Chapter Four
The main suite of the island’s house teemed with people. As nervous energy hummed through every fiber of my being, it took everything I had to sit still in the chair in front of the mirror. It still felt surreal that I was even here—that after hopping a plane and then taking a boat, I was in my own island paradise. I’d been dreaming of this day my entire life, and now it was finally here.
To combat my nervousness, I’d been tapping my foot restlessly while Marion, the band’s makeup and hair stylist, went about transforming me. When she started in with the eyeliner, she gave me an exasperated look. “Would you stop with the tapping, or you’re going to look like some Goth chick.”
“Sorry.”
She grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this nervous before.”
I sighed. “Yeah, there’s a reason for that. I mean, today’s the biggest performance of my life—my wedding day.”
“Oh honey, you’re going to be just fine,” my mother’s reassuring voice said from behind me. When I glanced into the mirror, she appeared behind me. “I can’t believe it’s really happening. My baby is getting married.” Tears glistened in her eyes, causing her to wave her hand in front of her face. “No, no, today is a happy day. No tears,” she said to herself.
“I agree. Plus, I don’t want to have to redo your makeup,” Marion said with a smile.
Leaning over me, Mom thrust a granola bar, along with a Coke, into my hands. “You need to eat that, sweetheart. We don’t want your blood sugar acting up on today of all days.”
Even though I was too nervous to be hungry, I appeased my mother by unwrapping the granola bar and taking a bite. As I chewed, I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips. The day I had met Jake my hypoglycemia had reared its head. How could I ever forget passing out right after seeing AJ, Brayden, and Rhys and realizing I wasn’t on my brothers’ bus? Of course, it was the moment preceding that when I had found myself in Jake’s bed that meant the most. Our worlds had collided in that moment, and neither one of us would ever be the same again.
Once I finished eating, I took slow sips from the Coke out of a straw. Marion checked my lips to make sure I hadn’t smudged the liner or color while eating. “Okay, make-up is done. Now for the dress and veil.”
I eased up from the chair and came to stand in the middle of the room. My mom and Mia brought the dress out of the closet and then out of its massive bag. It was satin and strapless with a heavily beaded bodice. It fell into yards of satin. It was a little impractical for a beach wedding, but I didn’t care. The moment I had seen it, I knew it was the dress of my dreams. I took off my robe, leaving me in a bustier and underwear.
Once I stepped into the dress, Mom went about zipping up the back. I loved the fact that a row of intricate buttons covered the zipper and gave the effect that I had been buttoned in. Jake would probably freak when he saw it, thinking he had to undo all the buttons to get me naked. I laughed at the thought.
After I was secured into the dress, I realized it was going to be tough breathing for the rest of the day between the bustier and the tight bodice. “Oomph,” I muttered, as I smoothed my hand over my chest.
“Little snug, huh?” Mom asked behind me.
“Yep, just a bit. I probably overdid it last night at dinner.”
Mom laughed. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. They altered it to fit that way, remember?
“I guess.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
I grinned. “I hope so, or I’m going to pass out before the day is over.”
“I don’t think I breathed the entire day of my wedding,” Lily mused, as she fluffed out the bottom of my dress.
I shook my head. “What we sacrifice for beauty.”
“Now for the veil,” Marion said, as she lifted it out of the box.
The intricate lace was interwoven with pearls and sequins. It fell to the floor where it intermingled with my long train. It was held in place by a glittering tiara—an heirloom piece that I had actually rented from Tiffany’s. I considered it my ‘something old’ and ‘something borrowed’. My something ‘old’ also came in the form of Susan’s pearls, which Jake was thrilled I was going to be wearing, and my new was everything from the dress to my underwear.
After she fixed the tiara on the top of my head, Marion stepped back and smiled. “You’re ready now.”
Turning left and right in front of the mirror, I took in my reflection. I blinked furiously as I tried processing what I was seeing. “Wow, I’m really standing here in my wedding dress about to get married, huh?”
Marion had worked quite a transformation with my makeup. It was softer than she usually did it for the shows, but it was also dramatic enough to bring out my eyes and highlight the peaches and cream complexion I’d been blessed to inherit. My hair, which was pulled back on the sides with sparkly combs, hung in curly waves down my back.
“You look…” my mother’s voice choked off. Tears once again filled her eyes, and she bit her lip.
“Just like an angel,” Mia finished with a smile.
“Which will make Jake so very happy,” Lily added.
Mom nodded. “Yes, you do look absolutely angelic, sweetheart.” She drew me into her arms to hug me tight. “I can’t believe you’re all grown up. It seems like just yesterday you were a baby in my arms.”
