My dress is white, a tight bodice with a full skirt. My long dark hair is swept up underneath my full-length veil.
I wanted the fairy tale…and I got it.
Dress and all.
Lorenzo holds his arm out and I link mine through it, with my nerves thumping hard in my chest, we take the steps and wait in the reception area of the church.
The traditional bridal song begins and Anna kisses my cheek with a big smile. “Ready to get married?”
I giggle. “Uh-huh.”
She walks through the double doors and now it’s Olivia’s turn. She turns to me. “You look so beautiful, Chesk.”
“Thanks.”
She kisses my cheek and disappears too.
The double doors open, and I look up the aisle to see Giuliano standing at the end waiting for me.
He’s wearing a black dinner suit and a white vest and cravat. His dark hair is just messed perfection.
He’s breathtakingly handsome, Valentino and Alex, his groomsmen are by his side.
He turns toward me and our eyes meet, he gives me a slow sexy smile.
My world stops.
His eyes well with tears and with my love about to explode in my chest I want to run down the aisle to him as fast as I can.
This is it, the moment in time where we become one.
We walk down to the beat and with every step closer to him, I feel braver.
More myself.
Lorenzo kisses my cheek and turns and shakes Giuliano’s hand and then places my hands in his.
“Thank you,” Giuliano whispers.
Lorenzo breaks tradition and leans in and kisses him on each cheek too, the crowd give a little chuckle.
Giuliano turns and smiles over at me, the look in his eye could start a fire.
I know that look…I live for that look.
“We are gathered here today.” The priest begins his sermon.
Giuliano’s eyes darken.
I can hardly hear the words, they all sound jumbled. I’m too enamored with the beautiful man in front of me. Wearing his black suit and looking like he’s about to bend me over the church pew in front of everyone.
“Repeat after me,” the priest says.
Giuliano slides the gold band onto my finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
I slide the gold band onto Giuliano’s finger.
“Do you take this woman, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” His eyes hold mine and he raises an eyebrow playfully.
I giggle.
“Do you take this man, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
A million memories from over the last ten years flash before my eyes. But most of all, the beautiful love between us.
I’d climb any mountain, fight any battle, do it all over again in an instant.
To get to this precise moment in time.
“I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss your bride.”
Giuliano takes my face in his two hands and kisses me tenderly, his eyes close and he’s completely lost in the moment as if we have all the time in the world.
And now we do.
THE END