Susan struggled to hold a squirming ten-month-old Eve in her arms. It was no small feat, considering the full, frilly dress the child was wearing. It made for quite an armful. Susan shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to lull Eve with the gentle rocking motion. Meanwhile, a nervous Abby was fighting frustration as Maggie fussed over her.
"Hold still, honey," Maggie pleaded as she snipped a tiny thread that was hanging from the bodice of Abby's dress. After the offending thread had been removed, Maggie stood back to admire her handy-work. Tears filled her eyes as she gazed upon her beautiful daughter.
"How do I look?" Abby asked.
"Gorgeous. Just gorgeous," Maggie whispered, overflowing with pride. Susan perched Eve on her hip and took a long look at her friend.
Maggie was right–Abby was undoubtedly gorgeous. After several months of unsuccessfully searching for the perfect wedding dress, Abby had relented and allowed Maggie to design and make the dress herself. There was no arguing with Maggie's talent. The smooth, ivory satin flowed simply down Abby's body to end in a short train. The dress was strapless yet modest, and the color couldn't have complimented Abby's tanned skin more perfectly. Abby had opted to forgo wearing a veil–it was too fussy for her taste. Her long, dark hair had been curled and gathered softly on top of her head, with a few stray curls falling onto her shoulders. The only jewelry that adorned her body were stunning diamond earrings, an early wedding gift from Carter. That and the heirloom engagement ring that Gamma had insisted that she take. Abby still felt overwhelmed by the beautiful piece of jewelry from time to time when it caught the sunlight and dazzled her with it's sparkle.
"You look great," Susan said sincerely. Eve whined and reached for her mother. Abby took her adorable daughter in her arms. She was certain that it would not matter how she looked, because Eve would definitely be the star of the show. Eve was wearing an ivory dress with a deep rose sash to match Susan's maid-of-honor gown. A wreath of sweetheart roses was nestled in her dark hair. Abby kissed her daughter's cheek. Suddenly, the door opened and Eric walked in, the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome in his tuxedo.
"It's time," he said, and Maggie's tears spilled onto her cheeks.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart," she said, and hugged Abby tightly. She then left to be escorted to her seat by her son. Eric came immediately back and took Abby's hand and placed it in the crook of his arm, giving it a quick squeeze as he did.
The organ music swelled louder, and Susan made her way down the aisle to the front of the church, carrying Eve with her. The guests let out a collective "awww..." at the sight of the lovely maid of honor holding the precious "flower girl". Susan placed the baby in Maggie's lap and took her place on the altar, giving Carter a wink as she did. He grinned and winked back at her.
And suddenly, Abby appeared. Carter's breath caught in his throat at the sight of his bride gliding down the aisle toward him, escorted by her brother. She was simply amazing.
Abby felt her throat tighten as she made her way toward Carter. She mentally scolded herself...she wasn't the type to cry at weddings. But her feelings overtook her, and she couldn't help but let a tear slip down her cheek. Her coworkers from County beamed widely at her as she passed them. Quite a few of them had come to witness the event: Corday, Chen, and Pratt were in one row. Several of the nursing staff were there, too–Chuney, Halleh, and Lydia among others. Weaver was there with Sandy, and Gallant stood tall and proud, looking stunningly handsome in his military uniform. Abby did not see any of them, though. The only person she saw was Carter. When she reached Carter's side, he took her hands in hers. "You're beautiful," he mouthed silently. "Thanks," she mouthed back.
The minister began the wedding ceremony with the familiar words, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today...". His voice and the beautiful, timeless words he uttered echoed in their ears as they gazed lovingly at each other. As the minister proceeded, Carter and Abby beamed with sheer happiness. It was as if those traditional words, spoken millions of times for millions of couples throughout the ages, were written especially for them. Then suddenly, a sharp cry snapped their attention away from the minister. Eve was trying her hardest to wiggle herself off of Maggie's lap–she desperately wanted to be at the front of the church with her parents. Maggie bounced the child on her lap, held her a bit more tightly, and gave the couple an apologetic look. They smiled, and the minister continued with the ceremony.
Suddenly, muffled laughter rippled through the crowd. Eve had broken free of her grandmother's grasp and was crawling down the aisle towards her parents on her hands and knees. Maggie, looking mortified, made a move to capture the escapee, but Abby grinned and shook her head. She reached down, scooped up their daughter, and returned to her place beside Carter. Eve giggled happily and patted her mother's face with her dimpled baby hands. The guests laughed again, this time louder and livelier, and the minister once again resumed the ceremony.
And Carter and Abby were married, as simply as that, holding their daughter between them as they vowed their love to each other for eternity.
**************
Thank you so much for all of the kind and encouraging reviews! This isn't the last you'll see of the wedding...thanks to a great suggestion from Lynn (a reviewer), the next chapter will focus on the wedding reception, where we'll get to see the Carters interacting with Maggie and Eric. We'll also get to see the staff of County enjoying some time outside of the ER. Thanks again for reading and reviewing, and I truly hope you're enjoying the story.
