Paige
Six months later . . .
I ALWAYS THOUGHT I’d be more nervous on this day, but I’m surprisingly calm. When the girls asked me how I was feeling and I expressed concerns that I’m eerily okay, they assured me it meant I had no doubts.
And I don’t.
I take in my appearance in the full-length mirror as I wait to meet my groom at the end of the aisle. My dress has an illusion neckline with flower details all over the bust that fade down the full skirt. The ivory color complements my skin tone while the A-line shape accentuates my waist. I opted for a diamond encrusted headband instead of a veil, especially since my hair is still short.
After Sean told me how much he liked the way it was, I decided to keep it. My lack of hair was always a reminder of the monster eating away at me on the inside. Now that it’s not there, I was able to embrace it with Sean’s help. It was now a reminder of the survivor I am and the battle I fought to get here.
A knock on the door draws my attention. Walking toward it, I grab the knob and am about to open it when I hear, “Don’t open it.”
Sean.
My heart beats a rhythm that only his can recognize. “What are you doing?” I ask. The ceremony should be starting soon. In fact, I thought it was my dad knocking to tell me we’re ready to go.
“I just wanted to come see you before we got started.” He pauses, then asks, “Are you nervous?”
“No,” I respond without hesitation.
“Good, me neither.”
I’m relieved to know he’s just as sure about us as I am.
“Random fact,” he says, causing a smile to pull at my lips. A wave of nostalgia comes over me as we’re taken back to the beginning with our random questions and facts. “I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Sean Riley.”
“Oh,” I say, dread heavy in my voice. “I guess now is a bad time to tell you I kind of want to keep my last name.”
Silence.
I try hard to hold it in, but can’t and soon I’m giggling wishing I could see his face right now.
“You’re giving me shit on our wedding day? Really, babe?” I hear the humor in his tone and I know he’s not upset.
“Sorry, you make it too easy.”
“Just remember payback’s a bitch, gorgeous.” My core tightens at the promise behind his words. I’ve told him before he shouldn’t make his punishments so damn enjoyable if he wants me to take him seriously.
“Random fact.” I wait for him to ask me what it is, but he just waits. “I can’t wait to make you Mr. Paige Stewart.”
“Okay, now you’re taking this joking thing a little too far. I’m getting out of here before you emasculate me any further.”
“Love you!” I shout through the door.
“I love you too. See you in a few.” I listen as his footsteps fade down the hallway.
My stomach flutters and I get antsy. Why is it taking so long to get going? Finally, there’s another knock on the door and this time it’s my dad on the other side.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he says as he looks at me. “You are gorgeous.” He presses his lips together as his eyes well up. I’ve never seen my dad show so much emotion in my life, making it hard to keep it together myself.
“You have to stop with all that or you’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup.” I wave at my face with my hand and look up at the ceiling.
“Sorry, I’m getting soft in my old age.” I smile affectionately at him as he holds his elbow out for me to take. “You ready to do this?” he asks.
“I was ready the moment he asked me.”
“Then let’s go.”
As we walk to the door, I grab my bouquet of white ranunculus and eucalyptus before heading out. The closer we get, the stronger the butterflies in my stomach get. But it’s not from nerves, but excitement and before I know it, the music starts and we’re headed toward my forever.
A white aisle touches my feet as I pass rows of our family and friends. Mason jars filled with flowers hanging from hooks guide the way as the sun shines down on us. As beautiful as it is, all of it vanishes the moment Sean’s eyes land on mine. He smiles brightly at me and I think I forget how to breathe.
I can’t believe this is finally happening.
My dad hands me off to my soon-to-be husband and I’m consumed with so many emotions I’m on the verge of tears. With a gorgeous barn as our backdrop, the whisper of a breeze, and no clouds in sight, this moment couldn’t be more perfect. But the best part is I’m about to marry my soulmate in front of our closest family and friends.
The minister begins the ceremony, and it might sound bad, but I don’t hear much of what he says. I’m too busy focusing on the amazing man in front of me. Luckily, I catch the part where we get to say our vows to each other.
