Love Takes Hold: The Helena's Grove Series Book 3 (9 page)

Jen awoke, the sun was shining through the window and the room was quiet.
I’m getting married today
. After weeks of planning and stressing it was finally here! She lay on her side, facing the closet and not moving; she was so comfortable and relaxed that she didn’t want to interrupt the moment. She listened intently to see if she could hear Zack’s steady breathing. After last night she wasn’t sure he’d even be ready in time for the wedding. If he had a killer hangover, it would serve him right. Despite the craziness of the night before she was surprisingly calm. She sat up slowly and let her legs hang over the side of the bed, her toes barely grazing the rug below her. She glanced behind her and found the bed to be empty. Zack was obviously up and going. She smiled, glad that he was. She breathed in steadily as her mind ran away with her thoughts.

This is it; Zack and I are finally getting married! How much is really going to change? Other than my last name on some legal documents, there isn’t much, I’m sure. I am committed to him, one hundred percent! That will never change... I hope marriage doesn’t make me fat – oh don’t be ridiculous Jennifer, it’s not like the instant you get married you just gain ten pounds. Would Zack still love me if I gained weight? What if Aunt Gabby is right and the next time I pull out my wedding dress I’ll only be able to marvel at how thin I once was!
Jen pinched her eyes shut.
Don’t be ridiculous! Don’t be ridiculous!

She exhaled slowly and stood to walk into the bathroom. She checked her phone on the way, 7:48. There was a text from Zack and Jen read it quickly.

Good morning beautiful! Today is our day! I went to get some last minute things figured out and then I’ll go to Chris’s to get ready. So you can have the room to yourself without worrying about me seeing you… which is all I want to do at this point. I can’t wait to see you walk down that aisle. I love you
babe!

Jen smiled as she read through the text a second time. A sigh escaped her as she realized once again how much she loved Zack LaFaye. The wedding was at two, so she had plenty of time to spend getting ready. She glanced at the closet where her beautiful dress hung. She had had to sneak it in, covered with a garment bag so Zack wouldn’t see it. He had sworn he wouldn’t peek but she knew him too well for that. Even if it was an accident, she didn’t want to take any chances. It wasn’t that she was superstitious about it. She just wanted him to be surprised when he saw her walking down the aisle. She wanted that moment to be the first time he’d see the dress.

There was a knock on the door. Jen leaned out of the bathroom. “Come in!”

Annie came bounding into the room with Bianca close behind, each carrying their purple bridesmaid dresses. “We’re here!” Annie announced in an excited voice as she hugged Jen.

Jen laughed. “I can see that, and full of life to boot.”

“At least one of us is,” Bianca muttered as she hung the dresses in the closet.

Jen watched her with a smirk. “You probably haven’t been up this early since the last time you were up this late, huh B?”

“Shut up,” Bianca said through a yawn. “I get up early some days, just not usually on a Friday. And especially not when I got in late the night before.”

“I thought you were flying in this morning?” Jen asked.

“I was, but I decided to get the red eye so I could sleep a little and not be rushed.” She shot a dirty look in Annie’s direction. “I think I should have just come this morning.”

Annie giggled. “We were just so excited we had to come right over. Plus I knew you’d need help getting ready and since Bianca is a makeup artist I knew you’d need her here. And I know you must be nervous so I stopped and got a few sprigs of lavender just to have in the room while you’re getting ready so you can breathe in its relaxing aroma.” She beamed and Jen smiled at her enthusiasm.

“That’s great! Thanks Ann.”

“You didn’t need to bring that flowery stuff,” Bianca told Annie. “I told you, I stopped and got a full bottle of tequila – it’s in the back of my rental.” She turned to Jen. “Girl, if you’re feeling nervous just take a couple shots.”

Annie shook her head. “She doesn’t want to be hazy or tipsy on her wedding day!”

“Two shots is just enough to take the edge off. I’m not trying to get her drunk,” Bianca said sarcastically with a roll of her eyes.

Jen reached out and squeezed Bianca’s hand as Annie went in the bathroom to set up her hair supplies. “Thank you for coming,” she said softly.

