Tad snuck in the back entrance of the chapel and swiftly made his way
over to Jake's side.
"Nice of you to show up," Jake said.
"Sorry," Tad said. "We had a bit of a crisis." Jake looked at Tad wide eyed. 'Everything's fine now." Jake took a deep breath and went back to looking out at the sea of people who were sitting in Wildwind chapel. "Take it easy," Tad said.
"It's just a little hard to believe this is actually happening." Jake said as the processional began to play. The guests turned to face the opening door to catch a glimpse of the bride.
The doors opened and the bridal party started to enter, slowly making their way to the front of the chapel. Everything was in place as the guests still stared back at the empty doorway.
Tad looked over at Brooke. "Where is she?" he asked.
"She was right behind me," Brooke said. "Give her a minute." There was silence as Jake kept his eyes glued nervously to the chapel doors.
"Maybe somebody should go look for her," Tad said.
"Shh," Brooke said. "She's coming, don't worry."
They kept their sights locked and waited. Suddenly, the music started again. The people in the pews turned again. Greenlee finally stood in the doorway. She was radiant. The wedding dress was strapless, with a tight fitting bodice. It flared out starting at the waist, grazing the floor just slightly as she walked down the aisle.
Jake smiled as Greenlee stopped beside him.
"We are gathered today to join Jake Martin and Greenlee Smythe in holy matrimony," the minister began. "If anyone can show just cause why this man and this woman should not be wed, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace." There was a moment of silence before the minister looked at Jake and continued. "Jake, do you take Greenlee to be your wife? To love, honor and cherish from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Jake looked into Greenlee's eyes.
"Greenlee, do you take Jake to be your husband? To love, honor and cherish from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him, for as long as you both shall live?"
Greenlee was silent as she smiled. "I do."
"At this time, you may join hands and exchange vows."
Jake and Greenlee took eachother's hands. Greenlee took a deep breath. "Jake," she said. "I feel like I'm dreaming. This is all just too perfect. But... I knew from the minute I first saw you that you were my destiny. I've never been happier than I am when I'm with you. I'm so glad that I found you here. You're my best friend. We've been through a lot together. Good things and bad. But together, we got through it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to grow old with you. I love you so much, I can't ask for anything more than a life with you."
"I promised you that I would never leave you," Jake said. "That I would be here for you always. I'm keeping my promise to you. You've been my strength through everything, and believe me, you name it, we've been through it. Through sickness, you gave me a reason to fight... My heart may be new, but it still knows the same love. Everytime it beats, it beats for you, Greenlee. I love you, and if I never get another thing in my life it won't matter because I have you."
The minister turned to Tad. "The ring," Tad said, patting his hands over his pockets until finally coming up with the gold wedding band and handing it to the minister.
"Repeat after me," the minister said. "With this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment, I thee wed."
"With this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment," Jake said, slipping the ring on Greenlee's finger. "I thee wed."
Greenlee's eyes were full of tears as she took his ring. "With this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment," she slipped the ring on his finger, "I thee wed."
The minister took Jake and Greenlee's right hands and joined them. "Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Jake and Greenlee, having given and pledged yourselves to eachother and having declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Jake smiled. He lifted his hand and wiped Greenlee's eyes before dipping his head down, his lips locking with hers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Martin."
The room was an ocean of tears as Jake and Greenlee made their way together, hand in hand, back down the aisle. Tad looked over at Brooke, who was on the verge of tears. He smirked, shaking his head slightly.
"What?" Brooke mouthed silently to him as she dabbed the tears from her eyes.
"Nothing," Tad mouthed back, a smile still on his face.
Music and laughter filled the rooms and corridors of Wildwind Castle. Jake and Greenlee took to the dance floor, her head rested up against his chest as they slowly swayed to the music.
Brooke sat at a table alone, watching the guests as she swirled the drink in her glass.
"Well, what's a purdy gal like you doin' sittin' here by yer lonesome?" Tad asked in a phony cowboy dialect as he took a seat at the table with Brooke. "Don't you want to dance or something?" he asked in his normal voice. Brooke shook her head. "How many of those have you had already?" Tad asked, taking the glass gently from her hand.
"One," Brooke said. Tad raised his eyebrows. "OK, two."
Tad checked his wristwatch, realizing the short amount of time that they had been at the reception. "I think I'd better be the one to cut you off for now," he said. "Because pretty soon, those two drinks will turn into four, will turn into more than that and you'll be falling into..."
"...bed with Adam Chandler."
"I wasn't going to say that."
"But you were thinking it."