“Paige, I knew from the moment I saw you that you’d be my wife. You may have needed more convincing, but at least we’re here.” The corner of his mouth quirks up, and I can’t contain a small giggle. I’m not the only one either as our guests laugh too. “I promise to make you laugh with an endless supply of bad jokes, take care of you in good times and bad, and be there to support you in your goals and ambitions. But most importantly, I promise to love you with every beat of my heart and piece of my soul.”
I have to swallow hard and pause to regain my composure. “Sean, there have been many times I’ve wondered how I made it through everything that was thrown my way. Then I take in your reassuring eyes and listen to your comforting words and know it was because of you. You have been my strength when I was weak, my light in the dark, and my reason for living.” Sean takes a deep breath and blinks rapidly to hold back the tears. I sniff and talk around the lump in my throat.
“I promise to love you unconditionally, bad jokes and all.” This gets him to laugh and I giggle myself. “I promise to be by your side in your dark moments as you were mine, and I vow to spend the rest of my life proving that I deserve a good man like you.”
Sean cups my face with one hand and pulls me in for a kiss. A couple moments pass before a throat clears beside us.
“You’re a little early,” our minister lightly admonishes.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” Sean says. He’s not the least bit sorry, and neither am I.
We’re finally declared man and wife and seal the deal with our first official kiss. He dips me backward and kisses me like it’s the first time our lips have touched.
Our friends and family clap and Sean pulls back and looks down on me. “Tell me you love me,” he demands.
“I love you.”
After pictures, we head into the barn for our reception, which is romantically decorated in swaths of white drapery and mason jars filled with flowers.
“You did it!” Scarlett squeals as she approaches me with Lydia and Charlotte after we’ve eaten.
“I know!”
“I’m so happy for you, Paige,” Lydia says, her son, Marcus Jr., placed on her hip. I was so sick when he was born, but it feels like we blinked and now he’s almost a year old.
“We all are,” Charlotte adds. She looks toward the dance floor where Nathaniel waddles across it, Nate close by watching. For a one-and-a-half-year-old, he’s got some moves.
“I think it’s nice of you to put that poor boy out of his misery. Lord knows he worked hard enough to get you here,” Scarlett chimes in.
I roll my eyes but know she’s joking. “I know, I know. Trust me, I feel like an idiot all the time for it, but I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. So this was how it was supposed to be.”
A waiter walks by with a tray and we each take a glass of champagne off of it while we catch up and chat for a bit. The four of us are so busy nowadays we don’t get to see each other much. The older we get, I realize the less eventful our lives are. Everyone is busy with either work, kids, or both. Scarlett has still sworn off men, but I did notice she kept mentioning a particular student several times, so I make a mental note to dive into that later.
“Alright, ladies, you’ve had enough time with my bride. I need her back now,” Sean interrupts. I go with him willingly as he whisks me off to the dance floor.
I get lost in his blue eyes as we sway to the music. Our guests begin filtering in on the dance floor with us. “Ready to make our toast?” he asks me when the song is over. I nod, excitement and nervousness hitting me.
Sean taps a knife against a glass to get everyone’s attention. When it’s quiet, he starts. “Thank you all for coming tonight. It means a lot to Paige and me that you’re here to help celebrate one of the most important days of our lives. So while we’re all gathered, we have an announcement.” He looks at me, knowing this is a delicate topic.
“As most of you know, I had to have a hysterectomy to get rid of my cancer. We had eggs frozen in the hopes we’d be able to have a child through surrogacy. Well, we just got word from our doctor last week that two of the embryos took and we’re having twins!”
There’s a gasp from a couple people followed by overwhelming cheers.
I look up at Sean, surrounded and filled with love and realize this is what it feels like to be complete. I thought the biggest risk was handing my heart over to Sean, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Because as I look up at the person who owns my heart, I know I’ve never been safer.
“Tell me you love me,” I say.
“I love you, Paige. Always.”
For a sneak peek of Scarlett’s story, turn the page.