Hitched

by Dawn Rae Miller

  “You mean he was considering it? He would really stay with a woman he kind of liked and didn’t really love? What’s wrong with Brady?”

  Paige shrugs. “I guess you’ll have to ask him when you see him.”

  She finishes lining my eyes and follows up with two coats of mascara. “Blush,” she declares.

  When I’m all made-up, the photographer snaps a few pictures of Paige and I together.

  Just as I’m about to step into my dress, someone knocks on the door.

  Paige shoos me into the bathroom. “It could be Fletch,” she says.

  I’m standing in the bathroom, in just my bra and panties with a photographer, Paige, and my mystery guest on the other side of the door.

  “Is Ellie here?” I recognize the voice immediately: Jenn Colson.

  “She’s hiding in the bathroom,” Paige says, her voice giddy with excitement. “Ellie. Someone’s here to see you.”

  My heart races as I crack the door open and peek out. Sure enough, Mrs. Colson stands in my room. She looks perfectly groomed and expensive, if that makes sense. In her hands, she hold a small box.

  “Ellie, I’m not going to bite,” she says. “I’ve brought you something.”

  I pull the door open slowly. This is the moment I’ve been dreading: seeing Jenn. I want to run out of the room instead of face her, but there’s no way of doing so without looking like a scared little girl. Plus, I’m only in my underwear.

  “Hi,” I say.

  “Hello, Ellie.”

  The photographer click, click, clicks around us. How awkward are these photos going to be?

  “What can I do for you?” I ask.

  Mrs. Colson shifts her weight from left to right, and the box stays firmly in her hand. “I don’t suppose I can talk you out of this marriage? Fletch refuses to see reason, but perhaps, you do?”

  I shake my head. “I’m marrying Fletch.”

  “Yes, I suppose you are.” She looks around the room. “Where’s your dress? Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

  I nod my head, and Paige once again squeals in excitement.

  “Her dress is here,” she says, taking the garment from the closet.

  “Let’s get her into it,” Mrs. Colson says.

  Paige unzips the dust bag, and reveals the dress.

  Jenn wobbles her head from side-to-side, surveying the dress. “It’s pretty, and it’ll do for a beach wedding.”

  The disapproval dripping from her voice is clear. Is this how it’s always going to be? Mrs. Colson judging me? And me feeling inferior in every way.

  Paige holds my dress open, and I step into it. As she zips me up, Mrs. Colson says, “Don’t forget, I have something for you.”

  My curiosity is piqued, but not enough for me to ask what it is. Besides, I don’t want to seem overeager.

  The photographer snaps more photos as I let down my hair. Loose waves cascade over my shoulders.

  “Oh Ellie, you look amazing.”

  “You really do,” Mrs. Colson says. Her voice hitches. “Like a bride.”

  Paige steers me toward the mirror, and I snap my eyes closed. I want to be surprised.

  “Open your eyes,” Paige says.

  My eyes flutter open. Before me stands a beautiful young woman.

  My hand is over my heart. “Is that really me?”

  “Yes, silly. It’s really you.” Paige says.

  “And now, for my gift,” Mrs. Colson says, opening the small box. Tissue paper obscures whatever is in the box. “I wore this on my wedding day to Fletch’s dad.”

  She pulls a delicate diamond bracelet from the tissue. “It’s your something old.”

  I’m speechless. “Thank you,” I sputter. “It’s lovely.”

  “And now it’s yours - for as long as you are married to my son.”

  Things were going so well until she had to add that rider.

  She fastens the bracelet around my wrist, and I hold up my arm admiring it. “It really is beautiful.”

  “And it’s worth a pretty penny, so be careful with it.”

  For Mrs. Colson to comment on the cost of something, it must be expensive.

  The photographer says, “Can I get a picture of you and your soon-to-be mother-in-law?”

  Mrs. Colson blanches. “Am I really going to be a mother-in-law? Am I that old already?”

  I move closer to Jenn Colson until were standing just inches apart. “Should we smile?” I ask the photographer.

