Authors: Tawnya Jenkins
The Wedding
Chloe
We decided against a long engagement, Travis wanted to give me a reason to enjoy the Fall season again. November 17
th
. I can’t believe it’s here already. Tomorrow is the big day and there is so much to do. We already reserved Rave for the reception. Figured it was only fitting since it was where we first met. It’s going to be a small wedding, just close friends; since neither of us have a lot of family left.
I still haven’t figured out who will walk me down the aisle. It’s not like I have a lot of options. The reality of it soaks in and my heart sinks. I have nobody to give me away now. With my dad and Mac both gone, I have nobody. Katie and I are on our way to her final dress fitting.
The dresses are beautiful, a dazzling teal color with a chocolate bow wrapped around the waist. The dress itself is a baby doll style. It’s strapless and hangs down to just below her knees. The color look amazing on her, makes her eyes pop. Of course Brian is the best man and then there’s Jax. I have Katie and a cousin that flew in from out of town. We were close as kids but drifted apart.
I have two aunts coming and an uncle on my dad’s side. They all live out of state so this will be the first time I’ve seen any of them in years. They came down for the funeral but I don’t remember seeing them. That day is still a blur for me. My cousin Hailey is a little shorter than me, she’s about 5’6. She has straight dirty blonde hair and has an athletic build to her. She’s a school teacher for an 8
th
grade English class.
Travis doesn’t have much family coming, but most of his employees are coming and a few of his friends from high school. I think in total we have about 60 people. As I stand there watching the seamstress pick and poke at Katie’s dress my mind wanders. I remember when I was 5 and I had snuck into my mom’s closet. She had a bright green summer dress hanging in her closet and I decided to play dress up. I even got into her makeup. When she found me in her bathroom, wearing her dress and shoes and makeup smeared all over my face; she didn’t yell at me. She smiled her sweet smile at me and began brushing my hair.
“
Are you mad at me mommy?” I asked her.
“Not at all princess. I think you look beautiful.” She soothed as she ran the hair gently through my hair.
“I’ll never be as beautiful as you,” I frowned.
“Oh my baby girl, you are the most stunning princess in all the land. And green is a perfect color on you.” She smiled at me in the mirror.
Green was my favorite color from that day on. I remember my mother vividly in my mind. She was breath taking. Pitch black hair with perfect curls. Bright blue eyes that could light up the night sky. Her skin was pale but flawless, a small array of freckles spread out over her cheekbones. God I miss her. An idea sweeps over me and I have finally figured out who will be walking me down the aisle. I smile to myself.
“Hey Katie, we need to make one more stop before we head back okay? And I need your help with something,” I smile.
“Of course! I love surprises!” Katie squeals causing the seamstress to accidentally poke her. We both laugh.
Once her fitting is complete and I try my dress on one last time we make my final stop.
“You sure about this Chloe, because it’s not very traditional.” Katie asks me.
“Yes, I’m positive. Nothing about Travis and I is traditional.”
I manage to sleep for the first time in a long time without any nightmares. I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. I haven’t seen or heard from Travis in almost 32 hours and it’s maddening. We promised to do something right, and not have any contact like traditional couples. It hasn’t been easy. I wonder if he’s going as stir crazy as I am.
Travis
Today is the big day. I want to rush over and see my fiancé more than anything right now, why we agreed to this stupid ritual is beyond me. I’m sure she’s going crazy. I can’t imagine how she must be feeling today, I know she is missing her dad something awful right now and that breaks my heart. It’s one of the only things in the world that I can’t give her and it kills me.
Only 4 hours until show time and I’m not nervous at all. Brian and I are already dressed in our tuxes. A few of my old high school buddies have stopped by to say hi and congratulate me. I’m still not entirely sure that I’m not dreaming, but I’m not arguing with it anymore. I must have done something right in my time here to deserve this beautiful, strong and amazing woman.
“Yo, you ready to head over or what?” Brian asks.
“Never been more ready for anything in my life, man.” I admit.
