Authors: Shyla Colt
“Of course,
it’s gorgeous! I can’t believe you got this for me.”
This ring had to cost a small fortune.
“I saw it,
and I just knew it had to be yours.”
She bent over
the console and kissed the side of his mouth. “Thank you, Jett. No one has ever
made me feel so loved in my entire life, and I don’t just mean the ring.” This
man had single-handedly changed her outlook on love.
“The
day’s just getting started, my love.”
She closed
the case and twined their fingers. “I’m going to wait until you can put it on
me.”
They pulled
up to his parents’ home, and she noticed a white canopy had been set up in the
backyard. The white material peeked out over the top of the wooden fence.
“What’s that,
Jett?”
“You’ll see.
It’s important you go in order right now though.”
“
Ohh
, is this like a scavenger hunt?”
“
Kinda
.”
She released
his hand so he could park. Removing the case from her lap, he opened the box.
Their gazes locked like lasers. He took her hand in his and slipped the ring on
her finger. His dark head bent, and he placed a sweet kiss on her ring finger.
“Thank you
for agreeing to be my wife.”
“Thank you
for asking.” She cupped his face in her hands and placed a sweet kiss on his
lips.
“Now we’re on
to part two.”
The day had a
hazy dream-like quality.
Grand, romantic
gestures like these do not happen to me.
It’s too
perfect to be true, and yet it’s my life
.
Opening the
door he motioned for her to walk inside before him. She stepped through the
doorframe.
“Surprise!”
“
Ahh
!” she jumped. The living room had been beautifully
decorated with number upon number of white balloons paired with a few touches
of gold. Her eyes scanned the crowed.
“Dad!
Mya
! What’s going on?” She turned to Jett.
“Kansas Karri
Collins, welcome to your wedding day!”
Overwhelmed
she threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his neck as she squeezed
him with all her might.
“I will never
forget this for as long as I live.”
“So you don’t
want to kill me?”
“Absolutely
not, how did you do this?”
“With
the help of all these amazing people here.”
She pulled
way. “Thank you all so much!”
“I hope you
don’t mind, but my father is the ordained minister for the next twenty-four
hours, and he’ll perform the ceremony.” Jett placed a hand on the small of her
back as they headed over to join the small crowed of well wishers.
“I would be
honored.”
“Now here’s
where we split up until the wedding. You’ll have your bridal shower, and I’ll
have my mini version of a bachelor party.”
“Don’t worry,
I’ll have my eye on him,” her father said.
“Daddy.”
He walked
over and hugged her.
“Congratulations, sweetheart.
He
asked me for your hand like a true gentleman before you flew out to meet his
parents. You picked well.”
The blessing
and hope she saw in her father’s eyes muted her. Unable to express her emotions
verbally she simply nodded.
“Well shoo,
you guys, we have things to do.”
Lorraine waved her hands in dismissal, and her dad released her.
“See you at
the end of the aisle, Kansas.”
“See you at
the end of the aisle, Jett.”
The words
were a prequel to their vows.
“If I didn’t
know better I’d say Mr. Walker turned my
bestie
into
a romantic.”
Mya
grinned.
“You!
I can’t
believe you kept this from me.”
“Trust me, it
wasn’t easy!” The two hugged.
“You girls
come on upstairs. We set up the guest room for you, Kansas,” Lorraine said.
“Yes,
Ma’am.”
Kansas linked her arms with
Mya’s
, and the two of
them followed Lorraine and Sky up the stairs.
“He needed me
to help with the details, all the things your best friend would learn over
time. Like ring size.”
Mya
winked, and
Kansas giggled.
“I can’t
believe all of this is for me.”
“Believe it,
girl, you landed yourself a keeper.”
A
glint in
Mya’s
eyes caught her attention.
“What was
that?”
“What?”
Mya
feigned innocence.
“Oh that look
stopped working on me a long time ago. What did you do?”
“Nothing …
it’s just been nice being with Aiden while we did all of the planning. I stood
in as your self-appointed maid of honor, while he did the best man thing.”
“Oh there’s a
story here.”
“I wish.”
Mya’s
mumbling spoke volumes.
“Maybe he
does, too.” Kansas nudged her in the side with her elbow.
“I doubt it.
He seemed pretty oblivious. Besides, he’s a nice guy, and we both know I never
seem to find
those kind
.”
“I’m living
proof there’s a first time for everything.” They reached the top of the stairs,
and took a left.
“Wow.”
The room had been set up beautifully as well.
The bed had been removed, and an antique oval mirror had been brought in along
with a few chaise lounges, and a number of smaller tables decorated with
bouquets of pink peonies. The entire thing had a vintage bohemian vibe that
waylaid her wedding jitters.
“It’s your
day, so we’ll be your models first. Then the big moment, choosing your wedding
dress,” Sky said. Excitement tinged her tone, thickening her accent.
“I get to
pick?” she asked, shocked.
“Of
course, darling.
Mya
choose three
she’d thought you’d like,” Lorraine said.
“This is just
like a television show, Kansas!”
Mya
clapped her
hands making them all laugh.
“Sit, relax,
drink
some sparkling cider while we all get dressed. Jett mentioned you weren’t a
huge fan of alcohol, so we went with this.” Lorraine drew her attention to the
silver bucket that housed the cider with a champagne flute beside the blush
pink chaise lounge, and she laughed.
