Europe was wonderful. Can you believe we survived five months trekking across Europe with Brianna and Hurley bickering and screwing every five minutes? Oh, and we did manage to check off my list.
Ryan says we now have to start a new one, but this time he is picking.
Brianna has come home with a permanent souvenir. I smile as I watch my best friend caressing her small bump.
In addition, today, I am about to marry my other best friend. Gram’s garden has been transformed into a fall wonderland. There are monogrammed pumpkins lining the walkway. Leave it to my Gram and Brianna to make pumpkins look fancy. There is beautiful fall foliage wrapped around the trellis and lining the orange carpet, I will walk on for the wedding march.
Hurley tried to talk my Gram into letting him wear his camo hunting gear instead of a tuxedo. They compromised. The lapel of his jacket is camo. I thought Brianna was going to punch him in the nose when he asked.
Brianna is my maid of honor of course. She is wearing a simple chocolate colored gown with an empire waist. She is trying to hide her bump, her and Hurley haven’t told their families about the baby yet. Brianna’s parents are pretty old fashioned, and they aren’t ready to get married yet. With the way they fight, I kind of can’t blame them. Brianna is afraid her parents will try to force them into a marriage they aren’t ready for.
My sweet Ryan looks so handsome. He has a little bit of stubble. He has it in his head that he is going to grow a Duck Dynasty beard just like the guys on that TV show.
I don’t think so.
I see a straight edge razor in his near future. Punk. He could have at least shaved for our wedding. His tuxedo is like Hurley’s minus the camo.
My gown is gorgeous. It is an A- line with long sleeves, a scoop neck, there is see through lace covering my back, and it fans out at the bottom just enough to cover my chucks. The dress is more Mrs. Monroe’s doing. If it were left up to me, well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be wearing this gown.
Let’s face it, I am a ripped jeans and chucks kind of girl. Give me a ratty t-shirt and holey jeans any day over heels and dresses.
My hair is left loose in long cascading ringlets. My something blue is my chucks. Hey, don’t judge me. They are navy blue, so it counts. My something old and borrowed is my soon to be mother-in-law’s veil. My something new is my panties—I think Ryan will appreciate them if no one else does. My diamond stud earrings complete my look.
We didn’t invite a lot of guest, but it isn’t about that. I only care about sharing this day with the people who love Ryan and me the most. My Gram had to invite all her old biddies. I am sure they can’t wait to gossip about it over the next quilting luncheon. Some of Ryan’s extended family is here as well.
“Are you ready to do this?” Dr. Peters hooks his arm through mine.
“Ready as I will ever be.” I smile as he lowers my veil over my face.
“Bella, I am so proud of you, you have grown to be an incredible young woman. I wish your mother could be here to share in this day.”
Ryan’s song and mine begins to play. The Tip of My Tongue by The Civil Wars. It may seem an odd choice to some, but Ryan and I are anything but ordinary.
I don’t even notice the faces staring at me from the crowd. Right now, I have tunnel vision, and it is leading me straight to Ryan.
“Who gives this woman away?”
“Her Gram and I do.” Alex releases me and places me in Ryan’s care.
We turn and look at the priest as he begins going through the opening lines of the ceremony.
We opted to write our own vows.
“Many of you might not know this, but when Bella and I met, we were both lost. She was facing her darkest trials and I was coping with overcoming my own demons. Somehow, through it all, we fell in love, and I plan to keep falling in love with her even more with every passing day. I Ryan promise to love, cherish, and protect my beautiful Bella, as long as forever will allow me to. All you ever need to know is this—I’m with You…,” he promises sliding a silver diamond band onto my finger.
“I never knew what it really meant to love someone, until you breezed into my life and took my breath away. You were the light I needed to pull me out of the darkness that surrounded me. I Bella, promise to love you, Ryan with all that I have. I can’t promise that it will be easy being married to me, but I can promise you it will be worth it. And all you need to know at the end of the day is—I won’t ever let you go…,” I promise placing his silver band on his finger.
The priest pronounces us as husband and wife. Ryan cups my face and gives me the kiss of a lifetime. With his kiss, I can feel his love for me and the promises we have made.