Tad placed the drink on the table. "Look, Brooke," he said. "I'm worried about you. You've been sitting in this corner since we got here, drowning your sorrows. This isn't like you." Brooke was silent. "You want to talk?" Brooke was still silent. Come on, what is it? Is it the wedding? The reception? The flowers should be pink instead of red? What?" Tad paused. "Is it this place? Being here brings back memories." He paused again. "Do you want me to take you home?"
"They say there's somebody for everybody," Brooke said. "But did you ever think... what if you never find that somebody? I mean, not you, you found Dixie. Somebody like..."
"Like you?" Brooke nodded. "Brooke." Tad took her hands. "Listen to me. You are a beautiful woman. Make no mistake about that. So, you've been unlucky in the love department. So what? Believe me, one day, some guy will come to his senses and figure out you're the one for him. He'll realize that aside from your looks, you're smart, you're independent, and you keep up with me in the wisecrack department." Brooke smiled. "I do think that everybody has a special somebody. It just takes some people a little longer to find them than others. And most of the time... he's somebody who's right under your nose." Tad paused. "Now are you going to get out there and dance, or do I have to drag you?"
"You don't have to ask twice," Brooke smiled.
"I think I just did," Tad said with a childish grin.
Brooke shook her head as Tad extended his hand. She took it and he led her out onto the dance floor. "You know," Brooke said as she danced with Tad. "Those vows... Jake's... was incredible."
"Yeah," Tad said. "I know Jake, and if it passed his lips, he meant every word. They're going to be really happy together."
"I know they will be." Brooke said as she and Tad got lost in the melody of the music playing. It seemed as though all of her worries disappeared as she glided across the dance floor with him.
"She's going to throw it." The serenity was interrupted at the sound of a voice.
"You don't want to miss this," Tad said, easing her away from him. "Go." Brooke didn't say a word as she joined the group by the stairs.
"Are you guys ready?" Greenlee asked. She turned her back and tossed the bouquet over her shoulder. The women of Pine Valley were ready to pounce, but it wasn't necessary.
Brooke looked down at the flowers that were lying in her arms. Her jaw dropped slightly as she glanced over to the tables. Tad was sharing an embrace with his brother, a rightful congratulations. Brooke bit her bottom lip as Tad looked over in her direction. She smiled as he noticed the bouquet.
"He's right under your nose," Brooke said softly, and she walked over to the table to congratulate the groom.
"Nice of you to show up," Jake said.
"Sorry," Tad said. "We had a bit of a crisis." Jake looked at Tad wide eyed. 'Everything's fine now." Jake took a deep breath and went back to looking out at the sea of people who were sitting in Wildwind chapel. "Take it easy," Tad said.
"It's just a little hard to believe this is actually happening." Jake said as the processional began to play. The guests turned to face the opening door to catch a glimpse of the bride.
The doors opened and the bridal party started to enter, slowly making their way to the front of the chapel. Everything was in place as the guests still stared back at the empty doorway.
Tad looked over at Brooke. "Where is she?" he asked.
"She was right behind me," Brooke said. "Give her a minute." There was silence as Jake kept his eyes glued nervously to the chapel doors.
"Maybe somebody should go look for her," Tad said.
"Shh," Brooke said. "She's coming, don't worry."
They kept their sights locked and waited. Suddenly, the music started again. The people in the pews turned again. Greenlee finally stood in the doorway. She was radiant. The wedding dress was strapless, with a tight fitting bodice. It flared out starting at the waist, grazing the floor just slightly as she walked down the aisle.
Jake smiled as Greenlee stopped beside him.
"We are gathered today to join Jake Martin and Greenlee Smythe in holy matrimony," the minister began. "If anyone can show just cause why this man and this woman should not be wed, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace." There was a moment of silence before the minister looked at Jake and continued. "Jake, do you take Greenlee to be your wife? To love, honor and cherish from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Jake looked into Greenlee's eyes.
"Greenlee, do you take Jake to be your husband? To love, honor and cherish from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him, for as long as you both shall live?"
Greenlee was silent as she smiled. "I do."
"At this time, you may join hands and exchange vows."
Jake and Greenlee took eachother's hands. Greenlee took a deep breath. "Jake," she said. "I feel like I'm dreaming. This is all just too perfect. But... I knew from the minute I first saw you that you were my destiny. I've never been happier than I am when I'm with you. I'm so glad that I found you here. You're my best friend. We've been through a lot together. Good things and bad. But together, we got through it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to grow old with you. I love you so much, I can't ask for anything more than a life with you."