"Hold still, honey," Maggie pleaded as she snipped a tiny thread that was hanging from the bodice of Abby's dress. After the offending thread had been removed, Maggie stood back to admire her handy-work. Tears filled her eyes as she gazed upon her beautiful daughter.
"How do I look?" Abby asked.
"Gorgeous. Just gorgeous," Maggie whispered, overflowing with pride. Susan perched Eve on her hip and took a long look at her friend.
Maggie was right–Abby was undoubtedly gorgeous. After several months of unsuccessfully searching for the perfect wedding dress, Abby had relented and allowed Maggie to design and make the dress herself. There was no arguing with Maggie's talent. The smooth, ivory satin flowed simply down Abby's body to end in a short train. The dress was strapless yet modest, and the color couldn't have complimented Abby's tanned skin more perfectly. Abby had opted to forgo wearing a veil–it was too fussy for her taste. Her long, dark hair had been curled and gathered softly on top of her head, with a few stray curls falling onto her shoulders. The only jewelry that adorned her body were stunning diamond earrings, an early wedding gift from Carter. That and the heirloom engagement ring that Gamma had insisted that she take. Abby still felt overwhelmed by the beautiful piece of jewelry from time to time when it caught the sunlight and dazzled her with it's sparkle.
"You look great," Susan said sincerely. Eve whined and reached for her mother. Abby took her adorable daughter in her arms. She was certain that it would not matter how she looked, because Eve would definitely be the star of the show. Eve was wearing an ivory dress with a deep rose sash to match Susan's maid-of-honor gown. A wreath of sweetheart roses was nestled in her dark hair. Abby kissed her daughter's cheek. Suddenly, the door opened and Eric walked in, the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome in his tuxedo.
"It's time," he said, and Maggie's tears spilled onto her cheeks.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart," she said, and hugged Abby tightly. She then left to be escorted to her seat by her son. Eric came immediately back and took Abby's hand and placed it in the crook of his arm, giving it a quick squeeze as he did.
The organ music swelled louder, and Susan made her way down the aisle to the front of the church, carrying Eve with her. The guests let out a collective "awww..." at the sight of the lovely maid of honor holding the precious "flower girl". Susan placed the baby in Maggie's lap and took her place on the altar, giving Carter a wink as she did. He grinned and winked back at her.
And suddenly, Abby appeared. Carter's breath caught in his throat at the sight of his bride gliding down the aisle toward him, escorted by her brother. She was simply amazing.
Abby felt her throat tighten as she made her way toward Carter. She mentally scolded herself...she wasn't the type to cry at weddings. But her feelings overtook her, and she couldn't help but let a tear slip down her cheek. Her coworkers from County beamed widely at her as she passed them. Quite a few of them had come to witness the event: Corday, Chen, and Pratt were in one row. Several of the nursing staff were there, too–Chuney, Halleh, and Lydia among others. Weaver was there with Sandy, and Gallant stood tall and proud, looking stunningly handsome in his military uniform. Abby did not see any of them, though. The only person she saw was Carter. When she reached Carter's side, he took her hands in hers. "You're beautiful," he mouthed silently. "Thanks," she mouthed back.
The minister began the wedding ceremony with the familiar words, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today...". His voice and the beautiful, timeless words he uttered echoed in their ears as they gazed lovingly at each other. As the minister proceeded, Carter and Abby beamed with sheer happiness. It was as if those traditional words, spoken millions of times for millions of couples throughout the ages, were written especially for them. Then suddenly, a sharp cry snapped their attention away from the minister. Eve was trying her hardest to wiggle herself off of Maggie's lap–she desperately wanted to be at the front of the church with her parents. Maggie bounced the child on her lap, held her a bit more tightly, and gave the couple an apologetic look. They smiled, and the minister continued with the ceremony.
Suddenly, muffled laughter rippled through the crowd. Eve had broken free of her grandmother's grasp and was crawling down the aisle towards her parents on her hands and knees. Maggie, looking mortified, made a move to capture the escapee, but Abby grinned and shook her head. She reached down, scooped up their daughter, and returned to her place beside Carter. Eve giggled happily and patted her mother's face with her dimpled baby hands. The guests laughed again, this time louder and livelier, and the minister once again resumed the ceremony.
And Carter and Abby were married, as simply as that, holding their daughter between them as they vowed their love to each other for eternity.
**************
Thank you so much for all of the kind and encouraging reviews! This isn't the last you'll see of the wedding...thanks to a great suggestion from Lynn (a reviewer), the next chapter will focus on the wedding reception, where we'll get to see the Carters interacting with Maggie and Eric. We'll also get to see the staff of County enjoying some time outside of the ER. Thanks again for reading and reviewing, and I truly hope you're enjoying the story.