Surprisingly Cole was calm. Sitting in one of the Serenity bedrooms, he relaxed in a chair in his black tux. His hair had been freshly groomed, but he’d let just a little stubble grow out to give him an after five shadow. It had been shaped up just the way Jade liked.
He watched Doug, who was also serving as his best man, pace the floor giving himself a mental check. “Okay, ring…in right pocket.” He patted his right pocket. “Yes.” Then he tapped his left. “Dinner toast speech, in my left pocket. I’m good.” He turned to Cole. “I don’t know how you can be this calm.”
Cole grinned. “I think you’re nervous enough for both of us.”
“I was a nervous wreck on my wedding day.”
He smirked. “I can only imagine. Jade and I have lost too much time. I’m more than ready to do this. I’m prepared to give her my last name and start our life. I have no questions or doubts about it. So, yeah. I’m calm.” He checked his watch.
Doug nodded. “I can see that. Well, it’s time. In the next thirty minutes, you’ll be able to get your happily ever after started.”
*****
Jade was in another room on the opposite side of the house with Brenda, Nicole, Millie, Lisa, and Carmen. Brenda, her Matron of Honor, stood in front of the mirror with Jade fussing over her like a mother hen as Mille, Nicole, Lisa, and Carmen watched. Carmen finished her makeup, while Lisa and Millie looked on dreamily.
Millie sighed. “When I get married I hope I look as beautiful as you Jade.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Millie.” Jade ran her palms down the mermaid-style dress—sleeveless and beige, with a tulle flare—it hugged all of her curves. It went perfectly with her toffee colored skin. The bodice was sheer and decorated with strategically placed floral appliques that gave it a sexy but still demure look.
Finally, Brenda gently placed a jeweled crown-like veil on her head. Jade’s long side-swept waves fell softly to one side of her shoulder. The veil complimented her hair perfectly. Lisa spoke too. “Ms. Jade, you’re beautiful.”
Ms. Nash knocked once and entered the room. She gasped. In a high-pitched, sing-songy voice she spoke. “Jade, you are simply stunning!” Her eyes misted over just a bit. “I’m so happy for you and Cole. Oh yeah. He’s the reason I’m here. He hoped you would carry these for your bouquet.”
Jade looked at the most incredible arrangement of yellow roses and daisies she’d ever seen. She’d been fine up until this. Daisies. The first flowers she’d ever received, and they came from him. She reached out with shaky hands and took the bouquet. She whispered and fanned her face. “Oh goodness…I don’t want to mess up your makeup job, Carmen.” She turned watery eyes to Ms. Nash. “I wouldn’t want to carry anything else.” Jade plucked just one out of the bunch and tucked it into her hair. It might look slightly out of place to others but not to Cole. He’d get it immediately. “I’ve waited my whole life for this moment. I’m ready.”
*****
The community room had been transformed into a whimsical wonderland. Cole and Doug had taken their places underneath another floral arch waiting for Jade to make her appearance. The music began to play, and everyone stood. She appeared as a vision. To say Jade was beautiful was an injustice to the woman who walked towards him.
Cole hadn’t been nervous at all until he laid eyes on her. She held his heart in her hands. He knew it wouldn’t beat again until their final I’Do’s. Her eyes sparkled as they connected and locked with his. Suddenly, they were the only two people in the room.
Jade couldn’t believe this was happening. It wasn’t until her hands were placed in the warmth of his that she knew this was no dream. Her wedding to Cole was happening. Most of it went by fast until they came to the vows. Then time stood still.
The Minister turned to Cole. “Do you have vows?”
His eyes never left Jade’s from the moment she entered his line of vision. “Yes.” Jade turned to hand her bouquet to Brenda. She turned back to Cole as he held both of her hands in a firm grip. “My spirit connected to Cricket Anderson seventeen years ago when you were only nine years old. The light in your eyes, and the innocence of your heart captured and held me, hostage, ever since. My only experiences of love have come from you. Then, I didn’t know we would be standing here about to make vows of forever.” His voice was thick with emotion. He took a deep, steadying breath. “Over these last ten years that we were apart, I was so lost without you. But the moment you appeared back into my life, no longer as Cricket, the child, but Jade, the woman, I no longer felt adrift. My heart realized what my spirit knew all along; you are home. Jade Cricket Anderson, I promise to love, honor, and cherish you forever til death do us part and past forever.”
Jade didn’t know if her legs would support her, or if her voice would hold up to give her own vows. A single tear slid down her face as he sweetly wiped it away.
Her lips trembled as she began to give her vows. “Cole Thornton, that day you wrapped your arms around me and held me close to make sure I was okay at the tender age of nine was the exact moment, I knew I loved you. At eleven, when you placed a yellow daisy in
