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“Marriage is all about one rule. Be there for each other. Just be there. It’s just one rule. You guys can’t mess it up,” he smiles, knowing he’s helping put me at ease.
It’s only when I hear the sweet melody of the piano shift at the announcement of my arrival, it changes to the melody of “Here Comes the Sun,” and I can breathe again. I smile, knowing Drew insisted on picking the music, but wanted to surprise me on the big day itself.
With my grandfather on my arm, I turn down the stone steps down the path that leads to the ceremony, and there, I see my prince charming. Sun-kissed and golden, his hair is neatly combed back but it can’t hide how much he’s let it grow. A singular curl falls in front of his forehead, making him appear like an island version of Superman.
Each step I take, another butterfly leaves me and I feel more at ease, knowing my forever is getting closer and closer and closer.
I finally lose it when I see Drew wiping tears from his own eyes when he sees me. Troy puts a supportive hand on his shoulder as I make my way down. He whispers something to Drew, who nods and smiles.
When we finally reach the end and I’m just inches from Drew, all I want to do is kiss his adorable face. But of course, that has to wait until after the “I dos.”
“You look stunning,” he whispers, then sniffles.
“I never took you for such a softie,” I tease, still dabbing my face, careful not to ruin my makeup.
The officiant, our local pastor, begins the ceremony, and my grandfather gives me away to Drew with a hug for us both before taking his seat. Under the arch of sunflowers and the sound of the waves just beside us, I can’t help but wish I could live in this moment forever.
I’m lost in Drew’s eyes as the beautiful words of the preacher go unheard. All I can picture is all the fantasies I’ve had that I’ve only seen play out in romance novels.
I get to wake up and enjoy my morning coffee with the man I love. We get to spend time in our garden, nurturing daisies and sunflowers, and anything else we could want to grow. We get to build a home where our children can live right on the beach, where they can have adventures and explore all day before coming back home to Drew and me.
We’ll all share family meals and movie nights cuddled up together on the couch. Of course, the little ones will fall asleep and Drew and I will get to carry them and tuck them into bed before falling into our own. I can’t help but feel so lucky that I finally get to see these dreams become reality.
But just before we take our vows, Drew stops the ceremony. “I’ll be right back,” is all he says before taking off in a light jog down the aisle.
I look at Troy who mouths “It’s okay” as people start looking at each other, then back up at me, trying to figure out what’s going on. A few moments start to feel like an eternity.
Is he leaving me at the altar? Would he do that, after everything? He said he’d be right back. He’s making me so nervous.
Chapter thirty-six
Drew – Left at the Altar?
“I’m so nervous, why am I this nervous?” I tell Troy just before Meg walks down the aisle. I’ve always been the calmest, most collected guy in the room even when negotiating the biggest deals that the Bellamy kids have ever made.
Standing here, I’m surrounded by friends and family. Why do I feel like I’m vibrating?
“You should be,” he smiles. “You’re about to marry your best friend.”
“What if I cry?”
“Do it. Let it rain.” It’s the most natural thing to do.
It’s when the music shifts and our guests stand that I finally see my beautiful bride emerge from around the corner, and the sight of her unleashes the floodgates. Looking like sunshine itself, her dress flows effortlessly behind her as she walks with her grandfather on her arm.
I say screw it and just let the tears fall. I try to hold back just enough so as not to look like a blubbering idiot but I can’t help it.
She’s the most radiant, beautiful person I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Troy rests a hand on my shoulder and tells me, “Here she comes, man.”
I take a deep breath and wipe my face as best as I can before she finally makes it to the end of the aisle, carefully wiping away tears of her own.
“You look stunning,” I whisper.
“I never took you for such a softie,” she teases, and I can’t help but smile. Yeah, I didn’t either, I think, as the preacher calls everyone to take their seats.
I don’t hear much of what’s said by the preacher when I get lost in Meg’s eyes like a moth to a flame. She’s going to be by my side for the rest of my life and now I get to be lost in those stunning blue eyes over and over and over again.
