The Wedding

Six weeks later

- Hey, man, you look beautiful. - Thomas was gently smoothing Nicholas's bow tie.

- You too, Uncle Thomas.

Thomas was going to be my best man, wearing an elegant navy blue suit with a bow tie.

- Hey, you're not supposed to be here! - said Vivian, crossing her arms over her voluminous breasts.

- As far as I know, that only applies to the groom. - He smiled mischievously with a wink.

- Hahaha! Let's go! This is a place for girls. Come on and take Nicholas. Shoo! Shoo! - She gestured to the door.

- Actually, I don't think so," he said, glancing at his watch. You have five minutes to get in.

Five minutes. I started to feel a burning sensation in my stomach.

- Nicole," my mother called out. - Is everything okay?

- I...I...

I started to cry.

- Nicole, what's wrong? - Vivian, Alice, my mother and Maria spoke in chorus.

- Sorry, I'm a little nervous. It's just that everything is getting back on track and going well. So I'm a little scared.

- Honey, Luck is dead. He won't be able to hurt you anymore. - Shiiiiii! Vivian! - Alice called out.

- No, Alice, she's right. I don't have to be afraid anymore. I love him, I know he loves me, and he loves Nicholas too. I won't be afraid anymore.

- Darling, if there's one thing I've really learned, it's that we shouldn't let the dead get in the way of all the life we have ahead of us. And that fear serves as a stepping stone when it is overcome. Your father would be very proud.

- I know, Mom, thank you. - I squeezed her hand in confirmation.

- Hey, honey, Colle wanted me to give this to you before you went up

altar.

Maria held out her hand and showed me a simple necklace with a single

pearl.

- It was your mother's, she was a loving matriarch, but life took her away early. She is the person Ethan loved the most after you.

My eyes filled with tears, now of happiness. I knew from the stories he told me how loving and caring his mother had been. I fastened the lace and admired myself in the mirror; the dress was mermaid style and had a large veil, which the girls had helped me to make perfect.

I looked in the reflection and saw hopeful looks. Vivian was crying, my mother was emotional too. A small tear ran out of the corner of her eye, and she quickly wiped it away. So did Maria. Alice was very distracted, but possibly emotional.

- No more crying! It's time! Your five minutes of extra time have passed, and I bet if you don't get through that door, Ethan will stop the ceremony just to pick you up.

I laughed through my tears.

They opened the two large wooden gates leading to the large flower garden decorated with lilies.

Feels like home by Chantall was playing in its acoustic form. The first song I ever danced to with Ethan, the song he sent me on my birthday.

On my side, as best man, were John and Thomas, Alice and Vivian. On Ethan's side were Will, already recovered from his gunshot wound, and Ben, Julia, and Caroline.

I wasn't offended by her presence, since after the incident she came to me to apologize. I wasn't sure about her intentions, but it was childish not to accept, since Ethan was undoubtedly mine.

Ethan, of course, was wearing a white tuxedo. He was holding hands with Nicholas, which made me cry even more; the eyes of all the guests were on me. My mother, who was walking me down the aisle, handed me a handkerchief, and I dried my tears. I felt special and loved. Ethan's eyes ran over me, his lip quivered, and his eyes filled with tears as he caught his mother's pearl on my neck.

I love you, I noticed his lips saying quietly.

I love you too. I repeated in the same way.

When my mother handed me over to him at the altar and his hand fished into mine, that same energy that had coursed through us since we first met pulsed through my body. He gently kissed my forehead and knelt, but not in front of me. In front of Nicholas.

- What's up, big guy! - he said, smiling. - I wanted your permission to love, care, respect, and give lots of love, not only to your mother, but to you as well. You have completed my life, I have found my other half. I want to be able to play ball, take you to the ice cream parlor, help you with your homework, welcome you with future girlfriends. Nicholas O'Connell, do you take me as your father? To love and to respect, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till old age do us part?

Nicholas began to shake his head eagerly. Ethan hugged him, and I saw a small tear trickle down. Then he kissed my hand, stood up, and we walked down the aisle together.

I have never been more sure of anything in my life. We exchanged glances, smiles and certainties. Every moment I spent, in the end, was worth it, because today I have what many people struggle all their lives to have. My true love, my family. I looked at the guests as they threw rice at us and recognized someone; tears of happiness danced down my face. He was smiling at me, his black tuxedo highlighted his amber eyes, his smile was triumphant, his beautiful short hair thrown back. He really was dressed up for a big event. Right, Dad? He smiled and nodded positively. In the end, he knew I would be fine, I was at peace.

End of the first book.