Chapter 20
Miley's Wedding
Everyone was up early today. Sammie was going back to college after breakfast. Needless to say, I was bummed. Sam and I have always been very close. I just hated the empty feeling the house had when Sammie was at college just for the one week. I have no idea how I was going to make it through the whole school year. Great-grandma reached over and gave me a one arm hug and whispered in my hear.
"I felt the same way when Jackson left for the first time."
"I don't know what you mean."
"The look on your face gives you away dear."
"He's always been there for me great-grandma."
"I'm going to tell you something my daddy always told me."
"What?"
"Everything is going to be alright bud." Something came to life in great-grandma's eyes when she told me that. I couldn't help but to smile.
After breakfast, Sammie said good-bye to mom, dad and great-grandma. Then he offered to drive me to school. The first part of the drive was quiet. Sammie broke the silence first.
"It's not like I'm going away and not coming back Jill."
"I know." I really didn't trust myself to talk.
"We can still IM and Email each other." Sammie said looked at me.
"Yeah." I was looking at my feet.
"Come on Jill, don't do this to me. What am I suppose to do."
"Go to school." I really meant, stay at home.
"You never could lie to me Jill. Besides, you're bad at it."
Sammie pulled into the school parking lot but did not go up to the door to drop me off. Instead, he pulled into a parking place and put the car into park. Then he turned in his seat to face me.
"Jill, I'm your brother and I love you dearly. Yes, it is hard for me to go off to school and leave my little sister behind. But, you are growing up and a pretty young woman like yourself doesn't need her brother standing beside her anymore. You're able to fight your own battles now. I believe in you."
"You'll still be there though? If I need you that is." Stupid tears.
"I may not be standing beside you anymore but I will be behind you in the background to catch you if you fall Jill."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now come over here and hug me."
:::knock:::knock:::
I jumped and let go of Sammie to find Ricky looking in the window.
"Bye. I love you."
"I'll be on tonight."
"Okay." I opened the door and got out of the car. Ricky closed the door and waved to Sammie.
"Sam leaving for school I take it."
"Yes." Stupid tears.
"Here." Ricky handed my a tissue.
"Thanks." I took the tissue and wiped at the stupid tears.
"So, are you looking forward to you presentation?"
"Yeah. I really think I am."
"Are you going to bring in some of the items from the trunks?"
"That was the plan."
"Are you going to set up a day with Mr. Hall so you can do that. I mean you do have a lot of valuable stuff there."
"You do have a point Ricky. I guess I had better talk to Mr. Hall about my presentation then."
-----
The bell sounded to signal the end of class. I stayed back to let the other kids leave. Then I went up to Mr. Hall to talk to him before the next class started to come in.
"Mr. Hall?"
"Yes, Jill. What do you need?"
"I need to set up a time to do my presentation."
"That's not important. You can do your report when you're ready."
"It's not that Mr. Hall. It's just that I want to bring some very important stuff when I do my presentation."
"What type of important stuff? If I may ask."
"Well, I went to bring in an Olympic Gold Medal, two Grammies and a wig."
"Why a wig and are the others real?"
"Yes, very real. That's why I want to set up a time to bring them in. As for the wig, that's a story for my presentation."
"Okay Jill." Mr. Hall laughed. "I'll look at the schedule and let you know what day you can give your presentation on. I must say you have me very curious now. A gold medal, two Grammies and a wig is a story I'm looking forward too."
"Oh you'll be surprised alright." I smiled as I walked away.
-----
I was just finishing up on the notes that great-grandma had given me about her brother's wedding when there was a knock on the door. I looked up to see great-grandma standing there.
"Hi."
"What you working on Jill?"
"Come on in great-grandma. I was working on the story about Jackson's wedding that you told last night."
Great-grandma came in, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at my laptop.
"I see. You certainly are working hard on the stories I'm telling you."
"I really am thinking about trying to write a book about you."
"Well, don't think. I know you'll do a great job."
"Thank you." I smiled. "Tell me, what about your wedding?"
"My wedding?"
"Yes great-grandma, your wedding."
"Well, I have to start with what happen the night before for you to understand…"
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"Come on Maddie, answer the question." I begged. Maddie and Jackson had announced that they were going to have a baby and I was going to be an aunt! However, right now, I just wanted to know what it felt like being pregnant. To my surprise, Maddie got up, walked over to me and started to pull my tank top up!
"Hey! I'm not marrying you!" I laughed as I started to pull my tank back down.
"I thought you wanted to know what it was like to be pregnant." Maddie asked with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Okay." I let go of my tank and watch what Maddie was going to do. First, she pulled my tank up over my belly button. Then she pulled my shorts down to the top of my panties. Now she had me very curious. Next she took her fingertips and very lightly and gentle tickled the area in between my panties and belly button. I barely felt anything at all.
"It feels just like that when the baby moves, but on the inside. Plus you feel like you've been running the whole day too."
"I heard someone says it's like climbing a mountain everyday." Lilly added.
