WARNING: This chapter is high in cheesy, fluffy, sugary content. Seriously, it's as cheesy as a warm wheel of Brie, fluffy as cotton candy, and sugary sweet as The Brady Bunch (and I don't think there's a show, with the possible exception of 7th Heaven, that tops The Brady Bunch in sugary sweetness). My intention is to make you cry, no, weep. I want you broken down in front of your computers with tears of joy streaming down your face. That's the goal anyway. With that said, I present the conclusion of We've Only Just Begun. Alexandri
Adam hated neckties. He hadn't worn one in years. It had been so long, in fact, that he'd forgotten why he hated them so much. Standing in front of his room's full-length mirror struggling with the simple black silk tie Joan had requested reminded him of the rationale behind his disdain. They were too damn complicated to serve so little purpose.
Grunting in frustration, he attempted to tie the infernal thing one more time since there was no one around to help him. Once he'd awakened from his nap, his dad had gone across the hall to dress. Rodney and Kevin had been added to the ranks of Joan's list victims. In the five and a half hours since they'd arrived at the B&B, Adam had only seen his groomsmen for the first half hour. After that, they'd each gone off to run last-minute errands. For the first time since the planning had started, Adam was thankful he'd never been subjected to one of Joan's lists.
Just as he decided to leave the tie until reinforcements came, Adam heard a soft knock on his door. "Come in."
Sharon poked her head in. "Hi. I was looking for your father." She paused, taking a closer look at his disgruntled face. "Are you all right?"
With a grimace, he held up the rumpled menace. "Tie trouble."
She smiled and pointed at the tie. "May I?"
"Please." The elegant picture she presented as she crossed the room surprised him. Her hair was perfectly done as always. Combined with the tasteful makeup and tailored peach skirt suit, Sharon looked like she'd planned to attend his wedding all along instead of being invited at the last minute. "Sharon, I never intended to . . ."
"Exclude me," she interrupted easily as she smoothed some of the wrinkles out of the tie. "I know. We've been getting along better the last couple of months. I don't think your father realized that."
"I just assumed he had asked you."
"Don't worry about it. There are much more important things for you to be concerned with today." She put the cloth around his neck and began to loop it effortlessly. "Frederick, my late husband, God rest his soul, couldn't tie a tie for the life of him. My youngest Leonard," Adam raised his eyebrows at the name, "I made the mistake of letting Fred name the poor boy; he's hopelessly with ties as well."
Adam shoved his hands in his pockets as Sharon made the knot and straightened it out for him. "There. You're all set," she said, patting it in place. "It's good you can't do this yourself. Doing the little things, like tying Fred's neckties for him every morning, that's what I miss. There's something intimate about doing that sort of thing for your spouse. You and Joan will be just fine."
"Thanks," he said quietly. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Well, I should go find your father."
"He's across the hall." She nodded and turned toward the door when Adam remembered something he needed to have done. "Sharon?"
"Yes?"
He picked up the envelope and package on the table behind him. "Would you deliver these to Jane for me? I'd do it myself, but I think she'd be mad if I did."
"Of course." She took the items and headed for the door only to stop again. "I don't know if I told you this, but congratulations. I haven't really had a chance to get to know her, but Joan's seems like a very sweet girl."
"She really is."
"I'm going to kill her when she gets here!" Joan exclaimed as she paced back and forth in her room.
"Joan," Helen said. She was trying to calm her daughter down even though she knew that was going to be a difficult feat. "Please try to relax."
"Relax! How am I supposed to relax? She was supposed to be here a half hour ago. Now look at me." Joan gestured a bit wildly toward her reflection in the full-length mirror. "I'm upset. I'm splotchy. And I'm behind schedule."
Suddenly, she plopped down on the bed and buried her face in the comforter. "I'm going to be late to my own wedding," she wailed.
"Oh, honey. No, you won't," Helen soothed as she sat beside her daughter and stroked her back. "Everything will work out. You'll see."
Just then Grace and Kat trooped in. Helen and Joan glanced up, eager for good news. "There was an accident on the highway," Kat said. "It's been gridlocked for the last hour."
Joan's shoulders slumped and she looked as forlorn as an abandoned puppy. "I was right. I'm going to be late for my own wedding. And I'm going to be hideous when I get there."
"Oh, geez, Girardi," Grace cried, clearly annoyed, "it's just the hair and makeup lady. You've been doing both for yourself for years. Snap out of it!"
"You don't understand," Joan said with a vehement shake of her head. "I can't do it the way she did. You saw. She made me look as beautiful as Adam thinks I am. I want to be as beautiful as he thinks I am. Today."
Helen gave her daughter a little hug. "Joan, honey, you are."
