by DW Cee
Chapter 22
Our Happily Ever After
Sunday was the most beautiful day of the year. The weather was a perfect eighty degrees, and everyone arrived at the crack of dawn. Because of the perfect weather, Sandy and Barbara decided to hold the wedding outside, so it was chaotic for a while getting everything moved out of the ballroom and into the backyard.
I woke up and watched all the hustle and bustle outside, but decided not to leave my room. I liked being alone, giving myself some time to think about the magnitude of today and the joy that awaited us. Surprisingly, my nerves didn’t rattle me. I only reveled in the happiness of becoming Mrs. Reid by the end of the day. My face couldn’t keep from smiling as I watched all the workers transform the backyard into my dream.
Though it was early, I called Jake to see what he was up to. With so many men in one place, there would be no way he would still be sleeping.
My groom answered the phone on the first ring.
“Good morning, Handsome.” I sounded even sappier than usual.
“Hello, my beautiful bride. You’re up early. Did you sleep well last night?”
“No. I can’t wait to have you in bed with me.” It was my wedding day. I figured I could sound as brazen as I liked.
“Aw, Sis! I don’t need to hear this kind of stuff so early in the morning. It’s making me nauseous.”
Normally I would have died of embarrassment at Nick having heard our conversation but today, nothing bothered me.
“Nick, go find something else to do. Don’t listen in on a soon-to-be newlywed’s conversation. What did you expect?”
“We’re driving and you’re on speaker so we’re going to have to keep this conversation G rated, although I like the way you’re thinking.” Jake grinned through the phone.
“Where are you off to so early in the morning?”
“We’re coming home briefly to pick up our tuxes, and then we have to meet everyone at the spa for haircuts and grooming.”
I jumped out of bed excited that I might spend the morning with my groom.
“Does that mean we can see each other this morning?” I sounded much too hopeful.
“I will try to sneak into our room, but Nick is supposed to be my guard. He promised the chief to keep me away from you.”
Quickly, a suitable bribe for Nick popped into my head.
“Nick, if you give me thirty minutes with your brother, I promise you a meal at Masa when we get back from our honeymoon. What do you think?”
Nick wouldn’t budge.
“Sis, if I let Jake see you, the chief promised to torture me on my wedding day. He threatened many times.”
“Nick, we won’t tell him. I promise!”
“They’ll read it on Jake’s face. He’ll have a stupid grin instead of this scowl he’s had since Friday night.”
We both pleaded and bribed, but to no avail. Jake took me off speaker phone and promised to try to come see me when he got home.
Aunt Barbara sent Laney to tell me to shower, but to stay in my robe. The esthetician would be arriving within half an hour and I would be the first one to receive treatment. After all the treatments yesterday it seemed unnecessary, but obviously Aunt Barbara thought otherwise. They converted Nick’s room into the facial / makeup area, and Jane’s room became the hair salon. We were all on a tight schedule, and we were warned not to miss our appointments. Jane was in charge of getting all of us to the right place at the right time.
I continued to watch the workers outside, while waiting for Jake and the esthetician to arrive. I saw that the rental company placed two rectangular rows of chairs on both sides of the grassy aisle. Over the chairs they draped white tulle, loosely pinned together with yellow and off-white roses in the back. They then set up thin trellises all along the outside of the ceremony area. Initially it looked like the trellises made a bracket on either side of the chairs without enclosing the walkway, or where we would stand.
The florists feverishly worked to cover all the trellises with mossy vines and every flower that bloomed in July. I recognized various lilies, jasmine, daisies, dahlias and freesias. There were many beautiful flowers that I didn’t recognize, but enjoyed my leisurely gazing. By the end of their labor, they had created a huge flower tent loosely covering our ceremony. I had never seen such a sight. Then, I saw the florist cover the aisle with hundreds, maybe thousands of white rose petals. What the florist created looked prettier than any picture in a wedding magazine. Once again, I felt a surge of emotions—happy, blessed, and thankful to name a few.
While continuing to look out the window, I heard much commotion right outside my door and knew that Jake was trying to come see me. Laney frantically called for her mom and both Aunt Barbara and Gram came to stop him from walking into our room. Lane slightly opened the door and squeezed in to grab Jake’s tux and quickly shut the door before we could see each other.
