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“Let’s go. Our guests await.”
I nod, and we turn to walk back down the aisle, taking our first steps as the newest Mr. and Mrs. Le Blanche.
As we proceed down the aisle, I take in the happy, excited faces of our guests.
My father and Kimberly are in the front row beaming at me, along with Emily and Aiden. I have friends here from work, high school, and college. There are enough people from just Hunter’s side to form a small country, and it breaks my heart that neither Layla nor Ryan are here.
I glance at Ryan’s parents, who both smile at me. Their smiles are genuine, but I know they would have preferred for my husband to be their son.
I considered that they might not be here today because Ryan wasn’t coming, but I knew their allegiance to my father would be stronger than any disagreement between Ryan and Hunter.
As for Layla, she sent me another postcard. Dad handed it to me earlier when we arrived. My sister’s words were hardly any different from the last postcard she sent.
Instead of feeling anything, I felt nothing. I realized that things are what they are, and I can’t change them. There was little point getting upset when all she’s ever done is disappoint me.
Hunter and I reach the end of the aisle, and I decide to push aside my worries to enjoy the rest of the day.
Everything may be vague and uncertain between my new husband and me, but this is our wedding day. I don’t want to look back on it and remember that I spent the day sad and confused.
Everything around me is so beautiful and everyone has gone all out to make today special and memorable for us.
I also look like a princess. I’ve never looked better in my life. That’s saying something given the fact that I’ve gotten dressed up for many functions in my lifetime.
I may as well enjoy the day, so I can keep it close to my heart. If only to tick it off my bucket list and say that I was happy.
The activities of the day take off and things start moving fast.
Hunter and I get our couple pictures done first, which takes up quite some time, then I’m throwing my beautiful bouquet of white roses.
Rayna, one of my cousins from Italy, catches it and screams because she would love to be the next one in the family to get married.
Once that’s done, we’re swarmed with journalists, who take more pictures and speak to us. Our fathers allowed them an exclusive half an hour.
Although Hunter is with me and does most of the talking, it’s daunting, and my heart accelerates with every picture taken.
I keep thinking that people are sizing me up and comparing me to Hunter’s previous girlfriends and conquests, including Alexis Winters.
This is New York, where she lives and is loved by so many, so of course she’s the most prominent on my mind.
Hunter never really got into discussing her that night in his office. I’m aware they don’t keep in touch, but as they’ve known each other since childhood, I worried that she might show up today.
I actually didn’t look at the guest list because I didn’t know how I’d react if I saw her name. I was already anxious enough as it was. I didn’t want to make things worse.
The day wears on, and then it’s time for dinner, dancing, and the speeches where our parents and best people say heartwarming things about us.
When my father mentioned how much my mother would have loved to be here today, I teared up because I know it’s true. Mom would have been so happy to watch me get married.
I remember us playing dress-up when I was little and me pretending I was at my wedding. Mom obliged me by getting me ready and allowing me to wear her clothes, shoes that were miles too big for my little feet, and her makeup.
Those were precious moments I’ll treasure forever.
Once the speeches are done, along with the activities for the day, the reality sinks in that the day is almost over.
Hunter will be in New York for close to two days, then I won’t see him again for about a week. Then we go on our honeymoon.
Corrine arranged for us to travel to Italy, which sounds great, but when she told me Italy was the best choice because Hunter has some investor clients there he needed to meet, my heart sank. Everything is about business. Even me.
I’m sure the next few days he’s here are going to be about business, business, business, too.
