35. Grace
It’s the day of my wedding, and my heart feels like it’s fluttering faster than the wings of the hummingbirds I sometimes see outside the kitchen window.
Upstairs, in the little room Sarah and I turned into my bridal sanctuary, everything feels perfect.
Perfectly surreal.
“Okay,” Sarah says, her voice high-pitched with excitement. “Close your eyes.”
“Sarah, I’ve already seen the dress,” I say with a laugh, though my hands twitch nervously in front of me. My palms are clammy despite the crisp, cool air wafting in from the open window.
“Not like this,” she insists, her tone dripping with faux drama. “This is the moment. Trust me.”
With a sigh and a smile, I close my eyes. There’s the rustling of fabric, and I hear her soft, nearly breathless muttering. “God, it’s just so perfect. Wait till you see it again.”
“Sarah—”
“Patience is a virtue!” she chirps. “Don’t open your eyes until we get it on. Arms up.”
I giggle as I do as she says. I feel the material slipping over my head and onto the rest of my body.
“You’re so silly sometimes, but I love it,” I laugh.
I feel her hand wrap around mine. “Okay, open your eyes. Slowly.”
When I do, I nearly forget how to breathe. There I am in the mirror, looking like I belong in a fairy tale. I look like a princess.
“It’s…” I can’t finish the sentence. My throat tightens as tears prick my eyes.
Sarah beams at me, practically vibrating with pride. “Go ahead. Say it. Say I’m a genius.”
I laugh, though it comes out watery. “You’re a genius.”
The dress is nothing short of exquisite. The bodice is fitted, made of delicate lace that shimmers faintly in the light, as though it’s been dusted with stardust.
The neckline dips modestly, framing the collarbones just right.
From the waist, it flows into layers of soft, airy tulle that cascade to the floor like a whisper of a dream. The skirt moves like water, catching the sunlight in a way that makes it seem alive, as though it’s breathing along with me.
Each layer is so light and ethereal that it feels like I could float in it, weightless and untouchable.
The train is just long enough to add drama without being overwhelming, edged with the same intricate lace as the bodice, tying the whole design together in perfect harmony.
The sleeves are sheer, barely-there fabric adorned with delicate floral embroidery that winds its way down to my wrists.
Tiny beads, almost imperceptible unless you’re looking closely, are scattered like dew drops on a spring morning.
The craftsmanship is breathtaking—every stitch, every embellishment, feels like it was made for this exact moment.
I can’t stop staring. My reflection in the mirror doesn’t even feel real. It’s me, but… elevated.
I feel elegant, radiant, and for the first time in a long time, completely worthy of the love waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
“It’s like it was made for you,” Sarah says, her voice thick with emotion as she comes to stand beside me.
She’s holding a tissue, dabbing at her eyes even as she smiles.
“Grace, you look...
You look like a princess. No, better than a princess.
Like a queen.”
My eyes well up with tears. “I do, don’t I?” I whisper, my voice trembling as I turn to her. “I never thought I could feel this way. Like I’m stepping into a fairy tale.”
“You are,” she says firmly, taking my hands in hers. “And Theo’s the prince you never thought you needed. This is your moment. Soak it all in.”
I laugh softly, tears spilling over as I squeeze her hands. “You’re going to make me cry more and ruin my makeup, and then what? You’ll have to redo everything.”
She grins, brushing a tear off her own cheek.
“It’ll be worth it.
Besides, if you don’t cry now, you’ll definitely cry when you see Theo waiting for you.
I mean, can you believe where you two started? From enemies to this?”
I groan playfully, rolling my eyes. “Don’t remind me. I still can’t believe I survived the first three months of knowing him. Every time he walked into the room, I swear my blood pressure spiked.”
“And now, you’d probably set the world on fire if it meant keeping him safe. Life’s funny like that, huh?”
I laugh, wiping my eyes carefully to avoid smudging anything.
“It really is.
I think that’s what makes this all so much more special.
We fought so hard to get here, Sarah. Not just with each other, but for each other.”
