Chapter 12
The morning dew glistened on the soft grass in front of the country home.
It was calm and peaceful outside, but behind the closed doors, chaos was
abounding. "I can't find my dress!" Melissa yelled. "Michael I cant find my
dress!"
Michael came running up the stairs to calm his nervous bride. "I already out it in the car." He told her once he got her to stop running around looking for it.
"I'm not going anywhere. Why is it in the car?"
"Greg's fiancée Sarah is going to take you into the city to get your hair done. The girls there are going to help you get ready."
"This is why people have bridesmaids." Melissa said. "Thank goodness Sarah is my friend."
"I told you it'd be small. Us, the priest, Greg and Sarah, Kevin and Mary, and my mom is flying in this morning. I have to pick her up at the airport soon."
"So Sarah will bring me back here after I'm ready?"
"And we'll all be waiting for you."
"Ok." Melissa tried to calm down. But her heart was racing. She just wanted everything to work out. She was about to head downstairs to find Sarah when another horrible thought came to her. "Michael! I have no one to give me away!"
"Melissa calm down! I told you I've taken care of everything. Now please, just worry about getting ready and leave everything else to me."
"I'm trying to calm down, really I am. I just don't know what you've planned. And I worry you forgot something."
"I haven't forgotten anything."
"Alright. I'm going."
Michael helped Melissa into Sarah's car and waved goodbye as they pulled away from the house. "You nervous?" Sarah asked.
"Of course not." Melissa lied.
"Yes you are." Sarah knew.
"It's just all so sudden."
"Well you're the one who wanted it this way aren't you?"
"Yes." Melissa laughed. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"It still is." Sarah assured. "You and Michael were made for each other. You both shine when you're together."
"Really?"
"Yea. He loves you more then life itself."
"And I love him too."
"There's nothing to worry about." Sarah said.
"Sarah?"
"Yea?"
"I wanted to thank you.for agreeing to be my bridesmaid."
"Of course! I'm honored you asked."
"It just you and Mary are really the only friends I have. It means a lot to me that you are here today."
"You know we all thought Michael was crazy when he left home to run off with you. But most of us don't think that anymore. We are all happy for you two."
"Thank you."
"Look, we're here."
Sarah pulled the car into a parking space and turned of the ignition. She grabbed the dress from the back seat and led Melissa into the beauty salon. Melissa was surprised to see the entire place had been cleared of other customers and every person there was ready to wait on her. "I guess we should start with your eyebrows." One woman said.
Sarah looked outside. Not seeing the car she was looking for, she tried to stall. "No." she stopped. "There's something else we have to do first."
Melissa eyed her suspiciously. "And what would that be?"
"Why don't we start with picking out how you want your hair. Sarah suggested. "That way they can get everything ready while we do your eyes and nails."
"Alright." Melissa agreed.
Sarah led the bride to a set of chairs and they started going through some books of hairstyles. After picking one, they went on to how to do her nails and Melissa even sat under the tanning bed for twenty minutes. Sarah was stalling. Luckily Melissa hadn't noticed.
Finally, the red cavalier pulled up in front of the salon. Sarah motioned its occupants to go to the rear door. Once they were safely hidden, Sarah went to get Melissa. "Alright." She said. "Let's get those eyebrows waxed.
One of the salon attendants opened the door to the waxing room. Melissa almost fainted from shock when she saw her surprise guest. "Anne?"
"It's me." The woman said.
"I can't believe it!" Melissa shrieked, running to her sister. "What are you doing here? How did you know?"
"Michael called me. I got the first flight in."
"He didn't even know about you until last night!"
"He was a man on a mission I can tell you that."
"Oh I'm so glad you're here!" Melissa said, hugging her sister again.
"Hey I couldn't miss my sister's wedding could I?"
"I would have told you but."
"You had amnesia. Michael told me everything."
"It's been one crazy ride." Melissa mused.
"But you remember everything now?"
"Yes I do."
