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Wife. Shelly will be my wife. Mine. Forever.
A knock sounds at the door. “It’s Micah.”
Not seeing my bride since yesterday afternoon is the only “tradition” Shelly enacted today. Last night, she stayed with Cora, Autumn, Penny and Erin at Cora and Gavin’s house. All the guys crashed with me at my house. And all us parents got a night free of children, courtesy of our parents.
To say it has been odd to not have my girls close by for the past twenty-four hours would be an understatement. Though it was nice to get a night off from dad duties, sleep evaded me for hours. Wouldn’t put it past one of the ladies to offer to hide the dark circles I noticed in the mirror as I buttoned my dress shirt.
I’d let them put makeup on my face or style my hair, so long as Shelly and I exchange vows this evening.
“Come in.”
The door swings open and in steps my brother, Micah. It’s an odd feeling to have a sibling after being alone the past twenty-four years. Odd in all the right ways.
The Saturday after I proposed, we invited her family and Dad to the house for dinner. Considering we were weeks from Christmas, they assumed it was us wanting a small gathering before the main event. They weren’t wrong, but they didn’t know the extent.
That night felt weeks long. My knee had never bounced so much beneath the dinner table. I’d scooted food around my plate more than a child avoiding Brussel sprouts on his plate. And when Shelly finally flashed her ring to the group and announced our engagement, I’d never sweated so profusely in my life.
Thank god for dark-colored shirts.
Nervous as I was, each member of the Reed family welcomed me with open arms. Micah pulled me in for an unexpected warm hug. Not theslap-a-shoulder, one-armedkind. A true, genuine, constricting hug.
“Congratulations,”he’d said.“My sister is lucky to have such a wonderful man love her. Welcome to the family.”
Not only does Shelly make me whole with her love, but so does her family.My family.A family I never saw coming and will never take for granted. These people—Nicole and George, Micah and Peyton—fill in all the gaps and holes my mother created years ago. These people make me feel like I belong. They give me purpose and strength.
Loving Shelly had been but the beginning. Receiving more love than I knew possible in return has been the greatest gift.
“You ready?” Micah shuts the door behind him. “Only a few minutes until showtime.”
I have never been more ready for anything. “Was ready the second she said yes.”
A brilliant smile lights Micah’s face. His eyes shimmering with excitement.
Though Micah and Shelly shared the same eyes as their mother, the three sets sparkled in a different way. At first, seeing the three of them together was strange. I’d never seen such unique irises. But with each visit together, I began to notice the differences.
Nicole’s blues were a hint lighter than her children’s. The luster more noticeable when she was happy or excited.
Micah’s irises were the darkest. Borderline black. And the first time I heard his wife, Peyton, call him starlight, I knew the reason why. The sparkle in his dark irises was visible, but faint in comparison to Shelly’s.
I may be biased, but it is my opinion that Shelly got the prettiest version of their constellation eyes.My Andromeda.The blue of her irises is darker than her mother’s, but lighter than her brother’s eyes. A rich blue. Like royalty. A queen. A goddess. My goddess. And the golden flecks that formed my favorite constellation, I knew all the ways to make them glow. With my hands and lips and words.
It took a while to see the difference between the three sets of matching eyes, but Shelly’s sparkling blues are the ones that hold my heart captive and steal my breath.
And then there is my sweet little Desirée. Eyes as ravishing as her mother’s, but with a thin ring of tea green around her pupil. The addition of my eye color gives hers an almost ethereal look.
“Whenever you’re ready, let’s get in position,” he states, coming in for a hug. “Not every day my baby sister gets married and I get a kick-ass brother.” He releases me from his grip. In two lengthy strides, he reaches the door and twists the knob.
Inhaling deeply, I take one last look in the full-length mirror and exit the dressing room. My fingers brush over large leaves and grassy bushes as Micah leads us through the gardens to the north lawn. White chairs sit in lush green grass on either side of a brick aisle. Thousands of red, pink and white rose petals line either side of the aisle and add a pop of color. A color that will always be my Shelly.
Pink.
At the end of the aisle, the bricks extend left and right to accommodate the wedding party. An arch of greenery and flowers and brilliant colors showcase where the ordained minister will perform the ceremony.
Micah leads me down the brick aisle. The rows of white chairs filled with family and friends. As I pass each, I hear words of congratulations, but don’t stop to chat. Because any minute, music will float through the air. Bridesmaids will walk the aisle in soft-pink dresses. And behind them, my bride will make her way toward me.
When I reach the front, I give each of the guys a hug. Dressed in sharp gray suits to match my own is Micah, Jonas, Gavin and Chet. White button-downs beneath suit jackets, accented with a black-gray-and-pink bow tie. Each congratulates me on the big day.
I open my mouth to thank them, but get cut off by the change in music.
