“Hey y’all,” I squeal. Darcy and Star smile and wave, as they tug their guys and head for us.
We all exchange hugs, then head back to the where everyone is standing around chatting. Laughter can be heard throughout the lobby, and it seems so unreal that they’ve all come here share our special day. And tomorrow even more people will arrive. Noralee, Bernice and Kaitlin; as many co-workers from Dan’s that could come, without closing the store are coming. My eyes scan the resort, and I take slow and steady breaths attempting to keep my heavy emotions at bay. The last thing I want is to take away from everyone’s reunion by them worrying about me and my happy tears. Two strong warm arms wrap around me, one at my chest, one at my waist,
“You’re doing great. Hang on. I’m getting you out of here in just a couple of seconds,” Max speaks softly against my ear.
I turn around in his arms and give him a wobbly smile. “I love you.” I whisper, and rise up on my tiptoes and kiss him.
“Love you too,” he whispers back, then leans in and kisses me back, only much harder.
The kiss takes on a life of his own, and it’s just me and Max. That is, until a bunch of whoops and hollers fill up the lobby. Max smiles against my lips when I gasp. I tuck my head into his shoulder, until the blush of embarrassment fades from my cheeks.
“Let’s go, you two love birds,” Macie chimes, when she walks up with Johnny. Behind them a bunch of our friends.
“They’re joining us,” Johnny informs us, and Max and I smile huge.
* * *
When we hit The Blue Bonnet Café, the breakfast rush is in full force. Not many tables are open, so we have to split up. Rose is waiting on other tables, but gives us a wave and smile. After we eat and pay, we head down to the lake.
I stroll along the dock and take note of Jack and Patrick’s jet skis. They’re huge. Jack has a boogie board hooked to his, and Patrick has a tube on his. They’re both coasting near the dock waiting for everyone to load onto the boats. Back in the boat, Uncle Brock, is slipping a children’s Speedo swim vest on Callie. It’s much cooler and appears safer than the ones we wore growing up. Plus, it’s pink and purple with a sea horse on it, and totally adorable with her Oshkosh purple bikini that has tiny yellow and blue flowers. Aunt Paige is wearing a beautiful yellow bikini top with matching swim shorts. Aunt Paige seems to be beside herself, while Uncle Brock is smiling.
“She’s a McGinty. She’ll be fine. Plus, it’s just a boogie board,” I hear my Uncle Brock try to reason with Aunt Paige. She covers her mouth with her hands, but nods. Oh wow, they’re going to let her ride the boogie board. She’ll love it.
We pile into the two boats, dividing up. Jake takes out Kore, Nick and Abigail, and most everyone from Lubbock, while we pile in with Jesse who’s taking Uncle Duke’s boat, while he and Aunt Savannah stay behind. With us are Chase, Linc, Victoria, Raleigh, Nash, Uncle Brock, Aunt Paige and Callie, while Delta stays behind. She’s very pregnant. Linc shared that she didn’t get a pass like Allie did from her doctor. She’s too close to term he said. Allie decides to stay behind and keep her company, while talking babies and surprisingly, Jenny stays behind too. Patrick is riding solo, while Tara is riding with Jack.
We push off from the pier and head out to the middle of the lake, where we all stop and engines our cut off. We all pull on a life vest and jump in the lake to cool off. While Tara enjoys the lake, Jack prepares the boogie board for Callie. Aunt Paige is still freaked out, her eyes darting back and forth between Jack and the board, and her daughter and husband.
“You ready?” Uncle Brock asks Callie, and she hops in excitement.
“Brock,” Aunt Paige whispers, concerned.
“Mommy, Daddy says I’m a McGinty. I’ll be fine,” Callie informs Aunt Paige with a huge grin.
“And he’s right, baby.” She nods, conceding with a smile.
“Let’s do this.” Uncle Brock lifts her up to drop her down carefully in the water to a waiting Linc, but she squeals, “Stop.”
“What?” Uncle Brock asks, alarmed.
“I want to jump in like everyone else,” she informs him on a huff.
