“No, don’t say that. You know how much she loved you. Don’t give up, Lex. How can you give up after everything you’ve been through?”
“Easy, Adriana. I already have.”
“You know, Elijah, the car’s got a full tank of gas… It’ll get you as far as Albany.” I chuckled.
“Thanks, but I've been waiting for this day my entire life.” He paused and waved to a few guests who had arrived. “Thank you, Lex. For helping me, you know, to be able to kick cancer’s butt, but most importantly to be able to marry my girl, and I know this isn’t easy for you...but thank you.”
“You’re taking on the responsibility of Adriana... I should be thanking you.”
“Soon it’ll be you, buddy,” said Elijah.
“I married her, Elijah, the last night of the Hamptons.”
“Huh? How? For starters you need to apply for a marriage license and then there is a twenty-four hour waiting period. Is this some wedding prank you’re pulling on me?”
“I bribed the city clerk, offered to pay for a new community hall he was currently trying to fund. It happened, Elijah, but after the way I treated her, I don’t know if she still wants to be married to me.”
“In the words of Rocky, dude, far out. For what it’s worth, congratulations man.”
He went in for a quick man-hug before the other groomsmen arrived. We took our place at the altar and I suddenly felt nervous, I mean, Christ, I wasn’t the one getting married here, but after a month of not seeing her, this was it. This was the decider. Would I be able to look at her the same? Would I still love her despite it all? Would I see my Charlotte or would I see this baby, his baby? My palms started to sweat and almost like he knew, he placed his hand on my shoulder squeezing it tight. The nerves were pushed aside as the music began and I focused on Adriana and Elijah’s moment.
Adriana was anything but traditional sometimes, depending on her mood. I expected the wedding march to play but instead a string quartet played Endless Love as the page boy and flower girl walked down the aisle. I had to admit, they were kind of cute in their little outfits. Next came the bridesmaids. I knew there were two walking down the aisle, then Charlotte would follow. I watched in anticipation as Adriana’s friend and Elijah’s cousin walked down the aisle, the girls were pretty but my focus wasn’t on them, and I didn’t even notice that I was holding my breath in anticipation.
My heart stopped when I saw her standing at the entrance of the church. She was wearing a pale pink strapless dress, the fabric and lace sitting perfectly against her skin. I looked at her face searching for something and instantly her eyes met mine…and in that moment I knew…
I saw her, only her. My Charlotte.
And once again my heart started beating.
How could we make this work?
She walked down the aisle, smiling with a look of content as she made her way to the front. My mind dared to explore this moment, just us, one day her walking down the aisle to be my wife in front of everyone. A proper ceremony, maybe that’s why this all went wrong. Like fate saying ‘hey, you rush me so I’ll fuck up everything for you guys.’ I knew that’s what I wanted; right there in that moment my future was sealed. I knew I wanted her and everything that came with her, including this baby. No, I had no idea how this would work but we would make this work, as long as I woke up every morning with her by my side. She was already Mrs. Edwards, I just needed to let her know that nothing would change that.
The music played louder and Adriana walked down the aisle with my father holding onto her. My mother of course, a basket case, sat at the front dabbing her eyes with a tissue. It was all so overwhelming, and Adriana looked...well, amazing. Quite ethereal.
The ceremony started but I couldn’t help sneaking a look at Charlotte every chance I got. She still looked the same, definitely a lot healthier than when I saw her last. Her skin looked more sun-kissed, her eyes shone again, the light had been switched back on, and her smile… When I caught her smiling at me I couldn’t help but smile back in return. My gaze was broken when the priest announced them husband and wife. The crowd clapped and the newlywed couple exchanged their first kiss. As they walked back down the aisle, I looked directly at Charlotte extending my arm out. She gracefully linked her arm in mine, there was that jolt…again. Its force was so powerful that I saw her jump, and she felt it too.
As we walked down the aisle, all eyes were on us. I wanted so much to talk to her, I needed to tell her what I was thinking but the cameras were everywhere and the chance never presented itself. Outside, people threw rice at the happy couple. Rocky being a sports junkie threw a hard shot at Elijah, smacking him in the face. I burst out laughing alongside Rocky but Elijah shot us an annoyed look while spitting rice out from his mouth. Charlotte was pulled away to take photos. I stood there watching her, the beauty she portrayed, and I couldn’t help feeling sick...but a good sick. Like that butterfly feeling that makes you want to puke. Okay, that came out wrong but all I knew was that I couldn’t take my eyes off her no matter how hard I tried.