“I could not
have asked for a better crew of women to share this glorious day with.”
“Okay, stop
trying to make us cry, Kansas. We haven’t even gotten to the ceremony yet.”
Mya
sniffed.
“We’re glad
to be welcoming you into the family.” Lorraine’s hazel eyes were so sincere and
full of kindness they took away her breath.
“Welcome to
the family, sis. Finally we get some more estrogen to even things out.” Sky
winked, and the women disappeared out into the hallway. Not too long afterward
a knock sounded on the door.
“Are you
ready?”
Mya
called.
“Yes! I’m
dying of curiosity in here.”
The door
swung open, and in walked
Mya
and Sky clad in
spaghetti strapped, white, chiffon dresses with sweet heart necklines. The
wispy material flowed down to pool on the floor in a scalloped cut. The fact
that they were in white thrilled her.
Does that mean my dress is a different color?
“You girls look
so beautiful!”
“Thank you,
do you like it?” Sky asked.
“I love it.”
“I wasn’t
sure when
Mya
said you wouldn’t mind us being in
white…”
“I think
that’s my favorite thing about the dress, next to the cut.”
“We have
ribbons to go around our waist, but we won’t show you until after you choose
your dress,”
Mya
said.
“Mom, it’s
your turn to sparkle.” The girls stepped off to the right, and Lorraine crossed
the threshold in a strapless, white chiffon dress that mimicked the girls.
“You look
beautiful, Lorraine.” The sun-kissed skin earned from hours of gardening stood
out against the white. Combined with her white-blonde hair she looked
ethereal.
“Thank you,
sweetheart.” Lorraine smiled, a pretty blush darkening her cheeks.
“How are you
going to wear your hair?” Kansas asked.
“We thought
swept into a side bun.”
Mya
said, peering over at Sky
who nodded.
“That’s going
to look fantastic!”
“Sweet!
We’ll go get
changed, and it’ll be your turn!”
Mya
said.
The trio in
white hurried off, and Kansas popped her non alcoholic bubbly and poured it
into a glass. Taking a sip she feared she’d wake any minute and find this
entire journey with Jett had been a dream. It was the most unlikely scenario,
love at a convention with one of the leading stars, and a small town girl.
We’ll have to water down the how I met your
mother story for you, little one.
She rubbed her belly, happy with the way
things worked out. The growing pains she’d undergone to get here and the
adjustments she’d need to continue to make were worth it. Her man wasn’t Prince
Charming, or her knight in shining armor, but her other half, a man who treated
her as an equal, supported her hopes and dreams, and showered her with love in
a way that spoke to her very soul.
The door
opened, and the three women came in holding white bags.
“Are you
ready?”
Mya
asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, behind
door number one.” Lorraine stepped forward, unzipped the bag and removed a
scooped neck, light pink number with medium sized straps covered with a diamond
and pearl design that repeated on the empire waist. The tulle layers were sleek
and understated.
“This is
beautiful.” Setting her glass on a table Kansas stood and walked over to feel
the dress, admiring the play of the tulle over the silky texture beneath.
Mya
led her to the dressing room, aka the bathroom, where
she tried on the dress and returned to the room.
“You look
stunning,” Sky said.
“Agreed, that
color brings out that wonderful skin tone of yours,” Lorraine said.
“I feel
feminine, delicate, and very pretty in this.” Kansas walked up to the mirror
unable to recognize herself. She turned to the left and the right.
“Now I get to
play devil’s advocate.” Sky smirked. “Behind door number two.”
Kansas held her breath as the bag was
unzipped. A cream colored tea length lace dress with a v-neckline, full
sleeves, and a pink bow embroidered in the dress was flirty, fun, and a nod to
vintage style. It’d be perfect for the impromptu summer wedding.
“Oh, I like
this one, too!” Kansas cried.
“I love the
pink bow,” Sky said.
“I’ll try it
and see how I feel. I think that’s what it’s going to come down to. How I want
to feel.”
Another trip
to the bathroom with
Mya
and she was dressed to the
nines in pick number two. She felt flirty, fun, and joyous. This was a dress
for celebrating and spontaneity, which summed up her and Jett up in a way.
“You look
like you stepped right out of the fifties.” Lorraine shook her head.
“I think
Mom’s having a flashback.” Sky gave a playful toll of her eyes.
“I am,”
Lorraine admitted.
“I feel fun,
hip, and excited in this one.”
Kansas
twirled around. “I love the shorter length and the unique style with this.”
“Now
just to make things harder.”
Mya
shook her
dress. “Last pick.”
A few moments later
she revealed a cap sleeved, off the shoulder, champagne gown that was by far
the most decadent. Its clean cut lines and silk material spoke of
sophistication. When she tried it on it fit like a dream.
“How do you
feel in this one, Kansas?” Lorraine asked.
“Sophisticated
... bridal.”
“You have a
tough choice ahead of you,” Sky said.
“I know. Will
Jett be wearing the suit he picked me up in?”
“No, he’s
wearing a black tux,”
Mya
said.
“Hmm.”
****
Jett smiled
for his pictures with the men in the wedding party, and wondered if time was
moving as slowly for Kansas.
“I think
you’re the only man I’ve known who’s been this eager to get married,” Scott
said in between shots.