Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Alissa grinned to herself as she sat in bed, looking at her phone screen. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and she’d just woken up. The first thing she’d done was text her twin sister Caitlin.

ALISSA: Good morning! How are you feeling?

Caitlin had replied immediately.

CAITLIN: Like I’m made of glass.

ALISSA: Hmm. Like in a good way or a bad way?

CAITLIN: Good way. Like I’m made of glass and I’m full of sunlight. But also nervous.

ALISSA: Sounds like a totally normal way to feel on the most important day of your life!

It was the day of Caitlin and Michael’s wedding, and Alissa felt tingly with excitement. She could hear Dane singing quietly to himself as he washed his face in the bathroom, and she knew he was also looking forward to the wedding.

CAITLIN: You’re right. I can’t wait for my twin hug. That will help settle my nerves.

Alissa’s heart warmed. She felt so happy for her sister, knowing she was about to have the loving marriage she deserved. She could relate to Caitlin’s wedding jitters, since her own wedding was still fresh in her mind, and she smiled to herself, remembering how good and exciting it had all felt.

ALISSA: Perfect. And you get a bonus Oscar hug along with the twin hug.

CAITLIN: Yay!

Chuckling, Alissa climbed out of bed. She felt as light as a feather emotionally, despite the fact that being so far along in her pregnancy made her a bit cumbersomely heavy physically.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Dane said, stepping out of the bathroom and grinning at her. “How are you feeling?”

“So excited.” She grinned back at him. “I’m going to be counting the minutes until the ceremony starts.”

After eating a healthy breakfast, they worked together around the house for a while. She kept glancing at the clock, and he teased her about how impatient she was being. Finally, after lunch, they got ready for the wedding together—he zipped up the back of her beautiful light blue dress for her, and she helped him straighten his tie.

She took a deep breath as she sat down to put on her flats—she was feeling a little winded. Oscar was due to be born in about a week and a half, and her body seemed to be feeling the effects of pregnancy more than usual.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he asked, hurrying to her side. “Are you in pain?”

“No, no pain.” She smiled up at him, grateful for how attentive he was being. “Just feeling a little winded.”

“Let me put your other shoe on,” he said, kneeling down and putting on her second flat.

“Wow, I feel like Cinderella,” she said, laughing.

“Well, you are my princess.”

That made her grin, and as he finished placing her shoe on her foot, her heart swelled with love for him.

“You look so beautiful,” he said softly. “Just as beautiful as on our wedding day. I’m going to be thinking a lot about our wedding today, I just know it.”

“I am too.” She took both of his hands in hers. “I’m so happy I married you, honey.”

“Right back at you. Married life has been amazing. I feel like I love you even more now than I did when we got married.”

She leaned down to kiss him. “I feel that way too. You’ve been such a rock for me during this whole baby adventure.”

“Strap in, it’s about to get more exciting.”

She laughed, and he grinned at her. He stood up and then helped her to her feet, chuckling as she checked the time yet again.

“Hey! It’s actually time to leave now,” she cried, feeling ecstatic. “Are you ready?”

He laughed. “Yes, I am.”

She couldn’t have contained her smile if she had tried. “Then let’s go watch my sister marry the love of her life.”

They got into the car and drove down to the beach, to the spot where Michael and Caitlin’s wedding had been set up. Rows and rows of white chairs lined the beach, facing the ocean and a white archway that had been adorned with colorful flowers. Her heart hammered with excitement as she got out of the car and looked around for her twin.

“I bet she’s in that tent there,” Dane said, pointing to a white tent placed a stone’s throw behind the chairs. “You know—hiding so Michael doesn’t see her yet.” He chuckled.

She grinned at him. “I bet you’re right. You go ahead and sit down, sweetheart. I’ll meet you there in a little bit—first I want to give her a hug.”

He nodded, smiling, and started to make his way down to the front of the seats. She turned in the direction of the tent, unable to keep from grinning. She felt giddy with happiness for her sister, and she couldn’t wait to see her in her wedding dress.

“Knock knock!” she called at the entrance to the tent. “Is there a bride in here?”

The front flap of the tent was instantly pulled back by Pearl, who looked adorable in a pink frilly flower girl dress.

“Yes, there is!” Pearl announced joyfully.

“Alissa!” Caitlin called from inside the tent. “Come on in.”