Jake was begging both ladies to allow him to see his bride, but neither budged. Jake hollered through the door. “Emi, I’m off to the barber. I’ll see you tonight, Sweetheart. I love you.”
“I love you too. I feel like a prisoner in my own house,” I yelled back.
The esthetician began work on my face while I followed Jane’s every instruction. Facial first, then a light breakfast, then sit and watch a movie, while all the cousins and aunts got both their hair and makeup done. My makeup session would be the last one.
Two more tents went up during the tedious hours of waiting. The first tent resembled a night club. The rental company set up a sleek lounge for what I assumed would be the cocktail and drink hour. Maybe we would dance in there as well, since a wooden dance floor was placed before the tent went up. Stark white lounge chairs and sofas with tons of white pillows were carried in one by one. Some sofas looked like shortened sectionals, and some were large round ottomans. Old chandeliers dimly lit the tent. The only dark furniture pieces in the tent were bar tables and an eight-foot table where probably a DJ would be spinning his tunes.
The other tent that went up next to the lounge tent looked stunning—similar to the wedding trellis with poles outlining the outside of the dinner tables. There was a beam on top with two triangular beams on the top sides. These all connected to rectangular beams to resemble the skeleton of a house. Then large swags of white mesh fabric hung from the top beam and draped along the sides of the horizontal poles. About six or seven of these swags fell from the top to loosely form a tent. Because no one drape fell right next to each other, the tent felt airy and open. We would be able to see the sky between each swag.
Three romantic chandeliers hung on the top beam to light the evening as well as hundreds of candles on the table. There was a mix of round tables with silk taupe linen, and rectangular tables with a rich mossy green silk tablecloth, decorated with a paisley-like crewel embroidery. The florist placed more white flowers all over the dinner tables. I assumed that the chairs in the wedding area would be transported to the dinner tent when the ceremony was over.
Finally, the hair and makeup artists came into my room and began working on me. Butterflies flitting around in my stomach signaled that my trip down the aisle was near. Both artists worked meticulously. The hair stylist decided to put my hair in a classic updo. The makeup artist chose not to put too much makeup on my face, as she thought that the warm weather might smudge the makeup. When they were done, the tailor helped me into my dress, and I was ready to commit my life to Jake. I would finally marry the love of my life.
Gram, Sandy, and Jane gathered around me to complete the last of the old wedding tradition.
Gram was the first to talk. “I’m delighted to give you something borrowed. Here is a pearl necklace my mom gave me when I got married. It’s simple enough to complement your gown. I won’t say much more since I don’t want either of us to start tearing. We welcome you into the family.” Gram put the necklace on me and I hugged my new grandmother.
Sandy came over next and gave me something blue. She continued he
r generation’s tradition and bought me a blue garter. “Here is something blue. Your father and I love you as though you have been a part of our family from the very beginning.”
“Thank you, Mom, for accepting me into your family. I can’t begin to express the love and gratitude I feel toward the Reid family. My parents might have left early, but they definitely watched over me and steered me toward a new perfect family. I’m proud to become a Reid today.” I too had to stop talking as tears hovered.
Jane told me that we still had an hour before the ceremony would begin. Mom left to go check on last-minute details and I looked out the window again to see what else had been accomplished since my time away.
Musicians began situating themselves toward the front of the ceremony area and by the time everyone sat in their place, it was a large orchestra. They tuned their instruments and began playing even before a single person sat down. Perceptively, Jane opened some windows assuming the free-flowing music might calm my nerves.
I also saw the florist moving a couple of eight-foot tables toward the front of the dinner tent. Sods of grass with white and yellow Gerbera daisies decorated this table. I smiled, thinking of my mom. On top of the grass sat white dinner place cards with thin light green ribbon on top, and what looked to be a small white daisy glued to the side of each card. The garden theme flowed through every detail of the wedding. Sandy and Barbara had outdone themselves.
With the hour looming, I missed Jake dearly. We’d been out of touch since early this morning.
“Jane, can I talk to your brother? Can you call him for me?” I begged.
“Oh, all right. You have less than an hour till you see him,” she sounded annoyed. She dialed Jake’s number and handed the phone over to me.