"Well, I am tired at the end of the day, but I don't think I'm at the mountain climbing stage yet."
"Do you get morning sickness?" Milena asked.
"Sometimes."
"That's not fair. Jackson gets off scott-free."
"Well, Jackson has always been sweet about it." Maddie smile at a picture in her head.
"How's that?" I asked.
"Well, he holds my hair every time I get sick."
"I don't know if I should be impressed or grossed out."
"Be impressed Miley. Your brother has a very weak stomach."
"Ewww…TMI. TMI."
"Sorry Miley." Maddie said laughing.
"Yeah, I hate to be the party pooper here, but as the Maid of Honor, it's up to me to see to it that you get your sleep Miles." Lilly said all motherly like.
"Yes mom." I stuck my tongue out at her. Lilly turned the lights off and after about thirty minutes, everyone was asleep but me. I just lay there in my bed. The last night that I would be Miley Hope Stewart. Tomorrow at this time, I would be Miley Hope Collins. I played with my engagement ring as I smiled and thought about tomorrow when I heard something at my bedroom window. I got out of bed slowly not to wake anyone and went to my window. Looking outside, there was standing none other than Jake Ryan himself, and he was waving at me!
I hashed him with both my hands, pointed down, and motion for him to go to the door. Jake nodded and left for the door. I went downstairs to meet with Jake. What was up with Jake anyways? Why couldn't he wait until tomorrow to talk to me. He said he was coming to the wedding after all.
I got to the door and opened it.
"Miley. I really need to talk to you."
"Jake, can't this wait until tomorrow?"
Jake grabbed my hand and leaded me out on to the beach.
"No, this can't wait."
I let Jake pull me along. Once he stopped, I tried again.
"Can't this wait until tomorrow?"
"No Miley. I need to talk to you alone." He looked very serious.
I looked around the deserted night beach.
"Well, we're about as along as you can get right now." I laughed.
Jake started and stopped a couple of times. I waited. It must be important to him if he's going through all of this trouble. I've known him long enough and can read him well enough to know.
"Miley, I love you."
"And I love you too Jake."
"No Miley. I mean I'm in love with you. I have been for a very long time."
What? What is Jake talking about? I mean, I was 'in love' with Jake at one time, but there always seem to be something he wanted from me. Pressured me is more like it. I never could figure out what he wanted back then. It's what broke us up the last time.
"I'm sorry Jake. I don't love you that way anymore." The way his face fell broke my heart. "I'm getting married tomorrow Jake, what is this all about?" Great! Now he has me crying yet again! Why must everything be a drama with him?
"I just thought after all these years Miley there was something you wanted to tell me." Jake was looking at his feet. Not at me.
"I don't know what you're talking about Jake." I was getting angry yet again.
"Yes you do." He was still looking at his feet and not at me.
"LOOK AT ME JAKE!"
Jake looked up and met my eyes.
"Why don't you just tell me what you want me to say!"
"If I have to tell you then you don't trust me enough to tell me."
We stood there looking at each other. After awhile, Jake spoke.
"Bye Miley." With that, he turned and left. I stood there crying, again, as I watched him walk away and out of sight. I just stood there, like an idiot. What do you want from me?
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" I screamed as I fall to the ground.
"why are you doing this to me?" I choked out. The only answer I got was a tip on my shoulder. I turn thinking it was Jake. It was Lilly. She handed me a box of tissues as she sat down beside me and gathered me into her arms. I laid my head on her shoulder. I didn't know how long I sat like that.
"Maybe he just wanted you to trust him."
"I do trust him Lilly."
"Did you tell him that you're Hannah."
"No. We always broke up when I was getting ready to tell him."
Lilly just sat there holding me and stroke my hair as I thought about it.
"If he wanted to know if I was Hannah, then why didn't he ask me?"
"Because his asking is not the same as you telling him."
We sat there while I chewed this all over in my head.
"Sam was never like that."
"No. Sam trusts you in everything you do Miles. That's why he waited for you. He knew whatever your 'Big Secret' was you would tell him. And when he found out…"
"nothing changed."
"Well he did propose to you and Hannah then."
"Yeah he did." I thought about that moment again. Sam really loves me and I really love him.
"Come on Miles, let go to bed. I hear someone is getting married tomorrow."
"I heard that myself." I agreed as we got up and walked back to the house.
"You know Lilly, I'll tell Jake tomorrow at the reception."
"Are you sure?"
I thought about it and Lilly was right. I had to tell Jake. After everything we been through together, I owed him that much.
"Yeah. I'm sure."
-----
I didn't wake to my alarm as I always did. Instead, I awoke to a different sound. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but a flushing sound and Jackson talking to Maddie then followed it.
"Are you done? Do you want some water?"
"I'm not sure honey. Give me a moment."
"Everything okay?" I heard daddy's voice join the conversation.
"Yeah, I think so dad."
"I thought Miley was suppose to have the butterflies." Daddy laughed at his joke.
"Ha, ha very funny dad."
"I have some saltines down stairs Maddie. It seemed to help with Tori's stomach in the morning."
