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The music kept playing and at the back of the short aisle, my sister gathered with Kevin’s two girls and his wife Jodi. Kat lined up the little ones and had them start walking. Mellie and Mandi were sporting tiaras similar to Remi’s. Kevin beamed at them. They were sweet; each holding a basket of rose petals in the color of their dress. They threw them up in the air and walked through them as they fell onto the ivory runner. It was precious.
They came down the aisle in the same pastel rainbow; Melli in lavender, Mandi, in light blue. Jodi and Kat’s dresses were ball gowns, with sparkling ivory bodices over colored skirts made from some floaty type of fabric I didn’t know the name of. They were slightly shorter in front so their crystal-encrusted high heels were visible. Perfect. Jodi’s dress was a very pale green, and Kat had a light coral, and both of them held tight bouquets of white roses that were tied with ivory and accent ribbons that matched their dresses.
A Cinderella carriage pulled by six white horses approached, and I could only assume it was carrying Teagan and Remi. It was out straight out of the fairytale, as six costumed and wigged footmen walked beside it. I strained to see inside it but all of the guests had risen and turned which blocked my view.
Jensen and my father were waiting at the end of the aisle for my girls to alight from the coach and the quartet started playing a new song. It was one I recognized, one that Teagan and I had decided would be our new song in the months since Remi’s recovery. We’d made love to and danced to it many times. The lyrics told our story perfectly and the title suited the song to a T. It was about the inevitability of the one.
It was Ed Sheeran’sPerfect. It was being played with string instruments joined by a single acoustic guitar soloist. Three of my old teammates from Arsenal left their seats and moved to the front by the instrumentalist. It was a surprise to me when they started singing in beautiful harmony. The lyrics were perfect. The song was amazing. Emotions welled up and made my eyes burn and my throat ache.
The coachman opened the door and Jensen stepped up to lift our little Remi down. He held her hand and walked her up the aisle toward me. I couldn’t tear my eyes off of her, holding a bouquet that I knew was a smaller replica of her mom’s. She was a gift and it was clear the man escorting her down to me, felt the same way about her.
Jensen lifted her hand and kissed it, bowing at the waist when they reached the pinnacle. She curtsied sweetly, holding out the sides of her dress, first to Jensen, and then to me. I held out my arms and she ran to me as he took his place next to my brother.
I lifted Remi and held her up with me as we watched her mother walk toward us with my father. Her little arm clung around my neck and her head was tilted to rest on mine. I could barely hold it together; my heart was exploding with love. The music and lyrics of the song were so fitting for us, and I found myself rocking back and forth with my daughter.
Teagan was stunning. Her dress was more fitted than the others and flared out toward the bottom. The deep V-neckline and sleeveless bodice were covered in lace that continued, unlined over her delicate shoulders. I could imagine the back of her dress was similar. She was luminous, and I was breathless. She looked like a princess. Her lace gown softly glittered in the candlelight and she was clinging to my father’s arm. Her eyes were sparkling with tears. The long, gossamer veil floated around her was surreal.
“Oh, my God,” I said under my breath. I was shaking. Her dark eyes were locked with mine and her chin trembled with her effort not to full on cry. I let it all sink in; me holding Remi, and how everything that should have always been, was finally coming together.
The aisle was short so the song wasn’t finished, and after my father kissed Teagan’s cheek, and offered her hand to mine, and tugged to pull her gently into my arms. “May we have this dance?”
Her face crumpled and she nodded. Kat came forward and took Teagan’s and Remi’s bouquet and Remi hugged her mom with her now free arm. I took them both in my arms and held on tight.
I closed my eyes as Teagan’s forehead found my cheek. A small sob escaped her as we swayed together and my arms tightened around her and we danced together until the end of the song.
Remi’s arms tightened around both of our necks. And Teagan’s head fell to my shoulder and she was shaking. I kissed her temple, lovingly, unwilling to remove my lips from her skin for several seconds.
“Finally,” she said.
My throat was tight, almost swelled shut, and tears slipped from my eyes. “This is my whole world, right here,” I whispered. “My two princesses. I love you both, so much.”
The song ended and no sound was made from the guests.
“Are we gonna get married now, or not?” Remi said in her normal voice. Everyone burst out laughing. I looked at Teagan through my tears and some clung to her lashes, too.
I smiled. “Well, answer the kid.”
She laughed through her tears and nodded. “Yes.”
I moved back and set Remi down, but she stayed positioned between us. She tugged on the hem of my jacket. “Daddy,” she whispered. “I need to tell you something!”
I glanced at Teagan. Her eyebrows shot up and she shrugged, brushing away a tear. I looked at the minister and put up a finger to let him know it would just be a minute. “I’m so sorry, please excuse me for one second.”
I bent down on my haunches to talk to my daughter. “What is it, Remi?”
She cupped her mouth and though I doubted anyone could hear her, I humored her and bent toward her. “I’m gonna be a big sister!”
My mouth dropped open and a hand fell over my heart. I was sure it just hit a full stop. My head snapped up to look up at Teagan, and she nodded her affirmation with a bright, tearful smile.
I stood, uncertain if what I was about to do was proper wedding etiquette, but I didn’t care. I grabbed Teagan and kissed her full on the mouth. Her laughter joined the many chuckles, hoots, and gasps coming from the group behind us and the room burst out into applause.
“Really?” I whispered. “When?”
“In seven months.” I kissed her again, and the minister cleared his throat.
Remi put one arm around my leg and remained steadfast between us. Teagan cupped her cheek with her hand.
“Please face each other, and join hands.”
