“Gramps, please don't or I will have mascara streaks down my face before we leave the hotel.”
Her grandmother hugged her but said nothing before moving over so her husband could give their eldest granddaughter a huge cuddle that may have been more for his benefit than hers.
“We should probably go and let you two sort yourselves out. We will see you at the chapel,” Celia said, letting everyone else know they needed to get going.
Tasha got lost in a sea of hugs, kisses and compliments before Lizzie finally stepped forward and with tears welling in her eyes hugged Tasha tightly. “I’m so glad you're marrying Daddy and that everything has worked out, you know…” She grimaced referring to their joint time with Mickie. “You really do look beautiful and Daddy will be blown away, like he always is when he sees you,” she added, making Tasha smile at the genuine sweetness of her comment.
“Come on.” Celia ushered then shooed Lucy, Lizzie, Lexi, Pippa and Dan out.
Abby hung back to exchange an air kiss with Tasha, protecting their make-up but was close enough to whisper, “Jim is going to want to consummate this marriage in the chapel and you and I will be sharing a name real soon.”
“Come on,” called Celia for a second time, coming back to herd Abby out. “Ten minutes you two and then you need to be in the car.”
Tasha looked across at her grandfather who was standing opposite her in the lounge area of the hotel room they were in.
“Have you got everything?” he asked nervously.
“I think so; Grandma has my bag, Jim has my engagement ring and I hope my wedding ring, oh, Jim's ring,” Tasha squealed, rushing through to the bedroom where she'd packed it along with her clothes that Jim had assured her would be collected and transferred to the hotel they'd be occupying together, as a married couple. Pulling it from her case she looked across at Paul and held the box aloft, “Would you keep it for me, until we get there?”
“Of course Nat, anything you want,” he replied hesitantly.
“Gramps?” Tasha nervously wondered what was on his mind.
“Sorry, but I have to ask. I didn't do this for your mother and I do wonder if I could have changed things if I had, if we'd maintained full contact. Are you sure, Nat? About this marriage and Jim?”
“Oh, Gramps.” She sighed sadly, wondering how she had managed to miss the guilt and heartbreak her grandparents must have felt at abandoning their daughter and in doing that not saving their grandchildren. “My mother is a law unto herself and I think she probably always was, meaning you couldn't save her, even if she needed saving. I used to tell myself she was as much a victim as us, but now I think she was always party to it, but me? I don't need saving, Gramps. Not from Jim. Before I met him I wasn't even sure if I believed in marriage, that it was relevant or necessary for me, but it is, completely and utterly. I can't wait to get to the chapel and to be married. I want to memorise every second of it so that I will always have the memories of the day I became Mrs James Maybury. This is the first day of my forever, my happily ever after. I know he can be intense, a pain in the arse, but I like that, I love it, I love him.”
“Right, let's get you finished off then.” Paul smiled, accepted the ring box and placed it in the inside pocket of his tux'.
Tasha smiled at her grandfather's reflection in the mirror she stood before wearing her white lace, fitted dress that clung to her whole figure, but seemed to emphasise the softness of her breasts, down to the beautiful curve of her hips and behind that Jim loved to touch and hold so much and the dip of her waist. The skirt filled out slightly as it passed her thighs and legs before turning into the chapel length train. She glanced up once more to her chest and shoulders that were virtually bare, aside from the thin straps of the dress and the pendant necklace she wore. She looked like a princess and she felt one too, complete with a crown, well, a tiara that sat in the up-do Lucy had put her hair into.
“Flowers for the bride.” Smiled Paul. He picked up the hand tied bouquet comprising of a selection of white, purple and lilac flowers.
Brides in Vegas were ten a penny Tasha assumed, and still she and her grandfather gained lots of attention as they made their way from the hotel room down to the car. It was only as they got into the limo that Tasha realised they probably looked like a couple and giggled to herself, but said nothing as she knew her grandfather would be mortified at the idea of people viewing them in that way and would probably try to explain to them all that they were anything but a couple.
The journey to the chapel was short and speedy. Once there they were greeted by all of the Maybury women, Marcia, Ryan and the bridal party that had left the hotel before them.
“Where's Jim?” asked Tasha panicking.
“He's inside, with Bobby, Jack and Philip,” Maisie explained, reassuring Tasha with a stroke of her hand.
“Hey there, girlfriend,” called Juan as he exited the chapel with the lady who was overseeing the ceremony. “This is Lola and she has the power to make you say I do,” he told her laughing.
“Is Jim okay?” Tasha asked Lola who smiled kindly.
“He is fine, excitable and desperate to see his bride,” she replied in a deep southern drawl. “Let’s get your guests in place and I’ll show you in.”
“Thanks,” Tasha said on a deep exhale then took her grandfather's arm to follow the African American woman who was possibly only thirty-years-old with a confident and infectious smile that was immediately reassuring.
Standing in a foyer on her grandfather's arm, Tasha jumped when Lola reappeared with Elvis.
“You're my thumbnail.” The grin on Tasha’s face confused the man before her who had more than a passing resemblance to The King himself, but his voice sounded a little forced.
“Nat?” Paul looked puzzled. Tasha realised that she hadn't actually mentioned the Elvis thing.
“Ah, I may have forgotten to mention it. Elvis got the gig and is marrying us.”
“Bloody hell, Nat. Just when I think you can't spring anything else on me.” He sighed.