  “Yes.”

  We both smile. I can only imagine how forced this photo is going to look.

  “Can we focus on candids?” I ask.

  “Of course.”

  “And I think we have enough of me for now. Would you mind finding the guys and taking some of them.”

  “I’ll do that now,” the photographer answers.

  When he’s gone, Paige’s face falls.

  “What’s wrong?” Mrs. Colson and I say in unison.

  “Well, you have your old, but you still need something blue, borrowed, and new.”

  “Paige I really don’t think those old superstitions hold much weight.”

  Mrs. Colson shakes her head at me. “Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry.”

  My mouth gapes open. She can’t be serious.

  “You don’t have a bouquet either, and it’s nearly three.”

  My heart rate goes a little crazy at her announcement. Nearly three. Nearly time for me to become a wife.

  Wife. What a strange word. I roll it around my brain, trying to make sense of it. Wife.

  “Your dress is new, so all we need is borrowed and blue,” Paige says, breaking me away from my thoughts.

  Suddenly, she smiles. “I know how to solve the bouquet and blue problem!” Paige bolts toward the door and says, with a glance back, “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  With Paige gone, it’s just Mrs. Colson and me. I have no idea what to talk to her about.

  “You make a beautiful bride, Ellie.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Would you like to borrow my necklace?” It’s a simple gold chain with a dangling infinity loop. “Will gave this to me for our last anniversary.”

  “I’d be honored,” I say. I turn around so she can fasten it around my neck. The cool metal lays against my skin, dipping into the v neckline of my dress.

  “Ellie, we need to have a serious talk. About Fletch and Calista.”

  My stomach rolls. I’ve been dreading this.

  “It’ll be no surprise, I’m sure, that I wish Fletch were marrying Cali. She’s made for our kind of life. She’ll know how to navigate Fletch’s…well, his eventual infidelities.”

  “So you assume that because Will cheated on you, Fletch will cheat on me?”

  “Powerful men have many opportunities,” Mrs. Colson says. “Does he want to? No, not right now. But things change. What will happen once you have children and can’t dote on Fletch the way he’s become accustomed?”

  I half-laugh and curl my lip. “Leaving Fletch to be raised by nannies didn’t really help either, did it? All that time you spent doting on your philandering husband did no good.”

  It’s as if I smacked her, Mrs. Colson recoils so hard. “We’re not talking about Will and me.”

  I don’t want to fight. I don’t. But she’s making all kinds of assumptions.

  “And what if he realizes the marriage is a mistake? Do you expect Fletch to give you half of everything?”

  So that’s what this is about. She’s worried I’m after Fletch’s money. Vomit sits in the back of my throat, and I feel dirty.

  “For your information, I asked him about a pre-nup, and he told me no.”

  Mrs. Colson shakes her head. “He’s making a mistake. Not in marrying you - you seem like a perfectly nice girl, but you lack experience and finesse. You also don’t bring anything to the table financially.”

  “I work.”

  “But is what you earn really on par with all of
this?” She gestures around the room. “It isn’t, is it?”

  I hang my head. “No.” I lift my eyes. “But I make a decent living.” If I didn’t have massive student debt, I add silently.

  Paige comes running back into the room, out of breath. She clutches a fist full of flowers in her hand. Blue flowers. “Brady’s mom has an amazing garden. Reid and I…” she looks at Mrs. Colson. “Well, we found it one night.”

  She hands me the flowers. They’re tied with a piece of string. “Your bouquet, and your something blue.”

  I smile at Paige. “It’s perfect.”

  I touch the necklace Jenn Colson gave me. “Here’s my something borrowed, so we’re all set.”

  Paige glances at the clock. “Oh, Ellie! It’s ten to three!”

  My hands begin to shake. What if Mrs. Colson’s right, and I don’t fit into their world. Does that even matter? And if it does, does it matter to Fletch?

  Paige is on her phone, rambling off something, but my ears can’t hear her. All I know is that I’m about to marry Fletch. Which could end up being the biggest mistake of our lives. What then? Do we divorce? Or make the best of it? What if he doesn’t want to marry me and leaves me standing at the alter? What if everything Mrs. Colson said was right?