“Happy looks good on you Trav. I’m happy for you, I was worried about you for a while but I’ve seen the way you look at her and the way she looks at you; it’s a good look.”
“Thanks man,” He hugs me.
When we arrive at the pond everything is already set up to perfection. It look amazing. We decided to have a small outdoor ceremony, nothing extravagant but the old fishing pond has a lot of sentimental value for us both and it’s really nice out here. There are white chairs set up in rows, there is no bride or grooms side; we want everyone to mesh together. A wooden arch is standing up front, cascading red roses woven in all around it. The tree we sat under is in the background. People start to slowly arrive and the seats fill up. I kiss and hug my relatives I haven’t seen in ages, shake a few hands. I’m really just buying time, the one person I crave hasn’t arrived yet but I’m heard she’s on her way. The pastor stands under the arch and I follow suit.
My hands are starting to sweat and my heart rate has increased. Great, now I’m getting nervous, perfect timing. Brian takes his spot beside me. There is a huge white tent set up in the back behind the chairs. Chloe and her bridesmaids are entering from the tent in order to maintain her big reveal. I can hardly stand the wait any longer; I want to march in there and have my way with her right now. I haven’t even seen her yet and my body is already responding to her. The music starts and I see a couple of ladies I’ve never met start slowly coming down the aisle. This music is dragging and it needs to go faster. I smile at the lovely ladies as they pass me, but I don’t care about them. That may sound harsh but it’s true.
When Katie emerges I know it will only be a few more seconds before my eyes land on the one target they’re seeking. As Katie passes me she winks. I turn my head back toward the tent as the music changes it’s tune. I inhale a deep breath and wait for my blue eyes.
What happens next scares the shit out of me. Chloe, shrouded in a big white dress starts running down the aisle toward me. Her dress is bunched up in her hands near her knees, she has on a pair of white sneakers that appear to be sparkling. Her bouquet is still in her hand, I’m terrified but in awe at the same time, she looks beautiful. I brace my body and throw my arms out wide as she leaps into them.
“Chloe? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I ask searching those blue eyes for some hint as to what just happened. The people around us disappear. It’s just her and I.
She smiles widely, “I’m fine…I just figured since you’re the only one I’ll be running to from now until forever I should make sure that you’ll always be able to catch me.”
Damn her.
I love her.
“I have you blue eyes…always, Mrs. McGuire.” And then my lips cover hers.
Epilogue
Travis
(Two years later)
As we pull into the driveway, I can hardly contain my excitement. I look over at my beautiful wife and smile. She’s wearing a blind fold, it took me a lot of begging for her to allow me to put it on. I wanted this to be a surprise. The house is marvelous. Two stories, near the lake. When Chloe told me that it had always been a dream of hers to live near a lake I began searching immediately. It was a little more than I wanted to pay but no price was too great to keep that smile on her face and money wasn’t really an object.
“Are we there yet?” She asks, biting that adorable lip of hers and it’s distracts me for a moment I want to pull her onto me; but I refrain.
“Yup,” I reply as I shut off the car and open her door. After helping her out of the car and leading her up to the door, I unlock the door. Once I remove the blind fold I pick her up and carry her offer the threshold of our new home, “Welcome home blue eyes.”
She smiles that bright smile at me and crashes her lips to mine. I sat her down and allow her to roam around, following her like a love sick puppy.
“Oh Travis, it’s beautiful,” she beams.
“You haven’t seen the best part yet, come on,” I grab her hand and lead her to the back door. When we step out onto the deck I hear her exhale.
“Oh my god! Is that…is that a lake?” She exclaims.
“You like?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Like? Are you kidding me! It’s perfect, I love it!” She kisses me. “I have a surprise for you to.” She smiles.
“Oh really?” I ask, she has my full attention.
“I’m pregnant,” She says, it’s almost a whisper but I hear it perfectly.
“Pregnant?” I ask, she nods. I pick her up and spin her around, she giggles. “I’m going to be a dad?”
She nods. “I love you,”
“I love you too beautiful, so much!” And I do. I have finally have everything I need.
The End
Thank you for following Chloe and Travis’s story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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