Note: Thank you to those of you who always take the time to leave a kind word and a review. Your encouragement and support are very much appreciated. To that end, thanks to Snow Princess 88 (on chapter 6), TinDog, AlliDee, Paulina Ann, Max2013, and Red Hardy (on chapters 7 and 8). There are only two more chapters to go, and this is one of them. On a bright note, they are my favorite chapters in the story, and I really, really hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. They've been a long time in editing, and they're really lengthy- but I hope you all feel the love I put into writing them! :) I will post the conclusion on Thursday.
First Encounters
Chapter 9- The First (and Only) "I Do"
Callie sighed contentedly, remembering that magical night. She was so lost in her reverie that she barely heard the front door close downstairs. It wasn't until he was at their bedroom door that she looked up and jumped.
"You scared me!" she gasped as Frank laughed. He leaned over to hug her and kiss her cheek.
"Well, I called your name three times, turned off the alarm, and wasn't exactly light on my feet coming up here," he teased her with a twinkle in his eyes. "Good thing you're not the detective. Sometimes the obvious does tend to escape you."
"No joke," Callie agreed.
"What have you been up to?" he asked her, sitting beside her on the bed. "What are all these pictures?"
She looked up and cuddled next to him. "These, my dear, are some of my favorite pictures of us through the years. I wanted to find some good ones of Joe and Van to bring to them tonight, but I ended up thinking of a lot of special times with us. A lot of "firsts," in a way. I thought it was fun, considering…"
"That it's our first anniversary," he finished for her, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "I didn't forget." He kissed her head.
Callie giggled. "I didn't think you had," she gently admonished him. "I wasn't throwing you hints. I was just literally telling you what I had been doing. So… where have you been? We have to meet Joe and Van in an hour. You're not ready!"
"So you're wearing jeans, huh?" He winked.
"Ugh," Callie groaned. "You're right! I've been so distracted I forgot to get changed, too." She shook her head in disbelief.
"Mmmm," he answered, nuzzling her ear. "I'm all for distraction."
"Not now!" she laughed, playfully dodging his caress. "And you didn't answer my question about where…"
"I know," he answered simply.
"Okay. Let's get changed," she replied, ignoring him. If he didn't want to give information, she had learned a long time ago that it wasn't worth the effort to find out. Things always got revealed anyway, eventually.
"Wait," he said, not letting her up. "Did you find any really good pictures? I'd like to see some."
Callie nodded. "Lots of them. They're all mixed up." She reached into the box and pulled out another one. This time, her expression softened. Frank reached to hold it up, his hand over hers. It was one of their favorite pictures from their wedding day.
"I told you then and I will tell you now," Frank said tenderly, "and for the rest of our lives, you were the most beautiful bride I've ever seen in my life."
Callie blushed. "Thanks," she answered. "You were pretty darned handsome, too."
He squeezed her shoulders. "But you get more beautiful every day," he responded.
"Right…" she drawled, rolling her eyes.
"You DO," he whispered in her ear. "My amazing and absolutely stunning wife. I love you. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart."
Callie leaned back against him as he kissed her lightly on the lips.
"That was the best day - and night-" he added with a small grin- "of my life," he finished.
"Mine, too, babe," she answered. "Mine, too."
Reluctantly, she moved out of Frank's embrace. They were running behind, and she hated to be late. As they each got up, Callie put down the wedding picture of her and Frank when she saw another one from their wedding. She started giggling.
"What?"'Frank asked as he went to the closet to select a shirt. He peered over her shoulder at it and chuckled himself.
"Bring that one!" he added. "Those three almost ruined the wedding!"
"Although it wouldn't have been half as fun without them," Callie added happily. While she went to find the dress she had carefully laid out for the night, her mind wandered back to that most special of days, the wedding that almost… wasn't…
Twenty- four
"This is the best idea for a wedding. Ever. Seriously," Vanessa sighed happily as she leaned up on her beach chair to apply more sunscreen. "It's the last thing I would have expected from you two. It's so much more…" she paused, searching for the right phrase.
