I’ve specifically stayed away from Frank and The Beer and Brood Tavern so that he could have the space he needed. I stopped calling and texting, allowing him time to either miss me or get over me. It may not sound like the best plan in the world, but it’s my plan. I’ll adjust it if I see it isn’t working.

We weren’t able to schedule a practice rehearsal on the night before with the bar being open, so everyone agreed to show up a few hours early in the morning for a quick run through, before heading out to a rehearsal breakfast. Which I love and think is a great solution to our evening dilemma.

My crew arrives late on Friday night to start setting up the tents. Frank did as originally promised and cordoned off the parking lot for the tent set up. It’s been really hard to complete my pre-wedding checklist with not communicating with Frank, but Aran has been a go-between with my reminders and instructions. I hate doing that to her, but she volunteered and promised it wouldn’t stress her out. I’ve given her minimal things to convey knowing I could handle it all early Saturday morning.

My arrival at 6:00 am Saturday morning is apparently not a surprise. The parking lot is empty, and at first, I’m hesitant to approach the building. Is he going to be inside? Are the doors open? I exit my car and stare at the glass doors unsure if I should approach them or not. 

I turn to look over at his back gate, and there he stands. He’s in his jogging suit, leaning against the fence, stretching for his morning run. He nods in my direction before he takes off at a slow pace, disappearing around the corner. Well, at least I know he’s alive and well.

My morning crew arrives, honking and waving at me excitedly. We walk inside together, loaded with boxes and bags of decorations in hand. It’s time to get this fairy tale started.

I stand in awe as soon as I enter. Frank has done wonders with the inside of the bar. Every single piece of exposed wood is gleaming.  The walls have a fresh coat of light beige paint, and when I entered the bathrooms, I almost cried. They are completely re-decorated and remind me of a guest bath in a luxury bed and breakfast. It also doesn’t smell like a bar saturated with alcohol and tobacco. There is a slight vanilla scent to the place. I look around and can’t find any automatic air fresheners or little plug-in deodorizers. What has he done to get it to smell so good?

He’s been busy. Even though it sounds crazy, I’m proud of him. He came through when I needed him the most. He certainly didn’t have to accommodate my requests to make Aran’s wedding special, but he did. He truly is a great man with a generous heart.

Within a few hours, every vendor has arrived and completed their set up. The wedding party also squeezed in their morning rehearsal. I actually enjoyed the casualness and laid-back spirit of this morning rehearsal idea. I’ll have to suggest this more often.

The guests start to arrive just after noon, and I make it through my final wedding checklist without any issues pending. Now fully decorated, the bar looks like an upscale lodge with the decorations and lighting that Aran and I choose, along with the subtle renovations that Frank made. It’s simple and elegant, and a magnificent representation of where Aran and Kyle truly come from in their life and love.

I hate to have favorites because every wedding is truly unique for the couple that it represents, but this one...it’s special to me. My eyes wander around the room taking in the soft lighting on the bare tree branches, the cream-colored lanterns hanging from the beams, the ivory drapes around the stage to highlight the bride and groom, the soft, bluesy piano music playing Anita Baker...I’m speechless. The intimate setting we’ve created is definitely Aran and Kyle’s love come to life,  and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Suddenly, there’s a high-pitched shriek and Aran’s boys have broken free of the room they were contained in. They are running up and down the aisles chasing each other, dodging guests and arms trying to catch them. I’m just about to go and grab them when large arms scoop them both up and carry them back towards their mother. Frank. He looks so good in a tuxedo. I’m breathless as he walks them, legs kicking in all directions, down the aisle towards the back room. Fake cries and tears are bellowing throughout the room as they yell for their mother to rescue them.

“Lord, please let them settle down,” I silently pray. Frank walks past me, and before I can offer to help, he winks to let me know he’s handling the situation.

I check my watch and end up following him to align the wedding party while cueing the band to start the wedding music. The photographer is in place, and everything is ready. I send Kyle and his groomsmen up front to the officiant, and we begin.

****

I REALLY DON’T KNOW what I did in a previous life to get this one to work out so smoothly, but the famous little wedding of Kyle and Aran Daniels went off without a hitch.

The magnificent food has been served, the enormous and quite decadent, tiered cake has been cut, the garter and bouquet have both been tossed to the wind, and now the dancing commences. I’d love nothing more than to step away for a while and swing in the hammock over at Frank's’ place. Nothing sounds more relaxing to me right now than that.

I’m standing with Vanessa and Jeremy in the back of the tent when the DJ comes over the sound system and requests my presence on the dance floor. I have no idea what is going on, but Vanessa pushed me forward and still can’t see anything through the throng of guests that have lined the dance floor waiting to see what’s going to happen.

When I get to the edge, the crowd parts and I can only see Jenna on stage with her band, JEMFire. She lifts the mic to her lips and says, “By special request for you...Bella.” ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ by Foreigner starts to play. The crowd parts further and Frank walks onto the floor, holding his hand out to me and asks me to dance. I look back at Vanessa and she’s crying, Jeremy is behind her with his arms wrapped around her. Dreams really do come true.

