Later that evening after I had kicked off my shoes and danced away to all the songs, I snagged Zac and whispered, "Should we announce about our honeymoon?"
He grinned at me. "Yeah, this will be perfect," he said secretly.
"Is there something I don't know here?" I looked at Zac suspiciously. Zac just smiled from ear to ear. He grabbed my hand and led me over to the stage where the live music had been playing all night.
Zac helped clear off the stage and then tapped the microphone to get everyone's attention. The room grew silent as everyone turned to see what the groom had to say. Zac gently put his arm around me and said into the mike, "Well, I know all of you are dying to know where we're going for our honeymoon..." The room erupted into cheers. "So now Ellie and I are making our announcement. Tomorrow we are heading to the wondefully romantic country of Italy!" At this, Zac gave me a huge hug. "And..." he paused, getting everyone's attention again. "I invited a special guest from Italy to perform. Ellie, this is my wedding gift to you." Zac dragged me offstage.
"What is going on?" I hissed at him.
"You'll see," he whispered as the lights dimmed. Suddenly, music started and I heard the heavenly voice of Andrea Bocelli (AN: If you don't know who he is, he's an incredible opera singer that Celine Dion sang "The Prayer" with on her album "These Are Special Times") filling the hall.
"You didn't!" I exclaimed.
Zac laughed. "I thought it only fitting that this tremendous Italian tenor officially send us off to Italy with some songs tonight." Zac leaned down to kiss me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. With the romantic Italian opera filling my thoughts, my mind began to wander to our fantastic honeymoon.
I was very pleased with myself for planning this event. It was a rare occasion that I had a chance to surprise Ellie...she was usually the one doing the surprising. I relaxed in the atmosphere of romantic Italy with Ellie in my arms. As Andrea started his next song, everyone found a partner and began to dance. I pulled Ellie close and wrapped her in my arms.
"I can't believe you, Zachary Hanson," Ellie exclaimed.
I could only smile. "I can't believe how beautiful you are." Ellie's smiling eyes lit up her face and then we kissed.
"Ellie!" we both heard a voice call.
"It's Celine!" I commented. "Go see what she wants." Ellie hurried off and I turned to see Taylor standing next to me.
"So Italy?" he said.
"Yep." I nodded. "Florence...it's such a romantic city. I've always wanted to spend some time looking at art there, and we both thought that Italy was the perfect place to express our love to each other."
Taylor agreed, smiling. "I can't believe my little brother is married," he said. "Geez, what happened that made time go so fast? It seems like only yesterday we happened to mmmbop in for a concert in Montreal."
"That concert changed our lives," I sighed. "Everything and everyone was so different after that."
Taylor got a faraway look in his eyes. "Yeah," he said.
Suddenly, Ellie returned. "It's getting late," she said. "We need to start saying goodbye." I nodded and we headed into the crowd.
As the crowd thinned out, I found Ellie and Zac collecting their things about to head upstairs for bed. I crept up behind Ellie. She swung around and wrapped me up in a huge hug.
"Wasn't that the most wonderful day in the world?" she laughed, eyes sparkling.
I nodded and brushed some stray hair from her eyes. "Now I have something for you two." Eagerly they followed me up the stairs where I paused in front of the room I had prepared for this night. Ellie's eyes lit up again.
"Thank you so much, Celine...for everything," she whispered. I felt tears coming to my eyes as I said goodnight to the couple. They were adults now, but I couldn't help feeling a little maternal pang as they closed their door for their first night alone together.
Slowly, I turned and headed toward my room, laughing through my tears as I remembered the day so long ago I had accused them of this. Now, they had launched themselves onto another plain of life, one of which I no longer had control.
