One Sweet Day (A Happily Ever After Novella) Hope Falls Edition Page 6

  But the truth was, right now she had no time to think about how much she loved the dress, the decorations, or anything else except for the fact that in a few short minutes she would be walking down the aisle toward her true love, ready to become his wife. It was overwhelming and also extremely exciting. As much as she wanted to slow down so she could soak it in and enjoy every single moment of the day, another part of her wanted to speed up time because she was so anxious to simply get down to the front of the aisle and declare her love for Justin, becoming bound to him for all eternity.

  She simply did not want to spend one more moment on this earth without being Justin's wife. That was what it all boiled down to.

  Amanda heard a door opening behind her and turned to see Karina, Sam, and Lauren step into the room, all of them looking stunning in their simple A-line, wine-colored gowns with the jewel-studded sweetheart necklines that echoed Amanda's own.

  Damn, Barbara and Marlene certainly do know their stuff!

  The three girls walked over and stood behind Amanda, and the mirror framed the four of them as if it were a professional portrait.

  “Wow,” Sam said, “I just realized that this is the last time that we are all going to be together as single ladies. Amanda is getting married, and I'm sure the rest of us are going to follow along fairly quickly. After this, there are going to be kids, responsibilities… This may actually be the last time we are together as the Fabulous Four as we know it. We should enjoy it.”

  “That's ridiculous!” Karina cried, “We'll always be the Fabulous Four. I mean, come on… What’s our motto? The Fabulous Four—Nothing We Can't Accomplish. That includes staying together.”

  Amanda smiled. She knew that Karina wouldn't be so annoyed at the statement if she hadn’t sensed a kernel of truth in it.

  “I get what Sam means though,” Amanda said softly. “Everything is changing. Even though those changes are for the better, they are still changes. I do want to remember this moment forever. And I want to tell you girls how much I love you. You've gotten me through some of the hardest times in my life, and now you're here to celebrate one of the best times of my life with me, and there's no one else I would choose to have by my side for either one of those things. We are the Fabulous Four, and I don't care what that ends up looking like in the future. We always will be.”

  Amanda stood and they embraced tightly.

  After a moment, Lauren said, “Come on, ladies. We better get out there before the stylist has to come in and redo all of our makeup.”

  Amanda saw the wisdom of this observation. But still, as she left the room, even with as happy as she was about all of the things she was walking toward in the future, she couldn't help but feel just a little melancholy about the things she was leaving behind as well.

  --- ~ ---

  Amanda lined up in the lobby of the theater, which had been transformed into a lovely foyer for the ceremony, all of the girls in front of her and her godfather Henry by her side. Henry had been her father's best friend and like a second father to her when she was growing up, so it seemed only natural that he would be giving her away today.

  At the very front of the line, ahead of all of the bridesmaids, were two very special wedding party members. The first was Justin's little brother, Noah. He was the junior best man Since Justin and Amanda both had such a tight-knit circle of friends who were all equally close, they didn't want to choose which of them would be the maid of honor and which would be the best man. Also, they both agreed that the ring bearer would be too demeaning a position for Noah in the wedding, implying that he was much younger when he was clearly almost grown. That much was obvious. All you had to do was ask him!

  When they had stumbled upon the junior best man idea, it struck them immediately as the perfect fit.

  Next to Noah was the very special person they had chosen to be the ring bearer. Teddy, their black lab who would be walking down the aisle with Noah. They had both agreed that it could never be a proper wedding if it didn't involve the third member of their little family.

  Amanda was a bundle of nerves while waiting for the ceremony to start. Karina, who was standing directly in front of her and must have been able to sense her agitation, turned to her and smiled.

  “Hey, guess who's here?” she whispered, clearly attempting to make small talk in order to distract Amanda—a gesture for which Amanda was extremely grateful.

  “Who?” Amanda asked curiously.

  “Bernie,” Karina replied, referring to her manager, Bernie Kaplan. “He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to make it, but he moved around some commitments to be able to get here in time. He said to tell you mazel tov.”

  Amanda smiled. “That's sweet, and tell him thank you. But I think he was more interested in taking the opportunity to see Renata than anything having to do with me.”

  Karina grimaced. “Oh, Lord. I know you're right. Can you imagine, though? Seriously? What if I had to start calling him Grandpa?”

  The two of them erupted in a nearly silent fit of giggles, which was cut short when the strains of Pachelbel's Canon in D began to drift out into the lobby. Amanda straightened, eyes widening. “Here we go!” she whispered.

  Henry offered his arm and she took it, threading her hand through the crook of his elbow. With his opposite hand, he reached over and gave hers a squeeze, leaning down to whisper, “You're gonna do great, Manda bear. Your daddy would be so proud.”

  She smiled. “Don't make me cry!”

  Henry leaned down and kissed her forehead as they inched forward, each of the bridesmaids taking off down the aisle at the appointed time.

  Before she knew it, she and Henry were at the front of the queue, standing before the open doors at the head of the main center aisle, and the strains of the Bridal March boomed through the space.

  Amanda looked up at Henry for reassurance, and he winked down at her.

  “Here we go!” he said, and that was exactly what they did.

