Chapter 4: Dreams Come True
~ September 15, 2034 ~
Chloe Donovan sat in the back room of the church that she and her mother had selected three years ago to hold this event. Two failed attempts due to unforeseen circumstances with Jackson's job have delayed this event. Chloe and her mother now understood why this happened but that still didn't mean that Chloe was happy about it.
Since March, all of Jackson's extended family have been contacted and invited to partake in this special event. Over the five months since March Chloe has met every member of Jackson's family as they all made it a point to come see him alive and well with their own eyes. The reunions were all heartwarming to Chloe and each and every time she had to privately berate Jackson for keeping out of contact with them for so long. While she loved meeting everyone she did have to acknowledge that some of his family were more eccentric than others but they were all a loving group and she was going to become one of them very shortly.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Ramona asks Chloe as she touches up the beautiful bride's makeup.
"Oh Ramona, I was beginning to think this day would never come," Chloe says breathing out a heavy sigh.
"Well, from everything you've told me Jackson should consider himself super lucky to be here today," Ramona says resting her hands on Chloe's bare shoulders. Feeling how tense her friend is she begins to massage them as they wait for the word that the ceremony is about to begin.
"Mmm thank you, I didn't realize how tense I was," Chloe says. "Yeah, two failed attempts and a year later and here we are."
"Chloe, it's natural for the bride to be nervous before the wedding. You have waited almost a year and a half longer than you originally intended. On the bright side though, you not only have Jackson's entire extended family in attendance but you have me as your new maid of honor and there is not anywhere else I would rather be today." Ramona reminds Chloe.
Chloe's original maid of honor had the misfortune of being in a car accident two months prior and the poor thing was still going through physical therapy to recover. Unable to carry out her duties Chloe asked Ramona to fill in. Chloe still had to replace a bridesmaid but fortunately, she had a co-worker that was willing to step in. She was close enough to the original maid of honor's measurements that the dressmaker didn't have to make any drastic alterations.
"To this day I still don't know what Jackson's plan was for his guest list before he re-established contact with all of you," Chloe says.
"Probably fill it with people from work," Ramona replies. Chloe had filled her in during the first weekend she stayed in Phoenix about Jackson's missing years and why he can't tell her about himself.
Chloe thought about Ramona's answers and had to laugh. "You're probably right," Chloe replies.
A knock at the door brings the conversation to an end. Ramona goes to the door and peering through the opening and sees Chloe's uncle.
"It's time Chloe." Sean Donovan says when Ramona opens the door. Chloe stands up from her bench and exhales.
"You look absolutely stunning my dear," Sean says taking in his niece's appearance.
"Thank you, Uncle Sean... and thank you for making this day possible," Chloe tells her uncle.
"You and Jackson did all of the hard work. I know you were considering ending your relationship in March, but I have to say that I'm happy the two of you worked things out." Sean Donovan says as he kisses his niece's temple. "I have never seen you happier than when you are with him. Of all the young men that you dated, he is the only one that I've met that I truly believe is worthy of you and your love."
"Thank you, Uncle Sean. However, what I mean is that you and Aunt Becca are responsible for this day because if you had not brought me to Cancun with you all of those years ago I never would have met Jackson in the first place. You have been my father figure my whole life. Aunt Rebecca has been like a second mother. You have included me in all of your family outings when my mom was too busy with work. I have always felt more like a daughter than a niece to you and Aunt Becca. Charlie, Chad, and Chase have always been the brothers I never had... and sometimes didn't want. But that's how all siblings are right? I know we are relatives, but the five of you have always been my family... and always will be." Chloe says teary-eyed.
"Chloe Grace Donovan... I have never been more proud of you than at this moment. You are the daughter your aunt and I thought we wanted. I'm sorry if we never told you that was how we felt about you. It has been an honor and privilege to have you as a member of our family." Sean says taking his "daughter's" arm.
"You guys... you are going to wreak all my hard work and we don't have time for me to redo it," Ramona says teary-eyed. She can see the tears in Chloe's eyes after the heartfelt declarations.
"Well, we can't have that now can we," Sean says and allows Ramona to take the lead.