"Humph!" Joan collapsed face down on the bed.
"Hello?" Sharon edged into the room. She opened her mouth to explain her presence when she noticed Joan lying on the bed. "Is she all right?"
"She's just a little upset," Helen said. "Her hair and makeup artist is stuck in traffic."
Nodding in understanding, Sharon gestured toward the prone bride. "May I?"
"Please."
Sitting beside Joan, Sharon laid a hand on her shoulder. "Joan?" The young woman peeked at her with one eye. "Adam sent this for you," she said, handing over the letter and package.
Slowly, Joan sat up and took the items. "How is he?"
"I think he's a little restless."
"Second-thoughts restless?" she asked haltingly.
"No. I think he just can't wait for the wedding to begin."
"I wish I could see him," Joan sighed.
"He wants to see you, too." Sharon patted Joan's knee. "Why don't you open his present and then we'll see about your hair and makeup?"
Joan's head jerked up and she gaped at Sharon. "What do you mean?"
Sharon smiled at the girl. "If there's one thing I know how to do, it's pull together a polished, sophisticated look at a moment's notice. Do you have your makeup with you?"
Joan nodded.
"Then let me go get my things out of the car and we'll get you wedding-day beautiful in no time."
"Thank you," Joan cried as she threw her arms around Sharon. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, dear," she said, hugging the girl. "Now read your letter." Sharon stood and approached the group of gaping women.
"How did you do that?" Helen whispered.
"I'm a cosmetologist," Sharon answered.
"Are you ready to see yourself?" Sharon asked Joan.
Joan wasn't sure. Grace, Kat, Rebecca, Leila and her mother all agreed that she looked wonderful, but she still had her doubts. She hadn't given up her decision to murder her no-show hair and makeup lady and, though she thanked God that Sharon was around to save the day, she's never seen the woman's work before. What if her family and friends were just being nice to ease her frantic, troubled mind? Was she being ungrateful, doubting Sharon's skill? She suspected she was but couldn't help worrying.
Taking a cleansing, calming breath, Joan decided to be brave and turned toward the mirror.
Her lustrous chestnut curls were swept up in an intricate French twist with tendrils caressing her neck and the sides of her face. Dogwood blossoms, a tribute to her mother's Southern heritage like her pink and white magnolia bouquet, peeked out from among the curls. The makeup was flawless. Sharon had played up Joan's natural pout with a moist, lush red that was at once subtle and dramatic.
Continuing her perusal, Joan examined her strapless, floor-length ivory satin gown. It hugged her body to her hips, giving her an hourglass figure she'd never imagined she possessed, before flaring out into a full skirt. She'd topped the simple gown with a crocheted ivory shrug with asymmetrical, three-quarter length bell sleeves. The effect was sensual yet simple. She was a bride.
"Thank you," she said simply.
"Consider it a gift for the happy couple," Sharon said.
The seven women stood in silence, admiring Joan the bride and soaking in the importance of the moment. All of them jumped when the loud knock interrupted the quiet. "Are you decent?" Kevin asked through the door.
"I swear, my husband," Rebecca muttered before calling out yes.
"Adam sent us to make sure Joan . . . whoa." Kevin stopped speaking as he, Rodney, Luke, Will, and Carl all came to a standstill in the small room. All of them gaped at Joan.
"He sent you to make sure I what?" Joan asked, both amused and disconcerted by their collective shock.
"What?" Luke asked.
"Adam sent you to make sure I what?" she repeated.
"Not upset or anything," Rodney said. "Joan, you look . . ."
"Stunning," Kevin finished.
Carl smiled at her. "Adam won't be able to take his eyes off of you."
As much as he disliked having his picture taken, Adam was grateful to finally have something to do. Rodney and Kevin were back, though Adam distinctly heard Kevin mutter, "If my sister ever gives me another list, I'm burning it."
After what felt like a million different poses, the photo session was over and the anxiety Adam had been holding at bay all day began to creep up on him. There were still two hours left until the ceremony and he didn't know how much longer he could go without seeing Joan.
As he tried to decide whether he should call her, Rodney clapped his hand on Adam's shoulder. "How are you holding up?"
"Not so well," he admitted. "The waiting around is driving me crazy. How is she?"
Rodney glanced at Kevin, who'd rolled up on Adam's other side.
"Dude, you have nothing to worry about. She's fine," Kevin responded. "But we have to get you inside so the ladies can take their pictures."
Adam glanced over his shoulder as if he expected to see Joan coming out of the bed and breakfast.
"Soon, man," Rodney said reassuringly at his disappointed look.