Tears spring to my eyes. No man has ever requested a song for me to dance to. He doesn’t know it, but he just made a silly girl’s dream come true. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and hold him tight to me. If he tries to run again, at least I’ll have a good grip on him.

“I’ve been making plans and preparing for you,” he whispers in my ear.

I look up at him in surprise. My eyes narrow in confusion. “You have?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies. “I was reminded what an empty life I live, and that it’s not really living without love in it. It’s merely existing. We were put on this earth to live, and that’s what I want to do— with you. I love you, Isabella. I can’t go another moment without you in my world.”

“I love you too,” I confess. “These past few weeks have been the longest of my life. I thought about you every moment and how much you must hate me for making you relive your trauma. I’m so sorry I pushed you.” I lower my face and place it on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. He touches my chin tenderly and raises my face to his.

“Don’t apologize for pushing. I needed it. I’m not usually a weak man, but when you fear something for so long, it becomes an uncontrollable monster,” he admits. “You got me to act. I cleared out my front room and some other things in my home. It’s ready for new memories made with you.”

“Frank, I want you to know,” I say, swallowing hard on the tension that is building in my throat. “I’ll be patient. I understand that this might take time, but I want to grow something meaningful and lasting with you. I want to support you and love you for an eternity. No matter how long it takes, we’ll do it slowly, but together.”

“You’re damn right we’re doing everything together,” he says. The song ends and as the crowd cheers and whistles for Jenna and the band, Frank drops to one knee. “I have Kyle and Aran’s permission to do this today, so don’t worry that we are stealing their thunder.”

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking,” I laugh.

“Bella, will you marry me?” he asks. Holding a gorgeous engagement ring on his pinky finger towards me.

For a woman that talks a lot, I’m speechless. All I could do is nod my head. He slides the ring on my finger and before I can do anything else, he throws me over his shoulder and marches me out of the tent and back to the bar. The crowd is hollering and chanting. Vanessa grabs my hand as we pass her, and all I can do is pull her with me. Tears are spilling down my cheeks, as Frank swats my ass as hard as he can. “Ouch,” I holler over his shoulder.

When we get inside The Beer and Brood, the officiant is standing on stage with Aran and Kyle. They appear to be waiting for us. Suddenly it dawns on me...

“Did you mean today?” I ask, wide-eyed.

“Oh, I thought I said that,” he laughs, raising his eyebrows looking hopeful.

“Ah, hell. Why not? No time like the present,” I exclaim.

“Exactly,” he says, wrapping my arm around his elbow and escorting me to the stage.

After the preliminary wedding verbiage that I don’t even remember his speaking, the officiant asks, “Do you have vows prepared?”

“We can wing it, I think,” Frank says, winking at me and taking my hands in his.

“Bella, I’ve been a dead, broken man for half my life now. For some reason, I was fine with that— until you came along. Your fire and energy have made me a jealous man. For the first time in a long time, I want to live and be in love. I want to be in love with you. I promise to love you and be in love with you for the rest of my days. I promise to support you, to hold you, to challenge you, to make you laugh, and to take care of you all the rest of my days so help me God.”

“Frank, I promise to choose you every day, to love you in word and in deed, to do the hard work of making now into always and forever. I promise to laugh with you, cry with you, grow with you, and create with you. I love what I know of you and trust in what I don’t know yet. I give you my love, my trust and my faith in us for all the rest of my days. I give you myself, so help me God.”

Frank slides a wedding band onto my finger that matches the ring he placed there no more than thirty minutes ago.

“You may kiss your bride,” the officiant announces to Frank and he smiles wide, crinkling his eyes at those words.

Frank leans in and scoops me up in his arms, completely lifting me off the ground. He nibbles at my lips, and I open up to him, taking the kiss deeper. I have no shame for I have wanted to kiss this man desperately for weeks.

When our lips finally part, the officiant announces, “I present to you, Mr. And Mrs. Franklin Rex.”

We turn around to a surprise burst of cheering and clapping guests from the reception. They had slowly and quietly crept into the bar to watch. They continue to cheer and clap as we walk through the arched crowd.

“C’mon, Wife,” Frank says, pulling me through the bar. “We’ve got a honeymoon to get too.”

We sprint across the parking lot and slow as we near his back gate. There is a handmade sign hanging from it. White curly ribbons and silver glitter adorn the sign that says “Just Married”.  We both laugh, and Frank says, “that’d be Jenna.”

He picks me up and carries me over the threshold of the gate into his beloved Japanese Tea Garden. He sets me down and turns me around to take in the special view. The entire backyard is illuminated with candles along the walkways. Soft music is playing and I can smell the honeysuckle blooming on the vine. I quickly look at Frank with worry over the honeysuckle scent, but he’s not fazed by it. He inhales deeply and simply says, “Do you smell that? That’s what my wife smells like:  the honeysuckle from her grandmother’s garden in Brazil.”

I love this man. Someone once told me that you can be in a relationship for two years and feel nothing, and you can be in a relationship for two months and feel everything. Time is not a measure of quality; of infatuation or of love. Take your time and find a love that is worthy of the love you give in return. Don’t settle for what is easy; settle for what is great.