“And that’s why it’s going to last. You two didn’t just fall in love; you built it. Brick by brick, argument by argument.”
“You really outdid yourself with this dress,” I say, turning back to the mirror. “It’s perfect in every way. Just like today.”
She wraps an arm around my shoulders, her smile warm and full of pride.
“You deserve this, Grace. All of it.
And when you walk down that aisle, everyone is going to see what I see right now?—
the most beautiful bride in the world.”
I lean into her, letting her words settle into my heart. I genuinely believe them. Today isn’t just the beginning of my happily-ever-after—it’s proof that sometimes, the most unexpected journeys lead to the most extraordinary destinations.
I clap a hand over my mouth, blinking back the sting of tears. “Oh, Sarah…”
She’s already crying, of course. Sarah, the ever emotional one, the sister of my heart. Her hand trembles as she wipes a tear off her cheek, grinning at me through the sniffles.
“I knew it was the one. I just knew it!”
“You did so good,” I say, my voice wobbling as I step closer to the dress.
My fingers hover over the fabric, almost afraid to touch it.
“It’s perfect. Every single detail, Sarah.
It’s... exactly what I dreamed of, but better.
And you found it in the right size, with no alterations needed?
Are you some kind of miracle worker?”
She laughs, shaking her head.
“It was all luck, I swear. I just happened to see it on that rack, and I thought, ‘If this doesn’t scream Grace, I don’t know what does.’”
She pauses.
“And the look on your face right now? Worth every second of the hunt.”
I turn to her, feeling the warmth of her love and effort seep into me like sunlight. “You didn’t just find a dress, Sarah. You found my dress. The dress I’m going to wear when I marry Theo.”
My voice cracks a little at his name and my stomach does that flip it always does when I think about him.
“You’ve come so far, Grace. The both of you have.
Watching you two go from trying to kill each other with glares to... this?
It’s like a rom-com come to life.
It gives me hope, you know?
That maybe happily-ever-afters aren’t just for fairy tales.”
“They’re not. Me and Theo are proof of that. We’ve worked for this love. We’ve fought for it. And now we get to live it.”
I close my eyes, breathing in the moment. The sunlight, the soft rustle of the dress, Sarah’s steady presence. It all feels so achingly perfect.
“It’s all so perfect. I’m so grateful for you being here.”
She squeezes me tighter. “You’re my best friend, Grace. Of course, I’d do all of this and more. Besides, I get to be the maid of honor at the wedding of the century. That’s a pretty sweet deal.”
I turn to her, tears threatening again. “You’re more than a maid of honor. You’re family. Always.”
Her eyes glisten as she smiles at me, and neither of us speaks for a moment. We just stand there, wrapped in the kind of love that makes everything else feel small and unimportant.
“Now,” Sarah says, breaking the silence with a clap of her hands. “Enough of this mushy stuff. Let’s get you walking down that aisle.”
The air is thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the faintest hint of fresh-cut grass. The secret garden, hidden away from the rest of the world, is bathed in sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees.
Everything feels alive and magical, as if nature itself is celebrating today. Birds chirp somewhere high above, their songs weaving seamlessly with the soft strains of a violin.
I stand just out of sight, hidden by an ivy-covered trellis, clutching my bouquet so tightly my knuckles are white. My breath catches in my chest as I peek around the corner, seeing the rows of guests seated on mismatched wooden chairs.
Theo’s family, a scattering of people we’ve collected along the way—people who matter. They’re all here, murmuring quietly, their faces glowing with joy.
There’s my future husband.
He’s standing at the altar, looking completely at ease, but I know him too well now. His fingers twitch at his sides like they always do when he’s nervous.
His dark hair is neatly combed, but a rogue strand falls onto his forehead, softening the sharp lines of his face.
He’s wearing a navy suit, perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders, and even from here, I can see the faint glimmer of the cufflinks I gave him.
He shifts slightly, his gaze darting toward the path where I’ll appear any second now.
My heart flips.
How is it possible to love someone this much?
