“As soon as the bride arrives, it is.” He beamed, holding his hand out to me. “Shallwe?”
I stood on my shaking legs, suddenly self-conscious. The church was packed full, and in a few minutes’ time, all eyes would be on me. “Do Ilookokay?”
“I say this to all my brides, but this time I mean it. You’re the most beautiful of them all.” Boris’ eyes shone with affection as he took me in from head to toe and, I have to say, I almostbelievedhim.
“Thank you for everything, Boris. It’s been apleasure.”
“That, my lovely lady, it mostcertainlyhas.”
Anxious flutters tickled my chest. “Whew. I’m nervous all of asudden.”
“No need. You’re marrying the man of your dreams. Never stopsmiling.”
He was right. I was lucky beyond belief. Hooking my hand through his folded arm, I smiled radiantly. “I’m ready, Boris. Take me tomyman.”
The clickof my heels was the only sound we made on our way to the front lobby. This was the exact path I’d walked at Kate and Mitch’s wedding, and I had a moment of déjà vu. I remembered the racing heart and the fluttery exhilaration of seeing him again. He’d rocked my world from the first time I’d met him, and he was still doing that now. In all honesty, I shouldn’t have been surprised by that interruption before the ceremony. There was an air of unpredictability with Jake that had always intrigued and challenged me. He was complicated and tough, possessing just the right amount of mystery to keep things interesting. But at the same time, he had a wit and charm to him that I could only have dreamed of in a mate. This was the amazing man I was marrying. And if I had to postpone holding his baby in my arms, it would be worththewait.
The lobby was filled with a hushed excitement. All the people I loved had gathered here to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I scanned the room, seeking to capture the extraordinary moment in my mind. This was it. My future was about tobegin.
The music started playing in the church before flowing down the aisle and out into the lobby where we stood. My father walked to my side and kissed mycheek.
“Dad.”
“My sweet little girl. Look at you now. I’m not sure I’m ready to give you away just yet.” His misty eyes threatened to break me down, but I swallowed back the lump and smiled at the man who’d treated me with love and respect my whole life and who had taught me to demand the same treatment from my own mateoneday.
“You’ve done your job,” I whispered. “It’s time to letmego.”
He nodded, wiping the tears away, and then offered his armtome.
Jake’s younger sister, Grace, began the processional, followed by Emma and Darcy, then my good friends Kate and Kenzie. The final bridesmaid was Wilhelmina, or Willa for short, my best friend since third grade. The flower girl and ring bearer, my niece and nephew, Sydney and Riley, followed them down theaisle.
My matron of honor came to me then, her eyes glowing with love as she tenderly touched both my cheeks with her capablehands.
“This is your moment, Casey. Go out there andshine.”
“Iwill,Mom.”
She hugged me tightly before fitting the veil over my face. Her trembling lip was the only giveaway to the emotion of the moment. My mother, my best friend, my confidante, and the woman I loved most in the world. She gave me my personality, my zest for life, and my loving heart. I would not be who I was without her and was forever grateful to call her Mom. For all those reasons and more, it was only natural that she would take that place of honor in theprocession.
I stood close to my father as my mother began her walk down the aisle. When the music briefly stopped, I took a deep breath and looked to my father for guidance as I had my whole life. He squeezed my hand, saying, “Yougotthis.”
And then the music began to play for me; the moment I’d been waiting for since Jake dropped to one knee and proposed fourteen months ago. But really, I’d waited longer than that. This was a milestone most girls dreamed of, and I was no exception. The fact that I was about to walk down that aisle into the arms of my one, true great love… well, that was beyondhumbling.
I stepped into the doorway and watched as every person in the church turned to stare as I came into view in my billowy white gown with an armful of my very favorite flowers, the same varieties Jake had decorated the wooden arch on the beach with when he’d asked me to marry him. Jake! My eyes moved off the guests and traveled down the aisle. On the stairs, smack dab in the middle, stood my betrothed waiting for me. Even as far apart as we were, our eyes connected, and nothing had ever felt so right. I would have run to him had I not thought Boris would beat me over the head with a partyfavor.
Goosebumps prickled my skin as I began the walk, never taking my eyes off the prize. And oh, lord, what a prize he was. It wasn’t just that he was a gorgeous man or that he was beloved by millions or that he could buy me whatever I desired; no, it was something far less material… simply put, Jake had given me his heart. And that might seem standard protocol for all grooms, but with Jake, it wasn’t just a matter of falling in love. He’d had to battle demons, survive battles, and hand himself over for healing. So yes, it was a big deal that he was standing up here today wearing his mended heart on his sleeve. It was a damn big deal, and with my vows, I would promise to make it my duty to always keep it beatingstrong.
I didn’t even remember getting to the end of the aisle, but when I did, Jake was waiting for me, strong and proud. He and my father exchanged a handshake before Jake broke wedding protocol, again, andhuggedme.
Bending his head, he whispered, “The moment wasn’t ruined. I’ve never, in my life, seen anyone as beautifulasyou.”
Climbing the stairs together, we met the minister, who began the proceedings. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered heretoday…”
Jake and I stared into each other’s eyes as the man regaled us with his words of wedded wisdom. We were not the first lovebirds to stand before him, and would certainly not be the last, but we were unique in our own way… two opposites, who together made perfectsense.
Somehow five minutes passed, and I barely heard a word. My mind was flooded with memories, from our first meeting to our whirlwind courtship through the hardships we’d faced. All of that had come together for this flawless moment in time. Thankfully there was a recording of the proceedings because I’d need to watch it back just to know what had happened during theceremony.
“Casey?”
