Ariel

 

“It’s time, dear,” Mom says as Emory applies the final touches to my make-up. I go over to the standing mirror in the corner of the room to take one final look at myself. I can’t believe this is me!

“You’re so beautiful,” Mom says wiping a tear from her face.

“Dillon’s going to fall over when he sees you, sis,” Rainey says coming up to join us. Then Em wraps her arms around the three of us and we sit there for a minute looking at the three of ourselves and I notice, I’m not the only beautiful one here today. Marcus, Levi and Carson’s mouths are going to drop open when they see my sisters, which I voice out to them and they both smile bright happy smiles.

“Come on, baby, let’s get you down to your man before he comes up here charging after you and throwing you over his shoulder and marching you down himself,” Mom says to me. She’s right, I can picture Dillon doing that exact thing.

“Mom’s right, let’s go get you married, big sister,” Em says handing me my bouquet of fresh flowers—no roses are in it, they are no longer a reminder of love to me. Instead we went with daisies and baby’s breath, simple yet eloquent.

“Let’s do this,” I squeal out in excitement. I put my hand on my stomach and think of my baby and how this time next year, he or she will be with us. “Let’s go get daddy,” I say while rubbing my tummy.

 

 

When we reach the beach and I can see Dillon, my mouth waters at the sight of him. He looks so handsome in his jean shorts and button down white collared shirt. He’s gotten some sun while we’ve been here, and it adds to the look. His skin is nice and bronzed causing his hazel eyes to pop. His golden wavy hair is brushed back out of his eyes, and I once again want to go up to him and run my hands through it. I love grabbing his hair, pulling it, whatever the situation calls for, as long as my hands are in it, I’m a happy girl. When I finally reach him and he tells me how beautiful I am, I leak a tear, what is up with all the tears I’ve been shedding lately? Whatever it is, I don’t like it! The minister starts us off, and I have to pay attention to his words since he has an accent. We go through the normal routine, he welcomes us and tells everyone how we’re here today to commit ourselves to one another. Then comes the part I’ve been looking forward too, saying the vows that we individually wrote to each other.

“Mr. Connelly and Miss Masters have decided to write vows to each other. They have a story to share of their love and devotion to each other. Mr. Connelly, would you do the honors of going first?” the minister asks him.

“I would, thank you,” Dillon says to him taking my hands in his.

 

“When we were younger, and I admired you from afar, I never knew that one day my dream of having you would come true. I went away to college to make something of myself, hoping one day I would be a good enough man to have a woman like you. You became my inspiration to better myself, when I came home I had no intentions of tracking you down, not believing for one minute that I had a chance with you. You were always the forbidden fruit that I longed for but never touched. Then I walked into that hospital room, and suddenly nothing else mattered. As I spent time with you for just a few minutes here and there, you became a siren calling to me and I knew I had to ask you out. When you said yes, my heart skipped a beat and I was thanking my lucky stars above. As time went on, I fell madly, deeply in love with you. I vow to you, right here and right now, in front of our friends and family, that I will honor, cherish and love you until my dying breath. I will never forsake you or abandon you. My heart will always belong to you. There will never be another for me, you will be my only from this point forward regardless of who leaves whom first. I love you, my beautiful girl.”

 

I don’t think there is a dry eye here, especially my own. I can’t help myself as I lean up on my toes and give him a light kiss to his lips. Those words mean everything to me.

“Miss Masters, would you like to share your vows and commitment with Mr. Connelly?” the minister asks me, I’m worried that mine won’t be as special as his were to me, but I say what’s in my heart.

“You’ve always been good enough, Dillon. I don’t like hearing you say that you weren’t or aren’t,” I admonish him before I begin.

 

“The first time I laid eyes on you, I longed to be yours. When you went away, I didn’t think you’d ever come back. You escaped a madhouse and became a man of honor and respect. A man who I thought would never look my way in a million years, it takes a special kind of man to not let outward appearances deter them from looking inside of me and finding my heart. A lot of men have snubbed their noses at me and never took the opportunity to get to know me for me. You looked past all of that and buried yourself so deep inside of my heart that you’ll never escape. I didn’t know love could feel this way, so deep, so inspiring and so fulfilling. I’ve been cheated on, pushed around and taken for granted for so long that I wasn’t looking for my Mr. Right. My only concern was the shop and my family. You tore down those walls I had built so high in no time at all. Thank you for taking a chance on me and loving me only the way you can. I vow to you in front of our family and friends to always honor, respect and cherish you from this day forward. I will forsake all others and love only you. You are the light at the end of my tunnel and I love you so very much, Dillon. Thank you for making me yours and becoming mine.”

 

“Please place the ring on Miss Masters’ left ring finger and repeat after me,” the minister says to Dillon. “With this ring I thee wed,” Dillon repeats him then I do the same. Then he goes on to say, “The circle of the wedding band is also a symbol of eternity. The circle has no beginning or end and is, therefore, a symbol of infinity. These rings that you have placed upon one another’s fingers is an unbreakable bond, one recognized by man and God. As you have committed yourselves to one another today let no man dishonor. I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss your bride.” Dillon leans down and instead of the acceptable wedding kiss in front of others, he devours my mouth.

“May I introduce you to Dr. and Mrs. Dillon Aaron Connelly.” Dillon raises our combined hands in the air causing everyone around us to break out in cheer. This is a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

 

 

We have a huge table and folding chairs on the beach where we married to hold our small, quaint but beautiful reception dinner. We have a dock player with music playing, we eat, we dance and have a good time. The wedding may have been thrown together in a short amount of time, but it’s beautiful and I couldn’t have asked for anything more special and meaningful.

As the night progresses, my energy begins to fade, “You ready to head up to our room?” Dillon asks me.

“Yes please.”

We say our goodnights and head up to the room where Dillon makes love to me several times throughout the night. This day will forever be ingrained in my mind as the most romantic and heartfelt day of my entire existence.