Ready to Wed (Ready #1.5)(15)

“Well, let’s get it on me!” I exclaimed. The gown I’d chosen wasn’t overly complicated which fit our outdoor wedding perfectly. It was vintage in style, with champagne satin underneath a beautiful lace overlay that flowed slightly behind me in an elegant train. A matching champagne colored satin bow completed the look and wrapped around my waist.

With everyone’s help, minus Maddie who was jumping up and down shouting her Mommy was the prettiest Mommy ever, I was soon standing in front of the floor-length mirror in my gown.

“It’s just…” Leah started.

“Perfect,” I finished.

With teary eyes, Cece asked, “Do you have your something blue?”

Panic. Pure panic took over and I looked at everyone standing behind me with wide eyes.

“Oh my God. I completely forgot. Everything. The something old, the something new…I don’t even have something blue! Is my marriage doomed?”

Leah’s face curved into a smile and I seriously wanted to turn around and smack her for smiling in my time of need.

“Why are you smiling?” I nearly shouted.

“Logan knew you’d forget.”

“What?”

“He knew you’d forget, with everything being so last minute and rushed. He knew this, so he took care of everything and asked me to deliver the goods to you.”

“And you’re just deciding to tell me now?” I asked.

“It was worth that face, that’s for sure.”

As I was silently chanting I love my best friend, I love my best friend in my head, Leah ushered me over to a plush chair where I sat down while she gathered whatever it was that Logan had planned.

She took a seat on the sofa adjacent to me and began.

“He wrote a letter. Do you want to read it, or shall I?”

Fearing I wouldn’t make it through reading the letter myself, I gave her the go ahead, and she began.

“Clare,

Today you will become my wife, and I will give my sacred vow to always take care of you and Maddie. It is my honor and I will spend every day of my life trying to prove I’m worthy of the task. Ever since the day I met you, I’ve wanted to protect you from everything that may harm you, or cause you pain or stress. I know this impromptu wedding has been less than ideal, and if the circumstances were different, we would have had time to plan something different.

In all the craziness, I knew you would forget the small things. It is your nature to focus on everyone else’s needs—Maddie’s and mine….the guests. I knew you’d eventually realize the small traditional elements of the wedding you’d overlooked and by then it would be too late. So I took matters into my own hands and did them for you. This is my wedding gift to you—with a little help from Leah and our mothers.

For your something old—your grandmother’s lace handkerchief. Your mother was gracious enough to pass this down to you, with the intention that we will one day pass it on to Maddie on her wedding day.”

Leah handed me the lace handkerchief I’d always seen laying in my mother’s cedar chest when I was growing up. I’d never been allowed to touch it, knowing it was delicate and old. I tried to hold back the tears as I felt it in my grasp for the first time. I glanced up and found my mom. She had the same teary eyed expression on her face, and I met her halfway, jumping from the chair to fall into her arms.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too, Mama.”

“Love that man with everything you have, for as long as you have, baby girl.”

“I will, Mama.”

With my handkerchief clutched between my fingers, I settled back into my chair and braced for whatever else Logan had in store for me.

“Are you ready?” Leah asked, and I just nodded.

“For your something new, I didn’t need any assistance at all. I had everything I needed, because your something new is me! So, you’ll have to wait until later to put me on. Our love is still young and new, and I will spend every day of my life making sure the love we feel for each other when we take our vows not only is the same but only grows stronger and deeper.”

I laughed, and shook my head.

“Goofball,” Leah said as we all laughed.

“Sweet goofball.”

“For your something borrowed, I asked my mother to help out. As you know, my mother used to be quite the hoarder of labels and anything designer. But, when she met Richard, she gave it all up, keeping only a few things that had sentimental value to her. The pearl earrings she is lending you today is one of those pieces.”

Cece came forward then and handed me a box.

“These were handed down to me by my mother, and were always very special to me. It would be an honor if you wore them on the day you married my son.”

I simply nodded, the lump in my throat now reaching epic proportions. I wasn’t going to survive the day. I really hoped whatever makeup Leah put on me was hurricane proof because I saw a lot of tears in my future.

She opened the box and enclosed where a beautiful set of pearl earring that matched my gown beautifully.

“Thank you, Cece,” I said.

“From today on, you call me Mom.”

We came together in a hug and silently thanked the man who had tamed the untamable woman and given Logan his mother back.

“Okay, Leah…how much more? I don’t know if my makeup can handle more.”