Chapter 13: Making it Official
Taylor was swallowing the lump in her throat as she got ready for the wedding. Alyssa came into the room to see Taylor sitting at her makeup station with tears in her eyes. "Why the tears?" Alyssa asked. Taylor quickly wiped her tears away.
"Sorry, I was hoping my dad would be here," Taylor replied.
Alyssa placed a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "It's his loss," Alyssa assured her. Taylor nodded before standing up.
"So, how do I look?" She asked.
She turned once around with a smile on her face. Alyssa smiled at her. "You look beautiful, Taylor, Eric won't be able to take his eyes off you," Alyssa replied. Taylor sighed and looked up when there was a knock on the door. The door opened to reveal her mother.
"Mom," she whispered.
Tina smiled as she walked over to hug her daughter with a sigh. "My baby girl's getting married today," she murmured. Taylor sighed as she hugged her mom back.
"Is dad with you?" Taylor asked.
Tina pulled back and slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, baby, your father refused to come here, he thinks that you're making a huge mistake," Tina added. Taylor sighed and knew that it was to be expected. Tina touched her daughter's face with a smile. "I believe I am seeing my daughter fully grown and marrying a great man," she added. Taylor smiled and Tina kissed her daughter's cheek. "I'm so happy for you sweetie," she murmured. Taylor nodded before backing up.
"What do you think?" Taylor asked.
Taylor spun around once and Tina was standing there with a huge smile on her face as she watched her daughter.
The dress was an one-off design with lace roses and beaded bodice that flows down to an organza split with satin roses and leaves. The back of the gown has three satin roses at the base of the back with feathers covering the lower half buttons. It showed plenty of back with shoestring straps almost making her look strapless.
Her white high heels were covered by the dress. She was wearing the necklace Eric gave her. The earrings Alyssa had bought her and she had a bracelet that Jen had let her borrow. Her hair was pulled back in a French Braid with flowers going through her hair. The veil was attached to a tiara and the veil fell past her shoulders.
Tina placed her hands on Taylor's shoulders. "You look beautiful, sweetie," she assured her. Taylor smiled and then there was a knock on the door. Both women turned and Jen came in.
"Taylor, it's time to go," she informed.
Taylor nodded before Tina kissed her daughter's cheek. When Taylor left with her friends, Tina leaned against the wall and played with her wedding rings. "Ben, don't you know what you're doing to your daughter?" She whispered. She then covered her face with her hand and let out a quiet sob. "Our baby girl is getting married and you're not here to walk her down the aisle like you wanted to. You're so stubborn, Ben," she sobbed.
Taylor stood in the hall and took a deep breath. "Are you okay?" Alyssa asked. Taylor turned and looked at her best friend.
"I'll be okay, I just wish my dad was here, that's all," Taylor replied.
Alyssa nodded before she and Cole had went down the aisle. Taylor bit her bottom lip as she pushed back her tears. "Dad, how dare you do this to me," she whispered. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked over her shoulder to see Merrick standing there. She smiled as she hugged him. "I didn't think you'd come," she told him.
"I never let my friends down when they are in need," he assured her.
Taylor nodded before Merrick escorted Taylor down the aisle.
Eric was standing at the altar with a grin on his face as Taylor came down the aisle. She captured his attention like Alyssa said he would.
While Taylor was looking gorgeous in her gown, Eric was wearing his tux with a red tie. While the rest of his friends with them who were Red Rangers as well. So they were all wearing their Ranger colors even the bridesmaids.
Once Merrick and Taylor reached the altar, the minister looked at him. "Who gives this woman to this man?" He asked.
"I do, Merrick Baliton," Merrick replied.
He kissed Taylor's cheek before placing her hand in Eric's hand. Then he sat down as the ceremony went on. The wedding ceremony was taking place outside near the lake where Eric and Taylor were talking about their futures.
As the ceremony continued on, Taylor was smiling at Eric and it seemed like all her pain was gone. Eric had wiped all the pain away as soon as she held his hand. "Instead of going with the traditional vows, the bride and groom have written their own vows," the minister announced. He looked towards Eric and Eric cleared his throat.
"Taylor, ever since I have first met you, you have taken all my thoughts away. As we grew to knew each other, you took all the pain away from me. You were able to show that I have a great future. You told me a long time ago when we first started dating that I should let go of my past and that I have a great future ahead of me. And you were right. You are my future Taylor. I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll love you forever," he explained.
Taylor swallowed the lump in her throat as she started her own vows. "Eric, from the moment you came up to me, I had fallen for you. I was angry with you, but I loved you. The night after our first date, when you kissed me goodnight, I felt like my whole world had faded and that it was just you and me. I still feel that every time you kiss me. Every time you hold me and wipe my tears away I feel it. I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll always love you," she explained.
"The rings," the minister instructed.
Wes pulled the rings from his pocket and handed them to the minister. The minister held the rings out to them and Eric took one of the rings. He lifted Taylor's hand up and held the ring up to her finger. "Eric, repeat after me as you slip the ring onto Taylor's finger," he instructed. Eric nodded and started to slip the ring onto Taylor's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed Taylor Earhardt," he stated.
"With this ring, I thee wed Taylor Earhardt," Eric vowed.
Taylor smiled as she took the other ring, held Eric's hand up, and held the ring up to his finger. "Taylor, repeat after me as you slip the ring onto Eric's finger," he instructed. Taylor took a deep breath and nodded. "With this ring, I thee wed Eric Myers," he stated.
"With this ring, I thee wed Eric Myers," Taylor vowed.
The minister smiled at them and said a prayer. Eric and Taylor were just smiling at each other. "By the powers invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," he announced. Eric didn't need to be told twice. He wrapped his arms around Taylor as he kissed her. Taylor wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "And all of you who witnessed this union, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Myers," he announced. Everyone clapped and cheered for the newly weds as they came back down the aisle.
(Reception Hall)
Eric and Taylor were sitting at the front of the table and then Wes stood up after awhile. "I think it's time for the best man to make his speech," he laughed. Everyone laughed and Eric held onto Taylor's hand. "When I first met Taylor, she and Eric were ready to kill each other. Whoever thought they'd be vowing to stay together forever. However, as time went on, I had watched them grow closer and became inseparable. When Eric was injured, not one day went by when I can't think of a time Taylor wasn't in that hospital with him. Now, I can't think of a time when I saw my best friend so happy. Eric, Taylor, I wish you the best of luck," he explained. He then raised his glass with a grin. "To Eric and Taylor," he announced.
"To Eric and Taylor," everyone announced in unison.
As time went on, Eric and Taylor danced to the song I could Fall in Love by Selena. As the song went on, Taylor had placed her head on Eric's shoulder and closed her eyes. Eric tucked her head under his chin and smiled. He never felt this happy in so long. Ever since his mom died and his dad left, it was like part of him had died and left him too. Until he was with Taylor. She had gave him his heart, soul, and love back. He couldn't think of anyway to make his life better.
(That Evening)
Eric and Taylor were on a plane heading towards Paris for their honeymoon. He looked over at his wife to see her fast asleep and held onto her hand. He kissed the top of her hand and just watched her sleep. "I love you, Taylor," he whispered.