Instead of telling my mother to stop with the over the top emotions, I just hugged her back. I knew that after today, everything would change between us. I would always be her little girl, but I was going to be Jake’s wife. Someday in the future, I would be starting my own family. “I love you, Mom,” I said, as I squeezed her.
“I love you, too.” When she pulled away, she smiled. “No matter what, I’m so very happy for you. To love and be loved is one of the greatest miracles in life. You’re truly blessed.”
I smiled. “I believe I am.”
After smoothing her hand over her pale pink suit, she nodded. “Well then, I think it’s time we got you married.”
Allison appeared with my bouquet. I brought the fragrant mixture of pink roses and white lilies to my nose. The blush-colored flowers brought out the deep pink hues of the bridesmaids’ dresses while the stark white lilies were in memory of Susan, Jake’s mother. Her favorite flowers had been lilies.
I drew in a deep breath and then made my way out of the bedroom. Mia and Lily trailed behind me making sure my train didn’t get caught. When we got out onto the porch, I could hear the strains of the string quartet playing the pre-ceremony music. Mom hugged me one last time before she went on to be escorted to her seat by Eli and Gabe.
Glancing down below me, I saw my father. At the bottom of the stairs, he paced around on the landing. Outfitted in his best suit, he looked so handsome. But the sadness on his face was palpable, and my chest caved with pain. I knew he hadn’t taken the news of my engagement well, and I guess he had hoped we’d have an even longer engagement than we had. I was his only little girl, his baby, and I imagined he felt like Jake was stealing me away. At the same time, he had always treated Jake with love and respect, and I was so thankful for that.
The moment he saw me, he forced a smile to his lips. “There she is. The beautiful bride,” he said.
Clutching my enormous bouquet, I carefully made my way down the narrow, stone stairs. When I finally reached him, he pulled me into his arms and gave me a tight squeeze. “You look absolutely breathtaking, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” I pulled away to smile at him. “Ready to give me away?”
He shook his head. “I could never do that. I may walk you down that aisle and consent for Jake to marry you, but I’ll never fully give you away. You’ll always be my little girl.” His hand came to his chest. “You’ll forever remain right in my heart, Abigail.”
“Oh Daddy,” I murmured, as tears stung my eyes. When I glanced back at the girls, I expected them to chide me on crying and potentially wrecking my makeup. Instead, their eyes were shiny with tears as well.
“So sweet,” Mia murmured, as she quickly wiped her eyes. From her expression, I knew she was thinking of how hard it was going to be for her own father at her wedding in a few months.
The wedding coordinator appeared wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard. “Okay, I need the flower girl and ring bearer to line up followed by the bridesmaids.”
After handing her bouquet to Mia, Lily bent down to straighten Jude’s shirt and tie. “You know what to do, right?”
I could tell he was fighting the urge to roll his eyes at her. “Yes, Mommy. I walk down the aisle holding the pillow, and then stand next to Daddy. I’m not a baby, you know.”
With a smile, Lily patted his chest. “I know, sweetheart. I just wanted to check.” She then turned her attention to Melody. After she fluffed out Melody’s frilly dress and adjusted her headband, Lily asked, “And what about you, Miss Priss? Do you know what to do?”
“Throw the flowers!” she cried with a grin.
I laughed at her enthusiasm while Lily shook her head. “No, you’re not supposed to throw the petals. You need to gently toss them on the sand. Do it just like we practiced. Okay?”
Melody bobbed her head, but in my mind, I didn’t think she was totally onboard with the whole “gentle” thing. Lily rose up to give me a tight smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind her in case she goes crazy or something.”
“It’ll be fine,” I reassured her.
The wedding coordinator motioned for Jude and Melody. Just as they started around the chairs toward the aisle, the string ensemble started playing Ave Maria. As Jude and Melody started down the aisle, Lily followed close behind them. Then Mia went followed by Allison, who I had asked to be my maid of honor. There were friends in my past I could have asked, but Allison was about to become my sister-in-law. It felt like the right thing to do. And regardless of how Jake felt about his father, he truly loved his little sister with all his heart.
“Okay, Abby, it’s time.”
Unable to form words, I merely nodded. My arm trembled slightly as I slipped it through my father’s. “I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he said, as he smiled down at me. The quartet changed music, and the sound of Here Comes the Bride filled the air. This was really it—the moment I became Jake’s wife.
As the crowd rose from their chairs, I put one barefoot in front of the other. Craning my neck, I desperately tried to catch a glimpse of Jake. I could see Brayden, AJ, and Rhys in their island casual khaki pants, crisp white, button-down shirts, and pink vests. But there was no Jake. Finally, as we curved around the last row of chairs to start up the aisle, my eyes met his. The smile that spread across his lips caused my heart to still and restart.
