Lily’s POV.
I get pampered for whole morning to noon and is given anything I ask for. I eat fruits and light salad and soup as I have to also fit in my bridal dress. I lost some of my pregnancy weight and would soon lose the rest of it.
I got ready in my dress which belonged to my mother and the designer had it modified a bit according to modern style. I cried when I first saw her dress which Lucas has taken care of for me. It was really an emotional moment for both of us.
The wedding dress is white crepe material with full sleeve and off shoulder neckline. The back and end of the sleeves has lace work. It is buttoned from the back and has a mermaid tail hem. The hairdresser keeps my hair open and curls the end. She puts a beaded tiara and attached the chest level blusher veil over it. And I am ready to go.
For something old I wear the necklace that Ryan gifted me on my birthday last year, for something borrowed is my bridal dress, for something blue Emma gives me earrings which she and Lucas saved for my wedding and for something new is the tiara Heather gifted me.
Kathy puts six pence in my left platform satin shoes with beaded work. They all gush over me and compliment me about my looks. They all look beautiful too in green colored satin gowns of different necklines and sleeves.
“So, how are you feeling?” Emma asks.
“Good. A little nervous but so excited.” I say and take her hands.
“Thank God for that. At my wedding I was nervous as hell whether everything was going well or not, especially with the flower girl.” Emma says as she winks at me and I laugh.
“It was the best moment to embarrass my brother as I threw all the petals at him.” I say.
“Yes. That calmed me down a bit knowing not everything needs to be perfect just… happy like today is going to be.” Emma says and kisses my hand.
We do a photoshoot for an hour then they leave to see the arrangements while Lucas and Richard come to see me. Lucas sheds some tears looking at me and so does Richard.
“You look beautiful just like Mom.” Lucas says.
“Stop crying.” I say as I brush his tears away and give him some tissues.
“You do look like her.” Richard says.
“So who is walking me down the aisle?” I ask to distract them and also I don’t know who is doing this duty.
“He is.” Richard and Lucas both point at each other.
“You are her brother.” Richard says.
“You her Godfather.” Lucas says.
“But you are close to her.” Richard argues.
“Let’s see facts here as one of your friends is officiating the wedding. You are free. I have a groomsman duty to do so I am not free. And also I have a daughter and you don’t, so enjoy this.” Lucas says and kisses my cheek and leaves the tent before Richard could argue.
“Looks like I am doing father duties today.” Richard says as he looks at me.
“Well then I have to start calling you Dad.” I say as I smile at him.
“You don’t have to-” Richard starts to say but I interrupt.
“But I want to.” I say and he looks at me with fatherly love in his eyes.
“Well then I am lucky to have a beautiful and smart daughter like you. Ryan has gotten a gem for sure.” Richard says as he kisses my hand.
“It is time.” Kathy says.
“Okay.” Richard says in reply.
Emma comes and gives me a bouquet of orchids, lilies, ivy and roses wrapped in silk ribbon. She also does some last minute touches and puts the veil over my head like a mother.
Ryan has made our wedding happen in the gazebo and made space for our family and friends to sit on the benches in front of it. First bridesmaids walk down the aisle with groomsmen then my maid of honor Emma. Ethan takes the rings down the aisle seriously along with Eve who is giggling as she throws the flowers which makes me laugh in turn and also the fact that our pups are walking beside them as if protecting them from falling.
“Ready?” Richard asks.
“Yes.” I say and take his left arm to my right.
The music starts and I walk down the aisle with something heavy on my chest and why, I don’t know. I start feeling jittery as I get near the gazebo but as soon as Richard kisses me on cheek and gives my hand to Ryan, everything calms down.
I finally look up to see Ryan through my lacy veil and he has the biggest smile on his face with his eyes shining with joyful tears. This makes me realize how silly I am to get nervous when it is Ryan. My Ryan. When our time to say vows comes, Ryan is the first to go.
“Lily, life can be so unpredictable sometimes but also can be so simple. People always want something they can’t have but I always wanted something which I can have and is rightfully mine to have. When I first met you, I never thought that this day would come. If I had known, maybe I would have reacted differently. But I am so thankful to have spent time with you. The time which made me realise that love can happen just like that with the right person. And that is what happened with me.”
“Lily, I promise to always love you, cherish you and keep you above everything in my life, even above our kids. I promise to be there for you in time of your need in whatever way you want me to be. I promise to always look out for our family and do everything to keep us happy. And to tell you everyday not only through words but action that how much I love you.” Ryan says and I feel my eyes welling up.
Emma gives me tissue for that and Ryan gives me time as I wipe them away. I take a deep breath and look at him then take his hand.
“You are so good at everything and I didn’t even prepare anything but here I go. Ryan, you are right, life is unpredictable. A year ago when you brought me to this place, I didn’t know that it would bring us full circle. But I knew during the last day we were here when you played that stupid prank on me that life would be nothing without you. That one dreadful minute of my life showed me how empty my life would become and how much you mean to me. And how scared I was of that feeling. And when I saw you, the first thing that came to my mind was relief that you are here, you are here and another feeling called love was bubbling inside me.”
“Ryan, I promise to love you, cherish you and sometimes annoy you but always be with you for the rest of my life. I promise to be there with you, to support you and always be the shoulder you can lean on. I promise to love our son or any other children we will have in future and keep you all happy and smiling just like right now. As your happiness is everything to me.” I say.
“Do you, Ryan Adam Anderson take thee Lily Rose Scott to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do both apart?” The officiant says.
“I definitely do.” Ryan says with a grin.
“Do you, Lily Rose Scott take thee Ryan Adam Anderson as to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do both apart.” He asks me this time.
