39
Wednesday, December 25
Wedding Day (Again)
Gwen
Our wedding ceremony, the fancy one, happens the next day, Christmas Day, in the Broadway theater where Caleb performs. It’s the place he brought me to years ago to win me back.
Even though it’s a holiday, the vendors and most of the guests still agreed to attend. Once they heard the circumstances of our delay—which was all over the news thanks to the onlookers at the airport—everyone had been sympathetic. It helped that most of the people attending are close friends and family.
The staff spent the late afternoon transforming this place and the hotel where the reception will be into our dream wedding. Our mothers had been there to supervise, while Caleb and I stayed at our respective apartments, getting ready.
Now, when I peek through the double doors that lead into the theater, I realize I should never have doubted the combined power of my mom, Marjorie, and an inspired work force. They’ve layered sheer white fabric in swooping bunting between the seats. Deep red roses, glossy berries, and boughs of pine cluster together in vases around the room and on the end of each row. Shining gold ribbons are tied into bows at the base of the flowers. The gold matches the elaborate gilded scrollwork that sits high on the theater walls and surrounds the stage where soon I’ll exchange vows with Caleb.
Even more stunning than the flowers and fabric are the thousands of lit candles on the stage. They glow and twinkle in every shape and size, giving the space an eclectic, romantic feeling. Candles have also been placed on balconies that line the walls, rising high over our heads. The theater has taken on a sophisticated winter vibe that perfectly matches the vision I had.
“What’s it look like?” asks Jenny, raising her voice over the jazz that Caleb selected. The orchestra had insisted on being here today. They told us they would be honored to perform our wedding music live. Many times, Caleb has felt isolated. Apart from everyone around him. Seeing his co-workers support him on this has touched him deeply. It was a reminder that the relationships he forged here are lasting. That he was no longer alone.
“It’s like a fairytale brought to life.” Answering Jenny’s question, I’m amazed at the decorations.
Jenny leans a hand on my shoulder and jumps, trying to see over me.
“Is Dean there yet?”
I giggle at her eager expression.
“I’m not sure who’s more excited to walk down the aisle, me or you.”
That makes her laugh, a light pealing sound.
I grin at her. “I’ve never seen you so smitten.”
“I know. I can’t stop smiling,” she admits and impulsively hugs me, too tight like she always does, crushing the white tulle of my dress, but I don’t mind. After almost losing my life at the airport, I have a newfound appreciation for my friends and family.
If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be standing here today, dressed like a princess. Jenny pulls away, and I straighten the gauzy folds of my wide skirt, which brushes the floor. The bodice of my gown is off the shoulder. Sparkling seed pearls and rhinestones hand-sewn onto the fabric create flowers and vines. My favorite part, the thing that made this dress stand out from all the others, is that some beads form tiny pine cones. I loved how that detail fit with our wedding theme.
“You and the theater are both beautiful,” says Jenny.
I take in my best friend. She’s glowing in her maroon bridesmaid’s dress. I tell her, “You’re gorgeous, too.”
She smiles, ducking her chin shyly. “Normally, I’d think you were just saying that to be nice—”
“What?” I interrupt. “I mean it. You look lovely, Jenny, like you always do.”
She straightens, standing tall. “You used to say things like that, and I’d dismiss them. I couldn’t see it in myself.”
Sadness tugs at my heart. I know this about my best friend, all her insecurities.
She continues, saying, “Now when you tell me I’m pretty, I’m starting to believe you. It’s partly because of Dean, because he makes me feel beautiful, but recently I’ve been working on myself. I don’t want to only feel good because some guy likes me. I need to do it alone. To realize I might not be perfect, but I’m perfect enough.”
I grab her hand and squeeze it between mine. “That’s wonderful. I want you to view yourself the way I see you, as the kindest, most beautiful inside and out, person I know.”
We share another too-tight hug, grinning at each other. I peer through the door and watch as our guests enter and settle into their seats.
“Everything’s worked out.” Jenny adjusts the wide, glittering, scarlet ribbon that holds her bouquet together. It matches mine, glossy berries with pine and snow-white roses.
“Not everything,” I say and sigh. “Lola’s still out there. No one’s found her.”
“They will,” Jenny reassures me. With a grimace, she says, “I’ve got news.”
“What’s that?”
“Eddie got fired. I guess Caleb’s lawyers contacted the newspaper about him obtaining that list of suspects unlawfully, since he stole it from me.” She scuffs her foot on the ground. “There’s more. I found out he gave me a bad review, as my supervisor. That’s why I got passed over for the investigative team.”
“What?” Anger bristles and races through my veins. Murderous thoughts surface, all directed toward Eddie, that little weasel.
Jenny smiles sadly at me, her shoulders slumping. “Sorry to dump that on you right before your wedding, but I didn’t want to hide it.”
I calm myself, not wanting to add to her worry. After a couple of deep breaths, I say, “It’s okay. Last night, Caleb told me he was getting his legal team involved. I’m glad Eddie got what he deserved.
