A/N: please review! hope ya like the last chappie :)
Chapter 44
The sun had begun to set for about an hour now and the wedding was on the verge of beginning. Lucy poked her head out from behind the large cloth door of the white tent which was situated a ways above the shoreline of the sandy island. Long arms of reds, pinks, yellows and oranges were cast charmingly over the vast ocean, painting the island and kissing the deep blue goodnight.
On the rather large wooden dock stood the young pastor with his Bible in hand, prepared to start whenever the time would come. A few feet to his left was Bobby, followed by Jack – as the best man – and then Myles, D and Jonathan Taylor, the last three men grooms men. Instead of the traditional grooms outfit, Bobby simply wore black slacks with no shoes or socks on his feet, plus his white sleeves rolled up to just past the elbows and the top buttons undone, leaving it loose around his neck.
The other four men were dressed in the same manner except for the fact that Jack was wearing an aqua colored shirt unlike Myles, D and Jon who wore deep yellow shirts.
There were a fair amount of small white chairs focused around the dock with a single isle down the middle, leading from the tent where the woman were scrambling to organize themselves to the dock that was enlaced with a train of exotic Lily's. On the outskirts of the sand isle were also lined with bright and festive flowers, this time of a few different kinds although the amount of Lily's outnumbered any of the others.
Lucy examined the scene from afar and pulled her head back into the tent where Sue was growing increasingly aggravated with Tara as she was trying to put the light pink Lily in the brides hair but Tara kept moving her head around, trying to find whatever – or whoever – she desperately wanted to find. Then again, maybe Tara was just overly excited; whatever was going on, it was beyond Lucy.
People milled around Lucy and she struggled to find a free full-length mirror to make sure she didn't have any stains or snags anywhere. She inspected every inch of herself until she was positive she looked as good as she could in her deep yellow spaghetti strap dress.
It reached just past her slender knees in numerous triangle-like angles. The chiffon fabric whooshed around her legs when she walked and found it hard not to feel like the belle of the ball. The midsection of the dress was gathered in small rows across her midriff, giving a stunning effect and held up by thin straps with a white Lily in full bloom at the base of the right strap.
Donna Gans and Michelle Taylor were also dressed the same way and all three of them had their hair pinned up with tight spirals bobbing around at their necks.
Sue on the other hand, was unintentionally flaunting another style. Her fabric was aqua, matching Jack's, since she was the maid of honour. The silk-chiffon cloth was flat against her stomach but at just under the left hip the cloth became a sheer chiffon in a downward slant around her legs, overlapping in some areas.
Within the next few minutes, everyone was lined up and ready to go – of coarse, the bride would not be in the groom's line of sight when they began their decent.
Bobby anxiously tried to slow his racing pulse when the musical notes from a single violin began to float over the small crowd. The white curtains were pulled back from the tent and the first to emerge were Chloe and Michael Taylor's. Her hot pink dress matched the flower pedals she was handing out on the sand, and Michael in his deep orange shirt with his black caprise carefully handled the wedding bands that would soon unite Bobby and Tara together in a lifetime of utter paradise.
Next came Sue, carefully holding the small bouquet of blue and white exotic flowers. Jack swallowed hard when he saw Sue with her blonde locks of hair curled in wide spirals, dangling over her bare collarbone.
Lucy, Donna and Michelle followed one by one after her, and even Myles nearly choked when he saw them – especially Lucy. He had the irritable thought that he wouldn't have the self control to tear his eyes away from her for the entire nightlong.
But as the curtains closed for the few seconds before the bride would appear, Bobby didn't see any of them, all he cared about was Tara.
The preacher said loudly, "I would now ask that the congregation rise." They did and the wedding song began as the curtains cloth parted one last time and the stunningly gorgeous Tara appeared.
She smiled shyly as she used the preferred stepping technique barefoot down the isle, the pace agonizingly slow for her and for Bobby. As he drank the sight before him in, he could've sworn she had revealed herself as an angel – she sure looked like one and the way she was practically floating down the isle…Bobby gulped.
The white silk-chiffon fabric was cut into a sweetheart neckline that came barely teasingly low with tiny diamonds on half-centimetre thick straps. The dress was simple yet chic and the crystal design under the chest had such detail the elegancy of her whole demeanour was maximized.
When she finally stood across from Bobby the pastor cleared his throat. "You may be seated," he said to the guests. "Friends and family, brothers and sisters, we have gathered here today in this very special place and in this very special time to witness and to celebrate the joining of hearts between these lovebirds right here, Bobby Manning and Tara Williams. Each will say a few words to each other, then will exchange wedding vows. Bobby, will you begin?"
He cleared his throat and took Tara's hands in his, "Okay." He took a deep breath. "Tara, there is no doubt in my mind that you are the most incredible woman alive. I know that you deserve everything in the world, but I also know that I can only try to give it to you. I would buy you the oceans if I could and name everyone of them after you. I want to wake up fifty years from now and wonder who on earth I ever even got a sheila like you to give me the time of day. I want to be the one person that can kiss every tear away at three in the morning. I promise to make every one of your days better than the last; I'll even do the dishes without complaining. All I want in return is the joy of having you to hold onto every single night."
Tara sniffed as she held back tears, still staring through her blurred eyes. "It's gonna be hard to top that," Tara laughed. "Bobby, each day I can't wait to see you, to hear your voice. It reminds me of the times me when I'm faced challenges that seem impossible, and sometimes I think that it's too hard, or that I'll never be able to beat this, you come along and held me in that way that makes me melt into a puddle of mush. I've been blessed so much by being able to share my days with you, and everyday that you're by my side, you show me how beautiful life really is, and there is no way that I can possibly thank you enough for brightening not just my day, but my life, too. But, if you'll let me, I'll do my best to make your days, even just a little better."
The preacher said, "May we have the rings?" Michael stepped forward and handed them to the pastor. He gave Tara's slim band with three small diamonds embedded into the white gold to Bobby, and gave Bobby's thick white gold band to Tara. "Bobby, do you take Tara Williams as your wife?
"I do."
"And do you Tara Williams take Bobby Manning as your husband?"
"I do," she smiled excitedly.
"In that case, Bobby, will you now recite your vows to Tara?"
"I, Bobby Manning, take you Tara Williams to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
"Tara, will you please recite your vows to Bobby?"
"I, Tara Williams take you, Bobby Manning to be my lawfully wedded husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honour and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
"Please exchange the rings." Bobby slipped Tara's ring on her finger, then Tara did the same with him.
"I would now like to share with you and the Corinthians 13: 4-7. 'Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.' May these words guide you through your lifetime walk with love and with Christ through all times, whether they be joyous or sad. I would now like to direct a question to the congregation: If anyone should find a reason that these two should not be wedded, speak now or forever hold your peace." He waited and when no one replied, the pastor finally announced, "Bobby and Tara, I now pronounce you husband and wife!"
As soon as the words were spoken Bobby threw his arms around Tara's waist and kissed her full on the lips and she responded well, after all, it was their first kiss as a married couple.
The pastor grinned, "You may kiss the bride."
Bobby pulled back and stared at the pastor incredulously. "Again?" Laughter erupted from the guests and with great enthusiasm, Bobby proceeded to do just that.
The End