I’ve had to pull the bastards back in line all day. If anyone is going to start acting like a cocky bastard today, then it’s going to be me.
My mom appears at the top of the aisle with her husband by her side, looking like the proudest woman on the face of the earth. She spots me instantly and makes her way down the aisle.
Mom breaks away from John and in the space of two steps, her eyes pool with proud Mumma tears. “Oh, Nate,” she says, working hard to control her emotions as she reaches out and draws me into a warm hug. “You look…” She stops there with a heartwarming sigh, completely at a loss for words as she holds me tight. But nothing needs to be said. Not now. I know exactly what she’s trying to say.
“I know,” I murmur, letting her hold me for a little while longer.
“I’m so proud of you,” she tells me, finally releasing me from her tight grip and allowing me to breathe again. “This is beautiful. Tora is going to love it.”
At the mention of her name, my thoughts start going wild again. “Have you heard from her? Or her mom?” I question, desperate to know if she’s going to castrate me when she gets here, or hell, if she’s even going to show up.
Mom squeezes my shoulder and gives me one of those looks that takes me right back to my childhood. “Have a little faith, Nate. She’ll be here and she’ll be hurrying down that aisle faster than lightning.”
“Yeah, to kill me,” I scoff.
“Maybe,” mom smiles. “But as soon as she’s finished cursing you out, she’s going to marry you, and become your wife.” Mom brings her fingers under my chin and raises it. “Chin up, Nate. It’s your big day.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I mumble for only us to hear.
She gives me a fond smile before looking down the line of well-dressed boys. “Do I even want to know where your brother is?”
I crack a smile and shake my head. “He’ll be here. Don’t worry.”
Mom purses her lips. “This better not be payback for what you did at his wedding.”
I laugh as I recall how we played the old switcheroo on Jesse during the garter removal. He was blindfolded and did a great job shoving his head up a dress and ripping the garter off with his teeth, only it wasn’t Kaylah’s leg the garter was attached to. It was mine and I have to admit, I looked fucking great in that dress. The fucker still hasn’t forgiven me and I can only imagine what kind of shit he’s going to pull on me tonight.
“Well,” I tell mom with a shrug. “When it comes to Jess, we can never really be too sure.”
“Damn,” she groans. “We’re going to end up on the news.”
“Come on,” I laugh. “You have to see the good side of this. It will be a wedding to remember.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she tells me before pulling me in and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I love you, Nate. You’re going to make an incredible husband to Tora. I’m so proud of you pulling all this together. You’ve grown into such an inspiring, young man. Tora is a lucky girl.”
“No, Mom,” I tell her. “I’m the lucky one.”
She shakes her head as those tears reappear. “I’m going to take my seat before I turn into a blubbering mess.”
“Ok,” I laugh. “I love you too, by the way.”
“I know,” she tells me before turning away and joining John in the front row of the groom’s side.
I look up at the sky and take note of the sun beginning to lower. It’s nearly time. Tora’s never physically said it before, but I know she’s always wanted a twilight wedding ceremony which is exactly what I’m going to give her.
The ceremony will be held with the sun setting in the background and then we’ll head off to take a few photos just as the sun is disappearing behind the hills in the distance. Just how she’s always wanted.
I’ve thought of every last detail to make tonight perfect for her. There are fairy lights hanging from trees with a white sheer fabric draping from tree to tree to make a spectacular canopy above the ceremony. We have lanterns lining the sides of the aisle with white rose petals leading from one end to the other. There are floating candles out in the lake and the fact that the setting sun’s reflection is as clear as day in the water just makes it that much better.
Every little thing that I know she’s always wanted has been thought of.
I want this to be perfect for her. She’s fucking perfect and she deserves nothing less. Broken Hill lake holds so many memories for us. Both good and bad. We’ve spent endless summers here and partied over and over again, having the time of our lives, and then we nearly burned alive in the boatshed which has since been replaced. Now, those bad memories are going to be replaced with something much better.