Chapter 24
I have to admit,I never thought Id see the day, Landon admits, looking at me with amusement from where he sits on the couch.
Andres also seems determined to join in on the teasing. Out of all of us, Damien was the last one I could see getting married, he admits with a laugh.
A grimace rises to my lips as I fix my tie.
Jackson walks over to the liquor table and pours himself a shot of whiskey. From what I understand, neither of you two poor bachelors are thinking of getting married, since it’s not like either of you have a love in your life, So, who are you to talk about Damien?
You have a point there, Ethan remarks.
I dont know, Landon walks over to the window, looking out at the reception that’s being prepared for the guests down in the private gardens that overlook the lake. From the window, you can see Haley wearing one of the bridesmaid dresses. She’s holding her eldest daughter Abby by the hand, showing the little girl how to carry a basket of flowers while the wedding begins.
Jackson watches the scene, full of pride. Marriage just isn’t for me.
If I were you, Id watch my words, Ethan chuckles. Haven’t you noticed? A spell seems to have fallen on us. One by one, were getting married.
My friends begin to joke about it. In the meantime, I put on my dark jacket, as my thoughts fly straight to Andrea.
If its a spell or a charm, I dont mind suffering from it. I would have given everything I own just to know she existed.
Andres shakes his head. No, theres no way Im joining you on this whole marriage and parenthood thing.
I agree. Landon takes a sip of brandy.
Youve heard the saying ‘never say never’? jokes Jackson.
It wont apply to me, Landon says.
Who knows, I interject. There will be a lot of single ladies tonight at the wedding. One of them might be the lucky one for you.
Itll be fun to watch them, adds Ethan.
After some more banter, finally my friends stand up. Are you ready? one asks me.
I am, I affirm, already looking forward to reuniting with Andrea.
Ethan pats my arm. Then lets get to work.
One by one, they leave the room in slow procession, still joking. I feel excitement well up inside me because, finally, the time has come.
Its only been two months since Andrea and I got engaged, but we thought it would be futile to wait much longer, so we decided to get married at the end of November.
A fall wedding was never in her plans, or mine, but the truth is I never thought about getting married before this. Not after what happened with Natalie, when I thought my romance story was over. But that was only because I didnt have the right woman in my life.
It was because I didnt have Andrea.
She insisted that we don’t get married in our Hamptons house, which we’ve been slowly remodeling into our permanent home. The house now has a private studio where Andrea is working on her new album, which she predicts will be a hit, and there’s a bedroom that we’ve been decorating in pastel shades in anticipation of our first child.
In the meantime, the world has moved on. The press was very interested in the wedding news, but they were much more interested in the incident that occurred in September with Brandon.
For weeks, no one has done anything but talk about us. We are on the cover of every magazine, and helicopters constantly fly overhead. Andrea is currently the countrys princess, and one of its most beloved singers. Everyone wants to know what her life is like.
Unfortunately, the world is not invited to our wedding. The event will be very private, as we have decided to organize it in the greenhouse of a mansion. The space is large enough that it will allow us to hold the wedding without any problems.
For the occasion, we decorated the greenhouse with thousands of red roses that fill the room with their perfume. There are golden lanterns hanging above the dark shutters, and several rows of chairs are neatly arranged.
In the background, raised on a platform of lilies, an ensemble of stringed instruments and a single piano is set up. They’re playing Kiss the Rain, the song that Andrea and I are using to set the mood for the evening as we built our shelter little by little, dreaming for the life that awaits us.
For the first time, she and I will have a family.
Beyond our friends, we have begun to realize that together we will have what we never received from our parents: a home, security, and love. We will give it to our children and, in the future, make sure we never want for it again.
Okay, Damien. Were all set, Jackson says.
As we reach the greenhouse, Ethan stops beside me and pats my shoulder. I want you to know how proud I am of you.
The sincerity of his appreciation overwhelms me. Its not hard to remember that there was a time when we didnt think we could ever be friends again.
I appreciate it, I reply.
Now that my friends are ready, I walk over to the band, and take the empty seat of the pianist.
I breathe in slowly, and feel the music inside of me well up.
As my eyes close, the scene is set. And then, it all begins.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen begin to arrive in pairs. Ethan and Kristina are together, Haley and Jackson, and then Landon and Andres are each accompanied by a famous model and a movie star who are, in a way, close to Andrea. Then comes the flower girl, and finally, the big moment.
Andrea arrives last, her copper and flame hair falling down her bare back in loose curls. A single braid decorates one of her shoulders, tied off with a blue ribbon, and the top of her head is decorated with a crown of flowers encrusted with diamonds and pearls.
The low-cut dress displays a path of pearls and lace that runs along her breasts and up her shoulders. Layers of fabric slide down her body, all the way down to the floor, and a bridal trail follows her every step.
She looks up, smiling at everyone present, and then realizes that she can’t see me standing at the altar.
Once she hears the melody she turns her head, finding me above the crowd on the platform meant for the band.
She stops, and her lips open with shock. Her face is colored with indescribable emotions.
A fresh smile blossoms on her lips as she walks towards me, climbing the stairs, holding onto the hem of her dress along with her bouquet. Her perfume fills the air as her scent draws near to me.
Andrea watches me with eyes full of love and devotion.
And only then does she begin to sing.
Recognizing her song, I allow the melody to flow through my fingers until the song changes to adapt to her perfect voice. Her song floats through the air, silencing the rest of the room as the intensity of her emotions pierces all those present.
Through the melody, she narrates our love. She sings of our victories against the shadows that threatened to drown us, and the way we’ve found redemption in each other.
Her gestures are sweet, and her notes are perfect, as the song passes through her lips, rising like an angel to heaven.
Finally, I think I understand the meaning of the word ‘heavenly’.
Once the song ends, our audience erupts in applause, and Andrea leans into me.
Her forehead presses to mine, and tears slide down her cheeks.
I love you, I tell her.
I love you, she promises, and without a care in the world, her lips meet mine.
At that moment, I dont need anything else. Words are enough, because this feeling is enough.
For me, we are already husband and wife.