“Hi, Honey.”
“Emi!” Jake sounded so excited to hear my voice. It was like we’d been separated for weeks. “Hi, Love. My gosh, I’ve missed you. Can you believe we’re finally getting married?”
“I’m so excited,” I gushed. “Are you home? Do you see how incredible the house looks?”
“Yeah, I’m home, but they won’t let me outside because they see you watching from our room. This has gotten ridiculous. But it’s almost over. I’ll see you soon.”
My eyes started to well up and Jane quickly took the phone from me.
“Sorry, Jake, time’s up. She’s starting to tear. See ya later.” She hung up on him without any other warning.
“Emily, you’ve got to get a hold of yourself!” Jane chastised. “Sarah, you and I will have to carry a handkerchief just in case Emily starts to bawl during the wedding. Jake wasn’t exaggerating when he said you cry easily.”
After what seemed like hours, I saw guests begin to take their seats. If the butterflies were flitting around before, now they were demanding to be let loose. Jane and Sarah helped me get up and the artists touched up my hair and makeup one last time. I concentrated on getting down the stairs without tripping. My left hand tightly gripped the railing, and Sarah firmly held my right hand. Right as we got to the bottom step, “Pachelbel’s Canon in D” began and Gram, Sandy, and Bobby took their seats.
Sarah and Jane walked me to the French doors that led to the backyard, but made me stand behind the door away from the wedding guests. Jane walked down the aisle first and before Sarah took her step she whispered, “Jake is looking for you.”
Sarah stood between me and my future husband so a glimpse of him wasn’t possible for a few more minutes. My best friend fixed my veil one last time, and told me to keep my head down till I heard Wagner’s march and left me to face the audience alone. I chose to walk down the aisle by myself even though Bobby and Uncle Henry both offered to be by my side.
There it was. Wagner’s wedding march. My time had finally arrived. I walked toward the door and saw the feet of every guest stand and turn my way. My head stayed down for a few more seconds to make sure that my heels were not caught on my dress, and to make positively sure my stance was solid. What a nightmare it would be to trip. Hundreds, maybe thousands of rose petals lay on the grass as an aisle for me to walk down.
As my head lifted, I searched only for Jake. Overwhelmed with emotion, our eyes locked. He lovingly held my gaze all the way down the aisle. The walk made me think about my parents. They would be proud of me. They would also love Jake as Sandy and Bobby loved me. It made me sad to wish that they could’ve been here today to witness our union in love. We would have all rejoiced together. But now, there was Jake and the Reid family, who compensated a thousandfold for all my lonely days.
When I got to the altar, Jake stepped out and held my hand over toward the minister. He pushed back my veil and whispered, “You look beautiful” and unorthodoxly kissed my lips even before the ceremony began. Our guests chuckled, and the minister proceeded. We exchanged rings and said our vows, and promised to love another for as long as we both shall live. I proudly got through the entire ceremony without a tear. When the minister told Jake that he may now kiss the bride, he held me tight but kissed me gently. We both rejoiced that we were finally husband and wife.
Hand in hand, we walked back down the aisle, kissing a few more times before we got back into the house. Jake picked me up and spun me around.
Elation. Felicity. Bliss.
Just a few of the many words to describe what we both felt. Two, finally became one. There truly were no words to describe this joy, this feeling of total happiness.
Jane rushed over with the makeup artist and had her reapply my makeup before we all went out to take family pictures. On our way out, I greeted many guests, but with some difficulty, as Jake refused to let go of me. With a newfound appreciation for his possessiveness, I knew that he would not ever let go again.
With joy cascading, I told Jake, “I can’t believe we’re finally married!”
“I know, Mrs. Reid. I didn’t think that I could be this happy. I love you, Sweetheart.”
“I love you too,” I answered. We tried to kiss again, but Jane came between us and stopped Jake from ruining my makeup. She called us to the photographer and we obliged by taking copious pictures with family and friends.
The reception was in full swing when we arrived, and our guests immensely enjoyed the dinner spread. We first walked into the lounge tent where everyone comfortably sat around the chaise lounge and ottomans happily eating their appetizers. There were three bars with three bartenders, each serving every possible cocktail invented. The first station near the bar prepared Mediterranean Tapas as appetizers. Guest noshed on bacon-wrapped dates filled with parmesan cheese, chicken liver crostini with pancetta, and jamon Serrano.
