by Ava Danielle
“I’m ready,” I whisper and smile.
This is it. No going back now. I’m going to be Mrs. Daniel Keller.
In the elevator, I start to panic. Olivia has my hand, reassuring me it’s all going to be all right. The elevator seems to be taking forever to get to the lobby. I feel tears well up in my eyes and a catch in my throat. The sad song in the elevator really throws my emotions all over the place. I’m wearing an amazing wedding dress. I have my perfect maid of honor. I have this gorgeous bouquet. I’m in a hotel that will soon connect Daniel and me, forever. All in a city we’ve grown to love. This city has helped us to fall in love with each other even more. I’m getting surprised at every turn. I’m not sure if my emotions can handle all of this. No one has ever made me feel like a princess.
Finally, the elevator dings, announcing our arrival at the lobby. As we step out of the elevator I feel a little less overwhelmed. We stroll down the endless grand colonnade; the rose pedals on the floor show us the way to get to where Daniel and I are going to marry. We’re not a religious couple, by any stretch of the imagination, but we do believe in little bits of traditions, though we are trying to start some of our own. To my surprise, he didn’t want to get married in a little white chapel with Elvis. I should thank my lucky stars for that. That was never my dream either. The French doors leading outside stop us from continuing. There’s a big bow covering it. Jamie steps up next to it with a pair of scissors.
“Whenever you cut the bow, you will continue and the rest will be your love story. Are you ready?”
I take one more deep breath and exhale, “Very ready.” I smile and take the scissors from her hand, not wanting to waste any more time. This is it. One last breath and I’m walking through the doors.
The doors open, the sun has set and candles are lit everywhere. Lights are flashing distracting me from a familiar sound. A sound I’ve grown to love. I can’t believe my ears. But, it could be anyone. It could be anyone playing those familiar tunes, strumming the chord, but it isn’t just anyone. It is him.
I make my way further down the aisle to the sound of the wedding march being played on the mandolin. Slowly, I stride along the few chairs occupied by the people we love most. I see Daniel at the end, but sitting next to him is someone that caught my eyes even more. I stare and enjoy each and every note he plays. It’s my mandolin man from Sorrento. It’s my lullabies that would put me to sleep every night. I’m shocked, surprised, and stunned to see him here. I never expected this, not in my wildest dreams. I realize I’ve been staring too long at this stranger and look into Daniel’s eyes. They sparkle with joy and love.
I arrive at the front of this, what seems forever-long aisle, and stand next to my fiancé. There’s a man between us holding a book and I’m not sure if I should speak or stay silent. The music stops and three of us are left staring at each other.
“Since this isn’t your traditional wedding…” he points around to the crowd of tourists that have stopped on the bridge to watch us and the gondolas floating by, “we will not make a long speech about how the two of you found your way to this beautifully set casino in Las Vegas.”
I’m not paying attention to anything this man is saying; I’m staring into Daniel’s eyes with tears streaming down my face. I’m in awe of how he pulled this off without my knowledge, and I just want to get to the part when I say ‘I do’. That’s all. I’m not prepared for any of this. I’m not even sure if he’s expecting me to say anything at all.
Unexpectedly, Daniel starts to speak.
“My beautiful Sophia, as you can see I wanted to marry you. I, truly, wanted to marry you, but I never knew when the right time would be. I wanted to marry you and make you mine, the minute I saw you in Italy. I know this isn’t your traditional wedding, or the wedding you may have hoped for. But, it is our story and our new beginning. I want to make new memories, better memories. You are my always and forever. You will always be the girl who stole my heart, half way around the world.”
The mandolin man starts to play quietly in the background as Daniel continues to speak.
I knew I had to have you. You were my shining star, our sunshine, in a dark world. You are stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. You hold your own and make me proud every day. You’ve persevered more than anyone I’ve ever known. I’m in love with you more today than I was yesterday. And I will love you more tomorrow than I do today, if that is possible. You’re beautiful inside and out. I’m asking you today in front of our friends and strangers. Will you marry me? Will you be my forever?”
His words hit me so hard I’m speechless. I look at him confused as far as if he expects me to say something.
“No, I don’t want you to say anything, I can imagine this is overwhelming.” he smiles.
