by kj lewis
“Lucy, you wanna come, or is this too much for you?” I ask.
“I’m good if you’re good,” she replies nonchalantly.
“Where is Graham now?” I ask.
“He’s in dad’s study,” Adam says. “They’re going over a few things before we go to play basketball.”
“Cool. Just keep him off the beach ok?”
“Will do,” he calls out as he heads down the steps.
I run my hand across the seat of the ATV remembering my night with Graham. Lucy hands us the keys and we start three of them, Henry riding with Jules, Becca with Lucy, and me by myself. We ride a few miles up the beach to a secluded area.
“This camera is amazing,” Henry says of the camera the Raines gave me for saving Holt.
“Will you have time tonight to take the red off the ones that show the tattoo? Brandon said it should be gone in an hour or so.”
“I will. Let’s get started while the clouds are in. I like the light it’s giving off.”
Henry takes some gorgeous shots as the sun sets and the clouds roll in. In less than an hour, we’re headed back to the house.
“I was wondering where you were,” Ruth says, handing me a Diet Coke. “You need to be ready in an hour.”
“I will be,” I tell her as I head to the shower to wash off the sand from places there should never be sand.
“It’s taking every ounce of willpower I have not to tie you to the bed and start the honeymoon now.” Graham startles me as I exit the shower. I make sure the towel is covering my tattoo. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked you know.”
“Not until tomorrow.” I lean against him, kissing the slope of his neck. He raises his chin to give me easier access. “How was basketball? Need me to teach you how to play?” I ask in between kisses.
“I love games. I love how competitive you are.” He wraps his arms around me.
“I like to win.”
“So do I.”
We hold each other, my skin still wet. “We better get ready, or we’ll be late. I’ll see you down there.” Reluctantly, he leaves.
It’s a causal affair, so I opt for shorts and a cropped tank with a cool flower kimono I picked up at a vintage store. Jackson is coming to braid my hair for me. I pull up the pictures Henry has emailed so far so I can start deciding on a few, when I notice a baby blue box with a white bow on the bed. I pull the satin bow off and remove the top, sliding out a velvet box. Inside is a breathtaking pair of diamond studs. Not ostentatious, just the right size. They’re beautiful.
“Come in.” I say, putting them on.
“I’m here to braid your hair,” Jackson says. Patrick enters behind him. “And I come bearing gifts from Graham.” He holds up a red Cartier box.
“He just left me these. What is he giving me now?” I show Jackson my new ear candy.
“You deserve nothing less.” He kisses my forehead. “Sit.” He points to a chair. I take a seat, opening my next present as Jackson makes a cool waterfall braid in my hair. Inside the box are five bangle Love bracelets, two rose gold, two yellow gold, and one white gold. I have always wanted this collection but couldn’t afford it. Funny, though, I don’t remember telling Graham that. I slide them on. I love how they look stacked up. You can dress them up, but they’re great with casual outfits too.
“If someone would have told me six weeks ago that you would be getting married, I would have bet every dollar Patrick and I have that it would not happen. But I couldn’t be happier. I know Graham will take care of you the way you deserve to be taken care of. And I don’t mean financially.”
“Thank you for everything you are to me Jackson.” I hug him and wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. “Ready?” I ask him.
“I should be asking you that.”
“I’m ready.”
We couldn’t ask for better weather. Ruth and Ben have set up the rehearsal dinner on the beach. I look over the arrangements she has made. “Ruth. I can’t believe you did all this. This is amazing.”
We’re having a New England Clambake. They have laid some kind of decking on the sand that is holding the longest table I’ve ever seen. It’s decorated with a blue and white checkered table cloth and cool vintage lanterns. In between the lanterns are arrangements of wild flowers and multi-colored shells. Strands of lightbulbs strung overhead create a festive ambiance. On top of the old, white diner plates is a printed illustration card that explains how to eat at a clam bake. The bibs tied to each chair are covered with two lobsters who cleverly announce “Emme and Graham’s Claws for Celebration 2016.” A lighted dance floor has been placed between the tables and the ocean, and there is a fire pit nearby with a fire already going. The whole thing looks like it should be in a magazine.
“Thank you so much for doing all this for us. It means so much to me and I know it’s special to Graham too.” I engulf Ruth in a huge hug. “Why is everyone crying?” I laugh wiping a tear from her eye.
“Because we’re happy dear.” I see Graham and Ben at the top of the stairs. I meet them at the bottom and give Ben the same hug as I did Ruth.
“Thank you so much. This is perfect. I couldn’t have dreamed this if I wanted to.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Ben leaves, giving us a moment to ourselves.
“Thank you for my earrings and my bracelets. I love them. You don’t have to give me things though. All I need is you.”
His hand is at the nape of my neck, his thumb running the line of my jaw. “How can I not give you things? You just showed more gratitude for a simple clam bake than anyone I’ve ever given a gift to. And I can give some pretty cool gifts. I love you, Emelia. I love that you’re touched by simple gestures. I knew you would love the bracelets. They match your style. I know you baby. Inside and out.” He pulls my lips to his and kisses me gently. “Now, let’s party.” He squeezes my hand as we walk to where the ceremony is going to take place.