I would go through anything and travel anywhere as long as it is with him.
Ryan found me and pulled me through my darkest times, and I am so glad we met that day on the bridge. He saved me from myself.
I smile at him as we make our way through the small crowd waiting to congratulate us.
We go inside the house to change into more comfortable attire, we already had our pictures taken before the ceremony. I promise to meet Ryan on the makeshift dance floor, also known as the back patio for our first dance as husband and wife. I have to practically push him out the door. He keeps trying to take my clothes off as I am putting them on.
“Stop, we will have plenty of time for that later, and besides I don’t want to show up to our reception with just fucked hair.”
“Babe, I don’t think anyone would mind.” he tugs on my bra strap one last time.
“Maybe not, but I’d mind. I love you. Now get your fine ass downstairs before my Gram comes up here and turns the hose on us.”
He gives me a heated kiss trying to persuade me otherwise. I have to say I am tempted, so tempted to just say fuck it and rip off his clothes. I’d never allow him to leave this room though if I do.
“Fine. You owe me,” he says with a scowl before leaving me to myself.
As promised I meet my man on the dance floor, we have our first dance to Somewhere Only We Know by Keane.
After a few dances, it is time to throw the garter, but we thought we’d play a joke on Hurley. It was really Brianna’s idea. Gram is all too happy to go along with our prank.
We tell Hurley that he gets to take my garter belt off blindfolded using only his mouth. He has no idea that this is normally for the groom, but it doesn’t matter, it’s funny. My Gram slides my garter belt up around her knee and takes my seat in the center of the patio/dance floor.
Hurley is blindfolded and waiting. I lean down and whisper that I am ready for him in his ear.
“I’m ready for you, Hurley. Make it good.”
He licks up my Gram’s leg with his tongue. “Wow. Your legs are so smooth but no offense your skin feels kind of funny. Wrinkly but smooth.”
We all have to hold our laughter in. He completes his task and pulls the blindfold off feeling so proud of himself only to have my Gram staring back at him. Gram winks at him as we all start laughing.
“I knew it was her the whole time,” he claims with a red face.
He so didn’t know by the look on his face,
Ryan puts his arm around Hurley. “You didn’t think I’d really let you put your lips on my woman, did you?”
Hurley laughs and gives Gram a hug telling her, “Clara, I guess we can’t hide the truth any longer, don’t deny my love in front of everyone.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek.
Gram swats his arm playfully. “Hush your filthy mouth, boy.”
Everyone goes back to eating, drinking and dancing after Brianna catches my bouquet. It isn’t like she was going to get much competition from all of Gram’s old biddies.
Hurley and Brianna are already fighting after dancing to one song together. Imagine that. I am sure they will be sneaking off in about five minutes to have makeup sex.
I think they are secretly horny all the time and fight for an excuse to screw.
Ryan and I have decided against taking a honeymoon since we sort of just returned from one. We are going to spend the night at a nice hotel. I don’t think my Gram wants to hear the things I plan on doing with my husband tonight.
Grabbing a glass of champagne I give Ryan a chance to dance with his mother. I have a seat by Gram and thank her for everything. I know that raising a hellcat like me couldn’t have been easy on her. I also know she wouldn’t trade raising me for anything in the world. She is so proud to call me her daughter, and Ryan her son-in-law.
In fact, Ryan and I are starting college together after this semester, so we are going to be living here with Gram. She says she can’t take care of the house on her own. I know it is really because she’d be lonely if we left. I still plan to pursue becoming a guidance counselor and Ryan has decided he wants to be a social worker.
There are so many troubled kids in the world. I know we can’t save them all, but just maybe we can prevent some of what Nolan Rivers has inflicted from happening to others. There are always signs, if you open yourself up enough to see them.
Yep, I was right. I spy Hurley and Brianna darting into my Gram’s shed. Those two are something else.
I look all around me on this beautiful fall day and it really is a good life. I am reminded of a saying I once heard. At the end of the day, everything will be alright, and if it isn’t alright, it isn’t the end.