"You're what?!" AJ asked excitedly, not sure of what he heard.
"I'm pregnant." She replied with a smile.
"You're carrying my baby?!" AJ questioned again.
"Yes!" Terri laughed, "Whose did you think it was? Brian's?" She laughed. AJ leaned over her and kissed her. He smiled down at her and jumped up off the bed, pulling her up as well.
"What are you-…" Terri trailed off laughing as AJ grabbed her and began dancing around the room with her. Terri through her head back and laughed as they spun around the room. AJ slowed down and then stopped dancing.
"To date this is the best day of my life." He beamed with a smile, leaning down to kiss her.
"Well, the good thing is that I'm only two months along, so I won't show at our wedding and I can still wear my dress." Terri told him.
"Two months? And you didn't know before?" AJ asked her, still holding her in his arms.
"Well, last month I was sick a lot, but I figured it was just something going around, because I get like that every year…but when I was sick every morning for three weeks I got a little suspicious." Terri replied. "Oh, what time do you have to be at the studio?" Terri asked him.
"Noon, why?" AJ asked her, his eyebrows scrunched.
"It's 10:30, I was just wondering." Terri replied. "Hey, I have some magazines down stairs I want you to look at for ideas for the wedding." Terri told him, pulling away and walking out of the room. AJ sighed and followed her.
"Ok," Terri began as the two settled on the couch and she picked up a magazine. "Here. I really like these flowers, I was thinking that the Spanish sunflowers would be a really good splash of color, and then we could use pale blue flowers like these…" Terri told him, thumbing through to where she saw the blue flowers. AJ put his arms around her and pulled her back to his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Yep. But what about some smaller white flowers too?" AJ asked her.
"Yeah," Terri replied after a moment of thought, "That'd look really awesome. I can use the flowers that will also be in the-bridesmaids' hair." Terri stumbled over herself when she caught herself almost giving away how she would look.
"Oh, and my mom is making me take out my earrings for the whole thing…so don't worry." AJ told her.
"What color is your hair going to be?" Terri asked, looking up at his red hair.
"I was thinking just brown." AJ replied.
"A natural hair color??? I didn't even know you had a natural hair color." Terri teased.
"Shut up." AJ retorted with a smile. "It's either going to be brown or blonde."
"I think you look sexier with it brown." Terri told him, pulling his arms around her more tightly.
"Ooh, frisky are we?" AJ asked with a Scottish accent, like Fat Bastard.
"It'll have to wait for later, but anyway, I've been thinking…"
"About?" AJ asked her.
"Well, I want to get a tattoo." She told him, "I always have, but I want it to be special."
"Uh-huh."
"Well, you know how I've been drawing since I was 2 or something like that? I was thinking that I could design something to represent our marriage and we could both get one." Terri told him, not sure what he would think.
"That's cool, but where do you think we should get these tattoos? I don't have much room left on me." AJ chuckled.
"I was thinking either on our hip, or lower back." Terri replied. AJ smiled and kissed her.
"You design it, and I'll get one." He told her.
"Alrighty then."
"Hey guys!" AJ greeted loudly as he stepped into the dance room.
"AJ!!!" Fatima yelled out, running to hug him.
"Hey, girl! Long time no see!" AJ replied.
"No kidding!" She agreed. AJ looked around the room and the guys were there, but the dancers weren't.
"Hey Bone. What's up?" Kevin called over.
"Actually, something big." AJ beamed, grinning. AJ strolled over to where the guys were stretching out.
"What?" Nick asked.
"I'm gonna be a daddy." AJ replied, setting down his bag of stuff.
"WHAT?" Everyone replied.
"Terri is two months pregnant." AJ replied.
"Congrats!" The guys told him.
"Thank you. What about you all? Anything big going on?" He asked.
"Actually…" Kevin replied with a smile and a sparkle in his eye, "I proposed to Amber."
"Dude! Congratulations!" AJ exclaimed and gave his friend a hug.
"Thanks dude." Kevin replied, his grin still wide.
MORNING OF THE WEDDING
"Guys, I'm really freaked…" Terri sighed as her mother finished putting baby's breath and miniature white roses in her hair.
"Why? It'll be fine." Her mother, Judy replied.
"I know…but what about Nancy. No one has heard from her…I'm just afraid she'll show up and crash the wedding." Terri sighed.
"Don't worry! She won't be here! No one knows where the wedding is except for the guests." Denise (AJ's mom-just in case you weren't sure) assured her as she finished Lexi's hair. "Alright girls, line up for a picture." Denise told them.
"You too Beth." Judy told Terri's niece. There were ten bridesmaids all together! But Terri couldn't help it, she had six sisters and four extremely good friends. Since she couldn't choose between her sisters for the maid of honor, she had Amber be her maid of honor; after all, they had been best friends since the 6th grade.
