The something old was a wonderful surprise, when she'd learned Logan had contacted her parents and flew them into Denver from Spain for the wedding. She'd feared the reunion would be tense with years of unspoken thoughts and feelings. Her mother brought her a brooch to pin to her wedding gown that had been in their French background for generations. True to her parents' demeanors, they were all drama and flair, but in a good way. They gushed over the baby, over Logan, over Allison even. Showered her with praise about how their little girl had grown up. The light in their eyes was genuine, their thrill to be in her life again, tangible. Maybe it was the distance and the time apart, or the joyful occasion that brought them all together again, but the bitter residue coating Allison's heart over long-ago expectations washed away.
Her father would walk her down the aisle. She couldn't ask for more.
The something new was an elegant pair of pearl earrings Devon gave her as a wedding present. The something borrowed was Vivi's garter belt from her and Rick's wedding, which slightly mortified Allison, but she decided what the heck. It apparently brought them many happy years of marriage and four kids. Allison couldn't say no to that.
Something blue . That's what had stumped her last night, as she lay in bed tossing and turning, fretting over details she couldn't control but wanted to anyway. Logan, amazing groom that he was, had made love to her and promised everything would work out fine. Today, he'd brought her the something blue that had been missing. Symbolic of how this man had come into her life and provided the caring and love she'd been missing, even if she'd been blind and resistant to it at first. He always came through. She loved him so much. Logan was everything she wanted, all she would ever need.
Separating the fastener, she draped the dazzling blue jewel around her neck. "Will you fasten this for me, Devon?"
Her friend connected the clasp and pulled her hair free from the chain, adjusting her golden waves again perfectly. Devon squeezed Allison's shoulders and smiled. "Now, let's go get you hitched."
Grabbing the bridal bouquet-white lilies, sprigs of lilac, and pink roses bundled with a lavender ribbon-Allison followed Devon's lead through the hall, down the staircase, across the main corridor toward the grand banquet hall entrance.
Allison's father waited there, his large stomach and regal air lending a grand presence to the event. No surprise there. He wore a finely-tailored tuxedo with the European flare of tails, something out of a Dickens novel.
"Papa." She ran the few feet that separated them, throwing herself into his arms. His rotund belly and her pregnant one made the hug humorously awkward. She laughed. "I love you, Papa."
"Ah, I love you, petit belle mariee ."
Her parents hadn't blinked when they learned she was pregnant and about to be married to the man she loved. The nice thing about a European sensibility regarding love and lovers and marriage and children. Que sera, sera . Whatever will be will be. They'd been thrilled. "Thank you for being here for me, Papa."
Wistfulness touched his eyes with moisture. "I am glad for your happiness, that you will be happy as you and your mother and I have been happy these many years."
"I am happy. And I'm glad, too." Allison blinked hard. She knew her parents had always loved her, even though once it had seemed like they'd split their love three ways, for each other, for performing, and for their daughter.
Now, because of Logan and their baby and her work at Stone Security, Allison understood that love was a many-faceted thing, like the jewel around her neck and the engagement ring on her left finger. When a heart was filled with passion, respect and trust, there was enough love for all things dear to her. More than enough.
The doors swung open. Pachabel's Canon came to a close and Beethoven's Wedding March executed grandly from the piano and violins.
Devon met Rick at the rear and they looped arms, as maid-of-honor and best man, and moved down the aisle. The only two people in their wedding party, which suited Allison just fine. The two people who'd made her and Logan's relationship possible with their support and encouragement.
Then the music accelerated to a crescendo, the cue to the bride and her father to begin the journey down the aisle. The journey that would take her from her father's hand, her father's love, to the hand and love of the man she would spend her life adoring.
The packed audience stood. They turned in her direction.
She appreciated that many of the people there were Stone Security associates, plus many others she didn't know. There was family, too, and dear friends, and everyone there to celebrate something beautiful. Allison was pleased so many people came to honor their union .