Jude and I will never get married, and that’s a tough pill to swallow. Our loved ones fully expected us to get married aftercollege. We were high school sweethearts. It was my dream to marry Jude, buy a house with the white picket fence, have a couple of kids running around, and live happily ever after. But sadly, not all dreams come true.
Jude’s presence consumes my thoughts. I can’t believe he wants to meet up tonight. The closure I need dangles in front of me. A part of me felt like we were a couple again; the conversation was flowing effortlessly between us, and we laughed and shared things together. His presence was magnetic, and I found myself drawn to him. The physical attraction was a powerful pull that made me want to reach out and touch him. Every time he looked at me with those mesmerizing amber eyes and brushed his fingers through his hair, my heart skipped a beat. He exuded a certain energy—an aura that I couldn’t resist—and I soaked it all up.
What on earth is happening to me?
In the meeting room, the scent of fresh flowers fills the room. There are wedding decorations, photo albums, and large portraits of happy couples all around. I feel a lump forming in my throat, and it’s like a punch to my heart. It’s a lot, especially after spending most of the day with Jude. Being on this resort feels like I’ve stepped into an alternate reality where we never broke up. Our time together earlier was natural, and it felt like how things used to be.
Back home in my memory box, there are letters upon letters from Jude talking about his love for me. Getting married was his dream, too. I designed my wedding dress all those years ago, and it’s in there too.
I force myself back into reality. The wedding planner, Charlie, opens an album with Jude’s name on it. I glance at my friends and find them all looking back at me. I shrug and bring my eyes down to the album. There are pages and pagesof beautiful wedding photos of couples that got married at the resort.
“These are gorgeous,” I say.
“Jude is the best wedding photographer. He captures the couple candidly, and the posed ones are tasteful and creative. He’s won awards galore for his work, and if you were trying to book him for your wedding in the states, it would be a two year wait,” Charlie says.
I didn’t realize how popular and in-demand he is, but I’m not surprised—he’s talented. Since I’m not on social media a lot, I’ve only seen a few of his posts.
“Jude lives in Colorado and travels here frequently for weddings. He says it’s his favorite place to photograph happy couples.”
I didn’t think he’d settle down in one place. I expected him to be a world traveler married to an equally spontaneous woman—given his previous dreams. This info puts some things into perspective. The story I was telling myself about him was very wrong.
He lives across the country. That’s reason enough to find closure and finally move on. Although, he did mention maybe moving back home…No. Don’t even go there, Faith.Although we spent the whole day snorkeling together, and by the end, I was consumed in his web, our connection is magical. The sparks fly when we’re close. Reflecting on the days when being with him was the highlight of my life stirs up the hurt from the past and the love we had for each other. Today, I remember all that we lost.
As I listen to Charlie rave about Jude, I realize I’m beaming. I’ve experienced intense emotions on this trip. One minute, I’m having a breakdown, the next minute, I’m having the time of my life. He had me with his deep, amber eyes, the chiseled muscles that stretch across his tattooed frame, that smile that leaves mebreathless, and his hair begs for my hands to run through it. I’m going tonight and finally getting the closure I desperately need.
Kendall is talking, but I haven’t heard a word. Tuning back into the meeting, I’m listening to them talk about the logistics of the wedding. There are books and albums all over this table that contain everything she’s talked about for the past couple months. Her favorite flowers, centerpieces, food, and ambiance is all around us.
The dreamiest part of this wedding will be the ceremony on the beach. They have a few different set ups, including a sunset ceremony on the beach—which is my favorite option. Intimate. There will be plenty of time to party, because the ceremony is only twenty minutes long.
When I ease back into the conversation, I realize Kendall has decided on the sunset option. Great choice. Her wedding will be the kind you see in magazines—elegant, flawless, unforgettable. We went to a bridal expo a couple months ago, and Kendall put together her wedding mood board. It was too big to bring, so she had it printed and it’s lying on the table with her custom designed beach wedding dress, light pink bridesmaid dresses, and the sunset with an arch full of stargazer lilies. It’s all there and ready to be put into reality.
The wedding planner looks at Kendall’s flower choices to see how she can match them up to native flowers without taking away from the “look” Kendall wants for her wedding. This is exciting for all of us.
“Kendall, your wedding is going to be to die for,” I say with a twinge of envy.
“You guys better give some input here. There are many options to choose from.”
Addison grabs Kendall’s shoulders. “We are here to help you and make this the best wedding ever. You know I’m your girl for checking off all the boxes and keeping us organized.”
Charlie gives us all a checklist, and we are giddy with the prospect of Kendall’s wedding. “This will help you stay organized and eliminate the things that are an absolute no. Then we can work from there. You’ll feel comfortable with your decisions by the time you leave.”
“With my girls by my side, I don’t doubt it for a minute.”
My phone buzzes from my bag. I lean over and pull it out. Oh, it’s Kai.
Kai:
Counting down to our date. Tell me your favorite thing about your vacation so far.
Faith:
I went on a snorkeling excursion today, and it’s the best thing I’ve done so far. But everything here could be my favorite.
I’m distracted. Jude consumes my thoughts. The date with Kai is the last thing on my mind.
Meeting Jude tonight gives me hope to clear out the old stories I’ve been telling myself. Finally, I can ask him the burning question—why.
As we collect all the wedding items to review over the next few days, Kendall’s dream wedding is in our hands, literally and figuratively. We walk out of the room with a couple albums on loan, and we bring them to Kendall’s room for her.
