AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Please don’t let me forget, please don’t let me forget, ugh! I’m not nervous about this wedding at all. It’s these damn vows that have me about to pass out. We leave for the hotel in ten minutes, and I’m pacing the bedroom.
When we got back from dinner last night, the guys from Knight’s Dream were here, and we went down to the pool patio to hang out. When I was ready to go to bed, Declan walked me to our condo and dropped me off without even arguing about spending the night apart. He kissed me for half an hour before letting go.
My girlfriends stayed to keep me company for a while helping me get my stuff together and packed. I tried to be casual and suggested to Ember that she and Robbie take this room since I was staying at the Ritz on my wedding night. I explained it would allow Tripp and Finn to have the twin beds instead of the couch. She looked embarrassed but told me she would talk to Robbie about it.
This morning he thanked me and said they would move their stuff as soon as I left. The wedding isn’t until five, but everyone has to be ready at three for pictures. All my girls, my mom, and I go to the hotel at noon to have lunch and start getting ready. Ember promises to meet us later, but she is hanging back to help the guys with their tuxes.
Laurie has the room set up with several dressing tables and a lunch buffet in the corner. We eat quickly and then Kendall and Harper unpack their bags filled with makeup and hair products. They work on Abbi and Ella first while my mom, Charlie, and I organize the bouquets.
“RJ, get over here girl, your turn.” Kendall calls to me, and we discuss how I want my hair. Then Harper starts on my makeup.
“So Jenna, what do you think of Ember?” Charlie asks my mom.
“I think she’s lovely. She is very sweet and pretty but very shy. I hope to God Robbie doesn’t screw it up.”
“Mama, I think she can handle him. I mean I’ve never seen her mad, but we’ve hung out for a few months now, and she seems to get bolder and bolder with him. I think he’s fawning over her. Him inviting her this weekend is a big deal. And to be honest, I think it’s real attraction and not lust. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t slept with him yet.”
“I can’t tell him what to do but he is twenty-seven years old. It may be time for him to find a nice girl.”
“Yep, I agree and I think she may be it.”
We make small talk while Kendall finishes my hair. Harper has already moved onto Charlie’s makeup. When she’s done and has the clasp firmly in place, she turns me to the others. I can see my reflection in the back mirror, and she did exactly what I wanted. We decided on large cascading curls, pulled low to the side and falling down my right shoulder. I bought hair pins with rhinestones to match the ones on my dress. I had a stargazer lily to place behind my ear.
I went behind the partition in the room with my mom so she could help me get into my dress. As soon as she zips me up her eyes filled with tears.
“No, Mama, don’t cry. Please hold it together.” I whisper.
“I know sweetie, I zipped that zipper and suddenly it all became very real to me. You’re getting married in a few hours. How did this happen? How did I go from a mom of a college student to a mother in law?” she says softly back trying to sound humorous.
“Girls we hear you whispering back there. Come out here! We’re dying to see the dress.” Charlie calls out. For once, I’m glad for her interruption.
I nod to my mom to indicate I’m ready. She smiles and follows behind me. As soon as I walk around the partition, there’s a flash in my face, and I realize the photographer arrived sometime while I was getting dressed. All eyes are on me, and no one is speaking.
“My brother is going to cry. I’m calling it right now.” Ella says.
“Weep like a baby, no doubt.” Abbi agrees.
“Screw Declan, we need to worry about James and Robbie.” Kendall adds.
“Seriously, Rave, you look stunning. I know you picked out the dress thinking you were having a church wedding, but it’s perfect for the beach.” Harper tells me, and Charlie nods in agreement.
“You all look beautiful.” The shade of blue I chose looks good on all of them. They’re wearing the lockets and earrings I gave them at the shower.
Ember walks in and compliments all of us. She looks stunning in her bandeau black dress and wedge heels. I think about how good she’ll look in the pictures next to Robbie in his black tux.
Abbi helps me with my garter, and we go over all the traditions:
Something Old – Declan’s mom’s earrings;
Something New – Dress, shoes, lingerie;
Something Borrowed – Handkerchief from my mom;
Something Blue – My aquamarine ring.
Laurie knocks on the door and asks if we are almost ready. My dad comes in, and when he sees me his face softens. “Beautiful,” he mouths to me. I slide on my rhinestone studded flip flops and follow the crowd out the door.
This round of pictures is just me, my family and the bridesmaids. We have forty-five minutes, and then Declan and his family and the groomsmen take all theirs. I arranged this in hopes that the after ceremony pictures wouldn’t take too long. Laurie has arranged it so Declan and I will go to the locations we noted last month and have our portraits done.
