“OH MY GOODNESS. PAISLIE, YOU look beautiful,” Annie said as she straightened out my train.
I took a peek at myself in the mirror and gasped at the reflection.
“Wow.”
It was all I could say as I stared at the woman I hardly recognized. My brown hair had been pulled up and curled with baby’s breath flowers tucked all through out. I wore a simple pearl necklace that Janet had given to me one afternoon while we were walking alone in the vineyard. It meant more to me than she would ever know. She had become more than just Malcolm’s assistant; she was like my surrogate mother.
Adaline handed me a pair of pearl drop earrings that we had bought together that she had insisted would be perfect and she was right. I put each one on and smiled when our eyes caught. “They’re totally perfect.”
She smirked and replied, “Told you they were.”
Turning back to the mirror, I took in the beautiful strapless ball gown dress. “I love the sweetheart neckline so much on you,” Adaline said as she gave me a loving look in the mirror.
“I do too,” I softly spoke.
The moment Annie and I saw the dress, I knew it was perfect. The lace bodice flowed beautiful into English net that covered the satin dress. Lace appliqué lined the bottom of the dress and added the perfect amount of elegance.
Pulling my wedding dress up, I looked at the Jimmy Choo shoes Malcolm had bought me for today. I almost fell out of my chair when I opened them. I wasn’t used to getting such expensive gifts, and I wasn’t sure I would ever get used to it.
“Please, Lord, don’t let me break my neck walking in these,” I whispered as Annie giggled. She was the first person I called after Malcolm gave them to me. Only she would understand that moment since she had practically begged me to use my savings to buy shoes like this.
Elizabeth walked up to me and placed her hands on my shoulders. I instantly felt calm with her touch. “Okay, it’s time. Take a deep breath and slowly blow it out.”
Doing as she said, I closed my eyes and inhaled through my nose and out my mouth. When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t help but smile as Annie held my bouquet of pink peonies. I was instantly transported back to when Malcolm asked me to marry him.
With my eyes closed, I could practically feel his lips on my body.
Annie cleared her throat and said, “Um, Paislie I’m pretty sure I know what you’re thinking about, but in all seriousness here, we have a nun in the room.”
Everyone started laughing as I felt my cheeks heat as I glared at my best friend.
Three knocks on the door signaled it was time.
“Ready?” Adaline asked as I nodded my head. “Let’s hope Emmit doesn’t try to escape during the ceremony.”
Chuckling, I shook my head as I thought about his comment during rehearsal.
“Mass? We’re doing a mass? The title on the program should be ‘Get ready for the longest celebration of the sacrament of holy matrimony in history.’”
As we made our way down the hall, I could hear each girls’ shoes hitting against the marble floor. My eyes glanced around as I remembered running down these halls as a little girl. St. Patrick’s was more than a church; it had been my home as well. I sought refuge here so many times.
Janet was making sure everyone was in position and knew what to do. She had been a huge help in planning the wedding. I nearly gave Malcolm a heart attack when I told him she should get into the wedding planning business.
Janet cleared her throat and said, “Okay, Landon and Sophie will be going first, then Adaline, followed by Annie.”
Glancing back to me, she flashed a huge smile. “Don’t trip!”
I moaned and said, “Oh, why did you say that!”
Elizabeth wrapped her arm around me tighter as I felt the tears threatening as I thought about when I asked her to walk me down the aisle. I’d never seen her cry before that day.
Janet gave me a wink and said, “I’ll motion when it’s time for you and Elizabeth to start walking.”
“Got it,” Elizabeth said in a chipper voice.
The music started and I watched Sophie guide Landon through the doors. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. The sound of the guitar playing “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” warmed my heart. As a little girl I used to dream that song would be played during my wedding.
As I stood off to the side, I watched as Adaline began walking. Annie turned and smiled before she started walking. The violins played as I looked at Elizabeth.
“I’m scared.”
She smiled warmly and said, “You’re not scared. You’re nervous.”
“It’s the same thing.”
With a light chuckle she said, “There is a very big difference.”
Janet nodded and Elizabeth and I moved into position. Swallowing hard, I watched everyone stand and look directly at me.
“Okay, now I’m scared and nervous!” I said as Elizabeth grinned bigger.
“Paislie.”
My heart dropped at the sound of my father’s voice. Turning, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
“Shut the doors, Janet,” Elizabeth said. “Let everyone know everything is okay; we just need a few moments.”
