Authors: Nikki Rittenberry
Shortly after the men returned to the cottage, guests were beginning to arrive. Jacob and the other groomsmen ushered the guests to their awaiting seats in front of the arbor, ensuring that everyone was seated on the correct side of the aisle. Chairs were filling rather quickly and when Jacob headed back to the deck, he caught a glimpse of a beautiful blonde in a short, peach cocktail dress.
He quickly climbed the steps to the deck and rushed to meet her on the covered back porch. Her strapless, peach dress was fitted through the bodice, molding to her waist as though it had been painted on. The remainder of the dress was soft and pleated, the hem falling just below mid-thigh. Her hair was effortlessly swept back into a loose, tousled ponytail and her face was framed by a pair of pearl stud earrings. When he finally approached her, words didn’t come easily; her beauty took his breath away.
“Wow… you… you look absolutely stunning”, he stuttered.
Cassie exposed a genuine smile as she reached up and adjusted his tie. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
They gazed into one another’s eyes for several moments before Jacob finally
offered his arm. “Well, shall we?” Cassie nodded
and accepted his invitation to escort her to her reserved seat in the second row.
Leading her down the aisle ignited his curiosity. She’d been so angry with him the night before and he admitted that her demeanor toward him today seemed… promising. She appeared to be the composed, classy, and beautiful woman that she’d always been and he was confident now more than ever that the evening was only going to get better. After she was seated he leaned forward, bracing one of his hands against the back of her chair and the other against the chair in front of her. “The ceremony is about to begin—I’ve got to head back inside with Tanner, but I want you to do me a favor.”
“What?”
Jacob leaned in closer until his mouth was inches away from her ear. “I want you to picture us up there saying our vows in a few minutes”, he whispered. He kissed her temple and then quickly scurried up the deck to join Tanner inside the cottage.
* * *
Two violinists took their seats off to the
side of the arbor and began playing a
soothing melody as the parents of the bride and groom were seated in the front
row. Shortly after, Tanner and the
groomsmen walked with purpose down the aisle and took their respective positions in front of the colossal, white arbor.
Jacob peered over the crowd and met Cassie’s gaze. She smiled and his heart thumped vigorously in his chest in response. They’d come so far and he was relieved to no longer see anger and despair staring back at him. He smiled back and gave her a wink before turning his attention to the first bridesmaid now ambling down the aisle.
Pachelbel’s
Canon in D
played delicately in the background, softening the sound of the waves colliding with the jagged shore behind the arbor. Sunlight was slowly fading, revealing an array of florescent hues; complimenting the deep violet bridesmaids’ dresses.
The music faded and began again with
The Wedding March
as Emily and her father reached the stairs to the deck. All eyes were on the bride as she started down the aisle. Her auburn hair was swept into a high bun, encased by a delicate, rhinestone tiara and a sheer veil that fell just below her shoulders. Her strapless, white gown nearly blended with her porcelain skin, hugging her figure before cascading outward around her knees. A deep, violet sash adorned her waist, connecting in the back in a small bow and once her father gave her away, she and Tanner took their positions next to one another in front of the arbor and waited for the pastor to begin.
“
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to commend the very special love between Jason Tanner James and Emily Mae Thompson by uniting them in holy matrimony. Marriage consists of entrusting our deepest selves into the loving care of another. It is a public and legal act, but it is also a deeply emotional and spiritual one. The decision to marry should not be taken lightly, for it is a sacred union…”
Jacob glanced at the second row. All eyes were on Emily and Tanner, except for Cassie’s. She was staring back into his and he could almost feel her telepathically responding to his proposal. Behind those captivating, hazel eyes he saw love. He saw the barriers that she’d engineered crumble before him. The windows to her soul were lucid and unmistakable; she’d finally allowed herself to feel.
He exhaled a sigh of relief. Everything he’d ever wanted was finally within reach. He’d suffered six, long, painful years for this moment and his reward was well worth the wait. They’d found their way back to each other and he longed to hear her tell him “I love you.”
The breeze was calm and everyone was still, except for movement along the back porch. Jacob turned his attention to the silhouette as it rounded the corner, reaching the deck. It was a man and as the silhouette closed the distance between them, his face become recognizable… It was Landon! He unbuttoned his gray, Armani suit and took a seat in the back row as to not bring attention to his late arrival.