I introduce Harry and Eloise as my mom and dad, causing Eloise to start crying again when they meet the dwarfs, my friends from work, and Reggie. The pastor is ready, so we make our way to the top of the steps. Jackson goes down first, then Jules followed by me and Harry. I skip down the aisle, and we walk through the basics, before Graham takes advantage of another reason to kiss me. The evening is filled with laughter, great food, music and friends. It’s storybook perfection.
Smith and Teague are overseeing the hired security, but both are in attendance as guests. Smith with his wife and Teague with Joy. To round out the coupling, Drew and Amanda seemed to have grown closer since I introduced them just a couple of hours earlier. I have only danced with Graham once, bouncing between dwarfs and the others. Almost an hour later, I finally make my way back to him. The sun has set, and the waves are crashing. Etta James comes over the speakers, and I sing to Graham softly as we dance.
“I want to make love to you,” I tell him as the song ends.
“You’d regret not waiting one more night.” Graham helps me stay strong even though I know he’d leave right now if he could.
“It’s a good thing we aren’t both weak at the same time,” I giggle as we continue to sway while the next song starts. “Four nights seem like a lifetime.”
“May a day I’m not inside you always feel like a lifetime.” He kisses the tender spot behind my ear. Nuzzling me.
Graham and I make our rounds, until eventually everyone heads inside or home. All that’s left outside is our core group of friends. We drink beer and tell funny stories. The dwarfs all come prepared with their favorite story about my time with them. Adam and Lucy talk about Graham.
“It’s 12:03,” Lucy announces. “It’s officially your wedding day and you aren’t allowed to see each other until it’s time.”
“Seeing as how we’re sleeping together tonight, I think that point is moot don’t you?” Graham says to Lucy.
“You’re not sleeping with Mags. I am,” says Jules, giving him a stern look. “Actually all of us girls are, except Becc
a. She’s cashing in on sex while she can.”
“Here, here!” Matt lifts his beer.
Graham looks from Jules to me with a look of utter disbelief, drawing laughter from the entire group.
I kiss Graham goodnight at his bedroom door which happens to be next to mine. The girls are already inside in true slumber party fashion.
“Don’t stay up too late with them tonight. You have a long night ahead of you tomorrow night my soon-to-be Mrs. Taylor.
“Yes, sir.”
It’s almost three a.m. before the last girl falls asleep. I sneak out the balcony door to Graham’s room to leave his first wedding gift, a beautiful wooden box that I made with my Grandfather. Inside is my favorite love letter that my Grandmother wrote my Grandfather, a small picture of just my hips - my thumb just inside my white lace underwear pulling it down on the side to show my new tattoo, and the E.E. Cummings poem “I Carry Your Heart” written out. On top is my letter to him for our wedding day.
I enter through the screen door, leaving the box where I know he’ll see it. I can see his face in the moonlight. He looks peaceful. Happy. It makes me happy. Leaning down, I run my hands through his hair before planting a kiss on his temple. He stirs and his arm circles my waist pulling me onto the bed.
“It’s our wedding day, you know.” He nuzzles me. “We can officially have sex.” His boyish smile is hopeful.
“Wedding day sex after the wedding,” I clarify with a laugh.
“What are you doing in here?” he asks. I love sleepy Graham. He has a slight beard. His eyes stay closed more than they stay open. He smells of Graham, sheets, and sleep. His voice is always a little deeper. I run my fingers up and down his arm, tracing the definition in his muscles.
“I just wanted to tell you I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.” He tightens his grip on me.
“I have to go back to my room.” I giggle.
“Ok,” he says, pulling me into him and draping the covers over me.
He rests his head against mine. “Goodnight, Emelia.”
“Goodnight, Graham.”
“Have you no self-control?” I have to squint at the bright light invading my sleep to see Jules standing over me with her hands on her hips. “No.” She leans over me placing her hand over Graham’s eyes. “Keep your eyes closed. You aren’t supposed to see her before the wedding.”
“They’re closed,” Graham says irritated.
“Are you sure? Is he telling the truth?”
“They’re closed, babe,” Adam says.
“Exactly how many people are in the room?” Graham asks as I slide out of bed laughing.
“I like knowing you sleep naked,” Adam says to me. Jules just makes it across the bed to put her hands over Graham’s eyes again.
“You were just next to her. You know she has on pajamas,” Jules snaps.
“Like shooting fish in a barrel,” Adam says as Jules and I close the balcony door and head back to my room so that I can finally see the dress.
“Jules,” I gasp. “This dress is everything I wanted. I couldn’t love it more.”
“You were already on your way after your review from the charity night. This will catapult you to the next level,” Jackson tells her.
The dress is creamy white. At a glance it looks like it’s a skirt and a top, but it’s not. The top is a spaghetti strap with a low “v” in the front just showing off the curves of my breast. The back is open. The top and skirt are separated by a waistband with pearl beading before the skirt flows into a wide sweeping hem. It has a full flowing train and pockets, which I love.
“Can you move okay? The waistband will hold the weight of the skirt, so you don’t have to worry about it pulling your top down and your boobs falling out.”