A few yards away from them, Sandy had rented an outdoor pizza oven and this staff busily popped out pizzas and antipasti. My favorite bianca pizza with sage and fennel sausage was on the menu, as well as Jake’s favorite funghi pizza. We also asked the staff to prepare fried squash blossoms with ricotta and brussels sprouts with prosciutto breadcrumbs. My mouth watered watching everyone eat. Jane wouldn’t let me eat yet for fear of ruining my wedding dress. The DJ began spinning his tunes while we waited for the dinner tent to open.
Over by the dinner tent, I saw the sushi chef and his staff of three in a large area to themselves. He had laid the stunning ice sculpture I saw him carving this morning, out in the middle of the table. About a dozen variety of sashimi graced the table. From a quick glance, I spotted three kinds of tuna—toro, hon maguro, and albacore; salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, several snappers and tamago, along with grated wasabi root. His sushi chefs also used this same fish and assembled a large variety of nigiri sushi.
Near the sushi table was the pasta station. This staff of four cooked our favorites from seafood risotto, gimelli pasta with shrimp and tomato, and a spinach lasagna. Across the way from these two was our most famous California chef, preparing Japanese and American Wagyu steaks, along with onion rings, Matsutake mushrooms, roasted carrots, and Jerusalem artichokes. My mouth watered again smelling all the food in the air. When the dinn
er tent opened many guests flocked over and grazed these marvelous food stations.
Our four-layered cake, covered in a mossy green fondant with flowers sitting on all four layers, sat next to darling petit fours with caricatures of both of our faces. This was a tribute to our Paris trip I wanted to include in our wedding. We went over to see ourselves emblazoned on a piece of dessert. I snacked on a caricature of Jake before sitting down for dinner.
All our guests happily noshed on dinner and sat in the large open tent with the orchestra playing all our favorite music. Jake and I walked over to our table to finally have a bite to eat before beginning our festivities. Jane and Sarah continually came by to see if they could help with anything, and Jake eventually told them to leave us alone.
We saw Nick go up to the podium, ready to give a heartfelt best man speech toward the end of dinner.
“Jake and Emily are the only married couple I know who were broken up longer than they were together. I think they technically dated less than three months. Due to my brother’s stupidity, Emily left him for Japan for four months and they finally reunited with the help of Emily’s ex-boyfriend, of all people.” This got a few howls from the audience. Nick continued to tell of our disastrous reunion in New York and our fateful one in Kyoto. He also explained our trip to Paris, and why there were so many petit fours on the dessert table. “I’d like for you all to help me cheer my brother and sister, Dr. and Mrs. Jake Reid.” The crowd rejoiced while Nick came and hugged us both.
Jane signaled for us to come cut the cake, and I heard her warn her brother not to get any cake on my face or dress. But just in case, the makeup artist followed us to the cake table. I chuckled to myself. Jane obviously didn’t trust her brother to fear her threat. We sliced the cake, with a paparazzi of photographers marking our every move. Jake carefully fed me the first slice and though he had a devilish look on his face, he was an absolute gentleman.
I, on the other hand, was not a lady. With an extra-large helping of cake in my hand, I couldn’t help but mash it on his face. All of the cousins loved this and gave me a standing ovation. Jake retaliated with a ferocious kiss. I hoped the photographers captured those moments as well.
With dinner and dessert about done, the orchestra died down, and we all moved back into the lounge tent, as the DJ came back to life. He called us out for our first dance. Without my knowledge, Jake had chosen an Elvis Costello song that reminded him most of me and our relationship, and we happily glided to the song. Thanks to Jake crossing off another line on my to-do list, I could dance in front of people without tripping over my own feet. We squeezed in ballroom dancing lessons during our few free days and became decent enough to dance the night away.
“Honey, do you know that by the end of our honeymoon, you will have crossed off half my bucket list already?” I commented while dancing.
“My goal is to cross them all off for you, although I don’t think I can send you on a trip with some random man. Maybe I can somehow arrange for you to have a meal with him when we visit New York.”
“Do you know that you are the most amazing man?”