“Ya think?” I hear everyone in the crowd laugh, as I seem to have said that out loud.
I watch Trevor walk up to Daniel and hand him a small box. Daniel opens the box and pulls my hand closer to his. A stunning silver ring slides on to my finger as I hear Daniel speak. I’m not listening though; I’m still just waiting on the part to say I do. I don’t want to miss that part.
“Do you?” I hear someone say.
“Huh?” I look up from the ring.
“Do you take me to be your lawful wedded husband?” he laughs.
“Oh, yeah. Of course. I DO!” I shout.
Go figure. I’ve been waiting this entire time to say I do and then I go and fuck it up, “I do. I do. I really, really do.” I try to make up for it.
Everyone in the crowd laughs. When did I become the comedian? This is my wedding day and I had no idea today was going to be my wedding day.
Trevor hands me another box with the ring for Daniel. That encouraging smile he gives me tells me everything. As soon as Daniel says I do, we’ll be married. We’ll be husband and wife, forever bound by these rings, in the middle of the Venetian hotel surrounded by a crowd of tourists that get to keep this as a memory for their future stories of Las Vegas. And here I stand, a ring in my hand about to slide this wedding band on his finger making him completely mine.
“I do,” he says with the utmost sincerity. He’s calm and smiling. I, on the other hand, am a hot mess, wondering how we got here. Darkness is coming over us. Mr. Mandolin playing our favorites from Sorrento in the middle of little Italy in Nevada, America, and we’ve just said our ‘I do’s’ making us husband and wife. Daniel leans in and asks one last question, “Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back later,” he whispers.
I lean in and kiss him, a tender and sweet kiss to remind him that we’ll always be together.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to be the first to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Keller.” The hall erupts in cheers.
As we leave the little well decorated peony altar I ask Daniel how he did all this.
“How’d you find him?”
“Who?” he smiles.
“You know damn well who.”
“Magic baby, magic,’ he places his hands in mine and we continue to leave everyone behind.
We are husband and wife. We are finally bound together forever and always.
This past week has been the best week of my life. Marrying Sophia was a dream come true. She took every surprise with so much grace, I couldn’t have been happier. She loved it. It seems as though, she was waiting for it. She was waiting to be my wife. Every time she looks at her ring, she smiles. I finally see serenity in her face.
“Daniel,” she whispers as we wake in the honeymoon suite, on our last day.
We’re cuddled up in the bed, as close together as you can imagine.
“Yes, baby,” I whisper in her ear and continue to kiss her cheeks.
“You don’t have to promise me the stars, just promise me your love,” she says out of the blue.
“I promise you my love, for eternity.”
“I love you, Daniel. I don’t think you even realize how much I love you,” she sighs.
“Oh darling, you woul
dn’t believe how much I realize that because I feel the exact same way.”
“It’s over,” she smiles, “all the pain, all the darkness, it’s all finally over.”
“Over. And we will move forward now.” I kiss her lips one last time in this comfortable bed.
Our honeymoon is over. It’s back to reality. Who would’ve thought reality can feel like a dream? We’re married.
We’re One now.
Our home and life have been made here, in Las Vegas, but our love was Made in Italy.
First, and always first, I’d like to thank my husband for his immense support in helping me write this book. He has helped me shape this story into something special. It wasn’t until recently I realized I could lean on him in all things, not just our daily life but also my passion for writing. He’s been my biggest supporter and even after fifteen years of marriage our love is still the same as that day we met. “I love you today more than I did yesterday, but less than I will love you tomorrow.”
I would like to thank my best friend, sister, and clutzoid Kristy for her continuing support and encouragement. Your dedication means the world to me. And I know with our schedules and time difference (an hour makes a difference) it can be difficult but we always seem to manage, thanks for being by my side, always. “You’re my Nemo. If you get lost in the great, big ocean, I will find you.”
To my escapees, if it wasn’t for your support and motivation, the stories wouldn’t get far, you all are truly amazing. All your sharing and encouraging words make a big difference to me and any other author.
To my readers, every book you buy and every word you read is an extreme motivation. Every review, whether it’s good or bad, is what keeps me going. If it weren’t for you, these books wouldn’t come to life. THANK YOU!