I open the box but quickly close it. I look over at him, and I want to say yes with everything in me, but all of a sudden, I am scared—scared of marriage, being a military wife, if we will have kids.Oh my, Jayden, just answer the poor guy.He deserves an answer. Every couple struggles and has issues they deal with, but they make it through. We are solid. We have a friendship that will withstand time and a love so strong, nothing will penetrate. “Yes, Jake, I’ll marry you!” I decide to add a little humor to the moment. “Now can we go to Disney World?”
He laughs, pulls me into his arms, and kisses me. “Can I tell you a little secret?”
“Of course.”
“The first thing I forgot in the room this morning was your ring. And guess where I found it.”
“In the trash can in the kitchen.”
“Yep.”
We both laugh.
Chapter 6
1988-1998
Jayden
We got back from our spring break getaway, and I dove headfirst into planning our wedding. Jake went back to the academy, and a few months later, he graduated with honors. His mom, dad, and I, along with my dad, went to his graduation, and we made a weekend out of it. We are all so proud of Jake.
The air force has given Jake two weeks after graduation before he has to report to Lackland Air Force Base for training, and this is when the wedding is happening. He says basic training is merely a technicality because he has pretty much gone through all the training he’ll need. Once he’s done, he’ll be stationed at a base about an hour from home, which is good since we will be living on that base. I won’t be too far away from Dad. We got lucky with his first assignment. Some of the guys in his class were sent much farther away, and some even went overseas.
But today, I only have one thing on my mind: my marriage to Jake. I’ve spent the last several months planning this wedding. It was long nights and frustrating days. It’s a lot of work. I expected to be a total basket case on my wedding day, but I wake up with such a calm and happiness, I know everything is going to be perfect. If it is not, it will still be the most special day of my life. It is the first day of the rest of my life with Jake. It can’t get more perfect than that.
After I lost my mom, I lost touch with a lot of my friends from high school, but I did meet a really nice girl at the community college named Jane. We hit it off right from the start and have been good friends for the last three years. She is my maid of honor. Jake and I decided we did not want a big wedding, just our immediate families and once person to stand for each of us. Jake picked his dad, which I thought was really cool.
“What are you doing up so early?” Jane says sleepily. The hotel comped the honeymoon suite for Jake and me for the night before the wedding and the night of the wedding. Since Jake and I can’t see each other on wedding day, Jane agreed to stay with me. The suite is awesome and has two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed, which is being saved for tonight, and another with two queen beds. There is a huge living room in between the bedrooms with a large kitchen and dining area.
“I can’t sleep, Jane. I’m so excited to be Mrs. Jacob Allen Starr,” I reply. I can tell I am too cheerful for her.
She sits up in bed and rubs her eyes. “I guess I better get up.”
“No, we have plenty of time. The wedding is not until four, and I don’t have to be at the church until two to start getting ready. There is nothing else we have to do today, except chill.”
“Uh, Jayden, you have appointments for nails, hair, and your makeup.”
“Oh crap, I do. I can’t believe they totally slipped my mind, but I am still not stressed. We still have plenty of time. It’s only eight a.m.” I wave my hand. “Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you around nine thirty. Does that give you plenty of time?”
She groans. “You are the best friend ever. Thank you.” She lies back down and rolls onto her side. I walk into the kitchen area of our room, grab a cup of coffee, and step onto the balcony to enjoy the beautiful morning. I’m so glad Jane is here. She’s a great friend, and it makes me a little sad because I know we will lose touch once Jake is moved around from base to base. I’ve been reading a lot about military life, and there are some truths I’ll need to accept if we are going to make our marriage work.
Many hours later, my nails are painted in a French manicure, with a pale pink base and white tips. My hair and makeup are done, and we are on our way to the church for me to marry the love of my life.
Jake’s mom meets us at the church, and she and Jane help me get dressed. I should have re-thought this whole process, because now that my hair and makeup are done, I am in fear of messing them up when putting on my dress. I didn’t have to buy one. My mother had left me a stunning, ivory satin gown that she wore when she married my dad. The tiny pearls adorning the gown are just enough to keep it classy without overdoing it. The dress has a sweetheart neckline with a train that seems to go on forever. I was afraid it would bother my dad if I wore it, but when I asked him, he said he would be honored if I wore Mom’s gown and that he couldn’t wait to see me in it.
Mrs. Starr, although she keeps telling me to call her Louise, along with Jane, carefully try to lift the dress over my head. It doesn’t work ’cause the dress is heavy. We need like three more people.
“I’ve got an idea!” Jane says. “Lay the dress on the floor and step into it. Then you can pull it up and put your arms in.”
It’s the most logical idea, and I feel stupid I did not think of it myself. But today, I am not supposed to think. I am the bride. And I intend to use that all day.
Jane’s idea works like a charm, and Louise gets to work at buttoning the thirty tiny pearl buttons on the back. Jane gets my shoes, and I step into them. Once the dress is buttoned and my shoes are on, Louise gets the veil. It was also my mom’s, but I altered it to fit better on my head and with my hair.
They turn me around to look in the mirror. I am speechless. What is it about a wedding gown that makes every woman look and feel beautiful? I look at Louise and Jane, and they are both crying.
“Stop that right now. I spent a fortune on this makeup, and if you two blubbering fools keep crying, then I will cry, and all the money I spent on my face with run down in ugly smears.”
They both laugh.