“That’s good to know. How much fabric is under here?” I lift up the skirt.
“All together, there’s twenty-five yards of fabric,” she says as she walks around me inspecting the fit.
Jackson evaluates the skirt. “Hidden godet insets,” he says. “That’s incredible. From the front it looks like a regular dress, almost fitted, but when the wind catches it…”
“It should billow out behind her like she asked for.” She takes a deep nervous breath. “Let’s hope my design works.”
“If it gets no better than this, it’s perfect,” I assure her.
“Arms out.” She slides the lace overlay up my arms. It’s a three-quarter sleeve short top that falls just above the pearl waistband. It has a high neck in the front and buttons in a low v in the back. The scalloped edges rest against my exposed skin from the backless top of the dress. My skin peeks through the lace.
Eloise and Ruth enter just as Jules finishes putting the rest of the dress on me.
“I have no chance of making it through this if you all start crying now,” Jules tells them.
“You are so beautiful,” Eloise says.
“Perfect timing moms. I’m ready for her veil to go on. It will drape over her, almost like we laid a piece of silk netting over her, for lack of a better way to explain it. There’s a couple of small pins I have to clip. Why don’t the both of you put her veil on. Henry, take a few pictures for us, would you?”
The two women lift the veil and lightly place it over me. It covers half my front and flows several feet past my train. It’s very sheer, giving me an unobstructed view of Graham and him of me. You can easily see my dress and the flower pins in my hair. Jackson has it pulled into a soft, braided, messy bun with long sweeping bangs to one side.
Jules clips the veil in place.
“I explained to Graham how to lift the veil, and I’ll be there to help if needed.”
There’s a knock at the door, and Harry enters.
“Would y’all mind giving me a minute please?” I ask everyone. Henry stays in the background.
“Sweetheart, you are the most beautiful bride.” Harry kisses my cheek through the veil.
“Never in a million years did I think my father would be walking me down the aisle. Thank you for being here. For loving me without question.”
“Eloise and I wished for you before we knew you. You are our daughter.” He puts his arm around Eloise.
“You wished for me?”
“We did. We always wanted a child, but it never worked out. God heard our prayers and brought us the daughter we always wished for. We love you, Emelia Magnus James,” Eloise says.
“We had this made for you.” Harry hands me a beautiful handkerchief. It has Addie’s name embroidered on it with a daisy next to it.
I run my fingers over the stitching.
“I miss her. Sometimes I can barely breathe I miss her so much.”
“I know, sweetheart. You’re exactly where she would want you to be,” Harry says.
There’s a knock on the door. Jules pokes her head around with her own misty eyes and says, “It’s time.”
“Who gives this woman?” Pastor Turner asks.
“Her Mother and I,” Harry says proudly before kissing my cheek and placing my hand in Graham’s.
Graham looks at me with reverence and adoration. I reach up and wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. Leaning down, he whispers in my ear. “You’re stunning. I am so in love with you.” He kisses the spot behind my ear as the pastor proceeds with the ceremony.
“Graham, will you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Will you love, honor, cherish, and keep her as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” His response is soft and filled with emotion.
“Emelia, will you take this man to be your wedded husband? Will you love, honor, cherish and obey him as long as you live?”
“I do.” My response is strong and certain. I can’t contain my smile at Graham’s reaction to my vows.
Pastor Turner faces Graham. “Please place the ring on her finger. This ring has long been the emblem of eternity symbolizing the endurance of the sacred covenant made this day. Graham will you repeat after me?”
&nbs
p; Graham’s eyes lock on mine and he says, “I, Graham, take thee Emelia, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till in death we part. With this ring I thee wed and pledge my faithfulness.” He slides a stunning pave’ wedding band that matches my engagement ring on my finger.
Pastor Turner faces me. “Please place the ring on his finger. Let this ring serve as a perpetual reminder of the love you both share this day. Emelia will you repeat after me?”
I squeeze Graham’s hands, and meeting his gaze I repeat my vows, “I, Emelia, take thee Graham, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till in death we part. With this ring I thee wed and pledge my faithfulness.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Graham lifts my veil and pulls me to him, placing a loving kiss to my lips, gentle and appropriate, but not lacking passion. After the pomp of walking down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, we walk to the top of the stairs of the beach house for a few minutes of alone time before more pictures start.
“You’re officially mine, Mrs. Taylor.” He nuzzles his nose against mine.
“I’ve always been yours,” I say before kissing the tip of his.
“How long do we have to stay?”
I giggle. “We have pictures, dinner, cake, and dancing.”
“They can have two hours, then you’re all mine.” His kiss is heated. “Now about this tattoo.” His eyes press into a hard stare. “I don’t know if I’m going to punish you tonight because you marked your delectable body, or because you’ve made me suffer all day thinking about it.”
I bat my eyes innocently. “I’m not sure if I agree to punishment.”
“Obey.”
“Let’s go,” I laugh, pulling on his tie.
Eloise has done an amazing job planning the reception. It’s beautiful and simple. Exactly what I wanted. We dance and laugh and enjoy each one of our guests.