“I have news too. Justin’s being held without bail. They think he’s too much of a flight risk since he’s already changed his identity once. The police called this morning and asked if I would press full charges. I said ‘yes.’” I sigh shakily, nervous about the trial and all the drama that will surround it. Before I left for California, I had wanted to stay out of the limelight, but now I’ll be thrust into the middle of it. I know I’m strong enough, though, especially with Caleb by my side.
“I’m sorry.” The sympathy in Jenny’s gaze tightens my throat. “That’s a lot to deal with right before you get married.”
“It’s not what’s really bothering me, though.” Waves of grief wash over me, a swirling vortex that threatens to pull me under. “I wish my dad was here to walk me down the aisle.”
Jenny frowns deeply. “Oh, Gwen. Of course, you miss him today. We all do.” A sorrowful pause and then she brightens. “Hang on, I have an idea.” She leaves the room but is back seconds later with a pen in her hand.
“Give me your shoes,” she commands.
“Why?” I laugh. “I’m not Cinderella.”
She doesn’t budge. “Trust me.”
“I do. I trust you,” I say.
Jenny flashes a brilliant smile at that. So big it makes me think I haven’t told her that often enough. One at a time, I pass my white satin pumps over to her. She quickly writes on the bottom of each heel. She shoves the cap back on and hands over my footwear.
“What’d you write?” I ask, inspecting where she’s scribbled the letters RW.
“Your dad’s initials, Robert Wright,” she answers. “Now when you walk down the aisle, he’ll be with you in spirit, every step of the way.”
My vision blurs as tears fill my eyes. I flap my hand in front of my face, willing them away.
“Thank you. I love the idea.”
“I’m glad.” Her breath is minty from the hard peppermint candy in her mouth.
A deep voice behind us says, “Excuse me.”
Jenny lets out a squeal when we turn to find Dean, looking sharp in his three-piece dark gray tuxedo and red bow tie. A small boutonniere is pinned on his lapel. It has a sprig of pine and delicate white rosebuds.
“What are you doing here?” She flies over to him.
Dean holds out his arms to catch her. They’re laughing as the two of them collide in an embrace.
“I’m here to escort you down the aisle, sweetheart,” Dean rumbles. The tender way he gazes at her makes my chest fill with happiness.
Jenny casts a glance back at me.
I mouth, sweetheart? and quirk my brow, teasing her.
She giggles again. Because she’s the sister of my heart, I can read that’s she’s already in love with him, even though she might not know it yet. She raises her eyebrows in a crazy, right? motion. Her giddy expression has me laughing along with her.
“Hey, now,” Dean says and narrows his eyes suspiciously, interrupting our moment. “What’re you two talking about?”
That makes us laugh harder. Gasping, holding her sides, Jenny says to him, “Nothing! Who, us?” Her high pitch gives us away.
Dean pretends to glare at us, suppressing a smile.
I’m grateful for them, my friends. Grateful for Jenny distracting me from my pre-wedding jitters. Grateful that they stand beside me when I’m right and also when I’m wrong.
“Remember to save some energy for tomorrow,” Dean tells Jenny.
“Why? What are you guys up to?” I ask.
Jenny lights up as bright as the sun. “Dean got us tickets to The Nutcracker. Then we’re going ice skating. He wants to show me all the holiday things to do in New York.”
“That sounds fun,” I exclaim, glad to see my friend so happy.
“Wayne’s ready,” announces Alvina as she sweeps up to us. Megan and Maddie enter the room, adorable in their matching dresses with pure white ruffles and dark ruby sashes. They’re my flower girls, and Pip is my ring bearer. Maddie will hold her leash as they walk down the aisle. The rings are tied around his neck with a wide ribbon that matches the girls’ dresses and my bouquet. I made sure to double knot it, so it won’t fall off.
My heart beats erratically as my mother and stepfather, Seth, enter the room. They line up on either side of me.
“You look beautiful.” Seth takes my left hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.
“You really do,” my mom agrees. She adjusts my veil, straightening it, and then loops her arm through mine. “I’m so proud of you, Gwen. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. You’re everything your father and I dreamed of. If he could be here today, he would say the same thing.”
Her words make my chest swell, like my heart has grown too big for it. “Thanks.”
The wedding march sounds from the orchestra. All the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring dog take their positions. I attempt to calm my racing nerves as they walk out in pairs. Jenny goes with Dean, her hand tucked into his elbow. Alvina leaves with Nick, Caleb’s partner in his restaurant business. The twins, Maddie and Megan, exit with nervous giggles. Pip trots along behind them on her leash. Each time the door swings open, the music swells louder.
Eventually it’s only me, Mom, and Seth.
“Are you ready?” asks Seth. I release a shaky breath and nod. He says, “Caleb loves you, like I’ve never seen him love before. He’ll be a good husband.”
“I know,” I tell him, thinking of how Caleb’s always supported me. How we’ve overcome so many hurdles. “He’s already proven he’s prepared for this.”
