8. Ari
This was it.
All the planning had led to this moment, where I waited beneath an arch dripping with fragrant blooms. I had my best friends at my back. The love of my life was about to emerge from the house and make the dramatic walk down the back stairs on her father’s arm. They would travel down a snow-white runner lined on both sides by potted, flowering trees that ran from the far end of the runner up to the front row of chairs. My parents sat with Grandmama on one side while Olivia’s mom sat across from them.
We shared a smile, and her chin quivered with emotion.
The faint strains of “Canon in D” floated through the air as the string quartet began to play. I stiffened my spine while my pulse raced, and the wedding procession began. Evelyn went first, holding Noah’s hand and helping him down the stairs. Once they reached the lawn, she crouched down a bit and pointed to me, murmuring instructions. I couldn’t pretend my heart wasn’t in my throat as he began his walk, holding the satin pillow containing our rings. It seemed if anything, he enjoyed the attention, beaming as guests chuckled and sighed over his navy blue suit, a miniature version of the suits the guys and I wore.
“Daddy!” It was like he finally noticed I was waiting for him once he was halfway down the aisle, and from that point, he ran full-out, carrying the pillow by one corner. There was a reason the rings were held in place with a length of ribbon tied in a bow.
“Thank you, pal.” I gave him a fist bump and ruffled his hair before Grandmama reached for him, motioning for him to join her. As soon as he was settled, it was Evelyn’s turn, followed by Pepper, and finally, Lourde as Matron of Honor. The girls wore matching originals—floor length, strapless sheath dresses featuring a length of sheer crêpe sewn in at the waist and gathered to cover one shoulder. The light peach color, one of the year’s most popular, complemented our navy suits and was also featured in their bouquets and the archway over my head.
“We did well for ourselves, didn’t we?” Barrett murmured with his eyes glued to his wife as she finished the procession.
I couldn’t respond. The girls were assembled, and the guests rose, all of us looking toward the house in anticipation. This was it. Everything had led to this. All the waiting, even when I didn’t know I was waiting. How could I have imagined there was a woman out there so completely perfect for me?
I could barely breathe as she came into view on her father’s arm, and a gasp of admiration rose over the guests as Olivia and her father began to descend. The dramatic lace train and Olivia’s antique lace veil trailed behind them.
It didn’t surprise me when she’d announced she wanted something timeless and classic. She was not a woman who bowed to trends. With that in mind, the team designed a silk gown with a mermaid skirt entirely overlaid with the finest antique lace from Burano, Italy, for her. It featured a sweetheart neckline with loosely draped sleeves that barely touched her elbows. In front of her was an enormous peach and cream bouquet, and last I’d heard, my grandmama had given Olivia a lace handkerchief to tie around the stems as her ‘something borrowed.’
More than anything, it was her smile that held my attention. She was radiant, glowing, a princess floating down the aisle surrounded by adoring guests. This was what she deserved, nothing less, and joy shone from her tear-filled eyes when they met mine.
I had to remind myself to breathe as she came closer.
Once they reached us, Olivia’s father shook my hand. “You know we wish you nothing but the best,” he murmured. “You take care of her now.”
“That’s all I ever want to do,” I assured him before he turned to Olivia and kissed her cheek. They exchanged a few quiet words before she handed her bouquet to Lourde, then took my hand.
It was electric, the touch of her skin. Everything slid into place and the world went silent and still for one brief moment.
Everything made sense.
That was until a gust of wind stirred her veil, along with nervous laughter from the guests. “Maybe we should make this quick?” she whispered, comically grimacing before we turned to the officiant.
“In case I forget to tell you…” I whispered, “… you’re the most beautiful bride who ever lived, and I’m the luckiest man on Earth.” I left out the part where I couldn’t wait to peel that dress off and ravish her since it didn’t seem the most appropriate time.
The thought was there. But then it usually was.
“We gather today to celebrate this beautiful couple.” The officiant was an old friend of Olivia’s parents, and he smiled fondly at her. “It’s a great honor and privilege to watch as two lives are united, but especially when there is already so much love between them…”
There was no keeping my thoughts from wandering as he went on. I couldn’t think about anything but Olivia’s grace and beauty and how fucking lucky I was to be the man standing at her side. I promised myself then and there that I would do everything in my power for the rest of my life to live up to the standard she deserved. I would be the man she needed me to be. I would make sure she never for a minute regretted joining her life with mine.