“Ready?” Sarah whispers, appearing at my side. She’s holding the edge of my train like it’s spun gold, her smile brighter than the sunlight.
I nod, swallowing hard. “Do I look okay?”
“Grace, you look…” Her voice wobbles, and she blinks rapidly, fighting tears. “You look like a dream. Now stop stalling before I start bawling again and ruin my makeup.”
I laugh nervously and adjust the bouquet. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
The music changes to a soft swell that signals my cue. My heart pounds as I step forward, the gravel path crunching faintly beneath my heels.
The garden comes alive in a new way as every head turns toward me, but I can only look at Theo.
He’s scrumptious in that suit.
His gaze locks onto mine, and the world seems to stop.
His expression shifts in an instant. His easy confidence melts away, replaced by something raw and vulnerable. His lips part slightly, as if he’d forgotten how to breathe.
His dark eyes soften, filling with an emotion so pure it makes my chest ache.
For a second, he looks like he might cry, but then he smiles—a crooked, boyish grin that’s entirely Theo. He shakes his head slightly, as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing, and mouths,
“Wow.”
I feel my cheeks flush, my nerves giving way to a giddy warmth that spreads through my entire body. I smile back, unable to stop the tears that prick at the corners of my eyes.
“Slow down!” Sarah hisses behind me, yanking gently on my train. “You’re practically sprinting!”
Shoot!
I chuckle, realizing my steps have quickened like my body is as impatient as my heart. I slow down, savoring every moment, but it feels impossible to drag this out when Theo’s waiting at the end of the aisle, looking at me like I’ve hung the stars in the sky.
When I finally reach him, the world fades away.
“You’re stunning,” he whispers, his voice low and filled with awe. “Absolutely stunning.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I manage to tease before I wink at him.
The officiant clears his throat, breaking the spell. “Shall we begin?”
Theo nods, but his gaze never leaves mine.
The ceremony is perfect in its imperfection. Devon, who insisted on performing the ceremony, loses his place twice, muttering something about needing new glasses.
At one point, a butterfly lands on Theo’s shoulder, and everyone gasps, murmuring about it being a sign of good luck.
Theo just stands there, grinning like an idiot, until it flutters away.
Then, there’s the moment during the vows when my voice cracks, and Theo gently squeezes my hands, grounding me.
“You’ve got this,” he whispers, his voice steady and full of love.
I laugh through my tears, managing to say, “Sorry, I’m a mess.”
“You’re my mess,” he replies with a smirk, earning a laugh from the crowd.
And when it’s his turn, he speaks so simply and sincerely that it’s like he’s reaching into my chest and holding my heart in his hands.
“I never thought I’d believe in soulmates,” he says, his voice trembling slightly.
“But then you came along, Grace.
You challenge me, frustrate me, make me laugh when I don’t even want to smile.
You’ve changed my life in every way that matters, and standing here today, I know one thing for certain:
I’m the luckiest man alive.”
By the time the officiant pronounces us husband and wife, I’m a blubbering mess, and so is half the audience.
Theo doesn’t wait for permission to kiss me, pulling me close and tilting me back slightly in a kiss that’s both sweet and theatrical.
The crowd erupts into cheers and applause, but all I can feel is him—his warmth, his love, his everything.
As we walk back down the aisle together, hand in hand, I catch Sarah wiping her eyes while trying to pretend she’s not crying.
The ring bearer trips over his own feet and falls into a flower bush, popping up with petals stuck to his suit.
Theo and I burst out laughing, and the photographer captures it, the click of the camera preserving the moment forever.
The reception is just as magical. Twinkling lights strung through the trees cast a golden glow over the tables, which are decorated with wildflowers and candles.
There’s laughter, dancing, and so much food that Theo jokes we could feed the entire town.
At one point, he leans in close, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re my wife,” he says, as if testing the words.
I smile, leaning into him. “And you’re my husband.”
He grins, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Best decision I ever made.”
And as the night stretches on, filled with love and laughter, I know this is just the beginning of a lifetime of moments like this—perfect in their beauty, flawed in the best ways, and ours forever.
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A. xo