Seth gives me a last squeeze, and the doors open.
The music rises louder. The wedding guests rise too. They all stand and stare at me, but I don’t notice them. There’s only one person I see. He’s standing at the end of the aisle, up on the stage, looking more handsome than I’ve ever seen.
Caleb.
In his gray tux, with his hair perfectly styled, he’s giving me my special smile, small and tender. It’s so sweet, so charming, that I almost trip over my feet.
Alvina had coached me to walk slowly down the aisle. “Draw it out, be demure,” she had instructed. I don’t do any of that. I practically run to Caleb, my shoes barely touching the ground. All I want is to be with him. To feel his hand in mine.
At the end of the aisle, Mom and Seth give me over to Caleb. He takes both of my hands in his. Wayne says a more detailed version of what he said before at the airport. I don’t hear him. I’m too focused on the man I’m marrying.
My husband.
The time comes to recite our vows. The ones we wrote for each other.
“Caleb,” I say into the microphone that Wayne holds. I brace myself for feedback, like I got at my mom and Seth’s wedding when I first met Caleb, but it doesn’t happen. My voice rings out true and clear. “Caleb, I love you. You’ve shown me pieces of myself that I thought were gone, buried under grief over losing my dad. You’ve shown me pieces of myself that I thought would never exist. Brave parts of me that demand the best from myself and from those around me. You’ve taught me to speak up and not be afraid. You’ve shown me pieces of yourself that you don’t allow most others to see, and I’m eternally honored to have that privilege. To get to know you, love you, build a life with you. I’ll never take that for granted. Today, I choose you. For the rest of my life, it’s going to be me and you.”
The guests clap, the sound loud. Teddy sits in front, with Helen two rows behind him. He whoops, his fist in the air. “Go, Sissy,” he cries out, and the crowd laughs.
When everyone settles down, Dean hands me Caleb’s ring, which he got from a sleeping Pip. The tiny dog barely opened one eye when the ribbon was untied from her collar. Taking my time, I push the band onto Caleb’s left hand. It fits perfectly.
It’s Caleb’s turn. He addresses the theater. “When I need to express my emotions, I find I do it best with music, so that’s what I’m going to do now.” He directs his aqua blue gaze my way. “Gwen, this is for you.”
My heart is too full to speak. With unshed tears in my eyes, I nod, wondering what kind of song he’s crafted for me. Whatever it is, I’ll love it, just like I love him.
Caleb pulls a wooden stool and a microphone on a stand from behind the curtain, where he must have hidden it earlier. He sits with one leg outstretched and the other bent with his acoustic guitar, my dad’s old guitar, resting on it.
“This song is called Angel because that’s what Gwen is to me.” There’s a pause as he closes his eyes. Even though he’s a successful Broadway and radio singer, he still gets stage fright. I know that’s what he’s overcoming at this moment. He pushes through and sings, his voice husky and deep and beautiful. It resonates through my body like he’s a tuning fork set to my frequency.
He sings,
Angel
Can I borrow your wings?
I’m made of broken things.
A puzzle you put back together.
You picked out the best pieces.
In you I see happily ever after.
So, give me your finger and I’ll put on a band.
A golden circle with no beginning or end.
Angel
Can I borrow your wings?
Together we’ll build a house, a home.
We’ll grow a family, nice and strong.
Babies who’ll fall asleep in our arms.
Children with eyes of blue.
And every time it storms outside.
I promise to reach for you.
Angel
Can I borrow your wings?
I want to offer you so many things.
A Christmas Day that lasts forever.
A promise to always be together.
I’d offer you the moon, but it’s too high to reach.
So instead, I offer you imperfect me.
To faithfully, gratefully
Your husband be.
Caleb’s looking right at me as the last lines of his song fade into the air. I’m crying, teardrops that wash away my makeup. I couldn’t stop them if I wanted to. It’s not because I’m sad. It’s from feeling so loved, so safe, so seen. Back at the airport, Marjorie had talked about happy tears. I hadn’t understood what she meant, but now I do. These are tears of joy. Of a happiness that’s too big to fit in my body, so it rolls out from my eyes.
Caleb gently places the guitar on the ground and comes to me. Careful not to drop it, he takes my diamond encrusted wedding band from Dean and places it on my finger. His touch lingers there, a gentle brush of his fingers over the ring, like he’s sealing it to my skin.
I offer him a smile, my chin quivering. “Thank you,” I tell him sincerely. “Thank you for being you and for loving me.”
He lights up at that. He cups my cheeks in his hands.
As soon as Wayne pronounces us husband and wife, Caleb doesn’t wait for Wayne to add his “kiss the bride” line. In front of all our friends and family, he dips me backward, bending me so low that I can feel my veil sweep the ground. He brings his lips to mine and gives me a long, deep kiss.
Our guests go wild. They give us a standing ovation, clapping, whistling, and cheering. When we finally break apart, Caleb tells me, “I love you, Gwen. My wife. Every part of me loves every part of you. Forever.”
I answer back, “and always.”