I couldn’t remember a time when he had looked more handsome. His dark hair was perfectly slicked back. His vest hugged his muscular frame while his biceps bulged against the fabric of his shirt. Even from my place down the aisle, I could see his deep blue eyes sparkling in the twilight. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be marrying this gorgeous man. But it wasn’t what he looked like on the outside that mattered to me. It was his caring heart and sensitive soul that made the true attraction for me.
My mind was on sensory overload as I tried to take in every detail of my walk down the aisle. The smiling faces of friends and family, the gentle breeze that rippled through my hair, the way the warm sand squished between my toes, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore below us.
When I reached Jake’s side, the sun had started its descent into the west, sending an array of reds and oranges across the deep, blue sky. In the fading sunlight, thousands of candles and twinkling lights lit our perfect piece of heaven on the shore.
Kissing my cheek, my dad then left my side to take his place at the head of the altar. He was pulling double duty giving me away, as well as performing the ceremony. “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here in the sight of God to join together this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony…”
I couldn’t help tuning my dad out to glance over at Jake. I was rewarded with a pleased grin from him. Leaning over slightly, he whispered, “Oh Abby, you look like a dream…like my true angel.”
Gazing up at him, I mouthed, “Thank you.”
When my dad cleared his throat, both Jake and I jumped and then quickly gave him our full attention. “It’s normally at this part of the ceremony when I ask who gives the woman in marriage. Of course, I already know the answer to this question.” Smiling at Jake, my dad said, “Laura, and I, along with her brothers, proudly and happily give Abby’s hand to you, Jake.”
“I gladly take it, sir,” Jake replied, with a grin.
“You know, from the time Abby was born, Laura and I prayed that God would send her a companion. Someone she could spend her life in love with. Someone to support her in the good times and bad and be her true soul mate. Of course, we didn’t expect him to come in the package of a tattooed rock star.”
Laughter echoed around us. When it had faded away, my dad’s expression sobered. “Two years ago when I first met you, Jake, I don’t think I could have ever fathomed being in this place today. I wanted Abby to marry someday—one day long, long in the future. But our time isn’t always divine, and I have no doubts that you two are meant to start your lives together at this very moment in time.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jake said softly.
Dad nodded at my brothers and Micah. Jake and I had argued over what song to have played at the ceremony. Finally, after months of discussion, we finally decided on God Bless the Broken Road. As Micah began singing the familiar lyrics, Jake took my hands in his. He squeezed them tight before giving me a beaming smile. As my brothers’ voices harmonized, Jake’s thumbs rubbed circles over the back of my hand. Not once did he take his eyes from mine.
When the song faded to a close, my dad opened his Bible to begin the vows. “Jake, repeat after me,” he instructed.
Jake nodded and turned his attention away from my father and back to me. “I, Jacob Ethan Slater, take you Abigail Elizabeth Renard to be my lawfully wedded wife…” As he started to echo the words my father said, he blinked back the tears. Considering how Jake was usually so cocky and so sure of himself, his vulnerability broke me completely.
When it became my turn, I could barely contain my sobs as I repeated my vows. I was a shaking, stuttering mess, but somehow I made it through them. “Love you,” Jake mouthed with a smile.
“Love you more,” I replied.
“And now, for the giving and receiving of rings,” my father said.
I turned to Allison while Jake turned to AJ. “With this ring, I thee wed,” I murmured as I slid the platinum band on Jake’s left hand. After Jake slid mine on, we turned to my dad.
“By the power vested in me by God’s holy ordinance and the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” With a little less bravado, he glanced at Jake and added, “You may now kiss the bride.”
A smile curved on Jake’s lips as his hands came to cup my face. Tenderly his thumbs stroked my cheeks before he leaned in to kiss me. While our lips lingered together, Jake dropped his hands to then wrap me in his arms. He squeezed me tight against him. When he pulled away, tears shimmered in his eyes. “I love you, Mrs. Slater,” Jake whispered into my ear.
No matter how many times he said the words, I simply couldn’t grow tired of them. I knew I wouldn’t for the rest of my life. “I love you, too. So, so much,” I replied.
My father’s booming voice cut us off. “I’m happy to present Mr. and Mrs. Jake Slater!”
Applause cut through the air as everyone rose out of the chairs. The quartet struck up the Bridal March as I took my bouquet back from Allison. With my cheeks stinging from smiling so broadly, I slipped my arm through Jake’s, and we started down the aisle as man and wife. As corny as it sounds, it felt just like I was walking on air. I couldn’t remember a time when I had felt such joy, such love, and such contentment.