“Okay.” He sits her down on the stern of the boat and, without hesitation, she jumps in the water. She goes under for only a moment, before Linc is there pulling her up. He holds her close, while she giggles. This little girl is fearless. Linc chuckles, while he pushes her long blonde hair from her face. Uncle Brock pulls on his vest, then he’s in the water too. Before he swims off towards Jack’s jet ski and the boogie board, he calls back to Aunt Paige, “Have the camera ready.”
We are all lounging in the water, while Linc and Uncle Brock position Callie in a laid down position on the boogie board. When she settles, both Linc and Uncle Brock, tell her to hold on while Jack starts the engine of the jet ski. Jack keeps a careful eye on her, like all of us, as he turns the throttle and begins forward. Slowly he drives in a circle, staying near us, while Callie giggles in delight. She rides for a while, but then Aunt Paige insists she come in, so she can reapply sun block and let her rest.
Another free for all happens when Linc, Levi and Huck jump in. They try to talk Darcy and Star into taking a turn on the skis, but they opt instead to ride the giant tube Patrick brought. I watch Max ski with Nash and Jesse, while Uncle Brock drives the boat. Aunt Paige sits across from him, with Callie in her lap asleep, and it’s the cutest thing.
At two o’clock, Max and I get dropped at the dock, along with our family members that have a part in the ceremony. We have to meet with Betsy Kay for a run through, and since we don’t have enough time to change, we throw on our shirts and shorts and head to the cabin with our swimsuits underneath.
38
First thing I notice when we pull down the road is the very large, brilliant white tent, with the side flaps tied back. It’s set up between the cabin and garage, and there are quite a few people busy working on different things underneath. We park and get out, then walk over to Betsy Kay who’s standing just outside the garage watching us. I glance around and see more people working hard to install the floor she told me about, while even more people are wrapping lights around tree trunks. After we say hellos, Betsy Kay breaks down what all is going on, then shows me a schedule that has arrival times for the flowers, cake and food, along with a few other things.
“I’m only showing you this, so you know I have it all under control. All I want you to do is show up and marry that handsome man of yours. I promise I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Thank you,” I respond happily.
Betsy Kay even has a nice trailer set-up to work from, set toward the back of the garage. It’s very similar to the ones my dad uses on his construction sites. It’s not very big, but it has a bathroom and air conditioning. I told her she was more than welcome to use the cabin, but she explained that she was more comfortable using her portable office, as she called it. She informed me more work vehicles would be on property the day of the wedding, and she’d have them park behind her trailer, in order not to take from the beauty of the wedding. I’m distracted from her explanations, when I hear zooming and clicking. I notice a very tall, lanky older man–older than my dad–with crazy gray hair and a beard, taking pictures of everything.
“That’s Glen, one of your photographers. He’ll record everything, from beginning to end, with the help of his son, Glen Jr., who looks just like his daddy, only with brown hair. He’ll be arriving tomorrow. You’ll have photos and video. They’re really good.” Before I can say thank you, she begins giving out directions.
“Blue, you and Johnny head up front.” They nod and walk off, while I give my attention back to her. “You all, come with me.” Abigail, Callie, Aunt Paige, Dad and I follow her to the back of the cabin where we stop, and she turns to us. “When you arrive, your guests, Blue, and Johnny, will be in the tent and ready for the ceremony to begin. You’ll have about fifteen to twenty minutes to do any final prepping.
“Since Jaycee is dressing at the resort, Stone, you pull up to
the back door. Get as close as you can, to keep Jaycee out of view. Then you all go in the cabin. We’ll get the flowers done, then you’ll wait for my cue. Oh, and you did pick up your suit, right? I left it at the resort front desk.” She asks my dad.
“Yup,” Dad responds. I look up at him and, oh my goodness, he's so nervous.
Dad is going to wear a custom-tailored suit. Because of his size, he was having a hard time locating one that fit right, so Violet sent him to a seamstress and had one designed for his large build. It’s a light gray, not dark like Max and Johnny’s, and he’ll wear it with a light grey shirt, but no tie. I went with him to his final fitting, and when he walked out of the dressing room with the top buttons of his shirt still undone and the tie in his hand, I saw that without the tie fit him and his personality perfect. I told him to ditch the tie, which got me a huge smile and no argument.