“That’s why I’m married to the most amazing woman.”
Everyone joined us on the dance floor but Jake and I might as well have been in a room by ourselves. We noticed no one. We broke into another one of our endless embraces and didn’t notice Max attempting to dance with me. We had tuned everyone out.
“Excuse me, may I cut in?” I heard but didn’t pay attention.
A little louder the voice repeated, “Excuse me, may I cut in?”
Our lips parted, annoyed. It was Max chuckling at our annoyance and smug that he finally got our attention.
Jake hesitated and warned, “Briefly. I’ll be right back to claim my wife.” He winked and tried to walk away but I quickly whispered a favor in his ear.
“As if it isn’t bad enough that I have to watch you make out in front of me, must you whisper to one another while I’m standing right here?” Max jokingly complained. “Em, you look gorgeous!” he added with his boyish grin.
“Thanks, Max. I’m happy to see you here.”
“I’m glad to be here and thrilled to see you so happy. Is this what you imagined married life to be?”
“It’s better than anything I’ve ever imagined. Thank you. I owe a lot of this to you. I thank you for loving me for four wonderful years. Much of who I am is thanks to our relationship. I learned so much from you. I truly wish you the same kind of joy.”
Max leaned closer and hugged me. “You know I’ll always love you, Em.”
I wanted to reciprocate, but saw Jake return with his sister. I turned to Jane. “Um, Jane? Do you mind changing partners with me? I’d like to be back in my husband’s arms.” With this, I leaned over and kissed Max on the cheek and whispered, “I love you too, Max. Debt repaid.”
I fell back into Jake’s arms and watched the happily surprised Max and Jane dance with one another. Jake looked at me with an appreciative smile.
“You are the most incredible woman in the entire world!” Jake exuded with joy. “Thank you for putting a smile on my sister’s face.”
The evening wore on, and we finally got to my wedding gift for my husband—the fireworks. Everyone sat in chairs laid out on the grassy field. The DJ announced to everyone to look out for Jake’s wedding gift during the fireworks display. Jake kept distracting me with his lips and I had to force him to watch the show.
“Honey, your wedding present is coming up. You need to pay attention or you’ll miss it.”
“What does that mean?”
I gave him a stern look and pointed to the fireworks display.
Toward the end of the display, I saw a happy face light up and this was my cue to have Jake watch his present on display.
“Here it comes,” I announced to everyone with excitement.
There lit the letter I,
Then came the shape of a heart,
Then the letter U,
Then they spelled out JAKE one by one.
Afterward, they shot off many more hearts and big explosions to end the display.
Our guests all clapped and cheered for us. Jake had an incredulous look on his face. This time, I leaned over and kissed his shocked lips and declared, “I love you, Jake.”
“How did you do that? That was the coolest present ever!” Jake said, as his family members gathered around us.
“It wasn’t easy. Once I got the name of the company in charge of the display, and after numerous calls, I finally got the name of the owner of the company. I called and begged him daily, asking him to add this to his show. He refused me for two straight weeks. Eventually, I wore him down and he agreed to do this for me under a few conditions:
I am to never call him again, and
I am to never give his information out to anyone.”
I also told Jake, “I also promised him excellent heart care if he ever needed it. I promised him just about everything, but our first child.” Everyone chuckled at this last comment and we all went out to the dance floor again.
By 10:00 p.m., Jake badgered me to leave the reception so we could get on to more pressing matters.
“Jake, we’re not leaving already. I’m only getting married once. This reception is amazing. I don’t want it to end yet.”
“Then, can we go upstairs to our bedroom for a little bit and come back and rejoin the party?” He looked like a child begging for candy. I waited for the “please, please, please” to happen.
“No. I can’t exactly get in and out of this dress easily. You’ll have to wait. What are a few more hours? We’ll be together for a lifetime.”
He let go of me and walked away pouting. I grabbed Nick and Doug and danced with them instead.
“What’s with Jake?” they both wondered.
“Oh, he wants to move on to the next portion of our wedding,” I answered giggling.
They both understood a little too well what I conveyed. By the end of our dance, all the cousins
played keep the bride away from Jake the rest of the night. Everyone, man, woman, and child, wanted to dance with me to keep us from leaving for our wedding night. The aunts and female cousins also did a good job keeping Jake occupied.
