Chapter 33
Taylor
I chose the weekend before Halloween to get married. Surprise, surprise. But who can blame me when the leaves are spectacular, and the air is crisp and I’m feeling very magical.
“This is so exciting,” my mom squeals, for the umpteenth time. She’s braiding some of my curls.
Carly and Grace are in the bathroom doing their makeup. Every once in a while, I hear them laughing and my heart warms because my two best friends are getting along really well.
“It’s nice to have Carly back,” mom whispers.
Yeah, it is. I hope she stays for longer than a weekend, but I doubt it.
“Conner and I are going to put an extension on the house,” I say, changing subjects.
“Really?”
“We’re hiring Nick to do renovations.”
“That’s wonderful! I’m sure you’ll need more bedrooms,” she winks, offering a warm, knowing smile.
With or without kids, some more space would be nice.
I love my tiny home, but Conner is big, and the rooms feel cramped with all his stuff added to it.
Poor guy has half his clothes in the hall closet because mine can’t accommodate both of us like I thought.
We have too many memories wrapped up in my walls to ever move, so we agreed to renovate.
And yeah, we want more bedrooms for the future for sure.
“I have something for you,” mom says, gently squeezing my shoulder.
“Another old bucket?”
“Not quite.” She leaves the room and comes back with a big thick book.
A scrapbook.
“Your father and I had the best time picking all these photos out.” She rests it on my lap and fiddles with my hair again.
The first page already makes me emotional. “No way.”
It’s Conner and I at the park when we were little. We’re hanging upside on the monkey bars.
“I had no idea you took all these.” Flipping to the next page, it’s more photos of us. Some are just Con. Some are just me.
“You hated posing all the time, remember? I would sneak photos of you guys whenever I could.”
“Stalker.”
“You guys were always thick as thieves.” She points at a photo of me and him wearing scuffed up dirt bike helmets. He’s in a tattered T-shirt and jeans with the knees ripped out. I’m in a short purple dress and jeans. I think we’re about twelve in this one.
Page after page, photo after photo, my mom has managed to capture our love story right under our noses.
One whole page is a series of us jinxing.
The first photo we’re saying something to the camera, the second, we’re making the same face at the camera, the third is us looking at each other with matching expressions, the fourth is us both laughing, the fifth is us wiggling our fingers at each other.
We’re so happy.
Towards the end, when we’re older, there’s one that’s the two of us in my parent’s backyard. We’re sitting next to each other at the bonfire. Our backs are to the camera and it’s just our silhouettes, really. We’re watching the sunset.
The next page has my breath catching.
It’s a collage of Conner from the age of six to probably just a few months ago. In each one, he’s looking at me.
“That’s a man in love,” mom says gently. “He’s looked at you like that since the very beginning, sweet girl.”
Tears fill my eyes.
I turn the page, and this next collage is all me staring at him.
It’s all big smiles, bright eyes, and I feel it. I feel all these Taylors and how their hearts are bubbly and happy being with their best friend, loving Conner in all his phases.
The next page is blank and so are all the others after it.
“Thought maybe you could fill those with your next chapter,” she says.
I don’t have many actual photos. All my pics are digital, but now I plan to get as many as I can printed because this is amazing. “Thank you, Mom.”
She kisses my head and smiles at me through the reflection of the big mirror we’re in front of.
“Do you remember what you said to me the night you and Conner first met at the park?”
“No.” There’s nothing that stands out other than us becoming friends, making a magic potion, and me telling her that he shook when he saw his dad.
“That night when you were taking one of your ultra bubble bubbly baths, you looked me square in the face and said, ‘We’re getting married.’”
“You’re making that up.”
Mom shakes her head. “Swear to the heavens, it’s the truth.”
“I don’t remember ever saying that.”
“You were so little, Taylor, I wouldn’t expect you to. But…” She tips her head and sighs. “You stated it as a simple fact and then started playing with your dolls.”
I’m not convinced. I’m not not convinced either though. I’ve always felt connected to Conner on a level I can’t reach with anyone else.
“It’s almost time!” Carly says, clapping her hands. It shakes both mom and I right off memory lane.
Just then someone knocks on the door and we all yell, “Come in!”
Nick pops his head in. His eyes land on Carly first and grow huge. “Wow.” Then he looks at my mom and Grace. “Double Wow.” Finally, he looks at me. “Holy shit wow!”
Carly whacks him with her bouquet. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”
“That’s for the groom,” Nick argues. “Besides, I have a gift.” He brings over an envelope and acts like it’s top secret and nobody can see it. “For your eyes only, you got me?” He winks.
I peak into the envelope and yelp. My cheeks are blazing hot. It’s suddenly stifling here. Did someone turn up the heat?