"Come here, Beth." Terri told her, Beth stood right in front of Terri for the picture.
"You ready for the married life?" Brian asked AJ as they waited for their cue to line up and get out there.
"I think so." AJ replied with a grin.
"You do realize this means no kissing the dancers while she's not on tour?" Nick teased him, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, plus none of the dancers are hot this year." AJ replied with a shrug.
"You mean none are as hot as Terri." Howie corrected with a chuckled.
"What's the problem with thinking that your bride-to-be is the mist beautiful girl in the world?" AJ asked them.
"Nothing! It's great! Just remember what you just said when she is the size of a whale with a baby coming any moment." Kevin told him.
"Don't worry! You all have no faith in me!" AJ exclaimed, the guys exchanged uneasy looks, "Gosh, I love her…don't worry!" AJ gushed.
"Come on guys, time to get out there." Judy told them, poking her head in the guestroom where the guys were waiting.
"Thanks, Judy." AJ replied.
"Call me mom!" Judy replied with a laugh.
"Alright, Mom." AJ replied and walked out after the guys.
"Is she nervous?" Brian asked Judy.
"Extremely." Judy replied with a smile. "You all need to come here (Terri's dad's summer home) more often!"
"We should!" Nick replied, "I love the boats, all 21 of them!" Nick laughed.
"Ok, go down by the priest, and go through the middle isle." Judy told them and directed them down on the beach.
"Alright." They replied and Judy went back to get Denise, the girls, and Terri.
The music began and Beth went down first, spreading flower pedals. Cathie, Terri's sister, was next. Nine bridesmaids later it was Terri's turn. Her dad, Bill, was beside her and they began down the isle. AJ saw her and his heart skipped a beat and all he could do was stare with loving eyes and a smile. Terri locked eyes with him and didn't take them away.
"Who gives this bride away?" The priest asked.
"I do." Bill spoke up. Terri turned and kissed her dad before he went to sit down.
"We are gathered here today…" The words ran into each other as Terri and AJ stared into each other's eyes. They only noticed the priest when he said, "And the couple has prepared their own vows."
"Therese (Ter-race), you've been such a blessing, I can't describe. You have beauty inside and out and that has made my life beautiful as well. You have a glow to you that I have yet to see in anyone else, and it is a light I know I will never see anyone else. You make me so happy, and I'm honored you've agreed to become my wife. I love you." He told her, causing tears to form in her eyes. AJ raised his hand and gently wiped them away with his thumb.
"Alex, we've been through so much in such a short time. I share so much more with you than anyone else. You understand me, listen to me, and you're there for me whenever I need you, and through the worst. I'll be forever grateful and 'I'll be there for you, where ever you go, whatever you do." She sang, "I love you." She told him. The priest turned to where Boyz II Men were now standing. The piano intro started as soon their voices carried to the ears of everyone.
"Thinking back I remember the days
Before our paths crossed ways
Life was dull without love
And then like an angel,
You came from above.
Chorus:
There is no turning back now,
And someway, somehow,
I have to show you
How much you mean to me
How much I love you
And how you complete me
And I know that I'm blessed
There were times I was let down
But you were there lifting me from the ground
You gave me hope when I had none
An equal to you-there is none
And now I know that-
Chorus
I love you,
Can't you see
I need you
Believe me
I'm going to make you my wife
I wanna be with you for the rest of my life
Chorus
(By Chesa Blanton-Harris)
They finished the last note and Terri, and every female (some male) eye there was in tears. AJ had written that song especially for her, and she knew it in her heart. All that could be heard was their heartbeats and the waves rolling in softly. They took the rings and set them on each other's fingers, then the priest continued.
"Do you, Alexander James McLean take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do you part, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." AJ replied, still smiling and staring into her eyes.
"And do you, Therese Storm Gunn, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do you part, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." She beamed, tears in her eyes still, and let it be emphasized again that AJ had only seen her cry three times prior.
"By the power vested in me and the state of Florida I pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride." AJ set a hand on her cheek and kissed her softly, then as they pulled away he wiped more tears from her face. "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Alexander James McLean." The priest announced as they turned to walk down the isle. Terri took her flowers from Amber and then she and AJ walked back up the isle. After all the pictures were taken on the beach and the front porch, and everyone but the family and wedding party had left AJ and Terri took off themselves. A 1969 Alpha Romao (kind of like a 1969 Miata type car) convertible was waiting outside, fully decorated. AJ helped Terri into the car and then got in himself, driving off.
"AJ, I love you. That song was beautiful." Terri told him, leaning over and kissing his cheek.
"You're beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off you." AJ told her, looking at her for a moment.
"God, I love you." She sighed, stoking his cheek with her hand. He reached up and took her hand as he drove.
"I love you too, Mrs. McLean." He replied with a smile.
Chapter 15
Chapter 17
Index Page
Home Page