Chapter Eighteen
Tabitha
“I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE sisters, but I gotta say it.” Beth flops down on the love seat in the Sunday school room we are using as a makeshift bridal dressing room. She’s probably wrinkling the back of her bridesmaid dress, but Beth’s never been one to care about what people thought. “Are you positive you wanna marry my idiot brother? Blink twice if it’s against your will.”
I giggle and playfully roll my eyes. “I swear I’m doing this without coercion.” I drag my fingers across my chest in the path of an “X” and bring them up to my lips to blow her a kiss.
It’s been eight months since Matilda was born. We didn’t announce our engagement for a month after he brought us home from the hospital. Nobody was the least bit surprised that we were together, but that we were getting married caused quite a few reactions. My mother started crying, while my dad winked as he held her. Brandon’s dad told us it was “about damn time,” and Beth squealed so loud I swore people across town would go deaf, then she made us swear to never have sex if she was in the next room. This was easy to promise considering we haven't had sex yet. Not that we didn’t want to, it’s just hard to get a moment alone in a house full of roommates and a baby. So, we decided to make our first time special and wait until after we got married.
We planned on going away for a weekend and eloping, but Steve found out, and it all went downhill from there. He’s always been the worst at keeping secrets. Next thing we knew, our parents had found out, and my mom was over making me try on dresses, and my father had our family church booked. I didn’t have to plan a single thing. I let Mom and Beth plan the entire thing, and it was probably the best and borderline questionable idea. I had no idea what to expect, because I told them to surprise me.
I stare at my grandmother’s wedding gown in the mirror. It fits flawlessly. The delicate lace wraps across my chest and down my arms, leaving my shoulders exposed. It’s classic and makes me feel like an absolute princess. My mother's tiara is weaved on top of my head, surrounded by an elegant updo of soft brown curls. It took me four months to lose most my pregnancy weight, and still I’m not down to my original weight, but it’s not too bad, because now I have curves I’ve never had before.
“Remember when we were, like, eight, and I wanted us to be sisters, so I made you promise to marry my big brother?”
“Vaguely.” I smile at the memory. “You made me sign this contract written out in green crayon.”
“Yep.” Beth pulls out a compact mirror out of the wristlet wrapped around her wrist and goes about checking her face. “You’re welcome.”
“Ha! This was your evil plan all along, huh?”
“Damn straight!” Beth hoots. She stands up and walks over to join me in the full-length mirror. “I’m absolutely diabolical.” She smirks with a wink.
“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh. I turn to her and wrap my arms around her. “Thanks for being my best friend. I can’t wait to be your sister.” A lump forms in my throat as I fight back tears. It's been eight months, and I’m still trying to get a handle on these overactive emotions.
Beth returns the hug. “You better not start crying, because if I have to redo your makeup, I’m going to be pissed.”
I snort out a laugh and pull away to check myself in the mirror again, just to make sure everything is still in place.
A knock comes at the door, and my father pokes his head into the room. “Ready, Jellyfish?”
I nod nervously, and he takes my hand and wraps my arm around his elbow. He leads me out the door. We step behind the closed door leading into the chapel of the church I grew up in.
The music stops, and the doors slowly pull open. My whole body vibrates with nervous energy, as I panic. The urge to run crosses my thoughts, but my father tightens his grip on my arm. He senses my fear, and I’m silently reassured I’m doing the right thing. I let him lead me down the aisle. I try to smile, but I’m not sure I actually accomplish it.
My father gives me away to Brandon, and the first day of the rest of our lives begins.
Brandon has the entire church in tears when during his vows, he walks off the stage and takes Mattie into his arms. He includes her in his vows, and you can hear a wave of sighs rush through the audience as all the women in the room fall in love with the man I’m in the process of marrying. We say our “I dos,” then Brandon hands my daughter to Beth and takes me in his arms. He dips me back and kisses me in a way that almost paralyzes me into a puddle of goo.
At the reception, Phil takes my hand, and we walk out to the dance floor. He holds me close, and I’m overcome with the feeling of loss when it hits me that things were supposed to be different.
“Mathew would have wanted you to move on, sweetheart,” he says when my face must give away my thoughts.
“You think so?”
“I know so. He takes after his old man after all.”
I giggle and playfully slap him on the shoulder. “I love you, Phil.”
“I love you too, Tabby.” He kisses my forehead, before I rest my head against his shoulder.
“May I cut in?” Brandon says, and Phil nods. He kisses my cheek, hands me over to my husband, and walks away.
I smile up at him, and he leans down to kiss me. “You ready to go, Mrs. Kane?” he whispers when he breaks away from the kiss.
“Yes, please, Mr. Kane.” I sigh.
“I love the way that sounds coming off your lips.”