"It's more impulsive, fun, and kind of crazy. In other words, it's more like you and Joe," Callie finished for her. "Believe me, I know!" She adjusted the sunglasses on her nose and looked out at the gorgeous cerulean blue ocean, the pink sand beneath her feet. "But I kind of love this."
Vanessa turned to Callie. "It's so ironic. Joe and I are getting married in over a year- in a church- and then having the reception at the golf club. You and Frank had a destination wedding- in Bermuda. And you've managed to make it into a three day extravaganza. What's wrong with the universe?!"
Callie laughed. "It's weird, for sure. But you know it didn't start out this way!"
"How many people were you supposed to have again?" Vanessa asked.
Callie furrowed her brow. "That's the thing!" she answered, shaking her head at the wonder if it. "When Frank and I got engaged, we thought we would be traditional. But the more I thought about it, the more I just wanted a really small affair… just me and Frank and the people who we love most. That's why we decided on the destination wedding. We were hoping 20 or 30 people would come, even though we would have been okay with less than that."
Vanessa snorted. "And you ended up with...?"
Callie laughed, too. "86, to be exact!"
It really had been funny and shocking at the same time. When they had told their friends and family about their idea of a destination wedding, they had prefaced the idea that they didn't expect many people to actually attend. Bermuda, after all, wasn't around the block; a celebration there would be pretty expensive; and it was understandable that people might not be able to take time off from work.
What happened was the opposite: everyone was thrilled for them, excited about the opportunity to see Bermuda and to vacation, and they had insisted that they wouldn't miss the wedding for the world. So, what had started as an idea for a small one day gathering had ended up for three days, and then Callie and Frank would stay on for the rest of the week alone for their honeymoon after the wedding. Callie had to admit, it was crazy and wild and altogether the opposite of what she had expected. And it couldn't have been turning out better.
Yesterday they had arrived, along with the majority of their guests. When everyone settled in, they had all met up to go snorkeling and then sightseeing. The evening had ended in a raucous outdoor dinner, filled with drinking, dancing, drinking, volleyball, drinking, karaoke, and more drinking.
Vanessa snickered. "Well, of the- what- 86? of us- I think a good 50 were completely drunk for most of the night! And when you take out the older folks, that's basically everyone. I had a headache all morning."
Callie suppressed a smile and raised her eyebrows. "It was pretty damned fun, though- from what I remember…"
"Hahaha!" Vanessa burst out laughing. "Hell yeah it was!"
"Today is going to be great, too!" Callie responded enthusiastically. She looked around at her friends, lounging, or recovering, on the beach. In the distance, a huge trampoline type blowup had been set up off the shoreline, and all the guys were jumping, sliding, backflipping, and otherwise fooling around out there. The plan was to relax all day, and, in the late afternoon, to reconvene for massages and facials for the girls before dinner, and a game of golf for the guys. Then, dinner would be overlooking the main pier on the island.
"How's Frank holding up?" Vanessa asked her.
"I think I should be asking you that," Callie answered. "Joe's been keeping him busy all day, and part of me really doesn't want to know what they've been doing."
Vanessa laughed. "I'm sworn to secrecy- and I truly don't know the half of it, either. Actually, given what I do know, I think that golf today is pretty tame, don't you?"
Callie nodded. "By 'golf', they probably mean tackle football," she answered dryly.
"Frank has to get out that extra energy somewhere, considering what you've done to the poor guy," Vanessa quipped mischievously.
Callie blushed, color rushing to her cheeks even over her tanned skin. "Stop! I told you not to talk about that!"
Vanessa laughed uproariously. "I love every minute of this," she said, wiping her eyes. "Don't worry- no one is listening," she assured Callie. "But damn- I couldn't do it!"
Callie laughed in spite of herself, more at Vanessa's sustained shock than anything else. After she and Frank had gotten engaged, she had wanted to do something unexpected for their wedding to make it even more special. So, she had decided that, for six months prior to the wedding, she and Frank would abstain from sex. Frank hadn't been happy at all- but he had gone along with it because he saw how much Callie was trying to make their wedding night special. They had actually been living in two separate places, which made it only somewhat easier. Frank had moved into their new home to fix it up, and she had moved back to her parents' house to save money. Although she hadn't planned on telling anyone, one day she let it slip to Vanessa, and swore her to secrecy. While she trusted Vanessa implicitly, Vanessa never failed to tease her about it. Though it could get annoying, she was glad that she had Vanessa's support at least.
