Accidental Meeting (Accidental Hook-Up 3)

“Well, that’s good news. I was thinking that we might have to postpone things if not. I know how much the dress means to Tia and I want everything to be as perfect as it can be for her today.”

“You have a good woman there, Son,” Dad tells me with a smile. “You make sure her whole life is perfect.”

Dad is so soft now he’s a bit like a puppy dog. A far cry from the hardened criminal he was all that time ago. That seems like a different person now. A different time for all of us.

“I know, she really is wonderful, I can’t wait for her to be my wife. I can’t wait to see her as a mother either.”

That excites me thoroughly. We have both been let down by our parents in one way or another throughout our lives, which I’m sure will only make us much better at it. We certainly know what not to do.

“You look good too.” He nods at my suit, complete with the lime green tie I wear to all of our special moments now. It’s become a tradition that I absolutely love. “But I bet you’re really hot.”

“It doesn’t matter; I can take the heat for a while. I need to look good for my wife.”

“Of course you do.” He pats me on the back. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. You’re always putting that woman of yours first which is why everyone admires you so much. Me especially.”

“You do?” That’s such a nice thing for him to say, especially today.

“Of course I do!”

The officiant makes his way across the beach to me then and he starts to discuss the wedding with me. It will only be a very simple deal, but there are still parts of it that we need to talk about. As we do, Dad takes his seat and he’s soon joined by Mom which means that Tia must be ready for me. She’s ready to get married to me in the beautiful setting with the gorgeous sun beating down upon us, which is the best news I have heard all day.

“I think it’s time,” I tell the officiant. “I’m ready if she is.” Mom nods as if to agree with me. “Okay good.”

Music begins to play. A soft flute tune which already sets off my emotions. I promised myself that I would hold it together today and that I wouldn’t weep like a baby, but I have a horrible feeling I’m not going to be able to keep that promise. I clutch my hands together and wait for my bride to come in to view...

“Oh wow.” She stops my heart beating with her beauty. As soon as my eyes fall upon her the rest of the world simply melts away. That white dress, clinging to her curves and showing off her lovely baby bump, is everything. It has lace at the top, tickling her cleavage, and a splaying skirt at the bottom which drags along the sand.

Yep, it’s too late. The tears are streaming down my cheeks. I just don’t know if I should have ever been this lucky. I wasn’t the guy who was going to settle down, but this woman knocked me off my feet and changed everything. I’m so glad that she did. I don’t even want to think where my life would be if I hadn’t fallen for the stranger. Would my secrets still be hidden? My life unfulfilled? Would loneliness still encompass me?

Thank God now I will never have to find out.

Tia’s eyes fix on me the whole time she walks towards me and when she’s about half way there I can’t take it any longer. I race to her side and hold her hand, walking her the rest of the way. Her father isn’t here to give her away, which is fine because this isn’t exactly a traditional wedding anyway, but I don’t want her to be alone when she walks. I want Tia to remember that I will always be there to hold her, to support her.

“You look so lovely,” I tell her as I take her hand. “Absolutely stunning.”

“Oh, in this old thing?” she teases. “I just found it in the back of my wardrobe.”

“Well, thank goodness because it’s perfect for today!”

We reach the end of the aisle and stand in front of the officiant, holding on to each other and staring only into one another’s eyes. The stunning scenery barely matters when I have this gorgeous being before me. We could be around the back of a fast food restaurant with the bins and it wouldn’t matter. I would still be this damn happy.

“We are gathered here today…” The officiant starts in his warm, soothing tone of voice which immediately settles me. “To celebrate the union of Shane Valentine and Tia Cooke…”