Page 50 of Wait for the Dream

“You’re still going to walk me down the aisle, right?” I ask him sheepishly.

“Like I told you the first time you asked me, it would be my greatest honor.” Pop says kissing my cheek before heading to hug Aiden.

15 years old

I’m sitting at the island at the Baker’s house when I hear footsteps on the stairs.

“Bailey, it’s the middle of the night. What are you doing awake?” He asks walking over to the cabinet by the sink and grabbing a glass and filling it with water from the sink.

“I couldn’t sleep. I came down for some of that tea Momma swears by.” I say a smile playing at my lips.

Momma swears this nighttime blend tea helps her sleep, so she drinks it every night. I’m not sure if it works or not, but it’s worth a shot.

“I think she just likes the taste of it, and uses the fact that it’s supposed to help her sleep as her excuse to drink it every night.” He chuckles at that. “You wanna talk about what’s keeping you up?”

I shrug my shoulders, “Honestly, there is so much. I was thinking about game night tonight, and how amazing it is to be part of a family like this. How you guys love each other so much. How I wish my parents loved me even a fraction as much as you and Momma love Aiden, Charlotte, and the twins.” I wring my hands together. “Then I got to thinking about how if I have kids someday I want them to grow up in a family like this one, I want them to know that they’re loved, that they can always count on me and whoever my husband will be. I want them to grow up in a family full of love, not a house like mine, all cold and with a complete lack of love.”

“I’m so sorry that you have to deal with this Bailey, but you know that we love you just as much as we love our biological kids, right?” Pop puts his arms around me, and I lean into his chest, “Your kids will grow up in a family and they will always know they’re loved, because they will always have the Bakers in their corner. Someday, you’ll get married and have kids, and we will be by your side every step of the way.”

“Can I ask you something?” I say looking up at him.

“You can ask me anything.” He says.

“When the day comes, will you walk me down the aisle?”

“Are you sure you want it to be me?” His voice is thick with emotion.

“You are the best example of a father I have. My father has been nothing but cold and distant with me, but you have been amazing. And when I think of the man I marry someday, I want him to be just like you. I can’t think of anyone better.” My voice is tentative, “So, will you?”

“It would be my greatest honor.” He says, kissing my forehead. He goes to sit on the stool next to me, and we sit in silence for a little while, me sipping my tea that has gone cold, and him drinking his water. After I’ve finished my cold tea, I tell him I’m going to try and get some sleep, and head upstairs. Skipping the twin bed I know I should sleep in, crawl into bed beside Aiden, and fall asleep.

Aiden

Today is the day I marry the girl I’ve loved since I was four years old. I’m standing at the window of my bedroom overlooking the backyard. I have dreamed of this day for as long as I could remember, and I have never seen anyone other than Bailey walking down the aisle toward me.

Our closest family and friends are here, and we spent the last two weeks transforming the backyard into a fairy garden for Blue. There are twinkle lights strung up, a few wooden logs on either side of the aisle for our family to sit on, peonies, roses, and baby’s breath placed everywhere, and greenery to round everything out. It’s truly beautiful out there, and I can’t wait for Blue to see it. We spent the weeks planning and getting the decorations together for today. Bailey had a vision, and my family made it happen. She went shopping with the girls for her wedding dress, and I’ve been told it’s beautiful. Everyone is wearing different pastels, including Little Bear who looks adorable in her sage dress. Momma is walking with me down our tiny aisle, and Pop is walking Bailey. Maggy is going to walk our girl down, and since Momma is a judge and already has the authority to marry people, she will be officiating the wedding. Maddox joked about getting one of those certificates online that qualifies you, but Momma wouldn’t hear it, she wanted the honor.

I have about ten minutes until it’s show time when a knock comes on the door. After telling whoever it is to come in, Momma steps into the room, “Look at my handsome boy. Are you ready?” She asks.

“I’ve never been more ready for something in my life.” At the sight of the tears welling in my Momma’s eyes, I say, “Momma, don’t cry. If you cry, I’ll cry, and I can’t handle any more tears.” I give her a quick hug before I step out of my room and down the stairs. We head outside, and wait for the music to start.

“I know you said no more tears, but I just wanted to say how incredibly proud of you I am. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I dreamed of the man you would become, and I couldn’t have pictured a better one than the man standing in front of me today. I love you my boy. Let’s get you married to our girl.” With those words from my Momma, the music begins and we walk toward the end of the aisle.

I face Momma until she tells me I can turn around while Bailey gets into position. The moment Momma gives me the okay I turn around and I swear my heart stops beating. She is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Her hair is down and in loose curls framing her face. Her dress. Fuck her dress. It is a lace corseted strapless dress that has a tulle skirt that just barely drags on the ground. The whole dress is covered in sparkles, making Bailey a vision in white. I want to capture this moment so the image never leaves my mind. I look up at her eyes and they’re shiny with tears, and my own vision begins to blur. So much for no more tears.

When she reaches me, I take her hand from Pops, then he says, “Take care of my girl, son.”

“You know I will.” I turn to Blue and look into her beautiful green eyes, “You look magnificent.” I lean in to give her a kiss but Momma clears her throat to stop me.

“Hello friends and family,” Momma begins. She talks for a few minutes about Bailey and I’s friendship, and how much it’s grown. How grateful she is to have Bailey joining our family officially, then she turns to Bailey and asks her to share her vows.

She takes in a shaky breath, before beginning. “Bear, eighteen years ago, you declared us best friends, and every day after that you proved that we were exactly that. You stuck by me through all of life’s ups and downs. You were my shoulder to cry on, and the first person I wanted to tell when something exciting happened. I kept a secret for years, a secret dream that I knew was never going to come true. That dream was you. I wanted a life with you, but I never could have thought that it would come true. Over the last year, so many things have changed, but the one thing that has remained the same, has been you. You are the calm in the storm, my best friend, the love of my life, and my dream come true. Thank you for loving me, for sticking by my side when things get hard. Thank you–,” she chokes a sob, “Thank you for loving Rowan. For being the dad she deserves. I love you so much Aiden Baker.”

Momma nods to me, telling me it’s time to share my vows. I take a deep breath, wipe the tears from my eyes then start my vows, “Blue, I feel like I don’t need to tell you this, but today my greatest dream is coming true. Like I said when I proposed, I knew the day I met you that someday you would be my wife, and today that dream becomes a reality. There has never been a second that I didn’t hope this day would come. Through all the ups and down, you have been there for each and every one. There aren’t enough words in the English language or stars in the sky to quantify my love for you. I plan to spend the rest of our lives loving you in the way you’ve always deserved to be loved. Today I vow in front of all of our family and friends to love and honor you all the days of our lives. But I want you to know that one life will never be enough. I will find you in the next life, and the life after that. I will find you in every life I will ever live. I love you.”

There isn’t a dry eye in the yard as Momma finished the ceremony. Blue and I exchange rings, then Momma says, “Aiden, you may now kiss the bride.” And I kiss my wife like my life depends on it. My wife. Yea, I like the sound of that.

“You ready, Mrs. Baker?” I ask her when we pull apart.