Bianca shrugged. “Yeah well, I really didn’t have that much of a choice. Bambi here was pounding on my hotel room door at friggin six o’ clock this morning – just about the time I actually got to bed!”

Jen tried to hide her smile.

“Is she always like this?” Bianca whispered, her dark eyes wide.

Jen nodded. “Pretty much.”

“Give me strength,” Bianca muttered, her eyes skyward. “I’m gonna head downstairs and see if your Aunt will make me some coffee – some STRONG coffee.”

Annie emerged from the bathroom. “How are you feeling?”

“Surprisingly calm,” Jen admitted.

“No cold feet?”

“Not even a little.”

“Oh good.” Annie grinned. “Oh I can’t wait to see you walking down that aisle. You’re going to look so beautiful! Zack is going to die!” She squeezed Jen’s arm. “You get showered and I will go make you some tea.” She headed for the door with a purposeful stride.

“I’d rather have coffee,” Jen called after her.

Annie gave her a look. “You can’t have coffee. That will give you the jitters. I read all about it in this big time wedding magazine. It stated emphatically that you should only consume things that are going to calm you down on your wedding day. It recommended chamomile or peppermint tea.”

Jen exhaled in defeat. “In that case, I’ll take peppermint.”

Annie nodded and was out the door.

A couple hours later, after a fifteen minute debate on the most appropriate amount of makeup, Bianca was just finishing up Jen’s face with a shade of pale pink lip gloss. Her hair was elegantly done and she was ready to put on the dress. It was nearing eleven o’clock and Jen was glad she’d have some time to breathe before the wedding. Annie and Bianca were dressed and seemingly ready but Bianca was adamant that she needed to touch up her hair and makeup back at the hotel, so Annie reluctantly agreed to take her.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere or do anything!” Annie said with a solemn tone.

Jen just shook her head; Annie had seriously taken the maid of honor thing to a whole new level. Jen felt like reminding her that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself but decided to leave well enough alone. Once the girls were gone Jen basked in the silent tranquility. She pulled the dress out of the closet and laid it on the bed. Her fingers reached out and touched the soft silky fabric, in awe of how beautiful it was.

“Knock knock.” Aunt Gabby’s head poked in the door.

Jen turned. “Hey.”

“Well, don’t you look beautiful?” she stated happily. Aunt Gabby looked amazing herself, the champagne colored dress suit complemented her gray hair and piercing blue eyes nicely. “How are you holding up?”

“Great I think. I was just about to put on the dress.” She glanced up at Aunt Gabby. “Would you help me?”

“I would be honored.”

Jen slipped into her body shaper and then slowly stepped into the dress, making sure not to pull or tug on anything. Aunt Gabby pulled the zipper up on the side and stood back to look at her. She put two hands together as her eyes shone with approval. “You look like a vision,” she said shaking her head. “And even that is an understatement.”

Jen grinned as she slowly made her way to the full length mirror. She smiled despite herself. The dress was more perfect on than she remembered and her makeup was flawless. Annie had done a fabulous job on her hair having pulled it up off her neck with a mass of curls in the back. Everything was perfect and she silently thanked those who had helped make it so. She smiled again at Aunt Gabby, and then went to the drawer to get her earrings and matching necklace but Aunt Gabby stopped her.

“I was actually going to give you this.” She held out a blue jewelry box.

Jen looked at her in surprise and took the package. She slowly opened the lid and gasped at the display before her – the necklace and earring set inside were stunning! Delicate, silver leaves traced along the chain until it came together, with a single chain falling another inch, and a solitary diamond at the bottom. The earrings matched perfectly, with silver leaflets and diamonds dangling at the end. Jen’s breath caught as she awed at the simplistic beauty of the set.

“I can’t accept this,” Jen whispered.

“Why ever not?”

“It’s too much. You already paid for the dress; you didn’t have to buy this too.”

“I didn’t buy them; they were given to me when I was about your age. I always thought I’d give them to my daughter.” She smiled and Jen felt a lump grow in her throat. “You’re the closest thing I have to a daughter so they’re yours now. I want you to have them.”

