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Chapter 28
Cherry Blossom & A Wedding Ceremony
“You’re beautiful,” Beth said, chuckling. “I can’t believe the brothers’ ideas worked.”
Sakura cocked her head to one side as she studied herself in the full-length mirror. Yes, it worked all right; she had to admit that. Her bridesmaid’s dress was elegant. The light blue suited her skin perfectly. It was short and draped to one side of her waist, and from there, the lacy material extended over her left shoulder, falling down her back. Her hair was high on her head, enhancing her swanlike neck and oval face. Her makeup was natural, with a hint of rosy blush on her cheekbones and bright pink lipstick on her lips.
Yes, she did look beautiful.
“Ah,” Beth said. “I see you like the looks of yourself.”
“I don’t usually go this far.” Sakura admitted.
“Now then, I must go and see how the bride is doing. Make sure she doesn’t get cold feet and all that jazz,” Beth said, heading out the door.
Sakura grinned. Alone, she turned to look at herself in the mirror one more time. She was Sakura Princeton. But was she really Sakura Princeton or was she Sakura something else?
Tanaka! The last name rang in her head. Her mother’s name was Haruka Tanaka. At that moment, she knew without a doubt who she was. Yes, she’d been thinking about this since the day Kate made an appearance. She had been thinking about it long and hard, and now she was ready.
Mind made up, she left the room and went in search of James and Brenda. She found them in the study room, and thank God, none of the brothers were there to make her nervous about what she had to do.
She lightly knocked on the door and went in after James called out.
“Hi,” she greeted them the moment she stepped into the large room.
James smiled at her as she came in. “Are you nervous?” he asked, noting how beautiful she looked. His sons were going to have the shock of their lives.
Sakura shook her head, telling him she wasn’t at all nervous. She took a deep, steady breath and said quietly, “I was wondering if both of you have a moment.”
James raised his brows at her, noting the odd tone in her soft voice and the slight expression of dread on her flawless face.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Brenda asked, watching her closely.
Sakura licked her lips, her heart pounding hard within her chest. “Mom?” She looked straight at Brenda, her body stiff.
“Yes, sweetheart?” Brenda queried.
“Dad.” Sakura turned to James. “I have a question to ask.”
“What is it?” James cocked his head to one side.
Sakura took a deep breath and said, “I’m asking your permission… I mean, I… I want to change my name. What I mean to say is that if I were to change my name, I mean my last name, from Princeton to something else, would that bother you? I mean, I don’t want to hurt you or anything, but—”
She paused and licked her lips with nervousness.
“You’re a grown woman now, Sakura. Whether your last name is Princeton or something else, you will always be our Sakura.” As James said that, he had a sad look in his eyes. He knew what this meant. He knew she was leaving them. Of course, he had known all along this day would come sooner or later. After all, he couldn’t very well stop her since she had her own life and her own future to think about.
“So you’re not upset?” Sakura asked.
James chuckled. “You have your own future to think about, Sakura. No matter where you are, you’ll always be our Sakura.”
Sakura cocked her head to one side, wondering if her adopted father suspected she was planning to leave. She turned to Brenda. “And you?”
Brenda said, “Of course, sweetheart, you have my blessing.”
Sakura wasn’t finished yet, and before she got too nervous to tell them, she went straight ahead. “I’ve planned to leave St. Joseph Island after the wedding. I’ve already handed in my resignation letter at the lab. My boss said it’s okay and that he understands it’s such short notice.” She looked up at them and saw Brenda’s face had paled. “I love you both very much.”
Brenda, with tears in her eyes, pulled her adopted daughter into her arms. “I love you, too,” she whispered into Sakura’s hair. “I just never thought you’d be going so soon. This house is going to be so empty without you.”
Sakura chuckled.
“And I’ll have to put up with James complaining about Beth’s standard coffee,” she continued.
James said, “Now, now.” Once his wife had finally let go of their adopted daughter, he pulled Sakura into his arms and hugged her tight. “Just make sure you keep in contact.
Sakura bit her lip at his words, feeling more than a little guilty at the thought that perhaps she couldn’t keep him that promise at all.
Half an hour later, she was standing in the garden, listening to the “Wedding March” played by the St. Joseph Island Orchestra. She gazed at the scene before her in awe. She had been right. A wedding in spring was absolutely beautiful, especially when the ceremony was done under the cherry trees in full bloom. To the left was the pond, the clear water sparkling under the bright sunlight. Now and again, there were soft, gentle breezes which caused the cherry blossom flowers to detach from the branches and rain down on them. It was so nostalgic.
