Where Words Fail (33 page)

“It’s my pleasure baby girl.”

“Enough of this mushy crap. Let’s hop to it.”

“Easy Tuesday... I don’t know what’s wrong because, well, you won’t tell me. But isn’t it me that’s supposed to be freaking my shit today? Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to me...” I rested my hands on my hips and gave her a pointed stare.

“Sorry, you’re right. I’m just nervous. These photos are going to end up everywhere.”

“That’s what you’re worried about? Your pictures. You look amazing.”

“Hell, I know I look fanfuckingtabulous. I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about... About…”

Shit. I think I finally figured out what’s bothering her. “About your husband finding you because of the pictures?” She nodded.

“You’re married?”

We all turned to find Evan standing in the doorway with his eyebrows almost hitting his hairline. Tuesday clamped her jaw together and balled her hands by her side.

“Technically. Yes.” She pushed out through her teeth.

“Where is he on this joyous occasion?”

“Want a black eye before you walk down the aisle?” She retorted.

I stepped between them and spoke up. “Evan, did you need something?”

“Uh... Jameson wanted me to give this to you,” he said without taking his eyes off of Tuesday and her silver dress. He handed me the small white box and finally looked at me. I slid the cover off the box and instantly wanted to cry, but one look at Tuesday told me I better think twice before I did. Inside was a silver bracelet with a charm hanging off with words from our wedding song engraved into it. Tuesday walked to the other room to get my gift for him. “You guys are so sappy,” he whined.

“Hey manwhore,” she quipped. “Suck it. Not everybody likes to stick it in a different girl’s muffin every night.”

He mocked offense. “Not every night.”

“Just go give this to Jameson,” I barked. Once he left I grabbed the rest of my stuff and sent Paul to find Izzy. She had disappeared right before Evan showed up. “No one will get to you Tuesday. We’re not selling the photos. Security is amped up. I promise nothing is going to happen.”

She pulled me to her and wrapped me so tight in a hug that I couldn’t breathe and mumbled against my shoulder. “Then let’s get this show on the road and change your name.” I smiled and grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room behind me.

Jameson

“Holy shit... Holy fucking shit...”

“Dude, your wife to be might be sappy, but she’s got good taste.”

“Shut up Ev. I know Abby has good taste. She did choose me after all.” He laughed. I ran my fingers over my wedding gift from Abby. A vintage 1967 Gibson Hummingbird. My fingers came to a rest over the note that was dangling from the strings.

Here’s to us being this good in 46 years. I’m counting down the minutes till I get to kiss you again. Abby

“Hell, is that from my sister?” Alex asked as he slid his jacket on. I nodded. “Nice!”

The wedding didn’t cost millions of dollars. We’d say our vows in the middle of the field filled with wildflowers behind the house and then move down by the lake for the reception. There was an archway at the beginning of the aisle covered in silver and black fabric, so I couldn’t see Abby when she came out. That was the extravagance of the decorations at the ceremony. Wildflowers and an arch. Plain white chairs were there for the guests to sit in.

It fit us. We weren’t fancy. We didn’t need to spend a lot of money on one day to show each other that we loved one another. Everyone that knew us, knew that and respected it.

Somehow we managed to keep everything out of the press. Honestly if it hadn’t been for the photos of us on the ground by the car that day, people probably still wouldn’t know about us. We haven’t gone out to do anything together other than promote the upcoming album or to the office. When questions come up during interviews we shut them down. Everything revolving around the wedding details were locked down tighter than Fort Knox.

I kissed my mother and took my place in front of all our friends and family. Well, more friends than family. The music started and Alex started towards me. He became ordained so he could perform the ceremony. Evan and Tuesday stepped through the arch and suddenly Abby yelled Evan’s name followed by Tuesday reaching up and smacking him in the back of the head. He snickered and continued walking followed by Izzy, who was dropping flowers out of a basket with a huge grin plastered on her face.

“What the hell was that about?” I whispered when he finally stood next to me.

“Not much... Tuesday just said something about her tits not filling out her dress. So I was being a gentleman and told her anything more than a handful is a waste.” He shrugged.

“You’re lucky she just smacked you and didn’t beat your ass.”

“Dude. Did you know she was married? Is that why you told me no...?”

I shook my head and told him to shut his mouth. Tuesday would either eat him up or spit him out, or she would be stupid and fall for him and get her heart broken. Neither would be good.

Paul and Abby came through the arch, and I’ll admit it, I got a little sappy. My heart sped up, and my breath caught in my chest. She was downright beautiful. Her hair is half up and knotted at the back of her head. She turns her body into Paul’s to hug him, and I get a full glimpse of her bare back. Her tattoos are a bold contrast against the white lace of her dress. The sun hitting off her wrist catches my attention. My bracelet.

“I love it.” Her voice draws my attention back to her face. I smile and kiss the inside of her wrist next to the charm. God, I love this woman.

Alex goes through the normal speech and then it’s time for the vows and rings. He turns to me and my mind flies over everything I had wanted to say to her. But looking at her now, standing in front of her with her staring at me with that sweet smile on her face, none of it feels right.

“Abby, I, ah-I had all this stuff that I wanted to say but none of it seems to fit what I feel right now, so I’m gunna wing it. I thought I knew how to tell you how much I loved you. I had all these facts lined up about how I loved your heart and your generosity and all that, but, that doesn’t even crack the surface of why I love you. So I’m goin’ to say a few words that I’m hoping don’t cause you to hate me by the time I’m done. I do love your heart and generosity, don’t get me wrong, but I love that your voice is the first thing I hear in the morning and the last thing I hear before I fall asleep, and that it gets a little husky when you’re tired.

