Krista Ivarson paced the hallway nervously, waiting for Astrid and Loreen to finish changing into their dresses. She finally realized Astrid was trying to get her attention, "Krista."
Krista stopped her pacing and looked up into the blonde-haired woman's eyes, "Sorry, I'm just…"
"I know," said Astrid, "But it's really time to start doing your hair and make-up before you get changed."
Krista nodded and headed towards the dressing room, the lump in her throat growing bigger with each step. Her heart was racing, her palms were sweating, but there was no turning back now. She couldn't do that to him. Not after all they had been through together, not after all he had had to do to win her over. She knew he still couldn't believe she had agreed to marry him, considering she was just about the only girl who had never wanted to date him in high school (minus that one time). Quite frankly, she couldn't believe it either; she never believed his charm, humor, and good looks would ever work on her, but somehow, here she was, moments away from marrying the love of her life. And honestly, she was nervous as Hell. She hadn't been this nervous since she took her first solo flight in the DC-3 when she was twenty. Quite frankly, she would rather be 15,000 feet in the air. With low fuel levels. In the middle of nowhere. During a snow storm. Okay, maybe that was pushing it, but all she knew was she had never been more scared in her life.
And then she gazed down at the piece of jewelry that resided on her left ring finger, a calm washing over her. In just a few hours, she would have a wedding band placed there by him as well. She smiled as she thought back to that night, one of the most romantic nights of her life.
Krista had known something was up with him and Mel. He had been constantly trying to get Mel alone to 'talk to him about their relationship' as he had put it. She had no idea what he was constantly bugging her father about, but the old grump must've given in, because the next day, he had surprised her with a romantic getaway to Niagara Falls for Valentine's Day. It hadn't been the first time she had been there with him. She remembered when Silas and Mel had brought them when they were about ten. But this time, it was just the two of them for a romantic weekend getaway. They had ridden the Niagara SkyWheel and strolled down Clifton Hill hand in hand going through the kitschy tourist shops and attractions. Of course, they did become familiar with the inside of their room at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, but she wouldn't have had it any other way. One night, after having dinner at the Skylon Restaurant, they were walking down Clifton Hill on their way to see the falls lit up at night. It was cold, 18 degrees Celsius, 31 degrees Fahrenheit, but it felt like a tropical island compared to the average February temperature of -15 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees Fahrenheit in Yellowknife, sometimes colder. He had turned to her, his thumb stroking her left hand in his and asked, "Do you see us doing this again sometime?" he gave her the smile that always made the wings in her heart flutter and her legs feel like jelly.
She blushed sheepishly and gave him the sly smile she knew he adored, "Maybe." She was going to play hard to get. It would pay off later tonight.
He smirked at her and laughed, "Okay, I see what you're doing. This whole 'play hard to get' thing is clearly going to be a trend in our relationship."
They stopped in front of the falls and admired their natural beauty before she grinned at him, "But with your stubborn ass, you'll keep trying until you're successful." she kissed the hand she was holding, "That's okay though. It's how you finally landed me."
He kissed her on the cheek and rubbed her back as she continued to gaze at the falls. He made her feel so loved to the point where it made her wonder why she waited so long to be with him. Their first time, well, their first serious time, had been full of love and passion. It made her wonder how she had been with anyone else in the past. He finally broke the silence and asked, "Could you imagine us doing this for the rest of our lives?"
She sharply turned her head towards him and stuttered for a few moments before she said, "I…I guess," she said softly. Of course she could, but there was no way…they had only been dating for a year and a half.
He smiled and stroked her cheek, "I'm sorry, I need a more definitive answer."
"A more definitive answer?" Krista was now more confused than ever.
He stood up straight and took a deep breath, "Krista, I know we've only been officially together for a short while, but these past seventeen months have meant the world to me. I love you, I've always loved you, I want to spend every day of the rest of my life waking up next to you," he pulled a small box out of his pocket.
"Is this really happening?" Krista thought to herself, a few tears forming in her eyes.
He opened the box and revealed a ring with a larger diamond in the center and smaller diamonds on the two bands. He looked up into her green eyes and gave his usual cocky grin that she had learned to dearly love. She chuckled a little at his confidence as he asked, "Krista Ivarson, will you marry me?" he gestured himself up and down and held up the ring proudly.
Krista didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so she did both. She wiped away the tears running down her cheeks and nodded eagerly, "Yes, of course, you goofball!"
He grinned even bigger than he already was as he stood. He took the ring out of the box and shoved the box back into his pocket. He carefully slid the ring onto her finger and cupped both hands around her left hand. She knew he was trying to hold back a few tears as he said, "I love you, Krista."
"I love you too."
Six months had passed since that day. It was now August and it was now their wedding day. Her nerves began to build even more as she had her hair styled and her make-up done. Astrid and Loreen helped her into her dress and put her veil in before Astrid said, "We'll send him in."
