome in their black tuxedos. Their deep purple boutonnieres and custom Nikes add pops of color.

One by one, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle.

When it's time for the flower girls, I can't help but tear up. The flower girls are wearing the most adorable blush colored dresses with tutu skirts. Their hair is done up in curly little buns. They're each carrying a floral covered magic wand, but it's what's on their backs that makes me cry.

Each girl is wearing white feather angel wings. The wings are decorated with a halos of pale roses and purple lavender. Our way to honor my parents. Phillip had tried to find some way to incorporate angels into our ceremony. We looked and looked and couldn't find anything but cheap angel charms. Mr. Mac did some kind of magic google search and found a photo of an angel flower girl. He printed it out, rolled it up, and put it in my Christmas stocking. I cried then too because I knew it was just so perfect.

We've left the front row, opposite the Macs, empty on purpose. During the ceremony, we'll pause in silent remembrance. Phillip and I will walk down to their empty seats and place the two dried roses I saved from the funeral on their chairs. I'm so glad we're recording our wedding. I want to remember every detail. Every thought.

Mr. Diamond interrupts those thoughts. "I want you to look at Phillip and tell me why I should let you walk down this aisle. Because I know if your dad were here, and you had even a shred of doubt about marrying him, he would tell you it's okay to walk away."

"I don't wanna walk away."

"Honey, you broke up with him just this week. Gave him back the ring. If you go up there, you'll be married. You won't be able to just break up next week."

I give him a flippant response. "Sure, I can. Isn't that why we had him sign a pre-nup?"

He says, "Not funny. I'm serious. Are you sure?"

"You know, I kinda hated you for it, but thanks for making me go through counseling. I did need it. I wasn't allowing myself to feel. I think it just hurt too much, but I've realized that's no way to live. I want to walk down that aisle because I love Phillip. With every single bit of my heart."

"I'm proud of you, and I'm glad you're finally dealing with it. I also have to tell you that it means a lot to me to walk you down the aisle, to be able to stand in for your dad."

I give him a hug and say seriously, "There's no one else I would've asked."

Lori takes her place at the altar, and I catch another glimpse of Phillip.

God, he looks so handsome.

Our eyes meet, and those eyes make me melt for the millionth time.

He grins just as the wedding processional starts playing.

My emotions swell inside me. Mr. D has to literally hold me back because all I want to do is pick up my skirt and run as fast as I can down the aisle.

I can't wait to marry that boy.

The boy I've loved my whole life.

The boy who knows what a freak I am, and who loves me in spite of it.

I smile and walk slowly down the aisle, like I'm supposed to, and take Phillip's hands. When this is over, I'll be his wife.

Above our head is a hanging altar made of white branches. It's adorned with purple flowers and dripping with crystals. The branches remind me of the trees we used to climb as kids.

Our wedding is a blur of scriptures, songs, and poems. Before I know it, it's time to say our vows. Phillip and I face each other and hold hands. "Phillip David Mackenzie. I love you. I love how you've always been there for me. How you think you need to protect me. How you make me coffee every morning. How you always know exactly what I need. How when I lay my head on your shoulder, I can fall asleep in a heartbeat. I love that you've called me Princess since I was ten, and I love how you can practically read my mind. I love the way you look at me, and how your smile lights up a whole room."

"When I was little, I used to tell my parents I was gonna marry a prince. They told me I was silly, and I should marry you. Little did we know, we were both right. For a long time, I didn't think my prince existed, but then I realized he'd been standing next to me my whole life. Thank you for believing in us, even when I wasn't so sure. Thank you for loving me, even when I'm stubborn and never wrong. Thank you for making me believe true love, the fairytale kind, actually exists. It will be my extreme honor to spend the rest of my life with you. To cherish you, to love you, and to be yours forever."

Danny hands me the ring, and I slide it gently on Phillip's finger. "With this ring, I promise to not freak out over the trivial stuff, to trust in our love, to not be so stubborn, to always listen to you, to always smell the roses with you, to laugh with you, to adore you, to dream with you, and to love you with my whole heart. For as long as I'm lucky enough to have you."

Phillip eyes are glistening, and he's grinning at me. Phillip has always grinned at me, but this is different. The depth of happiness we're both feeling, the things we're saying to each other publicly, make this feel different and very special. I can't wait to hear the vows he wrote for me.

"Jadyn James Reynolds, I love you. I loved growing up with you. I loved fighting you with swords and climbing trees with you. I really loved watching you end relationships with all the dumb boys you dated and how you'd always run to me for comfort. I love how I'm the first person you call when you need someone. I love how all our lives, no matter where we are or who we're with, whether we're all alone or in a crowd, when you flash that little grin at me, I know exactly what you're thinking. I love the way you look at me, like I'm the only guy in the world, and how when I hold you, I feel like I could conquer that world. I asked you to marry me when we were ten, and I'm here today making good on that promise. No one has ever compared to you. You've always been my world. You're my best friend, my love, my life. My Princess."

I'm trembling as Danny places my wedding ring in the palm of Phillip's hand.

And not because I'm scared.

I'm overcome with emotion.

So many emotions I don't think I could even name them all. I just look at Phillip through happy tears and smile.

Phillip slides the band on my left ring finger. The finger every girl dreams of having a prince slide a ring on. The finger that's supposed to connect straight to your heart.

"When we were kids, I used to pretend to be your knight in shining armor, and now, with this ring, I promise to be the man to protect you, to cherish you, to support your wild ideas, to not get mad when you bring home another pair of shoes, to love you, to rescue you, to not be bossy, to adore you, and to continue this adventure of life with you, right by my side, for the rest of our lives."

Pastor grins at us and says, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Phillip pulls me into his arms and kisses me. He was supposed to give me a sweet, sorta chaste kiss, but this is not that kind of kiss. This is a lean me back, kiss me until I can't breathe kind of kiss.

I'll remember this kiss forever.

"I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Mackenzie," Pastor says.

The Nebraska fight song starts playing, and everyone claps and cheers as we walk down the aisle as husband and wife.