Betsy Kay then pulls us around the front of the cabin and points to the door. “You’ll come out there. I’ll have a temporary floor set up, so your heels won’t sink into the ground. You’ll walk to the path and stop there.” She points to a spot near the tent, that will keep me blind to the guests inside. “When I give the cue, Callie and Dillon will begin down.” She smiles down at Callie who is listening with rapt attention, like Betsy Kay’s words are the most important thing in the world. “I understand Dillon couldn’t make the rehearsal, so Callie you’ll have to help him tomorrow. Do you think you can do that?” she asks, and Callie nods, yes.
“Yes ma’am. Mommy let me call Dillon last night because his mommy said he was scared, but I told him he could hold my hand. He said, okay,” she chirps. Abigail, Dad and I softly laugh, while Aunt Paige outright laughs.
“Dillon was getting stage fright, but Callie talked him off the ledge,” Aunt Paige jokes. Callie is five and Dillon is six, and they’re adorable together.
“Good,” Betsy Kay replies with laughter in her voice. “Try to remember to throw your flower petals okay?”
“Oh, yes ma’am. Aunt Jaycee will follow them right to Uncle Max,” Callie replies, and her words hit me right in the heart.
“Once Callie and Dillon get situated, Abigail will start down. We wait until she’s situated, and the song ends. Once that happens, the wedding march will begin, and that’s your cue. We’re going to do a quick run through, as soon as the minister arrives,” Betsy Kay informs us.
No sooner does she say that, does a large white pick-up pull up and park. A second later, out steps Pastor Mays. He takes a moment to stop and shake hands with Max, before coming over to say hello to us. Soon we do a run through. I stand waiting with Abigail, who is wearing a huge ear to ear smile. Well, both of us are actually. We’re watching Callie skip down the center of the tent, only stopping when she reaches Max and Johnny, who are both grinning ear to ear like me and Abigail. Aunt Paige taps me the arm and points to the side of tent where Callie is. She then walks off to keep an eye on her.
I hear music began to play, and it’s Everything by Lifehouse. Oh my God. I love this song because it reminds me of Max. Tears instantly fill my eyes.
“Oh no, you’re crying,” Betsy Kay gasps, and pulls a tissue from her pocket and hands it to me.
“I’m sorry. The song,” I reply.
“Oh, yes. I have a portable stereo set up with your wedding music. Blue actually choose that one last minute. Called me a couple of days ago.”
“He did?” I sniffle, and then cry harder, touched by him doing this.
“Oh goodness, you’re crying again, and harder,” Betsy Kay’s worried voice replies.
“Have you not met my sister, Betsy Kay?” Abigail teases. and I let out a small laugh as I wipe my eyes.
“She’s a crier, huh?” Betsy Kay laughs, and pats me on the back in a soothing gesture.
“That’s an understatement,” Abigail scoffs.
“Hey,” I try to sound offended when I know it’s the truth. Abigail just watches, while grinning.
“Well, I’m glad we went through this today instead of shocking you tomorrow,” Betsy Kay moans in relief.
“Good idea.” I nod. “Um, Betsy Kay, is it too late to switch up the wedding march?”
“You have something else in mind?” she asks with a grin.
“I do,” I reply, and tell her the name of the song. Abigail, Dad and Betsy Kay agree the song is perfect.
“I’ll take care of it,” she vows. “Ok, well, I reached out to your brothers and cousin, and they’re going to be ushers. By the time that song plays, all your guests will be seated, and Callie, Dillon and Abigail will be set up to walk down. Paige, and Dillon’s mom, will be near in case those two need wrangling in, or begin getting bored or tired. But I have to say, next to bride and groom exchanging vows, most folks wait for the antics of the flower girl and ring bearer. Sometimes they steal the show.” She laughs. “Abigail you’ll stand to Pastor Mays’ right. Johnny and Blue will already be there on his left. Got it?”
“Got it,” I reply.
“Once the song ends, I’ll get you and your dad in position, then give the cue to your DJ and he’ll play your song.” I take a deep breath and nod in understanding. “Abigail, take your spot.” Abigail nods and walks through the tent. I watch her walk down the center of the tent, while pretending to hold a bouquet of flowers. When she takes her place next to Pastor Mays, Betsy Kay pulls Dad and I forward.