“I love that without even knowing, we’re drawn together like magnets. I love that when you’re sleeping your legs form a figure four automatically. I love that even when you won’t tell me what you’re feeling, the music you’re listening to does. When I met you I realized that my fears in life didn’t matter as long as I was with you. I know you will help me stay the man I need to be. The husband I should be and the father I want to be. When something good happens, you’re the first person I want to tell. My eyes search for you instantly when I walk into a room. Nothing in my life ever made sense before you and I don’t ever want to feel like my life doesn’t make sense again. I’ll do everything in my power to be the best husband I can be to you.” I pulled her against me and wiped the tear away that had dripped down her cheek. I pressed my lips gently against hers.

“Hey, hey... I didn’t tell you guys to do that yet,” Alex piped in. Rumbles of laughter echoed from behind us. “Abby’s turn.”

“When I met you in high school I was just a girl trying to keep myself out of trouble. You stood up for me and helped me. I never believed in love at first sight, but I knew the second you stood up for me and made that zipper remark that I was going to love you. When you came back into my life, I realized that nothing had changed. I still, without a doubt, loved you. It scared me, but then I realized that you don’t get to choose who you fall in love with.

“But I couldn’t be happier with whom my heart chose to love. I love how safe you make me feel and how you know exactly what I’m thinking. Whether we’re playing in front of thousands of people or playing in the rain and mud, you make me feel like I’m the only person around. You’ve always had my heart and I can’t wait to share the rest of my life with you. To be your wife, the mother of your children and your friend.”

Alex saw me leaning towards her. All I want to do is kiss her and make this official but his hand on my shoulder stopped me. “Hold your horses,” he mumbled. “Rings first.”

I slid Abby’s ring over her slender finger and kissed it when it was in place. “With this ring I, thee, wed.”

Her hands trembled as she slipped mine over my knuckle. “With this ring I, thee, wed.”

“Can I kiss her yet?” I begged.

“Simmer your pants. You’ll get to kiss her for the rest of your life.” Alex smiled at me as Izzy crashed into his legs. “You may now kiss your bride.”

And I did. I kissed Abby with everything I had in me. I put every emotion I could muster up in that kiss. Her hands wound themselves over my shoulders and into the back of my hair to hold me closer to her. Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard Alex talking again.

“I would like to be the first to announce that on this day, November 30
^th
, my sister married the love of her life and I gained a new brother, one that I couldn’t be more proud of. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson Williams.”

Abby

I’ve shaken more hands, been congratulated more times and kissed Jameson more in the past hour than I have in the past year combined. My stomach keeps growling and whenever Jameson hears it he runs off and finds me something to munch on.

When no one can see us, his hand goes straight to my stomach, and he whispers in my ear how much he can’t wait to meet our baby, and how much he loves me and is so happy I’m his wife. I’m married. I still am having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I’m married to my best friend, and we’re having a baby. Holy shit!

Jameson excuses himself, and my eyes follow him to the stage. He’s a sight that I could drink in till I die. His suit fits him like a glove, and my fingers itch to touch him. He clears his throat and grabs everyone’s attention.

“Good evening everyone. If we haven’t gotten to you yet, let me just say thank you so much for joining us today. It means a lot to both of us that you are sharing this with us. I’d like to ask Alex and Tuesday to come up. They are going to sing for us while I steal my lovely wife away from everyone and dance with her. Wife, please meet me on the dance floor.”

I laughed as I stood up and slipped my feet back in my heels. He hadn’t called me anything other than
wife
since I said ‘I do’. I stood in the middle of the floor and waited for him to get everyone situated on stage.

His arm circled around my back, and he pulled me close as Alex strummed the opening notes to
Fade into You
on his guitar. Dancing with Jameson is like moving in water. Everything slows down but moves fluidly. Amazing and comfortable. He stares into my eyes and plants random kisses on me as Alex sings. When Tuesday starts he stumbles and his head whips around, but he keeps dancing.

“Did you know she could sing like that?” He asked, turning back to me.

“I’ve been trying to sign her for YEARS but she won’t budge. It’s a shame really.”

“Alex is really good too.” I agreed and even though we continued dancing both of us would look at Alex and Tuesday from time to time. They might be singing this song for us, but they were singing it
to
each other, even if Alex won’t do anything about it. The chemistry is visible between the two of them, and I know it hurts Tuesday. Not being with the person you love sucks.

We finish dancing and Alex cuts in, but it doesn’t take Jameson long to find someone to dance with. Izzy stormed right up and demanded it. The guys from Ever After were nice enough to play tonight for us, they start into their hit
Where You Are
and Alex moves me around the floor. I’m not sure where he learned to dance, but he’s good.

He’s told me over and over again since he got sick, how much he loves me and everything he will miss about me when he’s gone. I’m so glad that this entire day is being videotaped. Izzy giggles beside us as Jameson twirls her and Alex’s eyes go from happy to sad instantly.

“He’s going to be a good dad, Abby.”

“If he’s learned anything from you he will be. You’ve done amazing things with Izzy.”

“You’re going to be an amazing mom too. You already are. I loved Cara and she would have been great, but I couldn’t have picked anyone better than you to raise her after I’m gone.” I choked back a sob and felt the tears pooling in my eyes, but he reached up and wiped them away before they ran down my face. “Today’s not a day to be sad.”

“It’s just... It’s just I don’t want to do any of this without you. It isn’t fair. Not to Izzy. Not to me. My kid won’t get the chance to meet their awesome uncle. How is any of this fair?”

“You don’t seriously think I’m going anywhere before I meet my niece or nephew, do you? And I know it’s not fair. Believe me, I’ve been through all that shit in my head. It’s not fair. But it is what it is.”