By 3:00 a.m., I wanted to leave. Pretending to give into Jake’s pleas I whispered in his ear, “I’m ready.” He was more than ready.
Most of our guest started eating and drinking again. The party continued as Nick put our suitcase in Jake’s car and we showed our appreciation to Jake’s parents and Aunt Barbara.
“I don’t know how to thank you for this amazing wedding and reception. You two could go into the wedding business. We’ll make sure to bring back a huge gift for both of you from our honeymoon.” We kissed all three of them and sprinted from our house to the car without getting too much rice in our hair. I chose to stay in my wedding dress even though Gram brought me a trousseau from London. We hugged everyone good-bye and left for our hotel near the airport.
During the ride over to the hotel, Jake couldn’t stop talking about our wedding night.
“Which negligee did you bring?” Jake asked with a puppy dog look.
I decided to be coy and not give him any straight answers. “Oh my gosh! I forgot to pack the negligees. I only brought my flannel pajamas,” I answered nonchalantly. I also yawned and said, “I’m exhausted. I couldn’t sleep a wink last night. Aren’t you tired?”
Jake gave me a you can’t be serious look.
I turned my head toward the window and held back a laugh.
“You can sleep on the plane all you want tomorrow.” Jake’s voice sounded like a pleading.
“Will you allow me to sleep on the plane tomorrow, or will you be making out with me again in front of ten strangers? I tell you what. I’ll give you a choice. You can have your way with me tonight in private with my full participation, or you can try to have your way with me tomorrow on the plane, with me fighting you the whole way. Your choice.” I knew the obvious answer but I thought I’d put it out there and hear his response.
“I pick tonight! So answer me, which negligee? Is it that red one that I picked out in London? It’s not that boring white one Gram picked out, is it?”
Jake kept bobbing his head from me to the road often enough to make me nervous so I gave in.
“I’ll give you two clues. Tonight’s outfit was not purchased in London, but you’ve seen it before.”
It took him all of two seconds to figure it out.
With way too much enthusiasm he shouted, “You kept that one from Paris? The one that was supposed to go to Sarah?” His grin was from ear to ear.
“Possibly,” was my only answer.
I looked out the window reveling in our conversation and thinking how just a few weeks ago, I was alone in Japan. Funny how life had a way of untangling itself for the best.
Jake reached over to hold my hand and asked what I was thinking.
“Are you OK? Am I making you nervous about tonight?” He, himself, sounded nervous.
“I’m fine—a bit scared, but happy to be here with you.” I leaned over to kiss his cheek. I knew that this was where I belonged, as Mrs. Jake Reid.
“Sweetheart, you have nothing to be afraid of. Although it was frustrating at times, I’m thrilled you have been with no one else. I consider it a real honor to be your first and only man.” He held my hand till we got to the hotel.
With some difficulty getting out of the car in a wedding dress, I surfaced to a throng of cheers from hotel guests. Jake checked us into the honeymoon suite and we walked hand in hand up to our room. When we arrived, Jake stopped me right outside the door as he opened it with his keycard. He grabbed the Do Not Disturb sign and hung it on the doorknob with a heavenly grin. He lifted me up and carried me over the threshold. We gazed into each other’s eyes knowing this was just the beginning of our happily ever after.
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading Indelible Love—Emily’s Story. This is my first self-published novel and I had so much fun dreaming up the Reid family. If you enjoyed this love story, I would be most grateful if you could write a kind review. Word of mouth, and a good review for self-published authors like me, help tremendously. If you’d like to write to me personally, here are all the ways to contact me.
www.dwcee.com
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/DWCee
www.twitter.com/DWCee_
I’d love to hear from you and I’ll try my best to answer all your questions.
The following is a taste of Indelible Love—Jake’s Story. Hear his version, starting from the moment they meet to the family they create after the wedding. The first chapter is included. Also included are Entwined, a stand-alone novel, and Indelible Lovin’—Max & Jane’s Story, the continuation of the Reid family story.
But, before you read the latest excerpts, there are deleted/rewritten chapters of this story I thought you might be interested in reading. Here is what originally happened at Sarah’s Wedding.