"I still don't get how you keep your hands off each other," she went on."Six months?! I couldn't make it six weeks; maybe not even six days!" She smirked. "The only thing I know for sure is that, tomorrow night, you guys need a soundproof room. I don't think you'll leave the bed for the rest of the week!"
"Oh my god," Callie answered, mortified, pulling her hat over her eyes.
Vanessa smiled. "In any case," she went on, "I'm glad you planned the ceremony for sundown tomorrow. Not only will it be gorgeous, but it'll also give us enough recovery time from tonight's drunken revelry."
"Until tomorrow night's," Callie added with a smile.
"You got it!" Vanessa smiled. "Are you nervous?" she asked. Unable to resist, she added, "I mean, the wedding night can be scary for virgins…"
"Shut up!" Callie retorted, smacking Vanessa with her hat.
"What are you girls talking about?" Joe asked, having jogged up the beach, soaking wet. He flicked water at them teasingly.
"Hey sexy," Vanessa said to her fiancé.
"Hey hot stuff," he added, licking his tongue in faux sexy manner. He knelt beside Vanessa and kissed her enthusiastically.
"I may become violently ill," Callie cut in, rolling her eyes.
"Come on, Sis," he said, blue eyes sparkling. "You've only got one day to live it up before you become a boring old ball and chain."
"You're blocking my sun," she answered, ignoring him.
"Come on!" he said, and grabbed her by the hand. "You're coming with me!" He pulled her up.
"Joe!" she gasped, almost stumbling. "What are you doing?"
"Taking you with me and Johnny. We have the rest of the day planned for you!"
"Indeed we do!" Johnny affirmed, appearing out of nowhere behind Vanessa. "And hello, love," he added, kissing Vanessa on the cheek. "I've enjoyed basking in your glory from afar."
Vanessa turned bright red, with her not so secret crush so close by her.
"But now that Joe and I have a few hours before smashing and tackling things, we need to get my sweetheart out of here for a few hours before she's a taken woman." With that, he wrapped an arm around Callie's waist.
Joe stared at Johnny.
"What?" he asked.
"That's the most heterosexual comment I've heard in a long time," he said.
"I'm an actor," Johnny reminded him. He kissed Callie on the cheek and stared at her lovingly. "O, you teach the torches to burn bright. I swear, you have beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear."
"That's beautiful, Johnny," Vanessa swooned.
Callie started laughing. "That's Shakespeare, Van," she replied, giving Johnny a squeeze on his cheek.
"Can we go?!" Joe asked, and Johnny responded, "of course!"
"But… but…" Callie started as she reached for her beach bag and threw on jean shorts and a tank top over her bathing suit.
"Trust me," Joe and Johnny said at the same time, as Vanessa snapped a quick picture of the three.
"Have fun, guys!" she waved. "We're getting Frank and we'll see you in a bit!"
"Wait- you knew about this?!" Callie asked as Joe grabbed her hand and Johnny grabbed her bags.
Vanessa just shrugged, the grin never leaving her face.
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It was the craziest afternoon she could remember, and later, Frank would tell her the same. There was no facial or massage, no 'golf' game for the guys. In a mere six hours, Joe and Johnny had taken her along as they'd raced each other in jet skiing, almost killing her in the process. Then, still in 'guy' mode, they dragged her on a flying banana raft attached to a speed boat, where they whipped around the waters with such speed she almost flew off the raft three times and did, in fact, go flying off two other times. The ocean adventures had ended with a parasailing excursion. Never one to enjoy heights, she had clung to Joe with every muscle she had left.
Over four hours into it, Callie plopped onto the sand, exhausted. "Guys," she moaned, still waiting for her stomach to settle. "You've done me in."
Joe laughed. "You have to admit - it was fun," he answered.
