The morning passes in a whirlwind, and I can hardly keep track of the whirlwind of activity happening all around me. The great room has been magically transformed into a chapel, with rows of padded folding chairs filling the space and a dais set up at the head of the room, right in front of the massive windows overlooking the view of Lake Michigan. There are fresh flowers and candles everywhere. Even the weather is cooperating, presenting us with a beautiful vista topped with blue skies and lovely white clouds.
Gina Capelli is in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches to the feast of finger foods that looks insanely delicious… tiny quiches, mini fresh fruit skewers, cheeses, crackers, antipasto, salads, barbecue meatballs and hot wings for the guys. There’s even a chocolate fondue fountain for dipping. She’s definitely outdone herself.
The pantry door opens and in walk her assistants carrying the wedding cake, which they set down on the kitchen table. Three round cake tiers are covered in cream icing, decorated with delicate peach-colored roses and trimmed in dainty, edible gold beads.
“Gina, it’s beautiful!” I say as I come into the room for a closer look.
She turns to me with a radiant smile. “Do you like it?”
“Are you kidding? I love it! It’s too pretty to cut.”
Shane walks into the room. “There you are,” he says, coming to my side and taking my hand. “You’re needed in the great room.”
Seeing him for the first time in his black tuxedo, white shirt, charcoal gray pinstriped vest, and blue silk tie that matches his eyes takes my breath away. He looks incredible. “Wow. You look dreamy.”
He grins, and I could almost swear he’s blushing. “Dreamy, huh? I assume my appearance meets with your approval.”
“Yes. Definitely.” I pull him down for a kiss.
“Sorry, Gina,” he says, smiling at her. “I need to steal the bride for a moment.”
Shane pulls me out of the room and down the hallway to the great room.
Jonah is setting up his guitars in front of the stone hearth.
Lia walks into the room. “Hey, princess! You excited?”
“Over here,” Shane says, leading me to the dais, where Cooper’s standing. We step up onto the platform and stand in front of Cooper, who’s looking very handsome in a black suit and tie.
“We’ll be standing right here,” Shane says, positioning the two of us directly in front of Cooper.
“Yeah, that works,” Cooper says.
For a moment, I’m overwhelmed by all these people working together to make this day perfect for me and Shane. Shane’s family, his friends too, have welcomed me into the fold unconditionally, and it’s an extraordinary feeling to be accepted by so many.
Shane takes both my hands in his and pulls me close to face him, then peers down at his Rolex. “In about forty-five minutes, I will officially become your husband, and then you’re stuck with me for life. So, you have forty-four minutes to change your mind.”
I smile up at him, reaching up to fiddle with his tie. I know he’s just teasing me, but there’s a certain edge to his gaze. I replay Mom’s words in my head. I want the same thing for you. And gazing into Shane’s eyes, I know I’ve found it.
I have no doubts. I still don’t understand why he picked me, but I have faith in what we have. He could have anyone he wanted, and yet here he is, with me, literally counting the minutes until we’re husband and wife. I don’t know why the universe blessed me with him, but I’m going to grab on with both hands and hold on for dear life.
“I’ll never change my mind,” I tell my husband-to-be. “You’re it for me.”
He smiles and cups my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, looking quite satisfied with my answer. “Same.”
Gabrielle breezes into the room, looking ethereally lovely with her curly red hair up in an elaborate do, with sprigs of baby’s breath woven through the strands. She’s still dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, though, so the transformation isn’t quite done. “Has anyone seen – oh, there you are.” Gabrielle walks up to the dais, motioning for me to step down. “It’s time to get ready. Your entourage is waiting upstairs in your room to help you get all dolled up.”
Shane takes me into his arms, bending me backwards over his arm, and he kisses the daylights out of me, leaving me breathless and lightheaded. “Bring her back soon,” he tells Gabrielle when he releases me.
“Ha!” Gabrielle laughs. “You don’t get to see her again until the ceremony.”
* * *
My mom and Erin are waiting for us upstairs in my suite. As soon as we walk into the room, I’m besieged by helpers.
“Where have you been, honey?” my mom says. “You need to get dressed! Tyler will be up here any minute to escort you downstairs for the ceremony.”
“It’s not for forty minutes yet,” I say, laughing as my mom pulls my top over my head and tosses it onto the bed.
My wedding dress, which is a vintage, off-white silk gown covered with tiny, embroidered rosebuds, is laid out neatly on the bed. Alongside the gown is the matching bra and panty set, silk stockings, and garter belt that I received as a wedding gift from Shane’s friend, Sylvia, who owns a women’s clothing boutique. The extravagant undergarments are lovely, and something Shane’s sure to enjoy later this evening when he sees them for the first time. He does have a thing for garter belts and silk stockings.
I disappear into the bathroom to change into my undergarments. When I come out, my mom helps me slip into my dress.
