I smile and look into the mirror, surveying the simple style. It falls to my ankles. There is no train. I figured that with an outdoor wedding, it would just get mucked up, so I went with a simple, mermaid style dress, but it’s all lace, and rather than white, it’s a light, barely-there shade of pink. The neckline is heart shaped around my breasts, and lacy straps hold it all up.
“The shoes are the best part,” Charly says with a grin and passes me the black lacy Louboutin shoes that the girls all gave me as a wedding shower gift. The heels are high, and thankfully the aisle is the brick path in front of the house, between the massive oaks, so I won’t sink when I walk to my groom.
“I think the whole package is pretty great,” Adam says from the doorway. None of us heard him come in.
I grin and turn around and hold my arms out at my sides. “What do you think?”
“I think Declan’s going to faint dead away when he sees you,” Adam says as he walks to me, wearing khakis and a white button-down.
“You look very dignified,” I say and play with a button on his chest.
“I’m just relieved you didn’t make me wear a tux,” he replies and glances around the room. “Do y’all mind if I have a few minutes with her?”
“It’s about time for you to walk down the aisle anyway,” Gabby says. “So just come on down when you’re ready and we’ll get this show on the road!”
The girls all file out and close the door behind them, and Adam sighs as he takes me in, from my hair to my shoes.
“Nice shoes.”
“This is why we’re friends,” I say, trying to keep it light. “Because you understand the importance of shoes.”
He smirks and nods his head. “Okay, before I walk you down the aisle, I want you to tell me. Why Declan?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why, out of the billions of men in the world, did you choose to marry him?”
I frown and blink at Adam. “Are you saying I shouldn’t?”
“Not at all. I just want to know, before I hand you over to him, what it is about Declan that makes you ready to commit to him for the rest of your life. That’s all.”
“Well, aside from the whole I love him thing…” I reply and chew my lip, thinking.
“You’re eating your lipstick off,” Adam says with a smile.
“Damn it. Don’t let me forget to put it back on before we go down.”
He nods and waits. “It’s really pretty simple, Adam. I can’t imagine my life without him. He fits. Every part of him fits into my life, as if he was a puzzle piece that was missing. He’s the only piece that will ever fit.” I shrug. “He’s just… mine.”
“Okay.” He smiles.
“I want you to feel this someday,” I murmur quietly and Adam immediately shakes his head. “I know, you don’t think you want to settle down with one woman, but I hope that someday you meet a girl that just fits you, and you know that you’ll never be the same.”
“It’s a romantic thought.”
“It’s much more than romance,” I reply. “And I think I get now why Daddy never really got over losing Mom. She was his piece, and when he lost her, he just couldn’t deal with it.”
Adam frowns and looks down, then back up at me. “You’re in such a better place now, Cal. When I think of where you were when you moved back home more than a year ago, to now, it’s like you’re a new person. You’re you, but you’re…”
“Better,” I reply for him and he nods.
“You are. You were always great, but you’re better.”
“And Declan is the piece that makes me better, Adam.”
Adam grins and pulls me in for a big hug, clinging to me. “I’m so happy for you, Cal. Really happy for you. I like him, and I couldn’t love you more if you were my sister by blood. So, thank you for letting me have the honor of walking you down the aisle.”
“There’s no one else I’d rather have do it,” I reply. “And speaking of, we’d better get down there.”
“Put your lipstick on,” he says and steps aside to watch me primp.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I grab the bouquet of pink roses and cala lilies that were my mother’s favorite and lead Adam out of the room and down the stairs.
It’s evening. The sun is just beginning the set, sending a riot of color through the sky. The trees are adorned with white lights, and pink fabric that matches my dress is draped among the limbs. Tables are set up for eating later, and for now, enough white chairs are gathered in a semi-circle for just Declan’s immediate family, my Uncle Bernie, and Adam to witness the ceremony.
I wanted a very small wedding, and that’s what Declan and his family are giving me.
Adam takes my hand, loops it through his arm, and escorts me down the steps of the porch and down the brick path as a simple piano version of When A Man Loves a Woman that Declan recorded plays on the sound system.
I can see his family, all smiling, some wiping at tears, watching me make the journey to my man, but all I can see is him.
He’s in black slacks and a white button-down, tucked in, with a blue tie that belonged to his father. But it’s his eyes, holding mine, that I can’t look away from. He’s saying everything with those eyes: I love you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Thank you for being mine.
I can’t wait to marry him.
Finally, we approach, and Adam passes my hand to Declan’s, kisses my cheek, and takes a seat.
“Dearly beloved,” the justice of the peace begins. “We are gathered here, on this beautiful spring day, to join Declan and Callie in matrimony. It was their wish that only those who are closest to them be here to witness this sacred day, and it’s also their wish that they take over from here, reciting their vows and exchanging rings. So I’m going to let them get to it.” He winks at Declan and takes a step back.
“Calliope,” Declan begins, earning a mock-glare from me, but he simply smiles and squeezes my hand. “I love you. Nothing, not even time, will ever change that. You don’t complete me, because we’re both complete on our own, but you compliment me in ways that I didn’t even know I needed.
“Your love is like a song, and our song is an easy melody that plays, over and over, in my heart. Some days it’s slow and sweet, and other days it’s fast and loud, but it’s always love. It’s my favorite song.”
And, cue the tears, damn him.
“I promise you today to always be your partner. To never forsake you, or be unfaithful. I will respect you and I promise to do my best to listen and have your best interests at heart, even in times of anger. I’m going to screw up, Callie, but I will always be here, ready to fight for us.” He swallows and squeezes my hands, three times. “Our family will always be my only priority, for as long as I live.”
He kisses my forehead, then steps back and gives me a moment to catch my breath and wipe the tears from my cheek, not even caring that I’ve already ruined my makeup.
“I wasn’t expecting you, Declan Boudreaux,” I begin and grin at him. “You were not a part of any of my plans, but you were the best surprise I’ve ever been given, the piece of my puzzle that I didn’t know was missing.” I sniff and nod a thank you at Beau as he passes me a handkerchief. “I thought that I’d walk through life taking care of myself, and I’d done a pretty good job of it. But, then I met you and you taught me a few things.
“First, I learned that it’s okay to lean on someone who loves you. You are my greatest supporter, my fiercest advocate, and I know that when I can’t speak for myself, you are there to help me.” He nods, his beautiful hazel eyes smiling down at me.
“Second, I learned what true unconditional love is. It’s saying, I don’t care what happened yesterday, I’m going to love you today, and every day. No matter what.
“You’ve shown me patience, and loyalty, and you’ve shown me what it means to be truly safe with another person. Loving me isn’t always easy, but then, I guess the best loves aren’t. And ours is the best love I’ve ever been in.”
Declan’s eyes fill as he watches me, listening intently to every word.
“I promise to always value our love, and hold it in the highest regard. I promise to respect you, be faithful to you, and support you in every endeavor, at your side, for as long as we both live.”