Alissa stepped inside the tent, and her eyes immediately locked onto her sister. Caitlin was wearing a beautiful dress with a long, silky skirt, and her hair had been done up elegantly, with pearls and small flowers tucked into the up-do.

“You look gorgeous!” Alissa cried and hurried forward to give her sister a hug.

Caitlin squeezed her back tightly, and Alissa could feel that the bride-to-be was shaking a little bit.

“Feeling nervous still?” she asked sympathetically as they pulled away from the hug.

Caitlin shook her head, smiling. “No, I’m just so happy. I feel like I’m dreaming or something.”

“You want me to pinch you?”

“No!” Caitlin laughed. “I’ll realize it all soon enough. I think once Michael’s actually standing there in front of me, I won’t feel like I’m dreaming anymore.”

For a moment, the sisters stood there grinning at each other, and then Alissa pulled her twin into another hug.

“Caitlin?” someone called from outside the tent. “Everyone’s here. It’s almost time.”

“Oh my goodness,” Caitlin said, and Alissa squeezed her hands, grinning.

“Take a deep breath. I love you! I’ll see you out there.”

“I love you too. See you out there,” Caitlin said, her eyes shining.

Alissa took one more look at her twin, feeling her heart swell with happiness. Then she hurried out of the tent to take her place next to Dane. She couldn’t wait to watch her sister walk down the aisle.

Caitlin watched Alissa slip out of the tent, feeling a surge of excitement and happiness.

“Good luck, Mommy!” Pearl said, running to give her mother a hug.

“You too! Have fun being the flower girl,” Caitlin said, hugging her daughter back tightly.

The wedding coordinator came to get Pearl, and Caitlin felt her heart pounding with excitement. She turned to look at herself in the mirror that had been placed inside the tent. She really did look beautiful, she thought, and unexpectedly, tears filled her eyes. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world, getting to marry Michael—and in such a beautiful setting, surrounded by so many people who loved both of them.

“Caitlin?” The wedding coordinator stepped inside the tent. “It’s time.”

Caitlin followed her outside the tent, blinking in the sunlight. It was a perfect day—a clear blue sky arched overhead, and the sunlight was warm and golden. A light breeze from the ocean kept the temperature the perfect degree.

Her eyes traced over the white chairs where all of their friends and family members were sitting, and she smiled, seeing so many people that she knew and loved. She saw many of them turn around and smile at her, all of them looking happy and excited.

Past all of the guests, standing in front of the white archway covered in flowers, was Michael. She couldn’t quite see his face from that distance, but she seemed to be able to sense the shining look that was in his eyes. She took a deep breath, feeling as though she couldn’t wait to get down the aisle and reach his side.

Her father stepped up to her, giving her a big hug.

“Are you ready?” he whispered, and she nodded.

The music began, and Pearl went down the aisle first, tossing flower petals gracefully. Caitlin’s heart gave a little squeeze of happiness as she watched her. She felt proud of the calm, measured way in which Pearl performed her part of the ceremony.

The music changed, and Caitlin’s dad gave her arm a squeeze. Together they began to walk down the aisle, and everyone stood. She heard murmurs all around her, but she was hardly conscious of anything except Michael. He was staring at her with tears welling in his eyes, looking like the happiest man in the world.

Her dad kissed her head at the end of the aisle, and then she took her place beside Michael. Her soon-to-be husband took her hands in his, and she squeezed his tightly, feeling that he was her anchor to the world. As she’d predicted, it all suddenly felt real instead of like a dream, and her heart raced as love filled her chest.

The officiant smiled at both of them, and then gave a short speech about the challenges and rewards of marriage. Caitlin did her best to listen, but her head was spinning a little. She was gazing into Michael’s eyes, feeling as though she could get lost in him.

Michael began to speak his vows, which he’d written for her, in a calm, steady voice. “Caitlin, I love you. I vow here to love you for the rest of my life. While I can’t control everything in the world, I can control my actions, and I promise to support and defend and love you with my actions for the rest of my life. I want all of the little moments of our life together to be valued and treasured just as much as the big moments of passion, like this one. I’m going to love you through the daily struggles and the moments of success. I’m going to love you through sickness and health, through richer or poorer, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.”

Her heart soared, seeing the love in his eyes as he spoke the words, and she had to blink back tears.

Soon it was her turn to vow to him, and she took a deep breath, ready with all her heart to promise to love him for the rest of her life.