Joan's breath caught as she saw the twinkling lights in the trees leading toward her wedding guests. Kat disappeared down the aisle and she closed her eyes. A soft, unseasonably warm breeze caressed her and her stomach settled down. She smiled. Everything was just as it should be.
"Are you ready?" Will asked. He sounds like he'd be thrilled if she said no.
Her smile widening, Joan kissed her father's cheek. She knew this wasn't easy for him. "Yes, Daddy. I'm ready."
He nodded, sadness and happiness battling in his eyes. Taking her hands in his hands, Will said, "Do me a favor, all right, kiddo?"
"Okay."
"Be happy," he said solemnly.
With a misty laugh, Joan said, "I will. He makes me happy, Daddy."
Will nodded and offered his arm as the string quartet began to play At Last. "That's our cue."
They headed for the aisle, Joan smiling nervously at the guests she passed. This was it. The big moment. Any second now she was going to reach the aisle and began the walk toward the most important commitment she'd ever make. Take a breath, Joan, she told herself. There's nothing to worry about. Everything's going to be just fine.
Adam's mouth fell open at the sight of Joan. The reds and oranges of the sunset enveloped her, kissed her skin. She was exquisite.
But she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were busily scanning the guests as if she was looking for someone. The moment she found whoever it was—he admitted to feeling a bit jealous of this mystery person's claim on her attention—her shoulders relaxed and a bittersweet smile settled on her lips. Curious, he followed her line of vision to a tall, lovely woman he'd never seen before. Thick, glossy brown curls framed an elegantly proportioned face. Confused, he returned his gaze to Joan.
Her eyes were trained on him and the concentrated focus in her eyes stole his breath. He didn't know how it was possible, but in the few seconds he'd taken his eyes off of her she'd become luminous.
"My God," he whispered. Suddenly weak-kneed, he clutched the gazebo rail at his back. And then she was there, standing at the bottom of the steps and Will was putting her hand in his. His heart pounded in his chest, but somehow he managed to smile and whisper, "There aren't words for how beautiful you look."
"Joan and Adam wish to say a few words before exchanging their vows," Reverend Howard announced before gently prompting, "Adam."
He gazed into her eyes and smiled. "You're the most impossible woman I've ever met," Adam announced. Joan pressed her lips together to contain her giggles, causing him to grin. "You are. You're impossible to stay mad at. You're impossible to ignore. You're impossible to forget. But, most of all, you're impossible not to love. And I do love you, Jane."
"I love you, too," she whispered before she could stop herself.
"Meeting you was the single best thing to ever happen to me. You saved me—gave me back to myself at a time when . . ." Adam stopped, unwilling to finish the sentence. He didn't want to dredge up painful memories now. This was a time for joy. "I don't know who or where I'd be if it weren't for you. My personal angel. Thank you."
Nodding tearfully, Joan wrapped her free hand around his arms and leaned forward, oblivious to everything but the thought of kissing her magnificent man.
Reverend Howard cleared his throat, startling the couple. "We haven't reached that part yet."
Joan bowed her head and blushed while Adam grinned. Reluctantly, they pulled back.
Unsuccessfully attempting to hide his smile, the reverend said, "Joan."
She opened her mouth to speak and realized she couldn't. She was so full of joy and love that words seemed far too inadequate to express everything she felt. How could one person feel so much without bursting into a thousand pieces? Just as she offered Adam an apologetic smile, Joan felt him take her hand in his. As he laced their fingers together, Joan's mind found the words she'd spent two weeks refining.
"I am so very fortunate. Meeting you changed my life, changed me. You've taught me the meaning of kindness and generosity and compassion. You are both the sweetest and the strongest person I've ever known." Adam lowered his head, shaking it slightly as if denying her words. Joan cupped his chin in her hand and lifted it until he met her eyes. "You are," she insisted.
She slid her hand along his jaw and caressed his cheek with her thumb. "Knowing you, loving you, has made me a better person. I thank God every day for leading me to you. And I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my days beside you."
Adam laid his hand over hers and kissed her palm.
"Will you, Adam, have Joan to be your wife?" the reverend asked. "Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her, as long as you both shall live?"
"I will." He gave a little nod as if he wanted to prevent any misunderstandings.
"Will you, Joan, have Adam to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and forsaking all others remain true to him, as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," she declared, staring unblinkingly into his eyes. She felt an enormous grin spread over her face as she got lost just looking at him. A part of her still couldn't believe this was really happening. She was marrying Adam Rove.
Joan jumped when a sharp elbow poked her in the ribs. "Geez, Girardi, pay attention," Grace whispered.
Embarrassed, Joan did as she was told. Adam's lips were pressed together as he held up her ring and tried not to laugh. She flushed as she raised her left hand and placed it in his.