She sat up weakly. "It was," she acquiesced. "But dinner is in four hours and I need a break. Can we go back to the hotel?"
"Sure," Joe said, with no hesitation at all.
She looked at him suspiciously and then turned to Johnny.
"Whatever you want, sweetheart," he agreed.
After a long moment, she finally answered. "I don't trust either of you," she said, squinting at them, but, if they were up to anything, they hid it pretty well.
Once they arrived back at the hotel, Joe mentioned casually, "Why don't we all take a quick shower and then meet back here in a half hour? That'll give us plenty of time to get to dinner, but we can do something relaxing before, since you didn't get your massage."
Callie felt her defenses go up. "What are you planning?"
"Something low key," he said, his face a mask of innocence. "Right, Johnny?"
"It's so low key I've already forgotten what it is," Johnny answered, smiling.
"Guys…" she warned.
"Meet in the lobby," Joe said with a quick wave as he disappeared.
"Johnny," Callie said, uncertainly, "Please don't do anything crazy. I want to be okay for tomorrow night." She looked up into his deep green eyes, begging for understanding.
"Hey," he said softly, and wrapped her into a gentle hug. He smiled down at her. "Relax. You've had fun, right?"
Despite herself, she smiled. "Yes, I have."
"You have two guys here with you who love you very much," he told her, sincerely. "And we both think Frank's okay, too," he teased. "Have I ever NOT taken care of you? Has Joe not?"
She rested her head against his shoulder.
"Let us have our fun," he cajoled. "You deprived us all of rightful bachelor and bachelorette parties by having this destination wedding. Now is our time to make great memories with you. Tomorrow, you'll marry the man you've always loved."
Callie felt tears well in her eyes. "You know I love you, right?"
"I do," he said gently, and kissed her cheek. "Just remember that after we're done with you tonight!" And with those words, he gave her another quick kiss and pointed to his watch. "Twenty five minutes!" he reminded her. And then he was gone.
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The rest of the day was a whirlwind. Johnny hadn't been kidding- he and Joe had more than made up for any perceived lack of pre wedding activities. After they met up in the lobby, she was escorted outside, only to find five or six stretch limousines lined up in front of the hotel. Before she could even process what was happening, she heard cheers erupting and looked around. All of her friends were standing outside, waving and whistling.
"What the-" Callie started, but Joe just grabbed her hand as Johnny followed along.
"Let's gooooo!" she heard Chet holler, and everyone yelled back in agreement.
Joe led her to the first limo in line and helped her in. Immediately, Callie saw Vanessa and also Frank, who seemed to be taking in everything in disbelief.
"Have a good time, sweetheart!" Johnny called. "I'll be a few cars behind you!"
Callie went to the back of the limo and immediately sat next to Frank, who hugged her to him. She held his hand. "Has your day been as crazy as mine?" she said to him, nestling close. No matter how crazy things were, good or bad, having Frank next to her always made her feel more relaxed, completely safe.
Frank smiled and whispered to her quickly, "You have no idea. I'm just glad to have you with me again."
"No whispering you two!" Vanessa teased, while Joe spoke quietly to the driver. In moments, they had taken off.
"Should I even ask what you're up to?" Callie asked warily, but she was surprised when Frank laughed.
"Don't even bother, Cal- you won't get anywhere," he answered. He kissed her lips lightly.
"You have to admit-we are the MASTERS of planning," Joe cut in. "Van planned all the stuff for Frank; me and Johnny planned your day. Now- we have joined forces to bring you the most memorable joint bachelor and bachelorette party EVER." He finished with a self- satisfied smirk.
"And you got all these limos for everyone? And this one- just for the four of us?' she asked, both amazed and touched.
"Yup!" Vanessa answered happily, as she started to hand out champagne glasses. "YOLO, right?"
She looked around. Joe was punching Frank on the shoulder as they started laughing about something. Vanessa was handing her the champagne and looked as excited as a child on Christmas morning.
As she took the glass from Vanessa, she finally started to relax. "I guess, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em," she said at last with a smile.
"You don't even know," Joe said.
And she didn't...