In the church hall, the guests have all filed in and are sitting in their respective pews. The church was a modest size with four rows of pews that hold on average about nine people each. The walls were white and lined with large windows. The minister stood at the front in front of the podium in white robes. The organ player was to the minister's right and was playing traditional wedding music. Chloe's guests are on the left and Jackson's are on the right. While the number of guests are even Becca Donovan was surprised by the sheer number of relatives Jackson Fuller actually has as almost half of Jackson's guests are his family. In the three years that Jackson was with her niece, she couldn't remember more than two instances where he mentioned his family. This all changed after March when she was introduced to Jackson's mother during her first visit to Phoenix. Like her sister-in-law, she found the woman to be extremely pleasant and friendly. The two talked for quite some time during the rehearsal dinner. Becca's husband chatted with Jackson's grandfather and stepfather for most of that time but they made it a point to meet with each of Jackson's family members.
Jackson and his three groomsmen were standing on the right side of the room waiting for the moment the bride is escorted to her groom. Charlie Donovan was beside Jackson and serving as his best man. Next was Maxwell Fuller and finally Tommy Fuller Jr. The four men were wearing identical tuxes with black pants, a matching suit coat, white shirts, black vests with regular ties. Max was less than thrilled with Jackson's choices as he would have preferred bow ties and cumber buns. Tommy on the other hand is content to be part of the wedding as he knows it is making his mother happy.
The organ player gets their cue and begins playing the song as Chloe's bridesmaids and maid of honor take their place opposite the groomsmen. Ramona smiles at Charlie and finds Chloe's cousin very striking in his tuxedo. The other bridesmaids were two of Chloe's co-workers that she was friends with. The one beside Ramona has been friends with Chloe since she started working with the accounting firm. The third was younger than Chloe and was a more recent hire but the two got along very well and she fit into the previous maid of honor's dress.
As soon as they were in position the music changes to Here Comes the Bride. Jackson can feel his heart stop as he sees the vision of loveliness making its way down the aisle. Chloe's dress is like nothing he has ever seen (not that he looks through many wedding dress sites). It is lace, transparent, and adorned with flowers crocheted into the bodice of the dress and wraps around off the shoulders. Despite the fact that she is being escorted to Jackson by her uncle no one (save Chloe's aunt) notices this. Sean Donovan takes Jackson's hands and places Chloe's hands in her fiances. Sean lifts Chloe's veil, kisses her cheek, and leaves the two front and center to go sit beside his wife and sister.
The minister performs the ceremony and Jackson and Chloe recite the vows the pair wrote for one another. Chloe is so emotional that she starts to cry when Jackson tells everyone how happy he was to be reunited with her, how he could feel his love for her grow every day they were together. Life tests them and he was looking forward to facing every test with her together. Chloe slid Jackson's wedding ring on his finger and then she held out her hand so Jackson could put her rings on. As the ring goes on her finger Chloe can't help but flashback to her new engagement and wedding ring.
Jackson surprised Chloe during the rehearsal dinner when he asked her to take off her engagement ring. "I bought you this ring at the time because I thought it was the ring for you. Now, however, things have changed and thanks to my grandfather I can now give you the ring I should have long ago." Jackson says pulling out a ring box. Opening the box Chloe sees a different ring. It is gold like her current ring with a nice-sized diamond and several gems on each side of the diamond. "This ring belonged to my grandmother. My grandfather gave it to me many years ago and told me to give it to the woman that I was going to love for all time." Jackson slides the ring onto her finger. "That woman is you Chloe Donovan, and I hope you will accept this ring as a token of my love and affection."
"I do," Chloe replies. Jackson later told her that after the situation with their first wedding he felt that he needed a new ring for their new ceremony. Chloe really liked her old ring but knowing the history of the ring made it even more special to her.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The minister says. "You may kiss your bride." Jackson and Chloe lean in and to Chloe's surprise, Jackson spins and dips her deepening the kiss much to their guest's amusement.
"May I introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Fuller." The minister declares as the organ player plays the wedding music for the newlyweds. Jackson and Chloe walk arm and arm down the walkway as they are followed by Charlie and Ramona, Max, Tommy, and the women they are escorting.
The reception was a dream event for Chloe Fuller. After taking pictures for the better part of half an hour the parents and wedding party leave the church. The limousine took a more indirect path to the reception hall to give the guest time to travel from the church to the reception. The wedding party waited patiently inside the limo for the word that it was time to come in. The driver opened the passenger side door and the wedding party disembarked and fell into line and entered the reception hall.
The DJ announces each pair in the wedding party but just before the newlyweds enter the music slowly begins and Bryan Adam's All For Love begins. Jackson leads his wife to the center of the room and they begin their dance as man and wife. DJ Hale watched as her oldest son, her baby boy, danced with his wife. She was one of only seven people to know that this was actually their second wedding but while that event was solely for Jackson to prove his love for Chloe, this event was to celebrate the love that they both fought for.
