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I turn around and stare at the select group of friends and family who are here to witness our happy day. Bethany grins and gives me a thumbs-up. Hayley’s Auntie Lisa, with whom she is now on friendly terms, is perched next to my sis, smiling widely, her sons with their girlfriends in the row behind.
My parents are conspicuous for their absence. I decided not to invite them, in the end, not wanting to risk Dad getting drunk and bad mouthing me. I have as little contact with him as I can manage. Bethany gives him the occasional handout, when he’s spent all his state pension before the end of the month, but he doesn’t know it comes from me.
Hayley and I go to London often, these days. We set up a charity to help vulnerable kids stay off the streets. Hayley has made it her life’s work and, along with therapy, it has helped her come to terms with the abuse she suffered from her uncle.
There’s a familiar sound of a guitar strumming, and everyone stands as Vanilla Sky launch into their cover of Adele’s “Make you Feel my Love,” Phoenix’s beautiful voice loud and clear. Her mom, Cora, is sitting beside them with Phoenix and Axel’s baby Scarlett in her arms. The little girl appears mesmerized and is watching everything with her big brown eyes.
There’s a collective gasp, and I turn to gaze at my gorgeous bride, making her way down the aisle on her own. Behind her process Archie and George, our ring-bearers, and Camila, maid of honor, with our babies in her arms. Hayley fed them just before changing into her ivory Givenchy gown, and our five-month old twins, Caden and Mia are fast asleep.
I’m so proud and filled with love I could burst. Hayley sailed through her pregnancy, which was made even happier when she found out we were having twins, a boy and a girl. The birth, however, was difficult, and she ended up needing a C-section. She coped brilliantly—she’s an amazing mum—and I’m doing my best to be a good father.
The procession arrives and the front of the chapel, and Hayley stands next to me. “You look stunning,” I whisper, “I love you.” Her shimmering cinnamon hair has been styled by Camila, swept up in multiple braids and ringlets.
“You’re so handsome, honey. Love you too,” she smiles, then casts her eye over Camila, who’s carrying our babies carefully to their strollers.
Hayley and I make the traditional wedding vows and exchange rings. I kiss her soft lips and we walk down the aisle…husband and wife.
Dinner takes place outdoors, under the moonlight, with our guests sitting at one long table positioned alongside a glimmering pool lit with lanterns. We decided not to make this a celebrity wedding. There’s only one photographer and the press have been barred. Joe and Mike are on duty, but they are also our friends and sit down to eat with us, a delicious meal of warmed lettuce hearts with cashew cheese, homemade ricotta, and herb vinaigrette appetizer, followed by a starter of planked salmon, and Maple Leaf duck for main.
Later, after we’ve cut the three-tiered wedding cake, and Jake has made a speech during which he takes all the credit for Hayley and I getting together, I take her in my arms for our first dance, which is, of course, our latest hit, the song I wrote for her.Two revolutions of the Ferris wheel
Before I realize I’m already home
And I think I’m not going anywhere
I’ll stay so you’re not aloneMy bandmates sing the words from where they have set up their instruments, and I croon into my wife’s ears. I’ve written other songs for her, which we’ve laid down as tracks on our new album, but she loves this one the most.
“Remember when you sang this to me the first time?” she whispers.
“I’ll never forget.”
She leans back in my arms and her amber irises glow. “You are my savior…I hope you know that...”
“You saved yourself, sweetheart.” I stare into her eyes. “Your strength is an inspiration to me. I would never have gotten sober without you.”
She catches her lip with her teeth. “We’re two halves of a whole. Without you, I’d lose all sense of who I am.”
