Chapter 44
Chapter forty-four
Thirty-seven Weeks
I take a deep breath in, my hand rubbing over my stomach as Claire places little white flowers through the braids crowning my head. She’s wearing a bubblegum pink dress with a sweetheart neckline and little straps that tie over her shoulder.
“How are we doing for time?” Beth asks, sucking her mimosa through a straw so she doesn’t mess up her nude lipstick. Her chocolate brown hair is pinned up in a relaxed bun, loose, wavy strands framing her face.
“I’m all done,” Claire says with a smile as she steps back.
Lex and Beth move to stand behind me, the mirror reflecting their smiling faces.
“You look beautiful, Iz,” Lex says, rubbing my shoulder up and down. I bring a hand up to squeeze hers in thanks.
Mum and Dad walk hand in hand into the greenhouse, which we converted into our hair and makeup room. The boys are locked away in Thistle Theory’s café until the ceremony starts in half an hour.
“Wow, ladies. You all look lovely,” Dad says.
Chelsea, Maddie, Beth, and Lex are all in ice-yellow silk dresses.
We went to Parlour Tricks earlier in the week for tans, manicures, and pedicures—a bridal gift from Caleb.
It was already on our agenda, but Caleb insisted on paying so he could hire out the whole salon, complete with a catered lunch from Sweet Escape.
He loves to spoil Lex, and that includes hyping up her bestie’s business whenever he can.
“Thanks, Joe. You look very handsome yourself.” Beth winks.
We all laugh when Dad stops, puts a hand on one hip and throws back his non-existent hair. Beth holds a hand out, helping me get out of my chair, as Dad steps up to me. His lip wobbles and twists as he takes me in.
Teary-eyed, he kisses my cheek, lingering for a few seconds.
“I don’t have words, cherub,” he whispers.
Mum rests her head on Dad’s shoulder.
“Do you want another drink, Iz?” Chelsea calls as she pours another mimosa. The girls got me a glass tumbler with little buttercups all over it, so we didn’t mix my drink with the alcoholic ones.
“Yes, please. Does anyone have any painkillers, though? My back’s been a bit stiff today.” I laugh through the discomfort, rubbing a hand over the yoga ball that is my stomach these days. “This girl feels like she’ll be ready any day now.”
“I have some,” says Maddie, hurrying over to her purse and pulling out a little pencil case. “I’ve got tampons, tissues, bobby pins, make-up wipes, gum, and a needle and thread, if anyone needs those at some point, too.”
She hands me a strip of paracetamol, and I pop two into my hand, then accept the glass of orange juice from Chelsea.
“Okay, who’s ready to get married?” I throw back the pills just as Hazel and Matilda step inside the greenhouse. “Oh, Isabelle, aren’t you a vision?” Hazel says.
“Thank you.”
Matilda holds her hands to her chest as she looks me up and down. She’s in a dusty blue chiffon dress, with a V-neck and ruffled sleeves. Her green eyes, so similar to Gage’s, are clouded with emotion.
She holds her arms up, welcoming me in for a hug that I happily accept.
“Thank you for loving him,” she says as her hands rub up and down my back.
“It’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
Our photographer, Astrid, who’s also Claire’s future sister-in-law, comes in to take more photos now that I’m completely ready.
She works quickly, getting all of us into various poses until it’s time to walk out.
Astrid, Claire, Mum, Hazel, and Matilda go to join the guests, leaving Dad and the bridal party in the greenhouse.
“You ready?” he asks, holding his forearm up for me to link my arm around.
Maddie hands me my bouquet of white, sage, and peach wildflowers. “I’m ready.” I nod.
The girls all smile at me before Lex leads the way out.
Evelyn is waiting at the edge of the garden for us.
Gage wasn’t sure at first if asking August’s mum to officiate would be too difficult for her.
He almost chickened out in asking, but he visited August’s grave last month, and she was there, so he took it as a sign. She couldn’t say yes fast enough.