“Someone bring me a polaroid camera,” I bark. Mom bought a bunch for our guests to use today. Surprise, surprise.
Nick proudly produces one of the cameras from behind his back.
I hurry into the bathroom, shut the door, take a pic, and put it in the envelope. Sauntering out like I just took the best thirst trap photo of my life, I stuff the envelope in Carly’s hand. “Go take that back as my response.”
My mom is all smiley and excited. “What was it? Can I see?”
“No!” we all say, knowing she’d die if she saw a dick pic of her soon-to-be son-in-law.
“It’s silly inside joke stuff, mom. You wouldn’t get the humor.”
“Oh. I get it.”
I don’t think she does.
Wait. No. Ew. I hope she doesn’t.
“Time to get out there, cuz. You ready to marry your best friend?”
Putting strawberry gloss on my lips, I do one last mirror check and then grab my bouquet.
“I’m ready.”
Conner
I’m under the bridge that connects Dean’s private property to the main cabins below. Gold, crimson, and copper trees decorate the mountains. It’s a crisp, fall day and I’m thankful for the breeze because I’m sweating my ass off.
Geez, I’m nervous.
Our small guest list somehow feels like every person in the world is sitting on chairs, watching me.
That is until…
Music begins and everyone turns in their seats to watch my best friends escort each other towards me while I wait under the covered bridge.
Nick and Carly.
Dean and Grace.
Bennet escorts Corrine.
And then there she is. My girl. My everything.
Her gown is flowy and mostly lace with a tighter fitting dress under it.
It drapes over her in all the right places and has long sleeves that are extra wide by her wrists.
Her hair is down too, which is my favorite way she wears it.
Instead of a veil, she has flowers around her head and today, her hair is a darker sunflower color, thanks to the nature surrounding her and the warm glow of the sun. She looks like a fairy goddess.
I’m so desperate to touch her, hold her, make sure this is real that I end up meeting her halfway up the aisle lined with mums, sunflowers, and marigolds.
Her bouquet is a shock of colors, vibrant as her, and there’s a few long, skinny, crystals protruding from the flowers.
Our rings glimmer from a rose quartz tower nestled in the center of her arrangement.
“You’re so beautiful,” I choke out. Shit, there’s condensation in my eyes.
“You’re so beautiful too,” Taylor whispers back.
Her father clears his throat, and I roll my shoulders back and try my best to sound strong. “I’ll take really good care of her, Sir.”
“You always have,” is his response.
Taylor hooks her arm with mine and we make our way back to my starting point.
Honey Pete is officiating the ceremony for us. I’m cutting this man’s field for free for the rest of my life.
The ceremony begins and I can’t stop staring at my beautiful girl. I don’t know what I did to earn this much happiness, but I’m so fucking grateful.
“You may now exchange your vows. Taylor…”
She squeezes my hands. “Conner, ever since the day I met you, we’ve been inseparable.
All my stories… all my best memories… were made with you as the star.
Thank you for always being there for me.
For loving me just as I am and never making me feel anything less than perfect.
I promise I will always do the same for you.
And I will keep you safe and loved…” She stifles back a sob.
“Until we’re bones in the dirt. Then I’ll love you for eternity. ”
She slides a wedding band on my finger.
I blow out a long exhale and wipe my face on my sleeve because I can’t let her go yet. I don’t want to.
“Taylor, I’ve loved you long before I even knew what that word meant because I hadn’t had it before we met. Not until you and your elboos and—”
She snorts a sob that’s half a giggle.
I squeeze her hands harder. “I’m not a believer in a lot of things, but I’ve always believed in you. In us. Our road is paved with a million memories, and a million wishes along the way. Every single one of those wishes I made was for you.”
I think other people are crying. I hear sniffling.
“You made me part of your family, loved me, fed me, took care of me when I was sick and gave me peace when I came from none.”
Fuuuuck I’m sweating and shaking. All my pent-up feelings are trying to erupt.
“I’ve always been scared to feel my emotions.
They’re too strong. But loving you has always been the strongest one for me.
You’re the sun that keeps me warm and the moon that soothes my soul.
You’re every star I’ve ever wished on. Loving you is the easiest thing in the world because I was made to do that. That’s all that is in me.”
Someone sniffles a little louder. I think it’s Nick.
“I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure you are always loved, protected, and taken care of. Until I’m dirt.”
Taylor practically leaps into my arms. I catch her and we kiss and everyone cheers.
I didn’t even get to put the ring on her finger!
“Hang on!” I say, laughing. Holding her hand, I slid the infinity band on her finger and kiss it.
Taylor squeals and jumps on me again. I twirl her around and everyone’s clapping and it’s the best feeling in the whole wide world.
“I’m your wife, now.”
“No.” I press my forehead to hers. “You’re my everything.”