Chapter 56
Chandler
“Right here is good,” I said, leaning forward to let the driver know to drop me off outside the church.
I climbed out of the car before he could come around and open the door, eager to get inside.
On the curb, I straightened my suit and buttoned my jacket.
I had it custom made for tonight. Black on black, with a little bit of subtle flair in the satin lapels.
I thanked my driver, and walked up the steps of the church.
I had been here earlier to oversee the florist I had hired, and Gabriella had stayed behind to get ready with my mother for my mother’s big day.
The two had become fast friends since our dinner two weeks ago when everyone came together and made amends.
I was eager to see them both. I walked through the church to the side door where the bride and groom chambers were.
I popped my head into the first room, and saw Greg adjusting his bowtie and looking defeated, while Nathan was holding up his phone with a video on how to tie a bowtie. I chuckled and stepped inside, seeing how badly they needed my services.
“Let me do it,” I said, waving Nathan away and stepping up to Greg, who looked happily surprised to see me.
“If anyone would know how to do this, it’s you,” said Greg, looking my suit up and down. “You trying to show me up on my wedding day?” He raised a brow, a playful smirk crossing his lips.
“Never. I made sure Sergio made you the very best. You look sharp,” I said, reaching for the bowtie. Sergio would be appalled if he saw the shape it was in. With a few folds and tucks, it was looking as it should and I turned Greg toward the mirror.
He sucked in a nervous breath as he ran his hands down the light gray lapels of his jacket, making sure the buttons were secure.
“Nervous?” I asked, standing beside him.
“Very. I don’t know why. I’ve been with your mother forever. It just feels…”
“Big,” I said, finishing his sentence.
He nodded before turning to me and placing his hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, son,” he said.
“Me too.”
I hadn’t tried out calling him “Dad” yet, but hearing “son” felt right. Maybe one day…
“I should probably go check on Mom. If you’re nervous, I can’t imagine how she is,” I said. “I’ll see you out there.”
I turned to Nathan and pointed at him. “Don’t forget the rings.”
He patted his jacket pocket to let me know they were secure.
We were both standing up there today as the groomsmen, but I was walking my mother down the aisle first. My mother had asked Gabriella to stand up there with her.
It had been a surprise to her, but she accepted wholeheartedly.
I was so happy she was part of the family.
I slipped out of the room and continued down the hall to the bride’s chambers where I found my mother standing in front of a tall oval mirror.
She wore a cream lace dress that skimmed the floor with long sleeves that hugged her wrists.
My heart swelled at the sight of her. She hadn’t seen me yet, so I admired her happiness from the doorway just for a moment.
If anyone deserved their happy ending, it was my mother. I was thrilled for her today.
“Chandler,” she said in surprise as her eyes landed on me through the mirror.
“Hi, Mom,” I said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. “You look absolutely beautiful.” I walked up to her and gave her a hug, careful not to mess up her hair that was pulled into a sophisticated chignon.
I stepped back and admired her up close.
“Wow. Really. Greg is going to drop dead when he sees you.” I shook my head in awe.
“Did you see him?” she asked eagerly, looking toward the door. “Is he okay?”
“He’s nervous. It’s pretty funny. I never see him nervous.”
“Feeling is mutual,” she said. “I feel like it’s our first date all over again.”
“In a way, it kind of is.” I smiled.
She nodded and ran her hands down her dress.
“You like the dress?”
“Love it.”
“Good. Gabriella helped me pick it out. And she did my hair. Do you like it?”
“You look beautiful, Mom,” I said reassuringly.
Just then the door to the bride’s chambers opened and Gabriella stepped inside, holding my mother’s bouquet of white and pink roses.
I put my hand to my heart to make sure it was still beating.
She looked so beautiful, in a pale pink dress that draped over her bump and grazed the floor.
Her hair was curly and half of it was pulled up, leaving tendrils surrounding her perfect face.
“Hi, babe,” she said cheerfully, completely unaware of how she could make the world stop.
“Wow,” I whispered.
My mother gave me a gentle shove, and somehow my feet began to move as I walked over to her. I grabbed her hands and gave them each a kiss.
“You look very handsome,” she said.
“You look…” I shook my head. “Unreal.”
She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. At twenty-six weeks pregnant, her bump was on full display and her face just radiated. She smiled up at me through her mascara-coated lashes that brought out her hazel eyes that looked more green today.
“I should get out there,” she said, tearing her eyes away from mine and looking over to my mother, who was watching from afar with a teary smile.
Gabriella walked toward her and handed her the bouquet, which completed the look.
“I’ll see you out there,” she squealed, pulling my mother in for a hug and giving me a grin before walking out the door.
