The flowers on the trellis blew softly in the breeze. Luckily I had tied my hair back. Everyone sat, eagerly awaiting Ellie's arrival. The music started, thanks to Taylor, and Ellie appeared. Her face was the ultimate picture of beauty, confidence and love. She started to walk down the aisle, slow measured steps that made my smile grow wider and my heart beat faster. Two steps away from me, our gazes locked. I started to step forward underneath to bring her beneath the trellis. Ellie stepped closer too, and suddenly she was gone....
"Zac. Zac!" a voice was saying, leaning over me. My eyes snapped open. "Come on! It's your wedding day!"
I shook my head to clear the strange dream and suddenly my joy from the night before flooded back.
"It is my wedding day!" I yelled at Taylor, getting up and bouncing on my bed. Taylor laughed and joined me. We must have looked like idiots, but Isaac poked his head in the door and smiled.
"Party! Make way!" Isaac yelled, somehow finding a spot on the bed to jump with us. And there we stayed for a long time.
"Definitely up," Celine said.
"Yeah! Can you pull little tendrils down beside her face, curl them and put the veil on her head?" Gabby chorused beside me. "Like this picture."
"But, Gabby, that was going to be the way you wore your hair," I argued.
"I know, but..."
"Curl it," Celine broke in. "Curl it, leave it down and put the veil on top. It matches your personality if it's just flowing beneath your veil."
A smile formed on my lips. "That's perfect. Just perfect."
"Zac will love it," Gabby said.
A tingle went down my spine. "Just four hours," I sighed.
I could not believe that was happening. I felt like I was walking on air. I was in this daze that I can't describe. How do you describe how you feel, knowing the woman you love is going to walk down that aisle, stand beside you and smile? The added bonus was that soon we'd never be apart again.
There I stood in my tuxedo under the trellis of flowers in front of 500 people, all sitting in rows of white chairs, expectantly waiting. Celine was back with Ellie, along with Gabby, Mrs. Silverman and Gabby's mother. Rene, my father and Gabby's father mingled in the crowd. Isaac was standing quietly beside me, and Taylor was showing people to their seats. I had noticed Jeremy Kramer come in...alone...and sit down on the bride's side. I poked Isaac.
"Is she ready for this?" I whispered.
"I truly believe she is," he answered. "How about you? Nervous?"
My face broke into a smile at those words. "No, not at all."
"Lier!" Isaac laughed.
"Okay, just a little, but I love her. It's not like she'll say no."
"That's true."
The piano sounded, and everyone turned. Isaac and Taylor turned and disappeared down the aisle. I watched everyone come down the aisle. Then Ellie stood at the back of the line with Rene.
I was amazed that was happening. Every step she took made me smile wider. She looked very beautiful in the wedding dress my watercolor had brought to life. But the thing I noticed most was her face. Once she was in my vision, I couldn't take my eyes from her. It was like we were both in a stare. Our gazes just locked. We were in our separate world.
Finally, she stopped in front of me. Rene kissed her and handed her off to me. I put her hand in mine, squeezed it and turned to the preacher.
Looking at Ellie that morning amazed me. All week, she'd been so stressed, but this change came over her as she stood in her wedding dress. I didn't say a word to her, for fear I'd ruin the moment, but I knew what she was thinking. Knowing how she was feeling, though, was incomprehensible to me. I was neither married or engaged. Celine, however, stood with tears in her eyes and dreams written all over her face as she studied Ellie, fully dressed, ready to be given away.
Right before Rene reached out for her arm, Ellie turned and threw her arms around me. "Smile," I whispered. "This is the happiest moment of your life." Ellie managed a smile through the tears of happiness that welled in her eyes.
Mia and Celine both embraced Ellie and wished her well, tears trickling down their cheeks. We all watched in anticipation as Karine slowly paced down the aisle, scattering flowers. She was followed by Ellie's cousin, Michael, who was their ring bearer. Next Taylor took both Jessica and Avery's arms and they headed down, all smiles. Mackie and Zoe followed and I couldn't help giggling as they strolled arm in arm down toward the trellis. Finally it was time for me and Isaac, the maid of honor and the best man. I blew Ellie one lsat kiss and Isaac took my arm in his. I looked into his eyes and we smiled.
I felt too excited and happy that I barely felt the nervousness that had plagued me all week. I was about to marry the man of my dreams. Celine, my mom, Walker and Diana had been escorted to their seats, and I was left standing alone with Rene.
He reached down and brushed a tear from my cheek. "I'm honored to be giving you away," he said softly.
I fought back more tears. "Thank you so much," I whispered.
"Time to go." Rene nudged me forward and I took my first step towards Zac. I flet oblivious to the music, the people and myself. All I saw was Zac at my destination, smiling brilliantly at me. I took Gabby's advice and smiled too, knowing the best part of my life was only beginning.
As Ellie reached the trellis, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Zac and Ellie's lives were united now and I was still left waiting. I shoved the emotion aside and took my place beside Zac. I couldn't help glancing one more time at Jeremy. I looked at Gabby, and she moved her eyes to the audience to follow my gaze. Her head snapped back around and the ceremony began.
I had written my own wedding vow to Ellie, and the ceremony would end with an a capella version of In The Still Of The Night. When the preacher gave me permission, I took Ellie's hands in mine and looked at her.
"Years have passed since we first met. I truly believe we have been through everything any two people in the world could go through. And now here we stand. It's impossible for me to express to you how much I love you. You complete my very existence in this world and now I know I can tell you everything. My heart is forever yours and nothing will ever change that." I brushed Ellie's tears away.
"Zac, you mean everything to me. I never knew I could feel so passionately about anyone as I do for you. Gabby said once that some people were born for each other. They may spend their whole lives searching for one another, or they may meet when they're a year old, but the outcome is always the same. Once you look at that person, you just know. When I looked at you that first time, I just knew I'd love you forever."
I smiled at her and put her ring on her finger. She put my ring on my hand and I let her go. Isaac, Taylor and I formed a semi-circle around her. I counted off, and we sang. Our harmonies were tighter than ever. Celine and Gabby both had uncontrollable tears in their eyes.
Nothing had ever sounded so beautiful than that three-part harmony to conclude the ceremony. Zac came back to me, the preacher said, "You may now kiss the bride," and I melted into Zac's arms. Surprisingly, I wasn't crying as much as everyone else.
"I now introduce you to Zachary and Eleanor Hanson!" the preacher said. Everyone stood and clapped as Zac and I walked down the aisle.
When we were out of everyone's sight, Zac kissed me again and at the exact same time, we told each other, "I love you."
When I watched Zac and Ellie standing hand-in-hand as husband and wife, my eyes clouded over with tears. Life was changing now. Ellie would no longer reside at my home. I couldn't imagine how Mia was feeling...probably the same as me, I thought. Ellie had been my daughter all those years before I'd had Karine. I guess I still thought of her as my child. I knew I had to let go of her somewhat, but I didn't want to. I knew once Ellie and Zac lived in their own house, I'd get used to it, but it was still so hard to let go. But, I figured as Rene and I followed the crowd from the pond, I didn't have to let go all at one time. Ellie loved me no matter what, and that thought helped to comfort me.
