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“Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. God, Becky. This is so wonderful of you,” I said, feeling myself tear up.
“No, no tears. I don’t know how to fix your makeup,” she joked, making me laugh. “Well, I think we’re ready. Let’s get these cats in their cages and get to town. Are you ready?”
“Not yet,” I replied, bending to slip the garter up my leg. “I don’t have any shoes on.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t wear them. I mean, it might make it easier to run if you change your mind.”
“You know I’m not running,” I laughed.
29
Rain
Stepping out of the car, I was instantly mesmerized by the decorations set up by Derrick. They were perfect, with live plants on white columns down the sides of the aisle we’d be walking down and rows of chairs with tasteful white covers on them. Large pillar candles on white wrought-iron stands with the signature colors of the wedding stood on either side of the opening to the gazebo, and ribbons in the same colors hung in gentle sways all around the structure. It was perfect.
Jon’s father met me as I stepped free of the car and offered his arm, lining up with me at the end of the aisle. He smiled softly at me as we waited for the music to begin, leaning over to whisper to me. “You look beautiful today. If my son ever doesn’t treat you like the beautiful creature you are, you call me, and I’ll come set him straight.”
“Good to know,” I whispered back with a little laugh.
I couldn’t see Jon, my view of him and his view of me blocked by Donnie and Becky standing in front of us.
Soon, a soft version of “A Thousand Years” began to play. Donnie held Atticus in both hands, while Becky held Scout curled into the crook of her outside arm and her corsage in the other. They slowly began to move down the aisle, taking their places just inside the gazebo as the wedding march began to play. I was frozen, but Chris nudged me forward, and I began to walk on somewhat wobbly legs down the aisle, my heart racing wildly. As I got closer to the gazebo, I could see Jon standing there in his tux, smiling at me. He looked the happiest I had ever seen him, and all the nervousness I had been feeling suddenly floated away as Chris delivered me beside him and exited the gazebo to take his seat at the front of the guest area.
The words seemed like they were coming from a far-off place as I stood there, my hands joined in Jon’s, with the minister conducting the ceremony. It all felt like a dream, one I’d been having since I was sixteen years old, and it was finally coming true. I barely even heard myself say “I do” before he was finishing the ceremony, pronouncing us man and wife, and telling Jon he could kiss the bride.
A roar went up from all the people gathered—the entire town from the looks of it. They were all clapping as we turned and threw our hands up in the air, locked together in unison. We escaped down the aisle, running toward a waiting limo that would take us the six or seven blocks to an open recreation area where caterers had already been hard at work creating the best barbecue the South had to offer.
“I got you a present,” Jon told me as we got into the car.
“I didn’t know we were exchanging presents.”
“We aren’t. I just felt you’d appreciate this.”
I opened the small gift bag and reached inside, pulling out what looked like a T-shirt. Pulling it free, I saw that it was a 3XL and had a picture of a pig on the front. Above the pig’s head, it said, “this is my barbecue eating T-shirt.” I looked at Jon with an expression that sent him into fits of laughter.
“Why would you buy me this hideous thing?”
“Because I’ve never known you to eat barbecue and not drop some on yourself. I know how livid you’ll be if you drop anything on that beautiful dress you’re wearing.”
“And you thought that this would be the perfect solution?”
“I did. I do,” he replied, with a smirk.
“All right. Thanks, Jon. It’s what I always wanted,” I told him, stuffing it back in the bag.
The first order of business was a few wedding photos while the guests were making their way over. Once we had photos with the cats and with Chris, he took them back to his house for safekeeping and would return for the open reception. Becky and I went to change for the reception, something Jon had apparently not known was happening. I returned in a simple cream-colored dress, and the photographer took a few more photos of me and Jon, who had stripped off his coat, tie, and cummerbund and was running around in just his white shirt with rolled-up sleeves.