The tightening in my chest was causing me to have a hard time breathing. What in the hell is my father doing at my wedding?
“You’re not welcome here, Mr. Pruitt, and I kindly ask that you leave please.”
I was stunned at how calm Elizabeth sounded.
An evil smile spread over his face. “Oh, I have no intention of missing my little girl’s wedding. How much did that dress cost, pumpkin?”
With a quick glance at my dress, my head snapped back to him. “I think if you want this day to go off without a hitch, you’ll spread the wealth.”
“You unbelievable evil man. You’re actually standing here bribing your daughter before her own wedding!”
“Sister, why don’t you for once keep your habit out of my families business?”
Elizabeth walked up to my father and stood directly in front of him. “The day you dropped Paislie off at St. Patrick’s, you gave up any right to call her your family. She is my family. Our family here at the church, so why don’t you just take a few steps back and leave before I have you thrown out on your . . . on your . . . on your ass!”
I gasped when I heard Elizabeth curse. My father was as stunned as I, but what happened next I was pretty sure neither of us was expecting.
Pushing Elizabeth out of the way, he said, “Get out of my way, you bitch.” Elizabeth spun around and stepped back in front of him and punched him square in the jaw.
Not being able to hold the scream back, the doors opened and Father Tim came rushing out as Janet shut the doors and walked over to me. Father Tim quickly walked up to Elizabeth and pulled her close to him.
“Elizabeth, are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head and took a few steps away from him. “I’m fine, but Father forgive me for I have sinned.” They both turned and looked at my father holding his chin.
“She hit me! She called me an ass and then hit me!”
Father Tim took my dad by the arm and pulled him toward the door. I quickly turned to Elizabeth.
“Where in the heck did you learn to punch like that?”
She shrugged and said, “I took a class on self-defense.”
Janet attempted to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.
Letting out a gasp, I took her hand in mine. “It’s swelling up.”
She brushed it off like it was nothing. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it after the wedding.”
Father Tim walked up to us and blew out a breath. “Okay, let’s try this again. Let me head back down and let your worried fiancé know everything is okay. Once the music starts, please open the door and let’s pick up where we left off.”
My heart was still pounding, but everyone else acted like what had just happened wasn’t that big of a deal as my eyes bounced between them all.
A few moments later, the music started, the doors opened and I my eyes were pierced by the bluest of blue. “Malcolm,” I whispered as I let my gaze move across his body. He was dressed in a black suit and a white tie.
“He looks amazing,” I said with a wide smile.
Elizabeth replied, “He certainly does.”
I tried to pull my eyes from him to smile at our guests, but I couldn’t. I was in a trance and I never wanted him to stop looking at me like he was that very moment.
When we finally made it to him I heard nothing but the sound of his breathing and mine. “Is everything okay?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“Everything is perfect,” I responded.
After Elizabeth placed my hand in Malcolm’s, we turned and made our way to the altar. The next forty minutes was a total blur. The moment Father Tim announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Wallace, I couldn’t contain my tears. Pressing his lips to mine, I lost myself in Malcolm’s kiss as the entire church erupted in cheers.
When we started down the aisle, I smiled and waved to friends and family, as well as complete strangers who knew Malcolm either from racing or were distant relatives. The thought of meeting all those people at the reception seemed daunting.
Walking out the door of the church, I sucked in a breath when I saw the Rolls Royce Phantom car parked out front. After quickly searching for my father, I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally slipped into the car and drove off.
My head was spinning from the two different emotions swimming in my head. Happiness and shear fear that my father would be waiting outside the church for us.
Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing down.
“Are you going to tell me what happened back there at the church so I don’t wonder for the rest of my life if you had second thoughts about marrying me?”
I snapped my head up and looked into Malcolm’s eyes. “I’ve never once had second thoughts. It wasn’t anything like that.”
He let out the breath he had been holding as I took his hand in mine.
Knowing he was going to be angry, I braced myself for his response.
“My father was at the church. He tried to bribe me into giving him money, but it didn’t work and he was removed from the church.”
I’d never seen Malcolm look so angry.
Pulling out his phone, he hit a number. “You have some explaining to do. He showed up at the church.”
My mouth fell open as I sucked in a breath.
What in the hell was going on, and who in the hell was Malcolm talking to?