Everything was going so well! Zac and Ellie had decided to have Italian food at the dinner, so Isaac was in seventh heaven, but he was preoccupied.
It was tradition for the bride to give little gifts to her side of the wedding party. Ellie gave me a framed picture of the five of us in a silver frame from graduation day. I smiled at her and thanked her.
At around eight, the dancing started. The party wouldn't last too much longer. The wedding was late afternoon, but everyone needed sleep. Zac reluctantly left Ellie's side to join his brothers onstage to rock out. They played about five songs and then they announced the final dance. It had been agreed everyone would dance around Ellie and Zac in the center of the dance floor.
Zac had asked Isaac to sing More Than Anything. As he set up, Taylor asked me to dance. I laughed and agreed and at the opening notes of the song, everyone became still. My gaze was locked on Isaac onstage the whole time.
Ellie and Zac then thanked everyone for coming and we all headed out. Isaac came up behind me as I was putting my shoes back on, since I'd taken them off to dance. He wrapped his arms around my waist. "I'm sorry I couldn't have the last dance."
"Or any dance," I joked. He laughed. "Don't worry, Isaac. There will be plenty of time to dance tomorrow."
"I can't wait. Come on, let's go home. We all need sleep."
Ellie and Zac were full of chatter on the way home. They were excited the dinner had gone well and that everyone knew what to do. We took a slight detour for ice cream on the way home. When we got back in the car, it was well after eleven.
Gabby had been up late with Ellie for a week straight, double-checking plans. Ellie was so full of good spirits that she and Zac were both wide awake, but on our way home, I knew Gabby was exhausted. She had dark circles under her eyes that she'd tried to conceal with makeup.
"Honey, do you want to lay down?" I whispered.
"No, I'm okay. I'm just a little tired."
I didn't take no for an answer. I put my arm around Gabby, and soon she was out like a light.
"Guys, Gabby's asleep," I whispered.
Ellie looked at me. "And how go the engagement plans?"
I groaned.
"Ike, wait for a rainstorm to come," Taylor said to me. "She told me earlier about how she and Ellie were dreaming one time of you proposing, and she said once you stood outside her window in the rain."
"There's a wedding tomorrow. I won't worry about it now." But I wanted to as I looked at Gabby sleeping.
Isaac refused to wake Gabby up once we got home, so he carried her inside the house. Ellie smiled at Zac. I knew they wouldn't sleep that night.
"Well, I'm going up to bed, guys. I'll see you in the morning," I said.
"Taylor, thank you for all your help. It means a lot," Ellie said.
"No problem. As long as you guys have a happy marriage, I'm happy to help." I high-fived Zac and went up to bed.
Although it was now the middle of the night, I knew there was no way I could sleep. Zac, obviously feeling the same way, had no more opened the limo door as he slipped me away to our pond. The doorway of flowers was already set up, and by the time of the wedding tomorrow, the area would be completely transformed.
We stood, wrapped in each other's arms, under the doorway where we would soon be married.
"Zac, how did this happen?" I wondered out loud. "Dreams so rarely come true this way! It seems like only yesterday I was just another obsessed Hanson fan dreaming that you would fall in love with me."
"And it seems like only yesterday that I spotted the girl would could make all my dreams come true," Zac continued. "We were connected, Ellie, couldn't you feel it? We were just always meant to be together."
"I still feel it now," I whispered. Zac drew me into a long kiss under the flowers with the moonlight encircling us with heavenly light.
I didn't want to let go of Ellie. These were the precious moments I wanted to last forever, that I had waited all my life for. We were one, in heart and soul. Tomorrow the wedding would legally unite us, but I knew tonight that we were already truly united in our hearts, which was more important than any ceremony. When I looked into Ellie's eyes, I knew she felt the same way, but there was a hint of worry too.
"What is it?" I asked.
She leaned on my shoulder. "The wedding won't change things, will it?"
"Of course things will change," I said gently. "But we have to make sure they are positive changes. Everyone has to work at keeping marriages together, but our love for each other will keep feeding the flame. It's all up to us to keep the fire going, and I knew you and I can do that. My passion for you will never die."
"Neither will my heart stop burning for you," Ellie replied. Then we walked to the edge of the pond where we sat down on the damp ground. I began to sing Thinking Of You. For the next hour, Ellie and I sang together. We sang Hanson songs, oldies, love songs, whatever we could think of.
As I finished I Will Come To You, I could tell Ellie was drifting off to sleep in my arms. "You should sleep for a while," I commented, lifting her up. "We've got a big day coming up."
She nodded and together we wandered back into the house.
I was a night owl, and tonight I occupied myself putting the finishing touches on Ellie's wedding present. I knew Ellie was worth more than anything money could buy, so my present was something completely from the heart. For years, I had fooled around with some song writing, but I never had felt confident enough to show it to anyone. Recently, though, I wrote a song about Ellie. For her wedding, I made a demo of it that I would record onto my next album. I had wrapped up the tape and the lyrics matted on a frame.
Also, for Ellie and Zac to add to their new home, was a blanket I had made out of wispy fluffs that was soft and covered with musical notes. I was excited for Ellie, but in a way, I didn't want anything to change. But every time I sang Ellie's song in concert, I'd remember the times we shared. It was true Ellie would still be around, but it wouldn't be like it used to be.
I reflected on everyone's gifts to the couple. Taylor, Gabby and Isaac had made plans to make a wedding video. Since it was no surprise to see either Isaac or Gabby with their camcorders, the three were planning on taping tomorrow's events from beginning to end and edit it, putting in clips from when the two were younger. It was going to be a very special gift.
Karine had long since been working on drawing a picture of Ellie, while Jessica, Avery, Mackie and Zoe had bought and personalized many little decorations and appliances for Ellie and Zac to add to their new home.
Suddenly, I heard voices in the hallway, knowing that Ellie and Zac must be back. I slipped the presents away and peeked out the door. Ellie and Zac had just said goodnight at Zac's door and Ellie headed toward her room. I darted out to give her a last hug good night before she would be a married woman.
"Celine, you're still up!" Ellie exclaimed.
"You're not the only one who won't be able to sleep tonight," I laughed. "I can't believe you'll be married tomorrow. Here, I have something to show you." I lead Ellie down the hall to another bedroom, where there was a queen-sized bed surrounded by unlit candles. "This is for tomorrow night," I said. "The night before you leave on your honeymoon, wherever it may be." Zac and Ellie had kept where they were going a secret. It would be announced at the wedding reception tomorrow.
"Oh!" Ellie gasped, looking into the room. "Did you set this up?"
"But of course," I smiled. "You have to have a romantic night after you've gotten married!"
I watched Ellie enter the room and sit on the bed. "It's sorta scary about the wedding night," Ellie commented quietly. But she turned to me and smiled. "It'll be wonderful."
"It sure will be."