We turned to each other at the officiant’s request, taking each other’s hands. Hers were trembling, but when I looked up from them into her shining eyes, nothing but love and excitement were there. I took a handkerchief from my breast pocket and dabbed a tear away from her cheek, cueing laughter from the guests.
“Thanks,” Olivia whispered, grinning through her tears.
“That’s what I’m here for,” I reminded her with a wink before reciting our vows.
The most profound sense of gratitude filled me as Olivia began the customary words. I had heard them before at countless weddings, though I wasn’t usually paying much attention. Now, the meaning behind the simple statements struck me to my core. To have and to hold through everything that came along, the good and the bad. There would be storms—it didn’t matter how much a person had in their bank account. Certain life situations were universal and couldn’t be avoided, no matter a person’s net worth. We would be together through all of that and more. We would hold each other up when the other was too weak to stand on their own.
“All the days of my life,” she concluded, breaking into a huge smile when she did—one that was punctuated by a strong rumbling. Thunder rolled overhead, and I heard Noah whimper fretfully in his chair. The other kids would be inside with their nannies, but he’d be outside with us until the end of the ceremony.
We turned to him, and Olivia held out a hand. “Come here, sweetheart,” she murmured, and everyone laughed indulgently as our son flew to his mother’s side. She took one of his hands, and I took the other before I began my vows. Really, it was better this way. The three of us together, a family. Why shouldn’t he be with us as I pledged my life to his mother?
“In sickness and in health… to love, honor, and cherish…” Another low rumble sounded, louder this time and strong enough to shake the ground slightly. For the first time, concern flashed in Olivia’s eyes while Noah whimpered. “All the days of my life,” I concluded before looking up at the ominous clouds.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Barrett extend his hand. In his open palm sat our rings. “You better hurry up,” he murmured before an even louder crack of thunder shook the ground.
I wasted no time sliding the platinum band over Olivia’s finger. No amount of cloud cover could dull the way the diamonds sparkled. The weight of the band around my finger was welcome. I wondered about that since it seemed strange to wear a ring when I wasn’t accustomed to it, but it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
The officiant didn’t hesitate to wrap things up. “Then, by the power vested in me, I declare they are man and wife. Aristotle, you may kiss your bride.”
Finally. The best part. Olivia’s kiss was sweet, tender, and filled with all the love she had shown me over the years and the love she would show me from this day forward. I had never felt so right. It was as if I was exactly where I belonged, holding my son’s hand and kissing the love of my life while hundreds of guests applauded.
And the first big, fat raindrops began to fall.
Most storms started slowly. That had always been my experience, anyway. A little drizzle preceded the main event.
Not this time. We went from zero to downpour in about three seconds. A wall of water came down on us all at once, driven by wind and punctuated by thunderclaps. Somebody shouted, “Hurry! Inside!”
It was barely controlled chaos as guests began to flee across the lawn and up the steps into the house. I picked up Noah and immediately turned to my grandmama, who was being sheltered by a staff member holding an umbrella over her head. At some point during the ceremony, they had armed themselves and were now helping guests escape unscathed. I made a mental note to tip them more heavily than I had already planned.
Rather than let one of them shelter Olivia, I took the umbrella and held it over our heads while my parents helped Grandmama navigate the increasingly soaked ground. It was coming down hard enough that I could barely see where we were going, but we managed to make it down the aisle and up the stairs before Olivia dashed into the house with her arms crossed overhead. I could hear her laughter even over the thunder, the driving rain, and the shouts of confusion from the guests.
I set Noah down inside, and there was nothing to do but laugh. It didn’t seem like anyone was in bad shape, and most everybody laughed it off along with me while looking outside. “That’s one way to end a ceremony,” I decided, laughing again.
I turned to my wife and kissed her again, and this time, our guests had the time to cheer us on. What a shame we had to keep things chaste in mixed company. There was something familiar in my wife’s eyes once the kiss ended, and it told me she was thinking along the same lines.
“It looks like cocktail hour will take place indoors,” one of the planners called out, already rearranging things while winding her way through the large group. “Once the storm passes, we can go to the tents.”
I spotted Barrett standing nearby with Lourde and Colton. Waving him over, I asked, “Do you mind taking Noah to his nanny for me? Olivia will want to get changed into her reception dress.”
“Isn’t that something the bridesmaids could help with?” He was busting my balls, and I knew it. Smirking at him before taking Olivia by the waist, I turned her away from the French doors and the storm on the other side.
“Come on,” I murmured in her ear. “Let’s get you out of that wet dress.”