After this dance, Jackson released Chloe and stepped out of the spotlight. Chloe walked over to the table where her family resided. Sean Donovan watched as Chloe held out her hand to him. Sean stood and the two made their way to the dance floor. The guitar strings from the music echo through the reception hall as Rascal Flat's My Wish begins to play. Chloe dances in the arms of her father figure as the music and lyrics play. Sean, Becca, and Claire all begin to cry as they listen to the song's story and realize why Chloe picked this song as all three realize these words resonate with how they all feel.
My Wish, for you,
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your Dreams Stay Big,
Your Worries Stay Small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
And wants the same things too,
My Wish, to you.
Chloe's makeup was utterly destroyed by this point but as far as Sean and Jackson were concerned she was still absolutely stunning. After the dance Chloe and Sean gave one another a familial kiss and then Ramona escorted Chloe to the bathroom to help restore Chloe's makeup.
After the father-daughter dance, the dance floor opened up for all couples. Steve and DJ were surprised to hear the notes for Bryan Adam's song, Everything I Do, I Do It For You. Jackson had arranged this for his parents and the newlyweds watched as Steve led his wife to the dance floor and the two moved to the music. Max led his date, Rose Harbenburger out to the dance floor while Tommy found the young bridesmaid that he had escorted and the two danced. While Chloe and Ramona were occupied Jackson walked over to his mother-in-law and requested the honor of a dance. Claire obliged her son-in-law and the two danced the duration of the song along with their family.
The night went on with dance after dance, glasses were struck forcing the newlyweds to kiss again and again much to their pleasure. Jackson then removed Chloe's garter belt and tossed it over his shoulder and after a scramble landed in the hands of Charlie Donovan. The photographer quickly took a picture of the groom and his best man holding the garter. Chloe Fuller then announced it was time to throw her bouquet. All of the single women quickly gathered around.
Ramona was pushed into the middle by the girls and once Chloe had turned her back to the girls and said, "One, Two, Three..."
The women watched the flowers fly into the air and everyone present watched as everyone's hands went up into the air and tried to catch the bouquet. Fate however decided the flowers were destined for only one woman and to her immense surprise, Ramona caught the bouquet. Flowers in hand, Ramona moved to the dance floor and joined Charlie as tradition states they will be next to be married and thus they will share a dance. Jackson signals the DJ who plays another Bryan Adams song, this time it was To Love A Woman.
Chloe and Jackson sat with her family and watched as Charlie and Ramona danced and swayed to the music. Chloe held her hands up in front of her face as she could see the look in her cousin's eyes. Chloe has always known about Charlie's feelings for Ramona. From the moment he first laid eyes on her on the beach in Cancun, Charlie was in love. If Ramona were not coming off a recent breakup Charlie might have pursued a romantic fling with her but he was a gentleman and decided it was best just to be her friend.
It was only when the last note ended that Charlie bowed slightly before the beautiful Ramona, took her right hand, and kissed it oh so gently. Ramona smiled and thanked Charlie for the dance before she kissed his cheek when he stood upright.
"You planned this Jackson Fuller, I don't know how you did it, but I know you did," Chloe tells Jackson as she snuggles into his arms.
"I plead the fifth," Jackson responds, but smiles and kisses his wife as she happily watches her favorite cousin dance the night away with the woman of his dreams.
It was after midnight and the only people in the reception hall were Jackson, Chloe, Claire, DJ, Sean, and Rebecca Donovan. Everyone else said goodnight and the cleaning staff was now at work clearing the tables of the dishware, garbage, and tablecloths. The six people at the head table were being left alone for the moment by the staff as there was plenty to do.
"Why did you ask us to stay Chloe," Sean asks the newly minted Mrs. Fuller.
"I have a gift for all of you," Chloe announces. She hands the little box to her mother-in-law. "DJ would you please do the honors."
DJ takes the small box and pulls on the silver ribbon. Once it is removed she then takes off the gold wrapping paper. Removing the box's lid DJ looks inside. "Oh my." She says.
DJ looks at her daughter-in-law and the younger woman nods her head yes. DJ then shows Claire and Becca who rather than say anything all hug, Chloe.
"Congratulations Jackson," DJ Hale starts to say, "You're going to be a father."
Jackson doesn't need to see the box to know what must be in it. He moves to Chloe, collects his beautiful wife in his arms, and kisses her. "I love you so much, Chloe Grace Fuller." Jackson declares as the two newlyweds celebrate this auspicious moment with their parents.
The End of Part I