***Night before Jennifer's wedding***
Jennifer and Jeff were at their wedding rehearsal. They ran through the ceremony several times, and then everyone in the wedding party went to dinner.
She tried to keep her mind off Jonathan and on Jeff, but it was hard.
After their rehearsal dinner, Jeff took her back to the beach house.
"The next time I see you, I will be standing at the front, waiting on you to walk down the aisle, and become my wife".
"I know. In case I never told you, thank you for loving me. You loved me when I thought nobody else would. You are an amazing man, and you made me a better person just by being in my life".
"Jennifer, that sounds like a breakup speech".
"It's not. It's just that we are going to a different place tomorrow. I wanted to tell you how I felt before we do".
"I love you, gorgeous".
"I love you too."
She kissed him and he left.
She went upstairs and went to bed.
***The next day***
Jennifer was up early. Her stomach was in knots. She didn't want to hurt Jeff, but she didn't think she should, or could, go through with it. It wasn't fair to him, if she still had feelings for Jonathan. And since she didn't know for sure, she needed to find out before she married another man.
She gathered her dress, and her makeup bag, and the overnight bag that she had packed to take to his house or to wherever they were staying tonight. She was going to talk to him before the ceremony and then decide. It was only fair.
She got to the Cadre building, and found her Matron of Honor and her bridesmaids.
She busied herself getting ready. Her dress was scoop neck, cap sleeves, and form fitting, with tucks and gathers below the waist. It had a lace overlay and crystals sewn throughout.
She got dressed and got her makeup and hair done, and then went to take pictures.
She and Jeff had agreed to not see each other till she was walking down the aisle. They were going to do a picture though, where they held hands around a corner.
That's when she was going to talk to him.
The bridal party noticed that she wasn't herself, but they thought it was just nerves.
After their pictures were done, she went to take the one with Jeff.
She pulled Kelsey, the photographer aside.
"Can you take the picture of Jeff and I, and then give us a few minutes to talk?"
"Certainly".
She was placed on one wall first. And then he was placed.
"Hi Angel".
"Hi. Are you as nervous as I am?"
"I am nervous, but excited too. I can't wait to marry you".
"that's sweet".
"You are the best thing that ever happened to me".
"Do you think we have what it takes to make it last, Jeff? I mean, really make it last?"
"Well, Angel, nobody knows that. We have to try our hardest. It's up to us".
"I'm having doubts, honey. I mean, I do love you. And I am in love with you, but I don't know if you and I are ready for this".
"I think that's just your nerves talking. Trust me, when you see me looking at you as you walk down the aisle, you will know. You will feel it. It's going to be ok, I promise".
The photographer told them their time was up.
"I love you Jennifer".
"I love you too".
He squeezed her hand, and then went back inside. A few minutes later, she went back inside as well.
She did not feel better at all. If anything, she felt worse.
About 30 minutes later, the wedding started.
She made it down the aisle, and to him. She had decided that she would go through with the ceremony, but break it off with afterwards, and that way they could get an annulment. It was the fairest thing she could do at this point, that would cause him the least embarrassment.
She zoned out completely during everything that was said, till they got to the vows.
She heard the minister say "Do you Jeff, take Jennifer to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Jeff nodded and said "I do".
"Jennifer, do you take Jeff, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better for worse, in sickness and health, from this day forward as long as you both shall live?"
Jennifer froze.
Everyone was staring at her. Stacy Griffin, nudged her.
"I'm sorry, can you ask me that again?"
"Do you Jennifer, take Jeff to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
"I Jonathan, take you Jennifer, to be my lawful wife." Jennifer turned to face him.
The groomsmen starting moving towards him and trying to have him removed. But he yelled over them and kept walking towards her.
"To have and to hold, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live, baby please!""
"I do!"
She turned back to Jeff, who still had her hand.
"I'm sorry, Jeff. Please forgive me".
She let go of his hand, and ran to Jonathan and straight into his arms.
Everyone was shocked. It was so chaotic.
She turned to look at Jeff. He looked so heartbroken.
She and Jonathan went back up the aisle and addressed the crowd.
