Chapter 30
The answer to that question was three months.
At last, it was time. I stood in the doorway, my arm lightly threaded through Bernard’s, my heart pounding.
Finally, I got to show Jack my wedding dress. I’d teased him with it ever since I got it but refused to give a preview. He’d pretend to be miffed, but I knew he was as excited for the big reveal on our wedding day as I was.
I felt like a princess. My grandmother and my maids of honor had been fussing over me all day.
My hair was done in a complex winding bun that had strands of pearls woven through it.
Grandmère had given me her antique pearl drop earrings.
That was something old. My engagement ring was recent enough to be considered something new.
Diane had reminded me last minute that I needed something borrowed and had taken off her blue sapphire necklace and put it on me, which took care of blue as well.
But as back up I had the blue garter that was hugging my thigh.
I was overwhelmed with the opulent splendor of the room.
The Duvier penthouse party venue was gorgeous.
The twinkling lights which were strung everywhere were reflected in the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the city.
Garlands of jasmine were strung between the chairs, forming an aisle that had white carpeting.
Each row of chairs had tall pillar candles in glass jars flickering beside it.
(I insisted on electric candles.) The carpet was strewn with pink rose petals, charmingly flung by Jack’s two nieces as they raced each other up the aisle toward the archway laced with ribbons and roses.
I had hugged and kissed my bridesmaids before they went down the aisle.
Diane, as maid of honor, went first. I’d told my bridesmaids to choose their own dresses, so long as they were blue.
She had picked a floor length, navy, body-con dress with spaghetti straps, ruched at the sides, hugging her curves.
She’d been walked down the aisle by Morgan who’d managed to tame his wild hair into a braid and had been stuffed into a tux.
My other bridesmaid was, of course, Kimi.
She’d gotten an upgrade to silver level BFF for all the work that she’d done to help.
She’d even hosted the Luxe mani-pedi bachelorette party we’d had, complete with lobster rolls and champagne.
Even though we appeared to be total opposites, I knew we’d be the best of friends.
She’d been walked down the aisle by Chip, who was looking quite dapper himself.
I was amused to see Diane giving Chip a pointedly interested look. It looked like the swanky banker might have some competition.
Even more interesting was the intense look that Morgan was giving Kimi in her low-cut, midnight blue gown. Sequins caught the light, drawing attention to the way it clung tightly to her shape. Perhaps this might not be the only wedding I’d attend this year.
And then my eyes zeroed in on my whole reason for being here.
Jack. He looked heart-stoppingly handsome in his fitted tux, his dark curls tousled, his look intense.
And the whole of his attention was on me.
His dark eyes bored into mine and as the music swelled, indicating it was time for me to walk, his face broke into a joyful smile.
I probably should have looked around to catch the eyes of the guests, to smile and let them know I was glad they’d come.
But I could not look away from Jack; our eyes were locked onto each other.
For three months Jack had kept his word, being kind, loving, attentive, and funny, but never pressing, never allowing us to get carried away. And now our time of proving was at an end.
As we reached the front row, Bernard surrendered me to Jack and took a seat next to Grandmère, who already had a lace handkerchief pressed to her cheeks.
Jack and I clasped hands. I felt almost shy, looking at him, hardly believing that we would soon be married.
Following the prompts from the minister, we exchanged our vows, promising to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.
We then exchanged our rings, sliding them smoothly onto each other’s hands.
And then the kiss. Perhaps The Princess Bride said it best:
"Since the invention of the kiss there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind.”
Jack really knew how to kiss. Jack, who was now my husband. Lucky me! I could have amazing kisses whenever I wanted!
The reception was a blur of talking, kissing cheeks, hugging, smiling till my cheeks hurt, dancing, and laughing. I was so glad we hadn’t eloped. This was a once in a lifetime party.
Jack danced the first dance with me, spinning and dipping me to Michael Bublé’s Everything, the song from our actual first dance. And when he ended the dance with a deep dip and a kiss, everyone applauded.
We had cake and champagne. Everyone had a toast for us, wishing us happiness. I felt bathed in love from every direction, but mostly from Jack. His arm hadn’t left my waist since we’d danced. He would nod and smile at the people talking to us, but the words he’d whisper in my ear were for me alone.
Then there was a drum roll, and everyone cleared the dance floor.
Jack led me to a chair and asked me to sit.
Then he carefully hiked up the hem of my dress to reveal the garter.
I tried to calm my racing heart rate, my body’s reaction to his hand on my thigh.
He gently shimmied the garter down and over my foot.
Then he called all eligible bachelors to stand in the center of the room.
He stood with his back to them and launched the garter into the crowd.
Morgan, head and shoulders above everyone else, easily snagged it and waved his trophy aloft, grinning.
Then it was my turn for the bouquet toss.
Jack held my arm and whispered in my ear.
“Aim for Kimi.” I nodded acknowledgement and called for all the single women to group on the floor.
I made eye contact with Kimi and tried to signal her to move to the edge of the group.
While all the women, plus Jack’s nieces, were jockeying for position in front, Kimi sidled to the edge.
I marked her place and turned my back to them, then launched the bouquet.
Kimi caught it easily and turned a lovely shade of pink.
“What was that about?” I whispered to Jack.
“Morgan’s going to propose tonight.”
I grinned, delightedly. Even more joy for this day!
Then there was another drum roll. A server in a white jacket placed a chair in the center of the floor and Jack led me to the chair and asked me to sit. Oh no, a surprise. This was not something I’d planned. I wasn’t very good with surprises.
Jack went over to where the band was set up.
The musicians left, turning off their music stand lights.
The only one remaining was on the grand piano.
Jack sat down and began to play. It was a song I’d never heard before.
The melody was achingly beautiful. And then Jack began to sing. And I began to cry.
There’s no way I’ll stop loving you
There’s no way I ever could
There’s no way I would ever leave you
I never would, No way I could,
Ever stop loving you
By the time the song ended, I was full on sobbing, so it’s a good thing my grandmother had come prepared with handkerchiefs. Jack came to me, pulled me to standing and hugged me to him. I think people were clapping, but I didn’t notice. All I could hear was Jack whispering “I love you, Wife.”