23. Chapter Twenty-Three #3
Jane already talked to the pastor since he’s her dad, and he’s all set. The worship team is pitching in by playing instrumental music for the wedding, so they’re all ready to go when we are.
“It’s crazy,” Nic admits, smiling after I swipe her plump lips with lip gloss. “We share a birthday, and now we’ll share a life together. It’s romantic.”
“I just love you guys,” I say, placing a hand over my heart.
I look at her and see the woman she is today and the girl I grew up with. I see the person who came back to Selah Falls, found a new dream, and reunited with the man God chose for her.
I see my friend. My sister. Part of my crew. I tear up, scrunching up my face to keep myself from crying.
“No. I can’t cry. I can’t mess up my makeup. They said it’s waterproof, but girl, you know they be lying sometimes.”
We laugh and hug. Jane enters the room and joins the hug. We’re in a huddle. All of us trying not to cry as we take in the magnitude of this day.
“We look amazing,” Nic says, sniffling. “Also trying not to cry, by the way.”
“Tears of joy are always welcome, especially when we see you walk down the aisle,” Jane adds, looking up and pressing her lips together. “Oh no. Here I go.”
“We have to keep it together,” I say, laughing and dabbing at my eyes. “Okay, one last hug before we get a few pictures with the photographer, and then...”
“And then I’m getting married!” Nic says excitedly, pulling us in for one big hug.
We hug each other, sniffling, smiling, and laughing. Happiness overwhelms us in the best way.
***
Sage green and cream-colored roses adorn hallway leading to the sanctuary, matching the ones that Jane and I carry as the maids of honor.
The groomsmen are wearing sage green boutonnieres with baby’s breath that match our flowers.
Nic and Jay chose to have only two maids of honor and two groomsmen.
Jay’s dad walks ahead of us as the best man.
We all line up, with Jay walking out alongside the officiant.
Then Nic’s parents walk out together as soft music plays in the background, courtesy of the worship team playing a mix of keyboard, guitar, and harp.
Next up are Edward and Jane, who link arms, smiling as they walk down the aisle to the music.
I, on the other hand, stop smiling. My heart pounds. I haven't looked at Will yet.
I couldn’t handle it. But I have to. There he is, standing next to me, his arm extended toward me.
He looks devastatingly handsome in his fitted cream tux. I hope I look as good in my V-neck sage green infinity dress, with my hair swept up into a pretty bun held in place with pearl-studded pins. The way he looks at me makes me feel beautiful.
He doesn’t ask me why I didn’t respond to his text. He just waits for me patiently. My eyes meet his. I take his arm.
I know why I couldn’t respond to his text. I couldn’t say what I needed to say that way. I needed to see him. To feel him. To walk with him down the aisle at my best friend’s wedding.
And we do. Without words. Just holding on to each other, step by step.
My breath catches. I remind myself to smile. To look happy. To tell my heart to relax.
But I can’t relax. Because he came back.
And here I was afraid...
When I promised myself I wouldn’t be.
He lets go of my arm. We move to our respective places to stand with the rest of the wedding party. The music changes. Nic is about to make her grand entrance. The audience is instructed to stand. I look over at Will.
I mouth the words, “I’m sorry.”
He mouths back, “Me too.”
I think about how fake dating was a mistake. A lie.
I send up a prayer to God, thinking: Lord, I’m sorry for lying. I do love Will. But I messed up and I ask for Your forgiveness, Your guidance and Your love to meet me where I am. Amen. I exhale, able to breathe freely again.
***
The reception is in full swing. My friends are finally married. Nic and Jay have been smiling from ear to ear since they said I do, and even before.
I hired Lydia, Mary and Kitty to help set up and serve the drinks and baked goods for the reception. They handle it beautifully, making sure guests get to enjoy the treats Will and I made.
Will. I can’t think about him right now. I make myself pay attention to the married couple.
I watch them do their first dance in awe. Jane and I hold each other’s hands and finally let a few tears fall as we watch them. I lay my head on her shoulder, and she pulls me in, wrapping her arms around me as we sit.
“Love is beautiful, isn’t it?” she asks, sounding like she’s in one of those old movies she loves to watch.
“It really is,” I say, smiling in agreement.
“You know, it’s not too late for you to have your happy ending too.”
I sit up, looking over at her. She nods past me to where Will is sitting next to Edward on the opposite side of the head table. We all sit there as the wedding party, with two empty seats between us for the bride and groom.
“It’s not about us today,” I say.
But I know she’s right.
Before I know it, the first dance, the father-daughter dance, and the wedding speeches have flown by, and it’s time for the bouquet toss. Jane and I stand at the back of the medium-sized crowd of women hoping to catch it.
Nic tosses the bouquet into the air. It soars all the way to the back and hits me...in the face.
“Ow!” I scream, ducking out of the way far too late.
I laugh from the shock of the hit, but no real damage is done. Jane checks on me before picking up the bouquet.
“I’m fine,” I laugh, giving her a nod. She hands the bouquet to me.
Nic looks over and says, “I’m so sorry, Liz!”
I give her a thumbs up, laughing, which makes her laugh too. Jane and I walk over to the newlyweds and hug them both.
“Can’t believe you caught the bouquet with your face, Lizzie,” Jay teases.
“Oh, stop being a hater, Gatsby. You’re just mad that you can’t throw like your wife. She could’ve been a pro football player with how she just about knocked me out.”
“I said I was sorry,” Nic says, looping her arm through mine. “I promise I wasn’t aiming for your face.”
“I think your aim was spot on.” It’s Will. I know his voice.
I turn around to see him approaching, his hands in his pockets. I quickly turn back to Nic again, eyes wide.