"I can't believe my little sister is getting married!" Anne said.
Melissa realized what time it was. "Not if we don't get started here."
Everyone in the salon laughed. Then they went into overdrive to get Melissa ready. When she was finally dressed and beautified, Sarah and Anne went to get themselves ready. When all was complete, Sarah called Michael. Only moments later, a limousine arrived to pick them up. Melissa, Anne, and Sarah got in and they headed back to the house.
The women were greeted outside by Mary who had brought all the bouquets. "They are ready inside." She told them.
"Inside?" Sarah asked. "I thought we were doing this out here."
"Michael said inside." Mary explained. "He wouldn't say why."
"I know why." Melissa told them. "Just trust Michael. He knows what he's doing."
The others eyed her with curiosity, but didn't dare question her meaning. With those two, it was best to not explain. "You ready?" Anne asked, squeezing Melissa's hand.
"Yes." Melissa smiled. Her hands were shakily nervously, but with Anne by her side, she followed Sarah and Mary into the house. Flower petals lined the path they were to take. At the end of the petals, Melissa saw Michael, the pastor, and Greg standing at a makeshift alter.
Michael had tears in his eyes when he looked at her. She looked like a vision as she walked across the room. And then at last, bouquet in hand, she stood before him.
Michael gently squeezed her hand and the minister solemnly addressed the few quests they had, reminding them of why they had come, of their awesome responsibility as family and friends to support the young couple in their vows, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death did them part. He reminded Michael and Melissa that the road would not always be smooth, that the fates may not always be kind, but that they must be there for each other, in witness to their vows, faithful to each other, and strong in their love for each other and the Lord.
They made their vows to each other in strong clear voices. By then, Melissa's hands had stopped shaking. She was with Michael. Where she belonged. And she had never, ever been happier in her life. She was beaming when the minister declared them man and wife. The narrow gold band, with it's small inscription, Michael had slipped on her finger gleamed in the lights above them. As he bent to kiss her, the love in his eyes was so tender.
When they broke from their kiss, applause burst out among their friends. They faced one another with huge grins, then, turning to their guests, they headed down the temporary isle of petals. When they reached the front door, Michael swept Melissa into his arms and twirled her around. He placed her back on the ground and kissed her once more.
"Oh Michael it was beautiful!" she exclaimed.
"I told you it'd be perfect."
"Oh it was. It truly was."
The guests gave the newlyweds a few moments alone, but couldn't help but rush out to the porch and offer congratulations. After hours of celebrating on the lawn, Melissa and Michael decided to retire to the bedroom. But neither of them knew a kind way to get rid of their guests.
Greg saw the longing in their eyes and did his best to get everyone gone. He talked to Kevin who soon left with Mary. "And Anne, you are welcome to stay with us." He offered when he and Sarah went to make their escape.
Anne knew she shouldn't wish to stay with her sister. "Of course."
"You'll be coming back to visit won't you?" said Melissa.
"Of course I will be." Anne guaranteed. "I'll be here a week."
Melissa went to all of her guests and gave them hugs. "I'm so happy you all were here. Thank you so much."
After everyone finished their goodbyes, Michael looked at his wife. "You want to stay out here or should we go inside?"
Melissa's eyes sparkled with desire. "Do you even need to ask?"
"I was being polite." Michael laughed. "What would you have rather me said?"
"Take me baby I'm yours!" Melissa joked.
Michael pulled her close and nibbled softly on her ear. "You're lucky I know you aren't serious." He whispered.
Michael ran his hand down Melissa's back and planted small kisses along her neck. Melissa felt her heart begin to melt. She needed him so badly. "Michael." she pleaded softly.
"We're going." He said softly. With one swift motion, Melissa was again in his arms. She kissed his lips and he tried to walk in the house and up the stairs. But stopped at the bottom and set her down. "I forgot something." He said, dashing to the fireplace. "I'll be right back."