"Thanks dad, I think I'll…" Maddie stop talking and started a new sound.
"Why you looking away Jackson?" Daddy laughed.
All of a sudden, an imaginary SS formed on my chest and Super Sister jumped out of bed.
"Leave Jackson alone daddy. He's being a great husband." I told daddy as I went towards the bathroom. I pushed daddy away from the door.
"Go. Make your famous pancake breakfast for your daughter one last time."
This stopped daddy in his tracks and I detected a little dewiness by his eyes that his smile tried to hide.
"One last pancake breakfast for my little girl."
As daddy left the doorway, I went into the bathroom.
"Is it okay if I take over for you Jackson?"
"Maddie?" Jackson asked.
Maddie just waved a hand. I took hold of Maddie's hair from Jackson and he gave me a quick kiss on the check as he quickly left the bathroom.
"I'll get those saltines dear." With that, Jackson was gone.
A few moments later, Maddie was rising out her mouth and wiping her face with the wet washcloth, that Jackson had gotten ready earlier.
"It wouldn't be as bad if there was something to actually throw-up." Maddie said as she got up.
"How much longer do you have to put up with morning sickness?" Lilly asked from the doorway.
"Hopefully, two more weeks. That will be the end of the first trimester."
"Here are the saltines honey." Jackson said as he pushed past Lilly.
"Miles, dad has the first batch of pancakes ready."
"Last one down doesn't eat Miles." Lilly challenged as she started to go downstairs.
-----
Mrs. Truscott came into the room.
"Okay everyone lets go."
Lilly, Maddie, and Milena left the room to take their places. It was just me and Mrs. Truscott in the room.
"Are you ready Miley?"
"Yes."
"You look beautiful in your mother's wedding dress."
"Thank you. Mrs. Truscott, you know you have been as much as a mom to me then anyone else." I paused.
"And you have been another daughter to me Miley. I'm very proud of the woman that you have become." Emily reached into her purse and pulled out a small handkerchief. She held it out to me and I took it.
"I used this one when I was married. Lilly will use it when she gets married. We want you to use it too Miley."
"Thank you. Mrs. Truscott, will you do me a favor?"
"Yes dear, anything."
"Well you walk down the aisle with daddy and help give me away too?"
"Yes I will sweetie."
I stepped forward and hugged my other mother.
"Yeah! Are you two coming?" Daddy asked as he stuck his head into the room.
"She said yes daddy."
Daddy came in and hugged Emily too.
"Thanks Emily. I know that Tori sent you to Miley to help her grow into who she is."
"Come on Robbie. We have a bride to give away."
-----
The anthem started signaling for the three of us to walk down the aisle. I smiled and started to look around. I wanted to remember everything. By the time we reach the front of the church, I thought back and realized that I didn't see Jake. Well, maybe I missed him.
Daddy and Mrs. Truscott gave my hand to Sam and we walked up to the minister. I only sort of listen to the minister with this part of the service, I heard it all in the release the day before. Instead, I concentrated on Sam and Sam was concentrating on me.
"And now, the father of the bride would like to share something special with everyone." That caught me by surprise, but from the look on Sam's face, it was planned. Then he gently turned me around so I could see daddy. Was that one of mom's diaries he had in his hand? When did you get that out of my room?
"On December 31, 2002, my wife, Miley and Jackson mom was taken from us. We though that we were going to lose Miley too. However, Tori was able to reach out to Miley one last time through her diaries and bring Miley back to us." Robbie looked at Miley with tears in his eyes. Miley was wiping at her tears with Sam standing right behind her with his arms wrapped around her for support.
"Miley has turned to Tori's diaries many times in her life and has read them many times over. But there is one entry that she has never read. That enter is the one Tori made before her passing on the 31st." Robbie turned to look at Miley again.
"Bud, its time you heard that entry." Robbie opened the diary and turned to the last entry.
December 31(Miley) I want so much for you to know
How much I love you.
I am critical of you sometimes,
But it's only because I have experienced
So much more of life, and I can often
See that the path you are taking
Today, may not take you where
You want to be tomorrow.
I know , too, that you are still young,
And you have to experience life for
Yourself.
If I can….I just want to spare you some of
The pain I had to go through on my
Own path in life…
When the words don't come with all I
Want to say, I can still say this:
I love you tremendously. I would do
Anything for you. And I promise I will
Try to be more patient and understanding
Of you, and I pray that you will do the
Same for me.
And do me a favor sometimes…
Tell me you love me, okay?
Having you grow up so quickly
Is hard on me.
Robbie closed the diary and walked over to his little girl and they hugged.
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"The rest of the service after that was a blur to me. The only thing I remember after that was when we turn to be present to the wedding guests."
"Why? What happen?"
"I saw Jake Ryan standing in the back of the church. He was crying so hard I could even see it from the front. Anyways, he nodded to me and left. We never saw each other in person again."
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Author's Note:
The poem that Tori wrote is called My Dear Daughter by Carol Ann Bader. Miley's name is not apart of the poem.