Krista nodded and turned around to face the mirror one final time. Her dress was perfect: floor-length with a small train and strapless, but not revealing. That would be reserved for what she would be wearing later tonight. It had some beading throughout, but it wasn't overdone. She finally saw in the mirror where Mel came in behind her. She knew he was struggling to hold back tears, but he would never break down and cry. It just wasn't his personality. He walked up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. He took a deep breath and said, "You climbed into your first airplane when you were six years old," Krista wrinkled her brow. Incredibly random statement on her father's part, but whatever, "You went on your first flight with me when you were eleven. I first let you fly the DC-3 when you were sixteen and you flew it solo for the first time when you were twenty. All of those moments and many more combined are how I'm feeling right now."
Krista turned around to face her father. She laid a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "I'm scared too, Dad."
Mel smiled a little and squeezed her hand, "I knew this moment was coming for a long time. I just can't believe it's here."
"You had six months to prepare, Dad," she smirked.
"Oh, I've had longer than that," he exclaimed. He handed Krista her flower bouquet and said, "Silas and I always knew."
"How?" Krista asked confused.
"You know that one time when you both were about four or five and Silas pretended to marry both of you?" Krista nodded at the memory, "Well, I pretended to walk you down the aisle and when I stopped up front, Silas and I both knew. We always knew," Mel lowered Krista's veil and this time, a tear did roll down his cheek, "Now I have to do it for real this time."
Krista struggled to hold back the tears that were threatening to ruin her mascara and eyeliner, "I love you, Dad," she smiled softly.
"I love you too, Krista," he answered. He took a deep breath and said, "Now let's get you married," the huge smile returned to Krista's face and her heart began to race again. It began to beat faster and faster as the sound of Pachelbel's Canon echoed in the hall. The doors closed and Mel turned to his daughter. He kissed the top of her head and said, "He's a very lucky man to be marrying a woman like the one I've watched you become."
The hall doors opened and the opening notes of the Bridal March resonated through the room. Krista's eyes landed on him and her heart leapt with joy as she observed her soon-to-be husband. The usually silly and laid back man had become overrun with emotion upon seeing his beautiful bride, Dev and Kirby standing next to him. Mel and Krista slowly made their way down the aisle, but for Krista, it felt like it was just the two of them in the room. Only when she heard her father's voice did she bring herself back to reality. Mel lifted her veil, kissed her on the cheek, gave him her hand, and then whispered, "Take care of my little girl, Bobby."
Bobby nodded as he led Krista up onto the platform. Krista handed her flowers to Astrid and then Bobby took her other hand in his. He took a deep breath, forcing himself not to cry, "Wow, you look so beautiful. I'm the luckiest man in the world."
"Not nearly as lucky as I am," smiled Krista.
Cece stepped forward; he had taken the necessary steps to be able to officiate their wedding, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Krista Noel Ivarson and Robert Joseph Martin. These two individuals have known each other since infancy, yet somehow, it's taken them this long to realize what everyone else at Arctic Air has known for years," he began and everyone chuckled, including the bride and groom, "I believe you both have written vows."
They both nodded and Bobby pulled a piece of paper out of his tux pocket. He breathed before he stated, "Krista, I know I've spent much of my life being, shall I say, a player, but my entire life, I've always known you were special. For one thing, you never fell for my charm and good looks when we were growing up, but that made you even more attractive because Bobby Martin never backs down from a challenge," he said proudly and everyone in the audience laughed along with Krista, "But, I'm glad you finally fell for me because, because I've never been happier at any other time in my life. You mean the world to me, Krista. Words can't express how much I love you, but I'm glad I get to spend the rest of my life trying to show it to you each and every day."
Krista couldn't help but laugh. His vows were just so hilariously Bobby. She composed herself before she began her vows, "Bobby, we've always been close friends, and you've always been there for me, but I'll be honest, I could never imagine dating you, let alone marrying you," she stated and he smiled and nodded, knowing she was 100% accurate in her assessment, "But somehow, I fell in love with you the same way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once. We've been on a lot of adventures together, Bobby, and I hope we get to have so many more."
"If you would both please hold hands," instructed Cece. Bobby and Krista linked hands before Cece asked, "Do you, Bobby, take Krista to be your lawfully wedded wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he stated, his cocky, confident grin returning to his face.
"Do you, Krista, take Bobby to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," she smiled softly.
"We're ready for the rings," Cece told Dev. He handed them to him and Cece handed Bobby Krista's ring, "Krista, I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. As this ring has no end, my love is also forever. With this ring, I thee wed."
Cece handed Krista Bobby's ring and Krista said, "Bobby, I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. As this ring has no end, my love is also forever. With this ring, I thee wed."
Cece smiled elatedly and announced, "Then by the power invested in me and by the city of Yellowknife, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Bobby, you may kiss your bride."
Bobby and Krista grinned broadly. Bobby wrapped his arms around Krista's waist and Krista draped her arms around Bobby's shoulders. He pulled her closer to him and gave her a passionate kiss, signaling the beginning of their married life together. They both hated to end the moment, but eventually, Bobby and Krista pulled apart and Krista took her flowers from Astrid, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Joseph and Krista Noel Martin!"
Bobby snaked his arm through Krista's and smiled. He finally had her. He finally had Krista Ivarson. No, not Krista Ivarson, but Krista Martin, "I love you Krista Martin," he whispered softly. It really was music to his ears.
"I love you too," she answered before they made their way back down the aisle through the cheers and applause of their family and friends.