She’s not officially licensed, so we still have a celebrant overseeing the ceremony who will perform the legal parts, and Evelyn will do everything else.
She smiles when she sees us coming. “See you out there.”
We line up and wait for the music to start once she disappears. My back is still aching a little. I’m so glad I decided on sneakers for today.
The opening notes of Iris start playing over the speakers, a dreamy piano cover that has my heart beating faster despite the subdued melody. It’s intimate and sweet, and has my mind replaying all the moments that led me here, filling me with love.
Lex moves first. Beth waits a few beats before she follows. Chelsea turns back and smiles before she goes next. Maddie runs back to kiss my and Dad’s cheeks, and then she moves into place.
“Are you happy?” Dad asks, his eyes still trained ahead.
“All the money in the world couldn’t buy the happiness I have right now.”
“Bet that’s easier to say when you’re marrying a billionaire.
” I laugh, and it eases the tension. Not that I’m nervous or unsure, but there’s just something about being in the thick of a major milestone in life that has your body preparing.
Hoping it all goes alright because you desperately don’t want to lose the moment you’ve been given.
“Just remember how much you love me when you’re shopping for Christmas presents. I like boats.”
“No, you don’t.” I smack his arm playfully. “You get seasick.”
“You’re right. All I need is my girls.”
The beat of the song starts to rise, and we take our cue.
It’s just after five p.m., and the sun is starting to set.
Fairy lights cover the trees, with more lights strung over the open grassed area where all the seats are set up.
Guests watch over their shoulders, waiting for our entrance, but the second my eyes find Gage, that’s where they stay.
His white shirt is rolled up at the sleeves, his tattoos on display, including my favourite Grim Reaper. Light grey dress pants hug his thighs, and he’s wearing his white groom sneakers that match mine.
Caleb puts a hand on his shoulder and whispers something in his ear.
Gage nods but doesn’t look away from me.
He pinches the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut for a second before looking back at me.
With one hand, he swipes away tears from each cheek, and I bite my lip, trying not to give in to my own.
Dad and I make it to the end of the aisle.
He kisses me on the cheek and sits down next to Mum.
I give Maddie my bouquet, then turn back to Gage, ready to take his hands, but he leans down, wrapping his arms around me tightly.
I melt into his embrace as I hug him back.
My fingers trail through his hair as I close my eyes and breathe in his familiar rum and vanilla cologne.
He pulls back with trembling lips. I place my hands on his cheeks, dotting his nose and his mouth with a quick kiss.
“You okay, Grim?”
“I love you so much.”
I kiss him longer this time, not worrying about our friends and family. They’re here to celebrate our love, and this is how we do it. With care and patience.
“I love you too,” I whisper, and I don’t let him go until he’s ready to step back.
Gage picks up my hands and takes a breath before turning to Evelyn and nodding.
“Thank you, family and friends, for being here today to witness the marriage of Henry Gage Heart to Isabelle Kathryn Asher. My name is Evelyn Carlisle, and I have been asked by the couple to perform their ceremony alongside a licensed celebrant.”
Evelyn and our celebrant, Jude, take us through the ceremony. My parents give their blessing, our intentions are declared, and our rings are exchanged. Every moment ties a piece of my heart closer and closer to Gage’s until we get to the stage where he becomes my husband.
“Now that you, Henry and Isabelle, have promised to give yourselves fully to each other, through the love you have vowed to hold, and the rings you have exchanged, it is my pleasure to pronounce you as husband and wife! You may now kiss!”
Cheers and whistles fill the air just as the sun falls beneath the sky, and I smile against Gage’s lips as he kisses me like it’s the start of the greatest love story. As my heart overflows, my stomach leaps, and a gush of water runs down my legs.
I put a hand against Gage’s chest, frozen to the spot as my breath turns hurried.
“What’s wrong, Buttercup?”
“I think my water just broke.”