“Ready?” She smiles when all Dad and I do is say, “Yup.” Emotion is running high in the both of us. “Okay.” She steps away and nods. Then the wedding march, not the actual song that will now play, sounds through the tent. I breathe a deep breath, and latch on to my dad’s arm. “Come on.” She waves us forward, then situates us so we’re facing the tent. “Here’s where I differ from other wedding planners. At this point I back away. If you want to walk down the aisle slow, do it, but if you want to run to your man, you run, girl.” She backs away a few steps, then smiles and gestures for us to walk forward.
I glance up at Dad, and whisper, “Ready?”
“Yup,” he whispers back.
“Oh, Dad,” I groan.
“I’m good, baby girl,” he mumbles. I give his arm a squeeze, and we start forward. My eyes are locked on Max the entire time. When we reach Pastor Mays, we stop and wait for the song to end.
“When the music stops, I’ll lead in prayer. I’ll then ask you who will be giving Jaycee away. You’ll give your reply, then kiss her on the cheek, shake Blue’s hand if you like, before placing her hand in his,” Pastor Mays instructs, and Dad nods and places my hand in Max’s before quickly backing away. I turn and watch him go, and see he’s about to lose it and my heart breaks a little. I catch Aunt Paige’s eyes and give her a pleading look. She nods in understanding and follows after him.
“Blue, Jaycee, during our meetings you decided on traditional vows. Before the vows, I’ll read from, first Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verses four and five. Then we’ll do the exchanging of the vows. You both have rings for the ceremony tomorrow?” he asks, and we both nod in the affirmative. Max bought my engagement ring the week before he proposed. Not long after, both of us went back to the same jeweler and picked our bands. Mine is white gold and encrusted with tiny diamonds and sapphires. I picked a simple thick platinum band for Max, which he loves.
“Okay, at this point I’ll ask your guests if anyone has reason for you two not to wed. I usually give it ten seconds before moving on the vows. We’re not going to say those here and now. The first time you make that vow, I’m confident will be the last time. If you get nervous and fumble the words, even better,” he confesses, and we both turn to him. “Don’t aim for perfect during this ceremony. Aim for real.” My eyes tear up, because I’d never thought of that. I sniffle and Max squeezes my hand tight. I smile at him, but his face is set in stone. He’s affected by what Pastor Mays said, and I love that.
“After the vows and the ring exchange, I’ll read another verse and we’ll have another prayer. I’ll not only ask you to commit to one
another, but I’ll also ask your guests to commit to praying for you. Once all this is done, I’ll instruct you to kiss your bride.” He smiles. “And that you can practice all you want.” He shares and steps back. I look back up at Max and smile. He’s still not smiling, but he lifts his hand, cups my cheek and neck, then pulls me forward as he leans down and our lips touch softly. Neither of us take it any deeper. We just stay like that for a while, Max’s hand on my cheek, mine on his waist.
We finally break when Callie squeals, “I want to get married. It’s so fun?” She jumps up and down.
Max and I laugh give a startled laugh, along with Pastor Mays. Max picks her up and sets her on his hip, then asks with humor, “Who you going to marry, princess?”
“Dillon, of course,” she responds without missing beat, and Max’s face falls from a smile to a frown. Uh oh!
“Sugar, we have a long time before that day comes. Relax.” I giggle and run my hand along Max’s arm, trying to sooth him. While he tries to shake off the shock of Callie’s admission, I walk around thanking everyone.
Before we leave for the resort, Betsy Kay walks Max and me across the property, and shows us what’s been set up so far. The portable bathrooms have arrived, so I go inside to check them out and I’m pleased at how nice they are. One is for men and one for women. Both have three stalls, and two basins with marble counters, and even have a sitting area with large mirrors. Much fancier than I ever imagined.
Soon, we say our goodbyes and head back to the resort. I’m tired, but it’s a wonderful exhausted. There’s no time to rest though, because we’re meeting everyone across the street at Annie’s, a bar and restaurant.
Once the door closes back at our room, Max ushers me across the room to the bed. Before I realize what he’s up to, my back is on the mattress and he’s on top of me.
“Twelve hours, love. Twelve hours and you’ll be mine,” he says softly.
“I’m already yours,” I tell him something he already knows, then wrap him up in my arms and legs.
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