Then it was time, and Sakura found herself not quite being the center of attention, but still the center of attention nonetheless, as she slowly made her way down toward the platform where Peter stood waiting patiently for his bride. Richard and Jack, both in formal attire of black and white, stood to one side of Peter, their hands clasped back.
Sakura couldn’t help but smile as she took a peek at young Michael, who was holding on to a cute satin cushion with two gold bands on top of it. He walked really slowly, worried that he might drop the precious thing.
In front of Sakura was Katherine, dressed in her pale pink maid of honor gown, slowly striding toward the platform. Halfway through, Sakura couldn’t help herself turning her head to the left. Instantly, her eyes spotted the brothers, all dressed in Armani suits, very sleek and refined. They caught many women’s eyes, causing them to gasp in awe. They stood in a row, watching the procession. But to be sure, it wasn’t the procession they had their eyes on. They had their eyes intensely on her, especially Sebastian and Darcy, who weren’t smiling like their other brothers. In fact, their expressions were stone cold.
The brothers couldn’t take their eyes away from their adopted sister. She was so beautiful that she took their breath away, as James had predicted. That dress they helped design fit her slender body perfectly, showing off her fine, delicate figure. Her long hair was formed into a classic bun on top of her head with a bunch of flowers on the left side near her ear. It was the first time the brothers had seen her with her hair like that, and they couldn’t help but marvel at just how sophisticated and refined she looked.
Darcy loved her exposed, swanlike neck and wanted to brush his finger along the length of it. Oh, God, he ached to touch her, to smell her, to feel her in his arms. But he knew he must keep his distance because—
Because what? It was hard. So very hard.
Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes off the woman he was in love with either. She really did take his breath away. Shit! He ached to be near her, to touch her, to kiss her. But for the moment, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t because—
Because what? Shit! It was so hard. So very hard.
Sakura quickly glanced away from them, her heart pounding within her chest. Stop thinking about them, Sakura, she told herself. Just stop! Yes, only a couple more days to go. Then they’d be gone back to their lives and she to hers.
They reached the platform, and Michael rushed up to Richard, sighing with relief that his job was nearly over. Katherine and Sakura came to stand on the other side of the men, waiting for the bride to reach them. Everyone’s eyes were on Mary now, who was making her way very slowly to the front with her
father, Mr. Collins, giving her away. Finally, Mary came up and Peter took her hand in his. Mr. Collins returned to his seat in the front row next to his wife.
The minister smiled pleasantly at the audience before him. Then he began. “Dear family and friends, on behalf of Mary Collins and Peter Johnston, I welcome you all to this marriage ceremony. We are here today to encourage, celebrate, and support the covenant these two people, Mary and Peter, are going to make and to share in the joy that Mary and Peter experience as they pledge their love and commitment to each other. We rejoice in the manner God has led them to each other and got them to the place where they now stand.”
Sakura tried to concentrate on what the minister was saying but found she couldn’t as she felt two pairs of eyes watching her. Then, of course, she couldn’t help herself and glanced in that direction and saw both Darcy and Sebastian watching her, their eyes intense and their faces expressionless. She bit her lower lip. Stop thinking about them, Sakura, she told herself yet again. It was nearly over.
The minister turned to Peter and continued. “The woman who stands by your side is going to be your wife. She will look to you for comfort, for support, for love, for understanding, for encouragement, and for protection. You must never take her for granted and always stand by her, for good or ill.”
Peter cleared his throat and said loudly, “Today in the presence of God, family, and friends, I pledge to join my life with yours…”
Sakura turned her attention to the cherry tree above them and thought that after tomorrow all the flowers would almost be gone again for another year. Yes, spring was nearly over, and instantly she felt sad.
The minister said, “Peter, since it is your intention to marry, join your right hands and declare your consent. Do you take Mary to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Peter said, smiling brilliantly.
The minister turned to Mary. “Mary, do you take Peter to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day on, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
Mary clearly said, “I do.”
The minister continued. “The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. And today Mary and Peter exchange these rings as confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to create a life that is complete and unbroken, to love each other unconditionally. May the Lord bless these rings which you give each other as the symbol of your love and fidelity.” He turned to Peter. “Peter, take this ring and place it on your bride’s finger and state your pledge to her, repeating after me.”