  As Amanda slowly made her way down the center aisle on Henry's arm, she lost awareness of anything and everything except for Justin.

  They locked eyes as she took her first steps down the aisle, and they never broke eye contact the entire time.

  All of a sudden, Amanda didn't feel nerves. She didn't feel bittersweet melancholy or even nostalgia. All she felt was the overwhelming sensation of rightness that came with walking down the aisle toward Justin. There was nowhere else in the world she would rather be at that moment.

  She and Henry stopped at the foot of the aisle, and the music drifted away into silence. Kyle Austen Reed (Amanda still couldn't really get over that!) asked, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

  Henry cleared his throat. It occurred to Amanda that she had not discussed with Henry what he ought to say. She hadn’t even given it a second thought that he might be at a loss for words right now. Henry, despite being the mayor, was a notoriously nervous public speaker. Her breath caught, and she hoped he would be able to croak something out.

  However, she needn't have worried. In a strong, clear voice, Henry said, “Well, now, young fella. I tell ya. Since her mama and daddy are both in Heaven, I guess that honor's been passed down to me. I give Manda Bear to Justin, and I do it without one lick of hesitation.”

  Justin stepped forward to take Amanda's hand, but before releasing it for good, Henry added in a lower tone meant only for Justin, “Still, son. You better take good care of our girl, now. Hear?”

  “I promise, sir,” Justin said solemnly, and Henry nodded once resolutely and placed Amanda's hand gently on Justin's arm before taking a seat in the front row.

  Amanda's eyes drifted to the memorial table that had been set up for Parker in an unobtrusive spot to the side of the altar. She smiled. It really did make her feel as if her father were there somehow in spirit.

  The rest of the ceremony, to Amanda, passed in a hazy blur of happiness. All she was really aware of was holding Justin's hands and looking into his eyes. In
a far corner of her mind, she was happy that the whole thing was being thoroughly documented on video (again, thanks to Kyle Austen Reed and his behind-the-scenes movie friends!), because she would have the opportunity to take it all in later. Right now, she could just concentrate on Justin and the overwhelming love she felt passing between them.

  She was vaguely aware of Lauren doing a reading, of Karina and Ryan singing a song they had written for the occasion, of participating in the candle lighting ceremony, of the guests chuckling happily as they watched a slideshow of pictures all the way from Amanda’s and Justin's childhoods until the present day. But still, the main thing she thought about was Justin.

  Finally, Kyle Austen Reed announced to the congregation that Amanda and Justin had written their own vows, which they were now going to recite to one another. Amanda felt her palms go clammy and her mind go blank.

  Calm down, she told herself. Take a deep breath. All you need to do is speak from the heart.

  However, her temporary sense of calm was almost overwhelmed by a rush of emotion when she heard Justin's heartfelt vows.

  “Amanda,” he began, smiling down at her (smile #482 – the I-love-you-so-much-I-can-hardly-stand-it smile). “Speeches like this usually begin with 'On the day I met you…' and go on to detail all of the ways that the other person has brought you to life. How your life truly began, honestly, on the day you met that person.

  “Our situation is a little different. I don't remember the day I met you. I'm sure you don't remember the day you met me. We were too young. As far as our minds can tell us, we've simply always known each other.

  “Honestly, I feel sorry for those people who have a 'the day I met you' story. I don't have to recall all of the ways I came alive when you came into my life. I've always been alive, because you've always been there. There's never been a Justin without an Amanda. God willing, there never will be.

  “You're my heart. You're my life. Every day, every minute we've spent apart up until now has been too much. I want you by my side, always and forever, every minute of our lives from here on out, and I want to be by your side as well.”

  Justin lifted up her hand and slipped her ring onto it.

  “Amanda Jacobs, I give you this ring as a symbol of my never-ending love and loyalty. With this ring, I make you my wife.”

  Amanda, trying to hold herself together at the realization that her fairy tale dream was actually coming true, took a deep, shuddering breath and began to recite her vows, tears streaming down her face.

  “Justin, as you said so beautifully in your vows, I can't remember a time before I knew you. More than that, I can't remember a time before I loved you. My love for you is as much a part of me as my height, my eye color, and the curls in my hair that frustrate me so much and that you think are adorable.

  “It doesn't matter to me if we are laughing, kissing, talking—even fighting—there is not a moment that we are together, ever, that I would trade. I love you, Justin. More than I can say. Maybe even more than I can consciously know. With all my heart and all my soul, I love you.”

  With trembling fingers, she slipped the ring she held onto his finger.

  “Justin Barnes, I give you this ring as a symbol of my never-ending love and loyalty. With this ring, I make you my husband.”

  Justin, his eyes now misting up a little as well, pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. Over the rush of blood pumping in her ears, she heard Kyle Austen Reed say, “Oh, yes, well. You may now kiss the bride!”

  The entire congregation erupted in applause and whoops and whistles.

  After that had gone on for a moment, she heard Kyle announce grandly, “I now pronounce you man and wife!”

  The sea of applause and cheers grew even more thunderous.