"Jeff, I am sorry. I guess I am not over Jonathan like I thought I was. You will be just fine, you are an amazing man and you will find someone to love you, I'm just not the one for you".
She kissed him, and then turned to Jonathan.
"Everyone, thank you for coming today. We are more fortunate than most, as we have a second chance that most people don't get. So, while I apologize that you didn't get to see me and Jeff get married, I am thankful you get to see Jonathan and I get our second chance. Please, enjoy yourselves, and take care of Jeff here. He did absolutely nothing wrong, this is not an indication of his character at all. My heart just couldn't forget Jonathan." She turned to Jeff.
"I will reimburse you for everything. You did nothing wrong, I swear it".
He looked so sad, but understanding.
She took her ring off and handed it to him, and then kissed his cheek.
She and Jonathan headed out.
He helped her get her dress off, and change clothes, and then they left and headed to Willow Pond.
***Willow Pond***
He opened the door for her, and then carried her through the threshold. She was laughing.
He set her down, and kicked the door shut.
"I love you so much".
"I love you too, darling".
"Are you ok?"
"I hate that I hurt him. He really is a good guy. But it wouldn't have been fair to him to marry him, when I was still in love with you".
"I am so glad to hear you say that".
She kissed him.
"When did you know you were still in love with me?"
"I don't think I ever stopped. I think he filled a void, and that was nice. But every time I would see you, it would kill me afterwards. I would cry each time you left me."
"Oh darling…"
He held her close.
"We need to figure some things out".
"Like what?"
"Like what is the status of your car accident?"
They walked to the couch.
"Well, they didn't press charges because they don't have a blood draw to show that I was intoxicated. I settled with the guy though, and paid for all of his expenses. It was the right thing to do".
She nodded.
"I was so worried about you".
"I know. I scared me too".
"So, are we going to take the archdiocese up on their offer to renew our vows?"
"I think so. How about next weekend?"
"Perfect".
She kissed him.
"I cannot wait for this nightmare to be over. I just want to be Mrs. H. again".
"You will. But you know, you have always been Mrs. H. to me".
He kissed her and carried her upstairs.
***Epilogue***
Jennifer and Jonathan went to the Catholic church in Los Angeles the next weekend, together.
The priest, Father O'Leary, graciously agreed to perform their vow renewal. This church overlooked the ocean, so they all three walked down to the ocean and did it barefoot, in the sand. It was perfect, intimate, and so romantic.
After it was over, Jonathan and Jennifer went to the airport. He was taking her on a surprise honeymoon. She had no idea where they were going, but he had told her what to pack, so she knew it was somewhere warm.
As soon as they got on the airplane, he poured them some champagne, and they toasted and kissed and clinked glasses.
He had gotten her all new wedding rings too. This time, she had a 5 carat round solitaire with a halo setting and 15 carats of diamonds surrounding it and set into the band on both sides, all set in platinum. Her wedding band was also pave diamonds in platinum. She had gotten him a new wedding ring too, platinum with a beveled edge.
They got clearance to move around the plane.
"Darling, would you say our flight is going to take longer than 5 hours?"
"I think we are looking at 12-15 hours".
"Perfect".
She got up and headed to the bedroom, and changed into some lingerie. She poked her head out, and motioned for him to join her.
She motioned for him to bring the champagne.
When he got back there, she was laying on the bed in a white, see-through nightie.
"Honey, are you ok?"
He laid down on the bed next to her.
"Yes. Happy wedding night, darling".
"Happy wedding night".
He kissed her, as she started taking his shirt off him.
He quickly undressed, and climbed under the covers with her.
He massaged and suckled her nipples and kissed her neck.
"This is going to be better than our first wedding night. You are so gorgeous".
She kissed him, and reached down and held him. and then guided him to where she wanted him.
He teased her a little, and then kissed her as he thrust into her, and held her tight. She squeezed around him, and heightened the sensation for both of them, and rocked her hips along with his.
He sped up a little bit, and kissed her as they came together, and collapsed onto the bed with her.
"Well done, Mrs. H."
"Not so bad yourself, Mr. H".