"I promised you that I would never leave you," Jake said. "That I would be here for you always. I'm keeping my promise to you. You've been my strength through everything, and believe me, you name it, we've been through it. Through sickness, you gave me a reason to fight... My heart may be new, but it still knows the same love. Everytime it beats, it beats for you, Greenlee. I love you, and if I never get another thing in my life it won't matter because I have you."
The minister turned to Tad. "The ring," Tad said, patting his hands over his pockets until finally coming up with the gold wedding band and handing it to the minister.
"Repeat after me," the minister said. "With this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment, I thee wed."
"With this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment," Jake said, slipping the ring on Greenlee's finger. "I thee wed."
Greenlee's eyes were full of tears as she took his ring. "With this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment," she slipped the ring on his finger, "I thee wed."
The minister took Jake and Greenlee's right hands and joined them. "Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Jake and Greenlee, having given and pledged yourselves to eachother and having declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Jake smiled. He lifted his hand and wiped Greenlee's eyes before dipping his head down, his lips locking with hers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Martin."
The room was an ocean of tears as Jake and Greenlee made their way together, hand in hand, back down the aisle. Tad looked over at Brooke, who was on the verge of tears. He smirked, shaking his head slightly.
"What?" Brooke mouthed silently to him as she dabbed the tears from her eyes.
"Nothing," Tad mouthed back, a smile still on his face.
Music and laughter filled the rooms and corridors of Wildwind Castle. Jake and Greenlee took to the dance floor, her head rested up against his chest as they slowly swayed to the music.
Brooke sat at a table alone, watching the guests as she swirled the drink in her glass.
"Well, what's a purdy gal like you doin' sittin' here by yer lonesome?" Tad asked in a phony cowboy dialect as he took a seat at the table with Brooke. "Don't you want to dance or something?" he asked in his normal voice. Brooke shook her head. "How many of those have you had already?" Tad asked, taking the glass gently from her hand.
"One," Brooke said. Tad raised his eyebrows. "OK, two."
Tad checked his wristwatch, realizing the short amount of time that they had been at the reception. "I think I'd better be the one to cut you off for now," he said. "Because pretty soon, those two drinks will turn into four, will turn into more than that and you'll be falling into..."
"...bed with Adam Chandler."
"I wasn't going to say that."
"But you were thinking it."
Tad placed the drink on the table. "Look, Brooke," he said. "I'm worried about you. You've been sitting in this corner since we got here, drowning your sorrows. This isn't like you." Brooke was silent. "You want to talk?" Brooke was still silent. Come on, what is it? Is it the wedding? The reception? The flowers should be pink instead of red? What?" Tad paused. "Is it this place? Being here brings back memories." He paused again. "Do you want me to take you home?"
"They say there's somebody for everybody," Brooke said. "But did you ever think... what if you never find that somebody? I mean, not you, you found Dixie. Somebody like..."
"Like you?" Brooke nodded. "Brooke." Tad took her hands. "Listen to me. You are a beautiful woman. Make no mistake about that. So, you've been unlucky in the love department. So what? Believe me, one day, some guy will come to his senses and figure out you're the one for him. He'll realize that aside from your looks, you're smart, you're independent, and you keep up with me in the wisecrack department." Brooke smiled. "I do think that everybody has a special somebody. It just takes some people a little longer to find them than others. And most of the time... he's somebody who's right under your nose." Tad paused. "Now are you going to get out there and dance, or do I have to drag you?"
"You don't have to ask twice," Brooke smiled.
"I think I just did," Tad said with a childish grin.
Brooke shook her head as Tad extended his hand. She took it and he led her out onto the dance floor. "You know," Brooke said as she danced with Tad. "Those vows... Jake's... was incredible."
"Yeah," Tad said. "I know Jake, and if it passed his lips, he meant every word. They're going to be really happy together."
"I know they will be." Brooke said as she and Tad got lost in the melody of the music playing. It seemed as though all of her worries disappeared as she glided across the dance floor with him.
"She's going to throw it." The serenity was interrupted at the sound of a voice.
"You don't want to miss this," Tad said, easing her away from him. "Go." Brooke didn't say a word as she joined the group by the stairs.
"Are you guys ready?" Greenlee asked. She turned her back and tossed the bouquet over her shoulder. The women of Pine Valley were ready to pounce, but it wasn't necessary.
Brooke looked down at the flowers that were lying in her arms. Her jaw dropped slightly as she glanced over to the tables. Tad was sharing an embrace with his brother, a rightful congratulations. Brooke bit her bottom lip as Tad looked over in her direction. She smiled as he noticed the bouquet.
"He's right under your nose," Brooke said softly, and she walked over to the table to congratulate the groom.