Panic coursed through Jacob’s veins, enveloping him in adrenaline. His pulse sounded like a crescendo of percussionists, tapping their drums in unison to a rapid tempo. His palms were clammy and the temperature of his skin was rising with every swift beat. He suddenly felt as though he was suffocating. He reached for the collar of his shirt and gave it a firm tug. Was this some kind of a sick joke? What was Landon doing here?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“The wedding ring is an external symbol of unity; a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. The offer and acceptance of these precious tokens are a demonstration of their vows to create a life that is sound and unbroken and to love one another unconditionally without end…”
Jacob could hardly contain his nerves. He could almost feel Cassie’s eyes settle on him and as much as he wanted to return her gaze, he couldn’t. He feared one look would reveal his uneasiness, exposing the ensuing controversy from Landon’s unexpected arrival. His appearance couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Maine, it is my pleasure to officially pronounce you as husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Tanner grabbed Emily by the waist, dipped her body backward, and passionately kissed his new bride. The crowd erupted in applause as he lifted her back to her feet and headed down the aisle for the recessional. Jacob ambled forward, meeting Emily’s youngest sister, Kara, in front of the arbor and offered his arm. He took one last glance at a grinning Cassie before escorting the maid of honor.
“Slow down”, Kara whispered.
“Sorry.” He was eager to get past Landon and was unaware that he’d practically dragged his escort alongside him. When he finally came upon him, Landon had a pleasant expression, signaling to Jacob that he was probably unaware of the events that had transpired
during his absence. Jacob met his gaze
and nodded, acknowledging his presence,
and quickly made his way to the deck to
wait for the remainder of the bridal party.
“
On behalf of Tanner, Emily, and their families, we would like to thank each and every one of you for participating in this special day. The bridal party will be whisked away momentarily for pictures and they would like to invite you to the deck for a brief cocktail hour before the
reception. If you would please, remain seated until your row is dismissed. We’ll begin with the last row and work our way forward. Thank you.”
Cassie sat patiently while guests seated behind her vacated their chairs in an orderly fashion and filed onto the large deck for French champagne and hors d’oeuvres. When it was finally her turn, she gripped her gold clutch and briskly walked toward the deck. She weaved throughout the crowd in search of Jacob, hoping to spend a few moments with him before he disappeared to take pictures. She stood near the railing, shielding her eyes from the intense glare of the descending sun, when she suddenly felt two arms envelope her from behind. She closed her eyes and smiled, relishing the sensation.
“Looking for someone?” Landon asked.
Cassie quickly opened them and turned around to face him. Her eyes were wide; her mouth open.
“Are you alright? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost!”
She tried to speak, but couldn’t seem to articulate any words.
“Well, are you happy to see me?” Landon asked.
She leaned forward and hugged his neck, finally able to form a sentence. “Of course I am. I just… wasn’t expecting you”, she explained. She pulled away, placing her clutch in front of her, shielding her body to keep added distance between them. “What are you doing here?”
“I finished up early in Seattle and… I really missed you. I knew how upset you were with me for backing out last minute and I wanted to make it up to you. I’ve been on a plane for most of the day; in fact, I just came from the airport. I got here a few minutes late and took a seat in the back row, or else I would have found a chair next to you.”
“Why didn’t you call me to tell me you were coming?”
Landon shrugged his shoulders. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, mission accomplished. I’m very surprised!” Cassie tucked her clutch under her arm and clasped her hands in front of her. Her eyes moved across the crowd in search of Jacob.
Jacob—what was he going to do when he saw her and Landon together?
She felt an overwhelming sense of hysteria mounting inside of her, lurking just beneath the surface. How did she manage to get herself in this predicament, she wondered?
“Who are you looking for?”
“What?”
“I said, who are you looking for? Your eyes are moving like you’re watching a tennis match or something”, he joked.
“I was hoping to chat with Emily for a second before they left for the harbor to take pictures, but I guess I already missed her.” Landon placed his hands on her shoulders and gently rubbed her upper arms before grabbing her hands.
“Are you sure you’re alright? Your hands are trembling.”
Cassie looked down at her hands, quivering in his. “I think I’m just hungry; I haven’t ate much today.”
“Stay right here. I’ll bring us a glass of champagne and a plate of hors d’oeuvres, okay?”
Cassie nodded and watched as he disappeared into the crowd. She drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, hoping the extra oxygen would settle her nerves; deep down she knew it wouldn’t. A thick haze encompassed her mind and no matter how hard she tried; she couldn’t conceive a way out of the mess she’d created. It took every fiber of her being not to crumble under the pressure. She had to remain calm.
You can do this. Be strong.
Landon soon returned with their refreshments. He handed her a crystal flute and within seconds she emptied it.
“Geez honey, slow down! This is expensive champagne. It’s meant to be savored, not gulped!”
“Sorry, I guess I was thirstier than I initially thought, too.”
Landon looked down for a moment before meeting her gaze. “You look beautiful, by the way.” Cassie grinned. “There’s that gorgeous smile!” He shifted his weight before continuing. “Look, I wanted to talk about what happened the other day. That fight was—”