Chapter 116 Wedding Day
CAITLYN'S POV
I woke up to Sarah shaking my shoulder gently. The sun was streaming through the window. It was morning. My wedding day.
"Time to get up bride," Sarah said. She was smiling. "Big day today."
I sat up and looked at the clock. Eight in the morning. The ceremony was at two. I had six hours to get ready. Six hours until I became Mrs. Cross.
"I cannot believe it is finally here," I said. "I cannot believe I am getting married today."
"Believe it," Sarah said. "Now come on. We have a lot to do. Hair. Makeup. Getting you into that beautiful dress."
We had breakfast and then Sarah started doing my hair. Nothing too fancy. Just loose curls pinned back. Simple but pretty. Then she did my makeup. Natural. Just enough to make me look fresh and awake.
"You look beautiful," Sarah said when she was done. "Jason is going to lose his mind when he sees you."
"You think so?" I asked. I looked at myself in the mirror. I did look good. Happy. Glowing even.
"I know so," Sarah said. "Now let us get you into that dress."
She helped me into the wedding dress. It fit perfectly. The alterations had been done just right. It hugged my stomach without being too tight. Made me look pregnant but not huge. Made me feel beautiful.
"Oh Caitlyn," Sarah said. Her eyes were wet. "You look amazing. Absolutely amazing."
"Thank you," I said. "For everything. For helping me find this dress. For being here with me. For being my friend."
"Of course," Sarah said. "I am honored to be here. Now let me take some pictures before we head to the park."
She took a bunch of photos. Me in the dress. Me with my hand on my stomach. Me smiling. Me looking out the window. I felt like a real bride. Not like last time when everything felt fake and forced.
We packed up and drove to the park. It was a beautiful day. Sunny but not too hot. Perfect weather for an outdoor wedding. When we pulled up I could see the pavilion. Tommy and some of the guys had decorated it earlier that morning. There were white flowers everywhere. Simple white chairs set up in rows. A small arch at the front is covered in more flowers.
It was perfect. Exactly what I had wanted.
"Oh wow," Sarah said. "The guys did such a good job. This looks amazing."
"It does," I said. "It is perfect."
We got out of the car and Sarah led me to a small building near the pavilion. A bathroom where I could wait until the ceremony started. I was not supposed to see Jason until I walked down the aisle.
"I am going to go check on everything," Sarah said. "You stay here and relax. I will come get you when it is time."
"Okay," I said.
She left and I was alone. I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. Touched my hair. Smoothed down my dress. Put my hand on my stomach.
"This is it baby," I whispered. "Today we become a family. Officially."
The baby kicked like it understood. Like it was excited too.
There was a knock on the door. I opened it and Detective Rourke was standing there. He was wearing a nice suit. Smiling.
"Caitlyn," he said. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you Detective," I said. "Thank you for coming. It means so much to have you here."
"I would not have missed it," Rourke said. "After everything you two have been through you deserve this happiness. You deserve this day."
"We do," I said. "And it is all because of you. You saved us. You made this possible."
"I just did my job," Rourke said. "You and Jason did the hard part. You survived. You fought. You chose love over fear. That takes real courage."
"Thank you," I said. I felt tears starting. "Sorry. I am emotional today."
"That is okay," Rourke said. "It is your wedding day. You are allowed to be emotional."
Sarah came back. "It is time," she said. "Everyone is here. Jason is at the altar. Are you ready?"
"I am ready," I said. "More than ready."
We walked out of the building and toward the pavilion. I could see people sitting in the chairs. Tommy and Marcus and the rest of the crew. Linda is my therapist. A few other people who had helped us. About twenty people total. Everyone I cared about.
And at the front standing under the arch was Jason. He was wearing a simple black suit. White shirt. No tie. He looked nervous. Excited. Perfect.
The music started playing. Something soft and sweet. Sarah started walking down the aisle first. Then it was my turn.
I took a deep breath and started walking. Everyone turned to look at me. But I only saw Jason. Only focused on him. On his face. On the way, he was looking at me.
He had tears in his eyes. Was smiling so big. His hand was on his chest like his heart was going to burst.
I walked slowly. Carefully. My hand is on my stomach. The baby was kicking. Moving around. Like it knew something important was happening.
When I reached the altar Jason took my hands. Squeezed them tight. I could see he was trying not to cry. Trying to hold it together.
"You look beautiful," he whispered. "So beautiful."
"So do you," I whispered back.
The officiant was a woman Tommy knew. Someone who did small weddings. She smiled at us.
"Welcome everyone," she said. "We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Jason Cross and Caitlyn Harper. This is a celebration of love. Of commitment. Of two people choosing each other."
I looked at Jason. At the man I was about to marry. The father of my baby. At my best friend. At my everything. He was looking back at me with so much love. So much joy.
"Marriage is a promise," the officiant continued. "A promise to love each other. To support each other. To stand by each other through good times and bad. Jason and Caitlyn have chosen to write their own vows. To make their own promises to each other."
She looked at me. "Caitlyn would you like to go first?"
I nodded. Pulled out the piece of paper where I had written my vows. My hands were shaking. Jason squeezed them and I felt calmer.
This was it. Time to tell Jason everything I felt. Everything I had always felt. Time to make my promises.