by Ava Danielle
“Hey son”, my dad walks into the room of the church where we’re all getting dressed and pats me on the shoulder, “Hey Dad.”
“You all set? Got your vows written?” he asks as he takes one last look at me.
“Yeah, they were pretty easy, I mean look at who I’m marrying,” I say smiling.
“I’m proud of you, son. You’ve been through quite a lot these past few years, it’s nice to see someone on your side that’ll do anything for you, hell even give you twins.”
We chat for a few minutes and prepare for the walk down the aisle.
Chaos erupted in our room. I’m trying to wrangle the twins into their blue suits. It took me forever to find a matching set that I actually liked. I still wanted them to be dressed the same even though some days I just get the opposite colors of certain clothing’s, anyways, I’m trying to prepare the hair and make sure they are ready before I even think about getting into that dress and walking down the aisle.
The girls, Violet, Cheyenne, and Emma are dressed in this stunning pink dress with a white cardigan since it’ll be cold out for pictures later. But the color with their dirty blonde hair looks amazing.
Thankful that they are watching the boys for me, I wait for Sarah to return with the hairclip veil that I asked for last minute. The problem is, I keep changing my mind. There are so many ways to do your hair, leave it up, keep it down, put veil on, and take veil off, I just couldn’t and periodically still can’t decide.
“Alright boys, Emma is going to watch you,” I start to say when I’m interrupted by Addison, “and you Aiden,” and she sits him in the playpen with the boys. Them three together, it won’t be long until drool is all over the suits and the hair is a tangled mess.
“I’m so flipping nervous, is that normal Addison?” I ask curiously.
“It’s natural, once you see him, it’ll all fade away, all the nerves; your heart will just start racing and you won’t want anything else but to finally say ‘I do’ and make this your happiest day.”
“I admire you two,” I begin to say as I slip into my dress.
“What do you mean?”
“You and Michael, even after all you’ve been through, you made it work. After all the hearts were broken and tears were shed, you two still passed it all and moved forward trying to make the best out of it, especially for the girls’ sake.”
“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, but once you came into his life, he changed, he became that old Michael again that I once loved. No worries, I won’t steal him from you, I just want you to see that he is going to take care of you, because you’re the one he is meant to be with, you two make the perfect couple and I see a long future ahead,” she starts to say with tears in her eyes.
“I’m really glad to call you a friend,” I start to hug her.
“What the heck is going on in here?” Sarah busts through the door, “I leave for five minutes and a lesbian show goes on without me. Jealous.”
We both start laughing hysterically and being ogled at by three girls and three boys.
“Alright, help me into this dress and let’s get this show on the road,” I demand.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I can’t believe how stunning I look. Not to sound conceited, but a wedding dress can make you feel and look so gorgeous.
The dress I’ve finally decided on is fitting for my body. I have curves in just the right places and I wanted to show them off. It is my special day after all. Even on this cold day, I still wanted to look sexy and show enough skin, so I chose an extraordinary white lace sheath with a sweetheart neckline, delicate sleeves, and covered buttons at the center back, accompanied by Royal Satin slip dress designed to be worn underneath. The luxurious, soft, slinky slip dress drapes the contours of my body or a relaxed, flattering fit; finished with zipper back. I’ve decided to wear the grosgrain ribbon belt flaunting a sparkling Swarovski crystal brooch. The blue pearl necklace that I’m borrowing from Kristina makes the dress even more of a focus.
“You look absolutely stunning, gorgeous, striking, elegant, beautiful,” Sarah starts to say.
“Oh knock it off before you make me cry,” I state.
“Michael is a lucky man,” Sarah sighs.
“Yes he is,” I hear a female voice in the room, and when I notice that it’s Michael’s mom that said it, I about cried.
“Thank you Mrs. Walker,” I hiccup.
“Call me mom, dear,” she hugs me tight, “we’re very fortunate to have you in our lives, those babies are a blessing along with my other grandchildren, and I think he’s found his happiness,” she says those words with Addison right in the room.
“Thanks mom,” Addison retorts.
“You know what I mean,” and hugs her too.
Our family dynamics aren’t traditional, I never condoned in divorces, and I don’t plan on it myself, but sometimes life throws you curveballs and you just go for it, you take the road least traveled and or you take the hardest road to get to where you want to be. It has been like that for me. I wasn’t planning on ever getting married, and having kids wasn’t in my plans after all the heartbreak I’ve been through. During childhood and teenage years, I didn’t ever think I could get this happy.
“Ms. Leighton,” this is the last time I get to call you this, Sarah states, “it’s about time. You ready?”
“No, you still have to finish my hair and where in the world are my heels?”
Oh my god, those heels are what sold me on the navy blue color scheme. The blue heel with white lace wrapped around the top of the back just made it perfectly sexy. I am dying to just walk like a lady in them. The one day of your life you treat yourself to all sexiness.
The clip on veil is ready for my curly hair, make up is on and I’m all set to become Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Theresa Walker. I’m liking that name already!
And cue the music. Since in fact we’re not your traditional couple and nothing we’ve done so far seems to be in the norm, Theresa decided to have a piano player lead her down the aisle. She asked for the Adele song of ‘To Make You Feel My Love’ which I fully contracted.