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They had stopped at 5 or 6 bars on the way, buying shots for Frank and Callie at every one. There was some sort of drag queen parade at one location. There was a block party at another. They stopped for a quick dinner at a barbecue on the beach, where everyone lounged, stuffed themselves, and engaged in the most uncoordinated game of touch football ever, as alcohol and sports didn't make for the best combination. It was fun, though- and hilarious. The final stop, at a dance club, lasted well into the night, and they closed the place near 3:00 a.m.
By the time everyone arrived back at the hotel, it was close to 4:00, and their party was so loud that the hotel staff threatened to kick them out. Somehow, Chet had managed to find an old school boom box and was now dancing with Tony, singing the now blasting "Sweet Caroline," which then led to a chorus of "oh oh ohhhh" and a bunch of awful shouting/singing from half of their friends. Johnny and Biff had removed an orange from one of the guest baskets out front and were having an impromptu game of catch across the lobby. Liz was flirting relentlessly with one of Frank's friends from college; and Phil, sweet, quiet, unobtrusive Phil, was shouting "Who's going skinny dipping?!" It was complete and utter drunken chaos. Before long, security entered the lobby and the manager was threatening to call the police. Callie could barely process the scene, but remembered thinking that she should be far more worried about what was actually happening than she was.
Finally, Vanessa waved her and Frank off and told them that she and Joe would handle it. The management was planning to have them all thrown out permanently now. Had it not been for Joe's charming explanation and apologies, and his promise to control the crowd and pay for any damages, as she later found out, along with his ability to fake sobriety better than anyone she had ever met, she was positive the wedding would have been canceled.
Frank walked her back to the room she was sharing with Vanessa and stopped outside the door. "I see three of ya," she said to him, giggling and twirling around. "That was CRAZINESSSSSS..." she drawled, suddenly finding it incredibly funny that normal words were so hard to form.
Frank laughed, too, as he took her in his arms. "I'm the one in the middle," he said, nuzzling her neck.
"I'm not as think as you drunk I am," she sing -songed, unable to stop laughing. She stared at him, all inhibitions lost, grabbed Frank's shirt suddenly with both hands, and kissed him, soft at first, but then growing in intensity so quickly she felt her body was on fire. He returned the kisses with equal passion, and she felt herself pulled against him as his hands roamed over her body. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. "Come to bed," she moaned in his ear. "Now."
At once, she felt him pull back slightly, almost painfully breaking away from her, catching his breath.
"Whatsa matter?" she mumbled. "I want you."
"I want you," he groaned, softly, but gently put her down, and she felt him trying to slow down his breathing. He then pulled her into a tight hug. "But not now. We can't."
"Why?" she asked, head spinning, as she felt tears spring to her eyes.
"Because I love you too much to ruin what you wanted so much to happen," he answered, still breathing hard. She realized that he sounded at least semi-sober and wondered how that was even possible. He held her close with one arm, and, with the other hand, stroked her hair. He didn't let her move her eyes from his. "Tomorrow… tonight," he managed, wistfully, tenderly, "I am going to marry you. And I'm going to promise to take care of you forever so that you'll always trust me. And if I took you inside right now, and you don't know how much I want to, baby," he emphasized, "then I'd be taking advantage of your trust. And I can't do that."
By now, tears were streaming down her face, a thousand emotions in one, all blurred together with the fog of alcohol. She was a very light drinker, in reality; she always had been. But when she did go out, every once in a while, she liked to have fun. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't eaten much, or the fact that it didn't take long for her to get tipsy- and she was way past tipsy- or maybe it was the fact that she was burning with desire, or it was sheer emotion of the wedding, or the truth of the words Frank had just uttered... but she started trembling and crying as everything crashed in on her at once.
She didn't even know how she got into the room. She had a vague recollection of clinging to Frank, and eventually feeling the warmth and protection that always came when he held her. And then her eyes closed.
