by Dee Bridle
“Bad news,” said Ryan, looking a little worried. “It’s raining.”
“So we get wet,” I said with a shrug. Nothing was going to stop me from marrying her today. Nothing.
“Oh no, your hair will get wet!” moaned Noah.
“Oh shit, we can’t have that,” said Zac.
I gave them both the middle finger before letting out a breath. “Let’s do this.”
Janey
It was raining. I was getting married on the beach, in the rain.
“Apparently it’s good luck,” said Ava.
“I don’t need it,” I said confidently. “Let the rain pour down.” Nothing was going to stop me from marrying Will today.
I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror. I was standing in a place that I thought I would never get the chance to be. I was wearing a wedding dress for starters, a veil too. I had my two sisters fussing around me and I was about to go out and meet my future husband. If the old me could see me, she would have looked on in disbelief. Life had changed. I had changed.
I was still me, under it all; just a little happier version of myself. I still had my moments and would forever be a little complicated. I was always going to be that Janey but now I was also a Janey that put a smile on Will’s face. I actually liked her.
“You look beautiful,” said Ivy.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile as I looked at them both in the mirror. My sisters; two beautiful girls who had changed in more ways than one.
“I’ve been gone for a while haven’t I?” I said next.
They both nodded.
“You both needed to get away and explore the world,” smiled Ava. “Find yourselves.”
“A lot has happened while I’ve been gone,” I said knowingly.
“Like what?” asked Ivy.
My eyes narrowed onto Ivy before I turned around from the mirror and faced them both. “Really?” I asked.
“What?” asked Ava innocently.
“Really?” I said again.
Ava and Ivy looked at each other and then back to me.
“Sisters shouldn’t keep secrets from each other,” I said to them.
There was a knock at the door and then Dean’s voice. “Sweetheart, they’re ready and in place.”
“Coming,” I called out, moving away from the mirror and grabbing my bouquet. I had asked Dean to give me away and he was so chuffed that I had asked him. I turned to look at my two bridesmaids, both unaware that they were doing a terrible job of hiding their guilt.
“So, after the ceremony, we celebrate,” I said to them. “We celebrate my marriage and all of our futures.”
Ava smiled and nodded. Ivy looked pale for a moment.
I smiled and shook my head. “Ivy, if you need to get rid of some morning sickness before we walk out onto the sand, do it now.”
“What?” she said, her eyes widening at me.
Ava swung around to her and said, “You’re pregnant?!”
“She is,” I said calmly. “Just like you’re married.”
“You’re married?!” said Ivy to Ava.
“I can’t believe you are both keeping secrets from me and expecting me not to find out,” I said shaking my head again. “Shame on the both of you.”
“But – ”
“No buts,” I said, walking over to the door and looking back at them. “Get those bouquets and let’s do this.” I opened the door to Dean who was waiting patiently.
“You look amazing,” he said with a big smile. “Ready?”
“Ready,” I confirmed.
“How did you know?” asked Ava.
“You have a new ring with a ginormous rock around your neck that is meant to be on your finger,” I said whilst looking back to her. “You can put that where it belongs now.”
“I didn’t want to take anything away from you on your big day,” said Ava, already undoing her necklace, sliding the ring off the chain and then onto her finger.
“It’s beautiful by the way. My brother has good taste,” I said putting my arm around Dean’s arm. “But we always knew he did, all those years ago,” I said with a wink to her.
Ava’s eyes welled up with tears; she went to me and hugged me as gently as possible.
“Don’t make me cry just yet,” I said trying to compose myself. I looked to Ivy and smiled. “I can’t believe you’re going to have a baby.”
“Me neither,” said Ivy suddenly bursting into tears.
Ava went to her and held onto her, rubbing her back.
“Is she okay? Shall I go and get Noah?” asked Dean.
“I’m fine,” said Ivy trying to wipe her tears without ruining her makeup. “I’m just pregnant; obviously hormonal, very happy but also worried that I’m going to throw up on the sand during the ceremony.”
“Well, that’s one way of announcing it to everyone,” I said with a wink. “But whatever happens, happens,” I said with a smile. “Just keep walking and focus on your baby daddy.”
The soft strings of a guitar had started and I took a deep breath. This was it.
“Let’s go,” said Ava, wiping at Ivy’s make up before taking her hand and leading her out. “See you out there,” she said to me with a smile.
I nodded and took another deep breath. Dean squeezed my hand and then led me towards the ceremony.
Will
“I hate ties,” mumbled Zac beside me as we waited for the girls to appear.
“Take it off,” I said with a shrug.
“And deal with the wrath of Janey? No, thanks,” said Zac, his hands in his pockets. “The second the ceremony is over though, it’s gone.”
“Just like my pants,” I returned, to a bunch of chuckles from them both.
The rain had eased and only small drops were falling now, but the sun was shining and the waves were crashing in front of us. We stood in the sand, next to the celebrant, waiting for my bride to appear. I felt nervous, excited and just relieved that this was all happening. The guitarist started plucking his strings and I turned to face the house. She was going to appear any minute now and my heart was beating.
Ivy appeared first, walking through the sand barefooted and looking more nervous than I did. I heard Noah say something under his breath and gave a quick glance to see him completely enamoured at the sight of her. I completely understood him; no words were needed. I turned back to watch Ivy, who looked panicked for a second, before stopping and covering her mouth.
“Shit,” said Noah, about to go to her before she put her hand up to halt him and took a deep breath.
“She’s not well?” I asked him in a whisper, watching her brace herself, take another deep breath and then start to walk toward us again.
“She’s carrying my baby,” said Noah quietly, pride emanating from him.
Both Zac and I took in a sharp breath together and looked to Noah. Noah’s eyes didn’t move from Ivy but he smiled, knowing we were gobsmacked.
“Congratulations, man,” I murmured with a grin.
“You’ll be the best dad out there,” murmured Zac, grabbing the back of Noah’s neck and squeezing it.
“Thanks,” said Noah with emotion in his voice.
As I tried to comprehend the news, my eyes landed on Ava appearing from the doors of the house. Smiling like she was carrying her own secret, she made her way towards us.
“Fuck me,” said Zac under his breath.
I grinned, watching her walk towards us, her eyes solely on Zac. She would always be our beautiful Ava.
“Gentleman, meet my wife,” said Zac next.
“What the fuck?” exclaimed Noah, turning to Zac.
“You sneaky bastard,” I said with a laugh. “Janey is going to hang you by the balls.”
Zac shrugged, his eyes still soaking up his wife. “Doesn’t matter; it’s all worth it. Best thing I could have done.”
“Congratulations,” said Noah with a big grin.
“Yeah, congratulations,” I smiled. “Can I get married now? O
r there any more secrets I should know?”
“Wow,” said Zac next. “She looks perfect.”
I nodded and turned back, my eyes now landing on Janey. Zac was talking about his sister - my soon to be wife - the woman who was now making her way to me, looking like an angel with a devilish smile that was just for me. She took my breath away and I felt light-headed. She was going to spend the rest of my life with me.
I smiled and my eyes filled.
My one and only, perfect, hot mess.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my beautiful readers…who waited so long for this story but continued to stay with me.
YOU all make my heart sing!
Keep on being amazing by reading, liking, commenting, sharing, rating and reviewing! It means the world to me.
I must go now…onto my next book…