“I do.” I say with a smile.
“Now, please exchange the rings.” He next says and we do so. Our rings are a simple rose gold band but mine has diamonds on it.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride now.” The officiant says lastly.
Ryan takes the veil off my face gently and leans down slowly to kiss me but I finally lose my patience and jump on him and kiss my husband passionately. I can feel his smile in our kiss and then he holds me close to him and kisses me back with the same fervor.
“I love you.” He says over everyone’s cheer.
“I love you too.” I say and look around our family and our son, who is smiling without knowing the reason but is looking beautiful.
After two hours of photoshoot as a couple and with our son, family and friends, we finally moved to the reception area which has been secret from me. Ryan takes Adam in one arm and me on the other as we walk that way.
“Oh my goodness. It looks beautiful.” I say as I see a big square hall with glass doors and lots of windows.
“Did you like it? Wait till you see the inside of it.” Ryan says as he kisses my cheek.
And he was right, the interior is designed beautifully. The table arrangements are around a platform in the middle and in the corner platform is the band playing beautiful songs. Everybody cheers as we enter and I laugh when I see Adam jumping excitedly in Ryan’s arm.
“Even Adam likes it.” I say and we go towards our table.
As everybody sits down, Kathy makes a toast literally pushing Vance away and Ryan laughs at that for which Vance warns him that the same would happen to him too. Kathy’s speech almost made everyone cry except for Vance because it was actually his speech.
“Don’t be grumpy, my dear husband. I gave you my baby but that doesn’t mean you will get all the rights of mine.” Kathy says with a smile.
Emma’s speech made me cry and miss my parents and Lucas too. After emotional speeches, Theo tries to lighten everybody’s mood and for that he gets scolding from Richard.
“For goodness sake, Theo. Lily is my daughter. I do not want to hear your silly and stupid jokes.” Richard says.
“For goodness sake, Dad. Where do you think my nephew came from? And don’t tell me you are satisfied with only one grandchild, are you?” Theo asks and Richard glares at him.
I see Daisy giving Theo secret looks which a girl only gives to her crush. Well something is brewing in someone’s heart. But when I see Theo sitting beside Daisy’s whole demeanor changes and Theo gives her a friendly look. Yes, something definitely is cooking.
Later, Ryan and I dance our first dance as a married couple and I enjoy it thoroughly. Then I do father daughter dance with Richard… sorry my Dad. Then I dance with Lucas and we laugh and shed some tears and show some really good moves. I dance till very late and then bouquet throwing time comes.
“Kathy you are already married.” I hear Vance saying.
“So what? I may be married but I would not turn down a competition.” Kathy says.
I laugh and throw the bouquet and hear everybody laughing. I turn around to see Theo holding the bouquet, he throws it away fastly which is saved by Daisy. I smile internally thinking how this game can be accurate sometimes. In my and Ryan’s case it was right.
Then the garter throwing ceremony happens and I sit down on the stool for Ryan. He looks at me with mischievous glee in his eyes and I glare at him. While he is removing my garter, Eve runs upto us and starts jumping. As if she was trying to say finish with it fastly so she could have more cake as Ryan loves spoiling her.
“Not again.” Theo says as he catches the garter.
“Don’t throw it away this time. It is good luck. It means fate is telling you that your good time will come soon.” Heather says as she warns Theo.
“Fine.” Theo says grumpily while I look at Daisy to see her secret smile. Hmm.
After everything is over, Ryan picks me up and runs out of the venue with me. People are throwing rice at us and I hide my face in Ryan’s neck as I giggle. He puts me in a car and sits in the driving seat and drives away.
“Ryan, what about Adam?” I ask.
“Don’t worry, he will be fine with Mom, Dad and my brothers and he will also be with us in the morning before our flight. Till then you are all mine.” Ryan says as he kisses my hand.
“So are you. But where are we going tomorrow?” I ask.
“Our honeymoon.” Ryan says.
“Where?” I ask.
“That my darling is a secret.” Ryan says.
“Married people should not have any secrets.” I say.
“Well what about a little bribe? Maybe then I will be able to tell you.” Ryan says as he winks at me.
“Ryan!” I exclaim.
He takes me to a different cabin and I see he has made everything look romantic and flowery. It gets a bit difficult to remove my dress as I didn’t want it to be torn and also want to preserve it for the future and it is midnight before I can give Ryan the bribe he asked for.
Next day, Ryan and I both were eager to see Adam. But we still spent half of the day in bed. After getting ready, we went to the airport as we would be going to Paris for our honeymoon. When we reach there, I see Theo playing with Adam. But as soon as he sees me, Adam jumps in his uncle’s arms to come towards me.
“I missed you too, my baby.” I say as I take him in my arms.
“Not that much.” Theo says with a sly look.
“Theo.” I say and slap his arm because of which Adam stops smiling.
“Don’t beat me Lily, otherwise Adam won’t like it. By the way I am his favourite uncle.” Theo says with a wink and I laugh.
“Your kid would be very much lucky to have such a charming and cool father.” I say and Adam again starts smiling.
“I am also cool and charming and I think I proved it last night.” Ryan whispers in my ear.
“Yes you are.” I say and kiss his cheek.
We say our goodbyes to Theo and Ryan helps me and Adam get comfortable in the jet. Adam’s nanny takes him for a small nap after an hour. And after 8 hours, we are finally in Paris’ beautiful hotel room.
As the honeymoon day passes by with my husband and son, I feel special everyday. And everyday I pray that everything stays just like this with little teasing, little fun, some small arguments but lots of love.
And I know everything will be good in the coming life.