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When Charlotte did the big reveal a week ago, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down my face at the beauty of it, and now it’s on my body, I’m not sure I can hold them back much longer.
“Amelia?” Maya’s voice sounds through the door with a knock and she comes in, her gaze trailing over me as she steps inside and shuts the door behind her. “You ready?”
Taking a deep breath, I place my hand on my stomach, nodding my head. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I pause, smiling at how beautiful she looks in her mauve bridesmaid dress. “You look stunning,” I tell her.
“Thanks.” She shuffles on her feet before coming forward, her voice unsure as she says, “Jake’s here.” Frowning, I tilt my head to the side, not understanding why she looks so worried. If there’s ever a time to introduce your boyfriend to your family, then a wedding is the perfect one.
“Maya? What’s wrong?”
“Erm… well… you remember you asking me to keep something a secret?” Her gaze bats down to my foot before coming back up. “I may have kept another one.” She worries her bottom lip. “Jake is… he’s… erm… he’s a senior and will be going off to college after the summer.”
I groan, leaning my head back as a bark of laughter escapes me. She may have not long turned sixteen, but it means he’s two years older than her. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re in high school, it’s huge. “Your brother’s gonna be pissed.”
“I know.” She flops down on the chair in the corner of the guest room where I’ve been getting ready. “You have to help me. I don’t want him to kill him because… well, I really, really like Jake.”
Wheeling over to her, I place a hand over the top of hers that’s holding our bouquets, full of earthy-toned flowers. “I’ll be there, don’t worry.” She blows out a deep breath, her chest moving up and down as she breathes in and out slowly. “Come on, it’s time for me to get hitched.”
She giggles, standing up and following me out as I wheel down the hallway, through the living room and kitchen, and outside onto the patio.
Dad waits for me next to the golf cart to take us down to where we’re having the ceremony: on the open grass in front of the lake. His black suit and white shirt are pressed within an inch of its life thanks to my mother. He paces back and forth but as we come to a stop, his head lifts and a smile spreads over his face, his eyes turning glassy.
“Sweetheart,” he murmurs, clearing his throat. “You look… beautiful.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.” I take my bouquet from Maya before titling my head toward the cart. “You ready for this, Dad?”
“No.” He swipes his hand through his hair. “I’ve been so stressed I swear I have a bald patch.”
I laugh at him, shaking my head but taking an extra long look at his hair. I think he really does have a bald patch.
I move closer to the cart, maneuvering myself into it as dad attaches my chair to the rack Nate had installed as Maya sits next to me. I hear the sounds of the guests talking the closer we get toward the lake. My nerves get more intense when Dad comes to a stop next to a small partition set up close to the end of the aisle so Nate can’t see me yet.
The sounds of the guests die down as someone must tell them it’s time, and a flock of butterflies take flight in my stomach. Today is a big day—a huge day.
Moving back to my chair, I wheel close to the aisle where Izzie and Clay stand at the edge of it, Izzie in her white dress with a mauve sash and bow, and Clay in a navy-blue suit, a tie to match the sash and bow on his sister’s dress.
Winking at them, I relish in the smiles I get back. The last couple of months I’ve made a conscious effort to see them both more, driving over to Tris and Harmony’s house and even having them stay overnight at ours.
They start to walk forward down the aisle, Izzie throwing petals down as Dad and Maya walk ahead, coming to a stop at the start of the aisle and concealing me.
My eyes take in all of the white wooden seats, the small signs hanging off the back of each of them with a different quote. Some speak of love, some of hardship, but every single one means something to me and Nate.
When Dad and Maya step aside, I see him standing there, his handsome face smiling down at me, his green eyes shining bright. His navy suit fits him perfectly, the tie he wears matching the colors of the bridesmaid dresses.
The altar he’s standing at is covered in flowers, wrapping around each of the four white, wooden beams are holding it up, the openness of it showing the beautiful lake and the clear blue sky behind him.
Maya steps behind me, her hand landing on my shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze as Dad moves beside me on the right. My wheels move smoothly over the wooden walkway that’s been laid down, petals floating along it, moving with the gentle breeze flowing over us all.
My breath catches in my throat when we get halfway up the aisle, twenty feet from where Nate is standing with Tris beside him. Izzie and Clay are now sitting in the front row next to Charlotte and Edward, and my stomach dips as I come to a stop, nervousness coursing through me.
This is it. This is the moment.
Nate frowns, his head tilting to the side, and I can see he’s confused as to why I’ve stopped, but when Maya comes to stand next to me, reaching out for the bouquet, he steps forward.
I give him a small shake of my head before bracing my arms on the side of my chair and pushing up. My muscles ache with the force, but I’m determined to do this—to show him and all of the guests what I can do.
There’s only three people who knew I was going to do this: Traci, Maya, and my dad. Each one of them didn’t want to keep the secret, but after the day Nate proposed, I was determined to try and walk down the aisle.
The feeling has slowly come back in my legs since the day I could feel Maya touching my foot, and although there are spots I still can’t feel, I know they’ll come back with more time and therapy.