  “Ellie? The guys are all down at the beach. They’re just waiting on you.”

  “Where’s my dad?”

  Paige bunches up her brows. “I can go get him. Wait here?”

  I nod as she scurries away.

  Mrs. Colson walks toward the door. She turns and faces me. “As much as I like you, Ellie, and I can see what Fletch sees in you, I think this is a mistake.”

  She disappears out the door, leaving me with just my thoughts.

  My very, very bad thoughts.

  Tears well in my eyes. “I will not cry,” I say aloud. “I won’t.”

  “Ellie?” Dad’s voice booms from the other side of the door.

  “Come in.” Paige enters the room with Dad just behind her.

  Dad takes one look at me and says, “What’s wrong? You’re trembling.” Behind him, the photographer clicks away.

  “What if this is all wrong? What if I make a horrible wife?”

  Dad places a hand on my back. “Everyone has thoughts like this before getting married. I swear I did. I know your mom did, too.”

  “And she walked out on us.”

  Click. Click. Click. These are going to be interesting photos.

  Dad kisses my forehead, and Paige picks up my handmade bouquet.

  “We have somewhere to be, I believe,” Dad says.

  I nod my head and link arms with Dad.

  “You ready?” he asks.

  “No,” I answer. “But I’m going to try to be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  "Shoes!" Paige yelps as Dad and I make our way toward the door. "We didn't get you shoes."

  "It's okay," I say. "I have these." I show her the silver glitter wedges I was going to wear for Brady's wedding.

  "Oh, they're perfect! Nice taste, Ellie."

  "Thank you."

  "You look amazing," Paige says. "Fletch won't be able to keep his eyes off you."

  I blush. "I'm not great with compliments, but thank you."

  Paige steps around Dad and me, and cracks the door open. She surveys the hallway before motioning Dad and me forward.

  "Wait here.” Paige lowers her voice. “I'll make sure the boys are still down on the beach and not down in the great room or foyer."

  Dad and I pause on the top step until Paige comes running back and flags me down the stairs. I take each one carefully, nervous I may slip out of my shoes.

  "You look like a beautiful, radiant queen,” Dad says. He's smiling but tears run down his cheeks. "How'd you get so grown up?"

  "I don't know." Truth is, I hardly feel grown up. I feel like a fraud. Or a little girl playing dress up. The photographer runs around us before scurrying down the stairs and shooting back up at us.

  Dad takes a step forward. "This way, sweetheart.”

  I’m floating out of my body. I can see myself from above, moving down the stairs and out onto the back deck. Around me is just the buzz of noise – I can’t make out specific words or sounds.

  Out beyond the lone pavilion sits the flotilla boats. A helicopter hovers just offshore.

  But down below, on the beach, Reid and Brady are waiting with Fletch under a canopy of flowers. Brady waves.

  My appearance sets off a frenzy on the boats. I can’t hear anything over the roar of the waves and the whirling of the helicopter, but I assume they’re calling my name.

  When we get to the top of the wooden boardwalk, the band begins playing the wedding march. Another detail Fletch must have planned.

  Paige runs ahead of us and sits in a chair next to Mrs. Colson. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are there too. As is Calista.

  Why she wants to see our wedding is beyond me. Maybe she’s hoping one of us doesn’t go through with it.

  Maybe she’s on to something I don’t know about.

  I clutch my bouquet tightly in my left hand and grasp Dad’s arm with the other. I’m afraid I may topple over, my knees shake so badly.

  What is wrong with me? I love Fletch. I’ve loved him since I was seventeen, and I’m positive he’s the only man in the world I want marry.

  So why do I feel like I’m going to throw up?

  As we approach the guys, Fletch’s smile grows and grows and grows until I can see every shiny white tooth.

  When we stop next to him, Fletch keeps smiling at me, and I can’t help but smile back.

  "You okay?" Fletch whispers.