Melissa tried to calm herself but it was impossible. The fire he had ignited in her was blazing. Her heart was racing uncontrollably. It was all she could do to sit there and wait for him. "Hurry." She pleaded.
Michael came running up the stairs to calm his nervous bride. "I already out it in the car." He told her once he got her to stop running around looking for it.
"I'm not going anywhere. Why is it in the car?"
"Greg's fiancée Sarah is going to take you into the city to get your hair done. The girls there are going to help you get ready."
"This is why people have bridesmaids." Melissa said. "Thank goodness Sarah is my friend."
"I told you it'd be small. Us, the priest, Greg and Sarah, Kevin and Mary, and my mom is flying in this morning. I have to pick her up at the airport soon."
"So Sarah will bring me back here after I'm ready?"
"And we'll all be waiting for you."
"Ok." Melissa tried to calm down. But her heart was racing. She just wanted everything to work out. She was about to head downstairs to find Sarah when another horrible thought came to her. "Michael! I have no one to give me away!"
"Melissa calm down! I told you I've taken care of everything. Now please, just worry about getting ready and leave everything else to me."
"I'm trying to calm down, really I am. I just don't know what you've planned. And I worry you forgot something."
"I haven't forgotten anything."
"Alright. I'm going."
Michael helped Melissa into Sarah's car and waved goodbye as they pulled away from the house. "You nervous?" Sarah asked.
"Of course not." Melissa lied.
"Yes you are." Sarah knew.
"It's just all so sudden."
"Well you're the one who wanted it this way aren't you?"
"Yes." Melissa laughed. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"It still is." Sarah assured. "You and Michael were made for each other. You both shine when you're together."
"Really?"
"Yea. He loves you more then life itself."
"And I love him too."
"There's nothing to worry about." Sarah said.
"Sarah?"
"Yea?"
"I wanted to thank you.for agreeing to be my bridesmaid."
"Of course! I'm honored you asked."
"It just you and Mary are really the only friends I have. It means a lot to me that you are here today."
"You know we all thought Michael was crazy when he left home to run off with you. But most of us don't think that anymore. We are all happy for you two."
"Thank you."
"Look, we're here."
Sarah pulled the car into a parking space and turned of the ignition. She grabbed the dress from the back seat and led Melissa into the beauty salon. Melissa was surprised to see the entire place had been cleared of other customers and every person there was ready to wait on her. "I guess we should start with your eyebrows." One woman said.
Sarah looked outside. Not seeing the car she was looking for, she tried to stall. "No." she stopped. "There's something else we have to do first."
Melissa eyed her suspiciously. "And what would that be?"
"Why don't we start with picking out how you want your hair. Sarah suggested. "That way they can get everything ready while we do your eyes and nails."
"Alright." Melissa agreed.
Sarah led the bride to a set of chairs and they started going through some books of hairstyles. After picking one, they went on to how to do her nails and Melissa even sat under the tanning bed for twenty minutes. Sarah was stalling. Luckily Melissa hadn't noticed.
Finally, the red cavalier pulled up in front of the salon. Sarah motioned its occupants to go to the rear door. Once they were safely hidden, Sarah went to get Melissa. "Alright." She said. "Let's get those eyebrows waxed.
One of the salon attendants opened the door to the waxing room. Melissa almost fainted from shock when she saw her surprise guest. "Anne?"
"It's me." The woman said.
"I can't believe it!" Melissa shrieked, running to her sister. "What are you doing here? How did you know?"
"Michael called me. I got the first flight in."
"He didn't even know about you until last night!"
"He was a man on a mission I can tell you that."
"Oh I'm so glad you're here!" Melissa said, hugging her sister again.
"Hey I couldn't miss my sister's wedding could I?"
"I would have told you but."
"You had amnesia. Michael told me everything."
"It's been one crazy ride." Melissa mused.
"But you remember everything now?"
"Yes I do."
"I can't believe my little sister is getting married!" Anne said.
Melissa realized what time it was. "Not if we don't get started here."