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By the next day, she recovered from the worst hangover of her life after sleeping very late and drinking lots of water. She only half remembered what went on last night, and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The only thing she remembered clearly was an intense feeling that Frank was protecting her from something, and feeling confused and overwhelmed. She closed her eyes and felt a blush come to her cheeks as she felt Frank's touch again, his searing kisses. And finally she remembered feeling that Frank would keep her safe, and that he loved her deeply, although she had absolutely no idea why she felt that way. I hope I didn't mortify myself, she thought ruefully. Then she smiled. Well, if I did, maybe no one will remember, either. Damn, Vanessa, Joe, and Johnny had killed that party last night- it had been wild- THAT she knew.
Vanessa had arranged for herself, Callie, and Callie's other bridesmaids to get massages and facials, after all. By 5:00, she was feeling much better. By 6:30, her hair and makeup had been completed. By 7:00, she was dressed. She was due to walk down the aisle on the beach in 45 minutes.
She had almost broken down when her parents saw her for the first time. And then when Vanessa had spoken with her alone. She had specifically asked Johnny not to come in, because she knew she would become a blubbering mess if they started talking. But he had helped her so much, was very much responsible for how she looked right now. She had a lot to thank him for later.
She had asked everyone to let her be alone for the next half hour. She needed time to think, to process the magnitude of this day, so very long in coming. Finally, she would marry Frank tonight, and she knew her life would never be the same.
At 7:15, then, she was surprised by a knock on the door. "Can I come in?" she heard Joe's voice outside. "I come bearing gifts."
Fifteen minutes until her bridal party would be coming. She could do this.
"Sure. Come on in!" she called.
Joe was looking down when he entered the room, fumbling with a package. When he looked up, he actually gasped before his shock wore off and a genuine, emotional smile lit his face. He walked over to her and shook his head, and she was shocked to see tears in his eyes. "You look absolutely gorgeous," he said to her. She waited for the sarcasm to follow, but there was none. "Stunning," he said again. "God, Frank is going to pass out."
Callie felt the color rush to her cheeks. Today, she did, in fact, feel beautiful. She had always imagined herself in a ballgown, but, based on the change of venue, she wanted a different type of dress, more suitable for the beach, but she had no idea where to start. When she had told Johnny about the dilemma, he had put her in touch with a costume designer on the television show he was now working on, saying she was magnificent, and she made custom dresses. And the dress she wore now had been Johnny's gift to her, and she could not have been happier.
It was a deceptively simple sheath dress, perfectly tailored to her body, with a low cut back, accented by crystal straps. When she had put it on the first time, she remembered the silence in the room as she turned around, watched as her mom and Vanessa had started crying, held back her own tears as Johnny had told her, "You are a goddess." It was classic and elegant, but also sexy.
With her long golden blonde hair pulled back in a classic chignon, held back with a crystal antique barrette, her mantilla veil, and her makeup flawless, she didn't even feel like herself.
"You think he'll like it?" she managed.
"He'll love it when he pulls himself off the ground," Joe responded with a smile.
"I have this for you- from my brother. Obviously," he said, chuckling softly. "When Van came over with your gift, he realized he had forgotten to give you yours. He's a nervous wreck."
Callie smiled. "A half hour and everything's going to change, right?" she asked him, taking the gift and putting it on the dresser by her. "You clean up nice," she joked quietly, referring to last night's shenanigans, and Joe laughed softly as she adjusted his tie to fit perfectly in the center. "In fact, you look downright dashing, I must say." All the groomsmen were dressed in khaki pants, white shirts, light pink ties, and navy jackets, befitting of a beach wedding. He looked wonderful, and she could only imagine how handsome Frank must look right now.
"I mean, naturally…" Joe teased. Then, more serious, he took her hand. "The two of us have been through a lot together, huh?" he said.
She nodded with a smile. "We sure have."
"You're my sister now," he said, teary- eyed again. "It's crazy. Sometimes I still look at you and see that girl on the beach from years ago, the one who stormed off and told Frank to choose me or you."
Callie felt her own tears form and could only nod.
"And sometimes, I see that stubborn, pain in the ass teenager who INSISTED on proving me wrong about everything. And you know I could see that side of you- coming from another pain in the ass teenager who always INSISTED I could prove you wrong on everything. It's a wonder Frank put up with either of us, huh?"