  When Justin and Amanda finally broke the kiss, they turned to face their guests, and Amanda was looking into a crowd of smiling, glowing faces, many of them with tears streaming down their cheeks. This was one time, she decided, that she didn't actually mind being in the spotlight.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,” the deep, actor's voice of Kyle Austen Reed boomed joyously behind them, “may I present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Justin Barnes!”

  As Amanda joyfully walked back down the aisle on Justin's arm, the celebratory recessional music and the cheers of their guests making her feel as if she were walking on air, she thought, Mr. and Mrs. Justin and Amanda Barnes.

  Amanda Barnes.

  Mrs. Barnes.

  Wow.

  She grinned.

  She certainly loved the sound of that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Reception

  Justin

  Justin stood against the far wall of the amazingly decorated space that held his wedding reception. He could honestly say that he didn’t even recognize his old high school gym. The walls were covered in flowing drapes. There was special flooring put down that was lit from below. A large raised dance floor sat in the center of the room. Six large ice sculptures were placed throughout as well as the most gorgeous flower arrangements Justin had ever seen.

  Thank you, Kyle Austen Reed!

  “Who is that?” Eric asked as he handed Justin a beer, nodding his head towards the crowded dance floor.

  Justin followed his friend’s gaze. “That’s Lily.”

  Eric turned and leveled Justin with a look he was sure came in handy in Eric’s day job. Eric had recently been promoted to the chief of police in Hope Falls.

  “Sorry, officer,” Justin smirked. Then he took on an almost military-like tone and relayed, “Lily Sotelo. Age unknown. Dancer. Choreographer. New resident of Hope Falls.”

  Justin would have bet money that Eric would have had some comment about him being a smartass, but instead his gaze traveled back to the dark-haired dancing beauty, repeating, almost in awe, “New resident of Hope Falls.”

  Oh, boy. Justin thought. Another one bites the dust.

  Justin had not only gone through it himself last year, he had also had a front row view of Ryan, Luke, and Ben all falling head over heels. He had to admit, it was pretty amusing (when he wasn’t the one falling, that is).

  Justin smiled as he brought the beer Eric had handed him to his mouth. He looked out over the room that was jam-packed with his friends and family. Everyone seemed to be having a good time dancing, eating, drinking, talking, and laughing.

  Justin noticed his dad speaking to Amanda in the far corner of the room. She looked…upset. Setting down his beer, he moved quickly—well, as quickly as he could since he was getting stopped every few steps by someone else congratulating him. When he finally reached them, Amanda was giving his father a hug and she had tears in her eyes.

  “Everything okay here?” Justin stepped beside his wife and placed his hand protectively on her lower back.

  She pulled away from her embrace with his dad as her mouth turned up in a wide smile. She turned and patted Justin on the chest. “Yep, we’re good.”

  “Congratulations, son.” His dad extended his hand. “I’m real proud of you.”

  “Thanks.” Justin reached out cautiously and shook his dad’s hand. His dad nodded and walked away, leaving them fairly secluded in the corner.

  Justin leaned down and kissed his bride before asking, “What was all that about?”

  Amanda reached up, her slender fingers lightly touching Justin’s cheek. She shook her head slightly as tears filled her eyes once again. “He just wanted to thank me for always being there for you when he hadn’t been able to. He said that he wished he could thank my dad for taking you in, helping you to become the man you are today.” She cupped his face as a tear slipped down her cheek. “He really loves you, Justin.”

  Justin sucked in a breath as he leaned his face into her tender touch. He nodded his head in acknowledgment of her statement, closing his eyes as he felt them getting watery. He then felt Amanda’s soft, velvety lips touch his, and he brought both of his hands up to frame the sides of her face. His lips glided
against hers. The second her lips parted he slipped his tongue inside, running it slowly from side to side, exploring her mouth in deliberate licks. He heard a soft, needy sound come from the back of her throat, fueling his already pulsing desire. Stroking his tongue against hers, he poured every ounce of love, desire, and passion he felt for his new bride into that kiss.

  The DJ’s voice boomed from the speaker beside them. “All right, if we could clear the floor and invite the bride and groom to take their place on the dance floor, it’s now time for their first dance as man and wife.”

  Jason rested his forehead against Amanda’s, breathing heavily from their heated kiss. “Can I have this dance, Mrs. Barnes?”

  Amanda beamed up at him, her breath also coming in short breaths. “Yes you can, Mr. Barnes.” Her nose scrunched. “It doesn’t really have the same effect, does it?”

  Justin laughed a little as they made their way to the dance floor. “I guess not.”

  Happiness filled Justin as they stepped onto the wooden floor. Amanda truly made him the happiest man in the world. She softly sighed as she melted into him. They began swaying to the soft melody of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”.

  It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear.

  She puts on her makeupp and brushes her long blond hair.

  And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"

  And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight.”

  Justin leaned down as he brushed his mouth against Amanda’s ear whispering, “You really are the most beautiful bride there has ever been. You do look so wonderful tonight.”

  Suddenly, the DJ cuts in. “The bride and groom wanted to share their dance with their friends and family, so grab a partner and get out on dance floor.”

  Justin, finding this surprising, pulled back his head and looked down at Amanda. “We wanted to share our dance?”