“Ladies and Gentlemen! Please rise, put your hands together and welcome for the first time ever the new MR. AND MRS. GAGE!”
We float through the flaps of the tent. Whoever secured this was a godsend because it is even colder than it was this afternoon.
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. There are white and pink lights lining the inside of the tent. The flowers we picked from Aunt Shannon are on every table and line the bar. If I didn’t just walk from the turf onto this runner, I’d never know that we’re having my wedding reception on the fifty-yard line of the high school football field.
Then I look up and my breath catches. Hanging from the middle of the tent is a chandelier, just like the one at the Holiday Star Inn. The crystals hanging down are reflecting the lights and casting little sparkles all around the tent ceiling. It reminds me of snowflakes and just makes this day even more special, the magic of Christmas bursting through with each twinkle.
Jackson grasps my hand and as we step in, he spins me and pulls me in close. Kissing me quick before we step onto the dancefloor.
“For their first dance the bride and groom have chosen the song, Greatest Love Story. For anyone who knows them, I think they got it right.” I know this DJ is sucking up to me right now, probably doesn’t want to upset the crazy bride, but that woman is long gone. In Jackson’s arms, I’m feeling peace like I never have before. But I have to agree with him, this song is perfect.
The opening notes linger under the tent, and we start to sway. There is no better feeling than what I have right now. My heart could burst I am so in love with this man.
“This dress is perfect for you, wife.” He’s twining his fingers between the opening in the back.
“Yea? You love it?” When he nods, I say, “Thank you, husband.”
His eyes flare “I can’t wait to rip it off you later.”
“Coach Gage! I paid a lot of money for this dress. You will behave.”
He scoffs. “Behave? Why start now. It only gets filthier from here on out, wife.”
He gives me a kiss, pushing the rating from PG-13 to a straight R and it’s answered with whoops and whistles and grumbles of “Knock it off, Gage,” from my brothers.
“I wanna be your forever,
So baby will you be my wife.
Now that we know a little better,
We could have a real nice life.
'Cause I'm what you wanted and you’re what I need
So, let's meet in between.
We're gonna be the greatest love story this townhas ever seen.”
He sings to me, then dips me which earns us more cheers. Jackson pulls me up, and we stand just breathing each other in as the DJ switches to “Let’s Get Married” by Jagged Edge and our bridal party rushes the floor. Jumping and barking around us, reminiscent of Jackson’s football team hype up, we get lost in the love of the room.
twenty-eight
FRANCESCA
Father/Daughter Dance
The night is flying by but I’m forcing myself to stop and remember. The instant we walked in, and I saw the chandelier, I stopped and whispered to myself, “remember this moment.” When Jackson held me in his arms and sang the words to our first dance to me, I whispered to myself, “remember this moment.”
Now I’m walking arm in arm with my dad onto the dancefloor for our father/daughter dance and I’m whispering, “remember this moment.”
‘I Loved her First’ by Heartland fills the room. I’ve listened to this song on repeat over the last few weeks hoping I’d become immune to the words. I didn’t want to be out in the middle of the dancefloor bawling my eyes out with my dad. But the emotion spilling from us is too much to be held back.
“Are you happy, Francesca?”
“More than I ever thought possible, dad.” I look past my dad’s shoulder and see Jackson standing next to my mom, his arm wrapped around her while she dabs her tears away.
He hugs me close, the scent of his aftershave filling my senses, pulling memories to the forefront of my mind. Dad would come home from a long day of construction work, shower, shave and then put on his aftershave before coming down into the kitchen to kiss mom hello. He’d then grab me, and we would dance around the kitchen while mom made dinner and the boys would get yelled at for tossing a football in the house.