Callie dabbed at her eyes with a tissue she had nearby. "Stop. You're ruining my makeup."
Joe dabbed at his own eyes, grabbing one of Callie's tissues, too. "My big brother is getting married today, Cal. I mean, I know we're adults. Hell, I'm getting married next year. But it's a big deal, you know? Because although sometimes I see those sides to you, what I see now more than anything is that woman who would do anything for my brother, who makes him happier than he's ever been without you. And if he's happy, then I'm happy. You're in the family now. So you need to know that we are all a team, and I'll always be on your side as long as you're on Frank's. You're my sister," he repeated. "And I love you."
Callie stepped into Joe's arms and held onto him tightly. "I love you, too, you dumb blonde, chauvinistic, macho jock."
Joe started laughing. "If it makes you feel better, you'll always be an argumentative, bossy, nosy chick." He kissed her cheek. "I have to go and prepare my brother for what he's about to see." With a wink, he left her.
And now, she was ready.
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It was everything she hoped it would be. The night was gorgeous; the setting picture perfect. She held onto her father's arm for support as she approached the line next to the gorgeous arch set up in front of the water. Her bridesmaids were dressed in light pink chiffon gowns that flowed lightly in the breeze, and the groomsmen- Joe, Chet, Phil, and Johnny- looked incredible. But no one compared to Frank, who was, as on that first date so many years ago, the "most handsome boy" she had ever seen. The candles, the flowers, the sun starting to set, as it had been on the night they had gotten engaged; it could not have been more romantic. And Frank, normally so reserved with his emotions, wiped away tears when he saw her. She saw Joe squeeze Frank's shoulder in support, the consummate best man and best friend; saw Joe wink at her.
They said their vows in front of friends and family, but, in that moment, no one existed for her but Frank. When he slipped her wedding ring onto her finger, and she did the same, it was as if time stood still. She memorized the features of his handsome face, recorded to memory the feeling she had when he held her hands; and, when he looked deep in her eyes and kissed her lips for the first time as her husband, she knew she would remember it forever.
When Joe started whistling and then everyone started clapping, the momentary bubble collapsed, and she felt the love from everyone gathered there to celebrate their marriage. As Frank took her hand and led her back down the aisle, she couldn't stop smiling, and, she noticed, neither could Frank.
Everything was magical. The dancing, the food, the toasts, the cake cutting: each moment was better than the next. She floated in Frank's arms during their first dance, and then, before she knew it, she was holding tight to him in the last dance of the evening.
She heard the band in the background welcoming everyone back to the floor for the final dance, but she only had eyes for Frank.
"This is the end," she said, softly.
"It's just the beginning," he replied, holding her close, gently stroking her back and making her shiver.
She rested her head against his chest. "I like that," she murmured.
"You literally took my breath away when I saw you," he whispered in her ear. "You look unbelievably beautiful, sweetheart." And he tilted her face to his. "I love you so much," he said before kissing her tenderly.
Joe and Vanessa came up behind them as the music started fading and wrapped them in a group hug. "You guys coming to the after-party?" Joe asked, slinging an arm around Frank's shoulders.
Vanessa bit back a smile, which Callie caught immediately. "I think we should let them 'rest', babe," she said to Joe, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "They know where to find us if they'd like to come later."
Joe shrugged. "Okay. It's up to you guys!" He gave Callie a kiss on the cheek and gave Frank a big hug. "Congrats! This was a hell of a wedding," he added. "Welcome to the family, officially, Cal. And Frank..."
Callie held Frank's hand and watched as Joe cleared his throat and struggled for words.
"I know," Frank added as he cupped the back of Joe's neck affectionately.
Joe just nodded with downcast eyes, a gesture that communicated more than words ever could. He turned and took Vanessa's hand. And, with a brief wave, they fell back into the crowd.
After, she and Frank hurriedly thanked their guests before heading to the honeymoon suite for that night and what would be the rest of the week. Frank touched her cheek gently and kissed her softly before picking her up and carrying her into their room.
They didn't make it back to the after party, or to the luncheon the next day. Vanessa had been right after all-they barely left the room for the week.