"I give you this ring," he began as he slid the ring on her finger, his voice warm and strong. "Wear it with love and joy. As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
Sniffing, she took the ring Grace gave her and turned to Adam. "I give you this ring," she said softly, the tears she held back finding expression in her voice. "Wear it with love and joy. As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
"The best man will read a passage from "Resignation" by Nikki Giovanni in testimony of Adam's feelings for Joan," Reverend Howard announced as Rodney stepped forward,
He began to read, his voice rich, resonant:
"'I love you/
because the Earth turns round the sun/
because the North wind blows north/
sometimes/
because the Pope is Catholic/
and most Rabbis Jewish/
because winters flow into springs/
and the air clears after a storm/
because only my love for you/
despite the charms of gravity/
keeps me from falling off this Earth/
into another dimension/
I love you/
because it is the natural order of things.'"
A warm, gentle breeze wafted through the cooling night. Sniffs and the blowing of noses filled the silence that descended over the park. In the intense hush, Adam raised Joan's left hand to his lips and kissed the ring he'd just put on it. The simple gesture broke her resolve and tears spilled down her cheeks as she smiled up at him.
"Now the best lady will read a passage from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë in homage to Joan's feelings for Adam."
Grace opened her card, as caught up in the moment as everyone else, and read without a hint of sarcasm. "'I have for the first time found what I can truly love—I have found you. You are my sympathy—my better self—my good angel—I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you—and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.'"
Reverend Howard cleared his throat. "Joan and Adam's journey has only just begun. As you go forth in this life together, keep the words of Colossians 3:12-14 close to your heart. 'Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put on love, which binds the rest together and makes them perfect.'
"By the power vested in me by God and the state of Maryland, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. Now you may kiss bride."
Time seemed to slow and the world became muted as Adam stared at Joan. He raised his hands and cupped her beloved face, carefully wiping away her tears. "I love you," he mouthed.
"I love you," she mouthed back as she rested her hands on the back of his arms.
They leaned in, their eyes locked on the other's. Their lips were just a breath apart when he saw her close her eyes and tilt her head back ever so slight in willing surrender. His heart swelling at the sight, Adam closed the gap and captured her lips in the sweetest kiss he'd ever experienced. Gasping, he pulled back. Joan blinked up at him and he could tell she was as surprised by the kiss as he was. Vaguely, he had Reverend Howard say, "May I present Mr. and Mrs. Adam Rove," but he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of Joan long enough to move. It wasn't until Rodney and Grace prodded the newly wedded couple along that they moved at all.
Three hours later, Joan had danced all the dances, drunk all the toasts, met all the guests, and performed all the rituals she could endure. It was still fairly earlier, only about ten, but she wanted to lay down somewhere with Adam's arms around her more than anything else she could think of. Grace and Rodney had already started the departure process, but Joan was getting impatient. How long did it take to organize a bunch of half-drunk relatives and friends for the one last important element of this wedding?
"We're all set to go."
"Finally." Joan turned toward her husband, still blown away by the reality of it, and slipped her hand in his.
Adam chuckled. "A little eager, aren't we?"
Joan rolled her eyes in mock annoyance, then smiled. "I'm just ready to be alone with you."
"I know what you mean." He tipped his head toward the exit and she allowed him to lead her to it. "So, what's it going to be—bird seed, bubbles, confetti?"
"You'll see."
They stopped at the exit. Bright paper lanterns and ropes of lights lit the path currently flanked on each side by their guests. Joan's stomach clinched, mostly in excitement, but a little in hesitation. The concentration of guests was a bit intimidating.
"Are you ready?" Adam asked.
Joan gathered her skirts in her hand and nodded. "Let's go. But let's walk."
"Walk?"
"I don't want to risk my dress," she lied smoothly. She promised herself she'd apologize for it later.
With a shrug, Adam set off at a casual saunter, his arm draped firmly around her waist.
Joan carefully watched his face. At first, he seemed oblivious to what their guests were tossing at them. Then he stopped and looked up. He held out his hand before turning his wondrous gaze to her.
Thousands of white feathers fluttered down on them.
"Jane," he whispered, his voice catching.
She didn't say anything, just watched him lean toward her. She felt herself lean into him. Then his lips touched hers and all she could think was that this was the way their marriage should begin. The very same way they began.
The End
A/N: I hope that was a fitting ending for the story. I don't know what I'm going to post next or when, though a sequel and a honeymoon account have both been requested. There are too many stories, including an alternative version of Starting Over and We've Only Just Begun, swirling around in my head. I guess we'll see.
Thank you all one last time for your wonderful reviews. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story as a whole. Alexandri