“Yes,” I whisper, “of course, I will marry you.”
He slides the ring onto my finger, and it fits as if it were made for me. Just like Shawn. We were made for each other. Once our lips meet, I drown myself in Shawn and his kisses. I lose myself and sink into his skin.
One year later
Ella
“Don’t be nervous, my dear,” Mrs. F says, cupping my shoulder with her hand.
She smiles at me through the mirror attached to the vanity. “It’s not every day that you get to marry the love of your life. You will remember this day forever. I can still recall every detail of my wedding day, and that was a long time ago.”
Pinning the last curl in place, I return her smile. “I’m not nervous.”
She shakes her head. “I might be old, but I’m not senile. You cannot fool me.”
“Okay, fine. I was thinking about tripping on my dress or the caterer not showing up. There are about a thousand things that can wrong.”
“The wedding is so small that you are worrying yourself for nothing. So what if you trip over your dress. Only Shawn, his mother, and I will see it.”
“You forgot the minister,” I deadpan.
“Oh, good. Your sense of humor is finally returning. Stop being so stiff.” She massages my shoulders for a few seconds. “Weddings are stressful, but this one doesn’t have to be. Everything will go smoothly. Just focus on marrying Shawn and leave the worrying to me. I will handle the dinner.”
With Shawn having almost no time to plan a wedding with his football schedule, I decided to keep our wedding to just family, which meant inviting only the essential two people in our lives. His friends were on the road with their teams, and we didn’t want to wait until everyone’s schedules aligned.
Consumed with emotions, I squeeze her hand. “Thank you for everything. I always tell Shawn that I have no idea where I would be without him, but I would never have made it to the party without you. All of the amazing things that have happened to me in the last two years happened to me because of you.”
“No need to thank me. I wish I would have come to your rescue sooner. I will always be sorry for that. In some ways, I feel as though I have failed your father. I was his godmother, the one person in this world who had sworn to protect him, which also meant protecting his child.”
“You came at the right time. No one knew about my living situation. None of it was your fault. I’m just glad that I have you in my life now.”
“Same here. After my husband’s death, I had no idea how I would find the strength to keep going. But you have kept me going. Seeing you change and grow has been one of the happiest times in my seventy something years.”
I stand up from the bench, take Mrs. F in my arms, and squeeze the life from her. “I love you, Mrs. F.”
“I love you, too, my sweet girl, but would you please stop calling me Mrs. F?”
“Yes, Auntie Kay.” I blush. “I’m still not used to calling you that.”
“That was
what your dad called me when he was a boy. Everyone else had called me Aunt Katherine, which sounded way too formal for my liking.”
I stand in front of the vanity and run my hand down the front of my dress to smooth out the white fabric. “Well, Auntie Kay, how about you walk me down this aisle and give me away to the man I love?”
“It truly is my honor to stand in for your father. I would love nothing more than to give you to such a wonderful man. Your dad would have loved Shawn. I can see a lot of similarities between them.”
I hold out my arm, allowing her to hook hers through mine to escort me out of the bedroom. “My dad would have loved Shawn just as much as I do.” I frown at the thought of my parents missing my big day.
In some ways, by having our wedding in the gazebo where my parents wed, it’s as if they are here with us today. Every important day in my life has centered on this location. Not only did my parents celebrate their union here, but I also met Mrs. F here the night of the masquerade party. It seems odd to think that a few wooden beams could hold so much meaning in my life.
Wearing my mother’s ring and my father’s blue handkerchief sewn into the bottom layer of my dress, I walk down the stairs with Mrs. F, thankful for how everything has turned out. While my parents cannot be here today, they are here with me in spirit, living in my memories and my heart.
Shawn is already waiting for me when I open the back door and step onto the patio. He’s dressed in a tuxedo, even though I told him he could opt for a more relaxing suit given the venue. Our backyard isn’t exactly a place that requires formal attire. I’m wearing one of Mrs. F’s elaborate gowns that make me feel like a princess. It reminds me of the one I’d worn to the party where we first kissed.
Once our eyes lock, Shawn holds me tight and doesn’t let me go. With the fabric tight against his big arms and chest and the pants hitting his thick legs in all the right places, my man sure knows how to wear a suit. I lick my lips, and he doesn’t miss my gesture because his eyes light up in acknowledgment and he follows my lead.
Shawn bulked up even more than when he played college ball. Over the past year, he lost a lot of the excess weight that I thought made him even sexier. But he’s just as handsome and even more filled out. Grinning like an idiot, I squeeze Mrs. F’s hand the closer we get to the gazebo, the closer I get to marry my Prince Charming. Shawn had saved me when I was at my most vulnerable. I’m stronger because of him.