A few minutes later, I could hear the organ begin to play, giving us our cue. I held my arm out for my mother, and she took it gently. We made our way to the doors of the church and she took a deep breath.
“I’m so happy for you, Mom,” I whispered.
“Thank you, honey,” she whispered back, blinking back tears.
The doors to the church opened, and we began our walk down the aisle where Greg waited excitedly, Nathan at his side, and Gabriella across from him.
The few guests turned and smiled when they saw my mother.
They had wanted a small ceremony with only close friends and family.
This was such a big moment with everyone I loved here. My heart was full.
The ceremony was short and sweet, and hearing my mother’s vows to Greg and his to her was just a testament to their love.
He had loved her fiercely for the past twenty-four years, accepting all of her, the good and the broken, wholeheartedly.
He had accepted me, too. My mother and I were a package deal that was broken when he first met us, but he stuck around for the long haul.
I was sorry it took me so long to see it, but better late than never.
Every so often I would lock eyes with Gabriella across the way, who clutched a smaller bouquet and looked even more stunning under the lights of the church.
Getting to witness this union between my mother and Greg with her made it all the more special.
I could see she was getting choked up, and I just couldn’t wait to pull her into my arms once the “I dos” were said.
After the ceremony, I had my driver take my mom and Greg to the restaurant where the reception was being held.
I made sure the car was decorated with a Just Married sign and ribbons.
Gabriella and I watched, hand in hand, as the car took them away and surrounding traffic honked their horns in congratulations.
“How do you feel?” asked Gabriella, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“Happy,” I said.
“Good,” she whispered.
“Are you two ready to get the party started or what?” asked Nathan, walking up behind us.
I laughed and shook my head, wondering when my studious brother became so “fun.”
“I’m ready to be drunk off cake and sparkling cider,” said Gabriella, doing a little shimmy.
“Let’s go then!” I held out my hand and hailed a cab, the rest of the guests following suit behind me.
The French restaurant in Greenwich Village was closed to the public, and it had taken some convincing for my mother and Greg to allow me to host the reception.
They finally agreed, but insisted they wanted to keep it small, and didn’t want anything grand.
Gabriella helped me find the place, and it was perfect with its intimate dining room and small terrace.
It had a small dance floor installed on the outdoor terrace and I’d hired a small jazz band to play live music.
I had asked for the décor simple with white linens, candles, and vases of white and pale pink roses that matched my mother’s bouquet.
When I walked in, it was better than I could have imagined.
My mother must have thought so too, because I found her in the center or the room, doing a slow spin with her mouth open. Gabriella and I strode toward her, as Nathan walked to the bar.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“This is amazing,” she said, shaking her head before swatting at me. “I told you nothing extravagant.”
“Mom,” I groaned. “This is bare bones. Trust me.”
“Chandler,” called out Greg, walking over with two generously poured champagne glasses. He handed one to my mother and turned to me. “This is a dream. Thank you,” he said softly as he looked around the room that twinkled with candle lights and smelled of fresh flowers.
“You two deserve it.”
Nathan then walked over, balancing two glasses of champagne and another glass that housed something light and bubbly.
“Champagne,” he said, handing me a glass. “And the finest of sparkling cider for you,” he said, handing the bubbly drink to Gabriella, who giggled.
“A toast,” I said, holding up my glass. “To the newlyweds. This has been a long time coming. Forever looks good on you two.”
“Here, here,” said Nathan.
We clinked our glasses together as the rest of the guests arrived. Appetizers of cheese puffs and steak tartare began to go around and the jazz band began to play some livelier music, encouraging everyone to head to the dance floor.
“Shall we?” I asked, holding my hand out to Gabriella.
“Seriously?” she asked, raising a brow and patting her stomach as if to remind me of just how pregnant she was.
“Seriously,” I said firmly, leading her to the black and white checkered dance floor. I spun her around before pulling her close, making her laugh out loud. That sound was better than the music. We swayed to the music as I held her close.
“This is ridiculous,” she said, looking up at me. “There’s practically a volleyball between us.”
I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “It’s perfect. You are perfect.”
I pulled away to see her cheeks turn a shade pinker. We continued to move across the dance floor and I couldn’t remember a time I had ever been happier. Here I was, dancing with the woman I loved, the mother of my child, at my own mother’s wedding. It was something I would never have imagined.
I suddenly had a vision of the two of us dancing at our own wedding one day. The thought had crossed my mind often, but this moment with her just made me want it all the more. We hadn’t talked about it yet, but it felt like the next step for us. Once our daughter was born, I was going to marry her.