Gabrielle is in charge of my hair, thank goodness, because ponytails are the extent of my hair-styling skills. I sit in front of the vanity while she works her magic, creating twisted loose braids and accenting them with sprigs of white baby’s breath flowers. After adding some light touches of make-up, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Finally, I slip into a pair of gold flats and put on a pair of gold chandelier earrings.
While Mom and Erin and Gabrielle get dressed, I walk out onto the balcony for some fresh air and look out over the expansive rear yard as it slopes gently down to the beach.
My breath catches in my throat when Shane, his father, and his brothers come into view as they stroll down the path to the dock. Dressed in matching tuxedos, they make a striking picture all together. Calum pats Shane on the back, and I feel a lump in my throat. He’s so like his dad.
I watch Shane as he laughs with his dad and brothers. From my vantage point, it looks like the guys are teasing him. They’re probably ribbing him about tying the knot. Whatever they’re saying, Shane seems to be taking it all in good stride.
It seems unreal that I’ll soon be married to this man. It wasn’t that long ago that I feared I’d never be able to have an intimate relationship with anyone. My first pseudo-serious relationship was with a boy I met in college – Kevin – and that ended disastrously. I couldn’t get past my fears and anxiety enough to be intimate with him, and he had absolutely no patience with me. Shane, on the other hand, was patience personified. I had plenty of freak-out moments with him, too, and he took them all in stride and made everything okay for me.
Now I’m about to make a lifetime commitment to him, and I have no doubts whatsoever. Not only that, but we’re going to have a baby in about six months.
* * *
There’s a knock on my door, and Mom opens it. Tyler comes in and joins me on the balcony. “Is the bride ready?” he asks.
I nod, shivering. It’s chilly outside and I’m ready to go back inside. I pick up the train of my gown with my free hand so I can walk without falling on my face.
When we walk back into my room, I can hear Mom and Erin and Gabrielle all in the bathroom, putting on their finishing touches.
“You look beautiful, Beth,” Tyler says, as we wait for the others to come out of the bathroom.
“Thanks. You look very handsome.” My brother is perfectly groomed to within an inch of his life. His tux is perfectly pressed, as is his shirt. His tie is perfectly folded.
“Before the others come out, I just wanted to tell you how happy I am for you,” he says. “I’m glad you have someone you love enough to want to spend the rest of your life with. Shane and I don’t always see eye-to-eye, but I know he’s a good guy and that he’ll take very good care of you and the baby.”
I smile at my brother, touched by his words. He’s right – he and Shane don’t always get along. It wasn’t that long ago that Tyler practically started a brawl with Shane and actually had him arrested. But since then, things have been better between the two of them, and I’m hopeful for the future. They don’t have to be best friends, but it would be nice if Tyler would loosen up a bit where Shane is concerned.
Mom and Erin and Gabrielle come out of the bathroom, their hair and make-up perfected.
“Sorry,” Mom says, a little breathlessly. “We’re ready.”
“Shall we, ladies?” Tyler says, opening the door for us.
Tyler escorts us down the hallway and down the stairs to the foyer, and we take our places outside the great room, waiting for our cues.
Shane’s father escorts my mother to her seat in the front row. She’ll be sitting with Shane’s parents and Tyler.
When Jonah starts to play Pachelbel’s Canon in D – my choice for a wedding march – Gabrielle and Erin start walking down the center aisle and take their positions near the dais.
I had asked Lia if she wanted to be a bridesmaid, and she told me, “No offense, princess, but God no. That’s just not my thing.”
At the time, I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants.
“Breathe, Beth,” Tyler whispers to me, nudging me with his elbow.
I take a deep breath and give him a tentative smile. I’m so nervous, I’m afraid I’m going to be sick.
Tyler takes my arm, and I squeeze his. My brother has filled in for my father all my life, and he takes his responsibilities very seriously. It was difficult for him to take a step back and let Shane assume the role of most important significant other in my life, and ultimately, my protector. Ironically, it was Tyler who brought us together in the first place.
“You’re doing great,” Tyler says. “Just relax.”
When everyone is in place, Tyler and I start down the aisle. Every head turns to watch us, and I feel like my heart is going to jump up into my throat. Shane’s mom has tears in her eyes, as does my mom.
I catch sight of Sam, seated in his wheelchair, which has been positioned at the end of the first row of chairs, beside Mack. He gives me a thumbs-up and a wink.
“Just keep breathing,” Tyler says as we approach the dais.
Tyler hands me over to Shane, who helps me step up onto the low platform.
Cooper begins speaking, and it’s all just a blur to me after that. I recite my vows, as does Shane. Cooper presides over the brief ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance such a momentous occasion deserves, his deep voice resonating clearly in the spacious room.
When Cooper finishes with “You may kiss the bride,” Shane cradles my face in his hands and, in front of a room filled with our family and friends, gives me the hottest, sweetest kiss I’ve ever known.