Everyone in the salon laughed. Then they went into overdrive to get Melissa ready. When she was finally dressed and beautified, Sarah and Anne went to get themselves ready. When all was complete, Sarah called Michael. Only moments later, a limousine arrived to pick them up. Melissa, Anne, and Sarah got in and they headed back to the house.
The women were greeted outside by Mary who had brought all the bouquets. "They are ready inside." She told them.
"Inside?" Sarah asked. "I thought we were doing this out here."
"Michael said inside." Mary explained. "He wouldn't say why."
"I know why." Melissa told them. "Just trust Michael. He knows what he's doing."
The others eyed her with curiosity, but didn't dare question her meaning. With those two, it was best to not explain. "You ready?" Anne asked, squeezing Melissa's hand.
"Yes." Melissa smiled. Her hands were shakily nervously, but with Anne by her side, she followed Sarah and Mary into the house. Flower petals lined the path they were to take. At the end of the petals, Melissa saw Michael, the pastor, and Greg standing at a makeshift alter.
Michael had tears in his eyes when he looked at her. She looked like a vision as she walked across the room. And then at last, bouquet in hand, she stood before him.
Michael gently squeezed her hand and the minister solemnly addressed the few quests they had, reminding them of why they had come, of their awesome responsibility as family and friends to support the young couple in their vows, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death did them part. He reminded Michael and Melissa that the road would not always be smooth, that the fates may not always be kind, but that they must be there for each other, in witness to their vows, faithful to each other, and strong in their love for each other and the Lord.
They made their vows to each other in strong clear voices. By then, Melissa's hands had stopped shaking. She was with Michael. Where she belonged. And she had never, ever been happier in her life. She was beaming when the minister declared them man and wife. The narrow gold band, with it's small inscription, Michael had slipped on her finger gleamed in the lights above them. As he bent to kiss her, the love in his eyes was so tender.
When they broke from their kiss, applause burst out among their friends. They faced one another with huge grins, then, turning to their guests, they headed down the temporary isle of petals. When they reached the front door, Michael swept Melissa into his arms and twirled her around. He placed her back on the ground and kissed her once more.
"Oh Michael it was beautiful!" she exclaimed.
"I told you it'd be perfect."
"Oh it was. It truly was."
The guests gave the newlyweds a few moments alone, but couldn't help but rush out to the porch and offer congratulations. After hours of celebrating on the lawn, Melissa and Michael decided to retire to the bedroom. But neither of them knew a kind way to get rid of their guests.
Greg saw the longing in their eyes and did his best to get everyone gone. He talked to Kevin who soon left with Mary. "And Anne, you are welcome to stay with us." He offered when he and Sarah went to make their escape.
Anne knew she shouldn't wish to stay with her sister. "Of course."
"You'll be coming back to visit won't you?" said Melissa.
"Of course I will be." Anne guaranteed. "I'll be here a week."
Melissa went to all of her guests and gave them hugs. "I'm so happy you all were here. Thank you so much."
After everyone finished their goodbyes, Michael looked at his wife. "You want to stay out here or should we go inside?"
Melissa's eyes sparkled with desire. "Do you even need to ask?"
"I was being polite." Michael laughed. "What would you have rather me said?"
"Take me baby I'm yours!" Melissa joked.
Michael pulled her close and nibbled softly on her ear. "You're lucky I know you aren't serious." He whispered.
Michael ran his hand down Melissa's back and planted small kisses along her neck. Melissa felt her heart begin to melt. She needed him so badly. "Michael." she pleaded softly.
"We're going." He said softly. With one swift motion, Melissa was again in his arms. She kissed his lips and he tried to walk in the house and up the stairs. But stopped at the bottom and set her down. "I forgot something." He said, dashing to the fireplace. "I'll be right back."
Melissa tried to calm herself but it was impossible. The fire he had ignited in her was blazing. Her heart was racing uncontrollably. It was all she could do to sit there and wait for him. "Hurry." She pleaded.