I’m waiting in the front of this white lantern covered, candlelit church. The snow from outside shines through the dark window and falls perfectly, the snow covered ground will make for an interesting exit of the church to the reception, which will be right next door. The owners of the restaurant were definitely smart to put their place next to a church.
My dad will accompany her down the aisle. He begged her to, since they don’t have a daughter and he never saw a chance other than today, he went for it, can’t say I blame the man. And Theresa felt honored that he would want to.
I’m anxiously waiting on her. Her maid of honor, Sarah, walks down first, a white bouquet in her hand. She’s dazzling in her blue lace dress. Behind me stands Ryan and Brandon and we’re all three glued enjoying every woman walking down. As pretty as they all are, Addison in her blue lace dress, one shoulder draped down, looking incredible, Kristina right behind her, also in blue, and then my three daughters in pink ruffled dresses looking sweet. I’m ready for my future wife. Waiting for the most astounding woman, the one I will call my wife.
I see my dad, and then I see her, never leaving her eyes. There are no words to describe the way she looks. Our boys are walking ahead of her, they are the cutest little boys you could ever imagine, but maybe I’m biased. They are toddling up the aisle, smiling and waving at everyone as if they are royals. Making everyone in the audience aware of them, I think they are trying to steal their moms’ show, or as she would say, stealing her thunder.
She’s absolutely magnificent in that dress. She shines of happiness with that grin she’s wearing and that concentrating look she gives me, making sure she doesn’t fall.
My dad hands her over to me, that just sounds strange, but anyways, she’s led into my direction, standing right next to me in front of a preacher that will make us, US. He’s going to bind us for every one to see us make it official.
/> “Dearly beloved,” is all I hear. But I just continue to admire her beautiful eyes. I admire her smile, the way she looks in that dress, I shouldn’t have these thoughts right now, but I’m ready to strip her and take control over her body. She starts to flush. He continues his speech that I completely ignore. I’m rude, I know, but I can’t help it. She’s too striking to look away.
“You may now say your vows,” I hear and realize it’s my turn to say something.
Clearing my throat, I pull a piece of paper out of my pocket, I’m not that great with remembering things and these words didn’t take me long to write but I wanted to share them with her word for word.
“My love, I promise to choose you every day, to love you in word and deed, to do the hard work of making now into always. To laugh with you, cry with you, grow with you, and create with you. To honor the divinity in you, of you, and around you. To be your kin and your partner in all of life’s adventures. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I don’t yet know, I give you my hand. I give you my love. I give you myself.”
Theresa’s eyes start to swell up, as she prepares for her vows, no paper, no notes, nothing. And I’m taken back by her words.
“Sweetheart, loving what I know of you, trusting what things I will discover. I will respect you as a person, a partner, and an equal. There is little to say that you haven’t already heard, and little to give that is not already freely given. Before you asked me, I was yours and I am devoted to you in every way. I marry you with no hesitation or doubt, and my commitment to you is absolute.”
Before we know it, we’re saying ‘ I DO ‘ and at last I hear, “I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride,” and I do. Wholeheartedly, hard, full of passion and desire, I just made her mine completely. She has my children, my name, and forever my love.
“I love you Mrs. Walker,” I whisper into her ears as we leave the church together as husband and wife.
“I love you, my husband Michael Walker,” she whispers back.
Midway down the aisle, I stop. Everyone has left the church; they are all out there waiting for us. Our friends, our family, waiting to celebrate us, waiting to cheer us on as a couple and applaud us, but I’m feeling selfish. I dip her in the midst of the church, look her straight into her eyes. The moment I realized I belonged to her was the day she walked through those doors to become my assistant, that’s the day I knew she’d be mine. I had faith.
“You are mine forever,” I kiss her. She belongs to me; who am I kidding, I belong to her!!
‘Lovefool’ by The Cardigans
‘Show you off’ by Dan + Shay
‘Love’ by Jana Kramer
‘Change your mind’ by Clare Bowen
‘Nothin’ like you’ by Dan + Shay
‘Everything’ by Michael Buble
‘Bright’ by Echosmith
‘Make you feel my love’ by Adele
I’d like to thank my family for supporting my passion and dream, for allowing me to take the time to grow. I’ve neglected you at times, but you never gave up on me, you believed in me, and that means more to me than you’ll ever know.
A BIG THANK YOU to all my betas. Jennifer Trocchia, Angel Follansbee, Lisa Brooks, Melony Hobgood, Dawn Vickers, and Anna Stella Schunke, Your amazing support and kind words pushed me to be better, to succeed no matter what.
My street team!!! The kick ass! They are always there listening to my doubts, and pushing me to do what I love. Never to hold back!
Thank you to all my readers, because if it wasn’t for your interested, none of this would exist.
Always believe in second chances!!!!!!
Ava Danielle is married, with four rambunctious children, that loves to laugh and have fun. She’s sarcastic, witty, and uses way too many curse words. She grew up around the military and it’s all she’s ever known. She’s currently a stay at home mom that is living overseas. She’s love to hang out with her friends, read, and dream of fictional characters. Wine, Pinterest, and Spotify fill her days.
Writing has become her escape from daily life and chores.
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Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13846161.Ava_Danielle