Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas 3)

Oh no. The tears. The tears are coming. Move this wedding along before I lose all control.

“Ellie, I . . . I . . .” Lifting her hand up to my face she shook her head.

“I know, Lauren. I know.”

My mother and Ellie both turned and left the room. Closing my eyes, I prepared myself to look at my father who I knew had tears rolling down his face.

Feeling his hand on my shoulder, I turned to him. Yep. There they were. Tears. Keep. It. Together. Lauren. Mascara. Don’t smudge. Don’t look in his eyes.

Placing his hands on my shoulders, I felt his body shudder briefly. Peeking up, I looked into his eyes and saw a single tear roll down his face.

Oh my glitter. Blinking rapidly I tried to keep my tears at bay.

“Oh, Lauren. You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”

Laughing, I rolled my eyes as I carefully wiped a tear away. “Mom would be really pissed if she heard you say that.”

Letting out a strained chuckle he nodded his head. “Your mother was breathtaking. I can close my eyes and still see how beautiful she was.”

“Daddy,” I whispered.

“I need you to know something, Lauren. Before you walk down that aisle and become Colt’s forever, I need you to know you were mine first and you’ll always be my little girl. My life is for you and your mother and no matter what you need, I will be there for you. Always.”

Throwing myself into my father’s arms, I held onto him tightly. “Daddy, I’m so happy you’re here!”

“Me too, baby. Me, too.”

My father held me for a few minutes before there was a knock on the door. “It’s that time!” came a muffled voice from the other side of the door.

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Stepping away I turned to the mirror to check my makeup. My mother was of course a step a head of me. She used waterproof makeup.

Holding his arm out for me my father asked, “Shall we?”

Lacing my arm over his, I smiled. “We shall.”

STANDING NEXT TO my father, I attempted to calm my beating heart. “Jesus, Colt. I can hear your heart from back here. Take some deep breaths in.”

Blowing out some quick breaths, my father laughed. “I said deep breath in, son. Not blow all your air out in quick bursts.”

Taking in a deep breath, I looked around. The wedding was taking place on the terrace. It was simple, with just a few decorations of white candles and red rose petals. I prayed Lauren liked it. The doors to the terrace were closed as we waited. When the music played, I felt my knees wobble.

“Breathe, Colt.”

Not realizing I had been holding my breath, I slowly dragged in a deep breath and blew it out just in time for the French doors to open. My eyes immediately fell on Lauren. She was dressed in a lace gown with her hair pulled up. Curls hung down and framed her beautiful face. There was a lightness in my chest, and my senses heightened as I watched Lauren make her way to me. The smell of her perfume engulfed me as I took a deep breath in.

As she got closer, I noticed my mother’s daisy necklace hanging around Lauren’s neck. Quickly looking at my mother, she smiled and wiped a tear away as she watched Lauren make her way to me.

Stopping in front of me, Lauren smiled the biggest, brightest smile I’d ever seen. Scott turned to me and winked as the pastor asked who was giving Lauren away.

Placing Lauren’s hand in mine, Scott said, “Her mother and I.”

Lauren turned to face me, and my eyes moved across her entire body and back to her amazing blue eyes. “You look stunning, sweetheart. Absolutely beautiful.”

A single tear rolled down Lauren’s face as I reached up and wiped it away.

The pastor began the ceremony as Lauren and I held each other’s hands. I wasn’t even sure what he was saying; I couldn’t pull my eyes from Lauren. Before I knew it, he was pronouncing us husband and wife and I was kissing my bride as our parents cheered us on.