Jen didn’t know what to say. She set the box down and wrapped her arms around her aunt, holding her tightly. She didn’t dare speak, knowing the tears were being held at bay by only a small amount of willpower. But Aunt Gabby seemed to understand; sometimes silent gratitude was best. When Jen released her, Aunt Gabby patted her cheek, smiled and walked out of the room without another word.

Annie and Bianca were back five minutes later. Gushing over Jen and how amazing she looked, the four women headed out. Jen rode in silence as Annie chatted away about how she should have brought the lavender to ease everyone’s nerves. It was clear to everyone in the car that Annie’s nerves were the most on edge.

It wasn’t until Jen was standing behind the white curtain waiting to walk down the pathway to the flower covered arch where she was to be married that her nerves really began to get to her. She held her hands out in the slight breeze, willing them to stop sweating. Bianca and Annie stood in front of her, waiting for their cues. Twice Bianca turned to Jen and mouthed the words ‘TE-QUI-LA’ but Jen just shook her head. She wanted to feel this way. She wanted to be excited and nervous and on edge. This was her wedding day! Roger emerged behind the curtain and stood by his daughter, seeming every bit as nervous as she.

Jen smiled up at him as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look so much like your mother,” he whispered.

Jen looked at him in surprise. “You’ve never told me that before.”

He shrugged. “I hate to give her the credit but, she was a magnificently beautiful woman and you do look very much like her… only more beautiful.”

Jen grinned and placed her arm in his. “Thank you for being here Dad, for being there for me through everything.”

He patted her hand. “That’s what dads are for honey.”

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but in reality was only a few minutes, the music began. The curtain parted and Bianca made her way down the aisle followed by Annie. Their purple dresses shimmered and swayed in the morning sun as they sashayed down the pathway. It was now Jen’s turn and her heart pounded as she took the first few steps. She was grateful for her father’s steady arm; otherwise she was sure she would have fallen as her knees didn’t feel strong enough to hold her up on their own. They came to the beginning of the pathway, only fifty or so feet from Zack. She watched his face as his eyes met hers. He swallowed hard and shifted his feet, looking positively dashing in his black tuxedo. Jen was sure he was the most handsome man on the planet right then.

Slowly, they continued walking and Jen had to remind herself to breathe as they made their way down the pathway that was lined with purple and white flowers. The forty white chairs on either side were tied with a purple bow and were filled with friends and loved ones. The archway where Zack stood was covered in flowers and vines. The place looked amazing and Jen knew she should be marveling at how much work everyone had put into it – but she was mesmerized by Zack, knowing this was the most important act of her life so far. She breathed deep and tried to keep her tears in check – after all they’d been through, it seemed the emotions were coming to a head.

Zack’s eyes kept sweeping her body, from her shoes to her hair and everything in between. Having his eyes on her made Jen’s skin tingle. They reached the archway and Jen kissed Roger’s cheek before taking Zack’s hand; it was shaking and the thought that he was just as nervous as her was somehow comforting. She stared up into his eyes and he mouthed the words, ‘You’re beautiful’. She smiled and breathed as the Justice of the Peace gave them some words of wisdom that Jen had a hard time concentrating on. When it was time to say their vows, Jen shakily pulled out the paper she had written hers on.

“Zack,” she began and took one more breath to steady her emotions. “The first time I met you I thought you were the most arrogant, stuck up, gorgeous cowboy I’d ever met.”

The audience laughed and Zack smiled widely.

“Since then I have had the privilege of getting to know you and realize how amazing you are. I admire and love you more than I ever thought possible.” Her voice caught and she sniffed as the tears she had fought so hard to keep behind her eyes spilled over. “I am so excited for our life together. And I’m so glad that you didn’t take no for an answer, each time I refused to go out with you.” Zack chuckled and Jen went on, “I love you, forever and always, through good times and bad, through internships and long work hours. I will always be there, in constant love and companionship. I will be your rock when you need it. I will be your wife, your lover, your friend – forever.”