  "I'm fine." My insides ping pong around, but other than that, I'm actually okay now that I’m standing here with Fletch. Nervous, but okay.

  “You look amazing,” Fletch says.

  I smile at him. “You don’t clean up too badly yourself.”

  The officiant motions to Dad. "Is this your father?"

  "He is," I answer.

  The officiant nods. "Good. We're going to go a bit traditional here." He sizes up Fletch and the guys in their tuxes. "Seems like a highbrow event."

  I chuckle. High profile, yes; highbrow, probably not. We're going to drink beer and party on the beach. Which is perfectly fine with me.

  "Okay, then. Everyone sit down. Except you three." He points at Dad, Fletch, and me. He checks the marriage certificate in his hand. "Elizabeth is it?"

  "Ellie."

  "Ellie Jacobs?"

  "Yes."

  "And William Colson?" the officiant turns his attention to Fletch.

  "Fletch," he says. "Fletch Colson."

  The officiant makes some scratches on his sheet of paper. "So many nicknames."

  "Okay, Dad, it's your turn,”the officiant says. Dad stands by my side. "Do you willingly give this woman to this man?"

  "I do."

  "Very good. You can sit down.” He turns to Fletch and me. “Ellie and Fletch take each others hand."

  Fletch reaches out and grabs hold of my right hand. His is slightly clammy, but I don't mind. Mine probably feels the same.

  "Have you written you own vows?"

  I shake my head, but Fletch says, "I have something I'd like to say."

  "Very well. Go ahead."

  Fletch swallows hard. "Ellie, I didn't know when I met you how much I needed you in my life. My love for you grew slowly, over time, until it was undeniable. I've loved you when you were at Harker, I loved you when you were a college student, and I've loved you even when you thought I didn't. There's never been anyone else for me. I want to be with you, all of you. Everyday, for the rest of my life."

  Tears stream down my face. I don't care if I look like a raccoon. Fletch's words hit me in the heart, and I know they're sincere.

  "Ellie, is there anything you you'd like to say?"

  "I love you, Fletch. I never stopped loving you, and I never will."

  "Is that all?" the officiant asks.

  "Yes,"
I say.

  "Do you Ellie Jacobs take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

  "I do."

  "And do you Fletch Colson, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

  "I do." Fletch squeezes my hand.

  "Do we have rings?" the officiant asks.

  Brady jumps up from his seat and fishes around in his pocket before producing two rings. He hands one to me and one to Fletch.

  "Fletch, please place the ring on Ellie's left ring finger."

  His hands shake as he tries to get the ring on my finger, and he drops it.

  "Uh oh," I hear the officiant say, and I suddenly become superstitious and wonder if it's bad luck or something to drop the ring.

  Fletch snatches the ring off the ground and immediately places it on my finger.

  "Ellie, please place the ring on Fletch's finger."

  I hold out the ring and Fletch slips his finger in. He holds up his hand so everyone can see it. Laughter breaks out amongst our friends and family.

  The officiant takes our left hands and clasps them together with his hand resting on top. “By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife." He grins at Fletch. "You may now kiss your bride."

  I turn my face upward, and Fletch's lips touch mine. My entire body feels impossibly weightless. Like a balloon set free. Fletch has one hand on the small of my back and the other at the base of neck. He kisses me deeply, and I melt into him, placing one hand over his heart.

  "May I present Mr. and Mrs. William Fletcher Colson."

  Our small group claps and whistles.

  "Congratulations," the officiant says.

  Brady, Reid, Paige, and Dad surround us in an impromptu group hug.

  "Welcome to the family, Fletch," Dad says, giving Fletch a bear hug.

  Brady picks me up and hugs me. "I always knew you two would end up together. I mean look at you. The sad scowl you've had is gone. You're glowing."

  Paige hands me my bouquet. "You ready to face the public?"

  My fingers interlace with Fletch's. "I can face anything with this guy by my side."

  Fletch smiles and squeezes my hand.

  "Can I get a group shot?" our photographer asks.

  "Of course," I say.