"Go get Brenda," Brandon demanded. The week before the wedding flew by, and before he knew it, he was alone with Steve in the groom's dressing quarters. His parents and his best friend had both tried to soothe his jumbled nerves, but they'd each failed. Brandon knew that the only person who could get to him when he was like this was his sister; she was the one person who wouldn't lie to him when he asked the question weighing on his mind.
"I'll send her back," Steve replied, shutting the door quietly behind him. Brandon struggled to straighten his bowtie in the mirror, mumbling to himself out of frustration. Only a knock at the door could break him out of his self-pitying reverie.
"Come in," Brandon called through the heavy door. His eyes met Brenda's in the mirror.
She immediately sensed the confusion and caution weighing heavily on her brother's shoulders. Stepping behind him, she rested her hand on his shoulder lightly until he turned around. Silently, she reached up and fixed the bowtie until it was perfect. Smoothing the edge of the crimson silk, she smiled at him warmly. "Well, my brother, it's about that time. You know you can do this."
"I love Kelly, Bren, but what if this is too soon?"
"Maybe it is Brandon, but maybe you'll never be ready. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith and hope that you come out better on the other end. You've asked Kelly to marry you twice before, and neither time has worked out the way you wanted. Let this time count for something."
"You're right, you're right," he muttered to himself, turning to pace the length of the small room. Brenda crossed the room, resting her arm against the windowsill. She knew that if she just gave him enough time, Brandon would work this out himself. "I do love her. There has to be something to this whole thing if we keep finding each other."
"You can do this. Kelly is the love of your life, everyone can see it. I know you're scared, but you've never let that hold you back before. You are the kind of guy we all aspire to be, Brandon. Don't let us down now."
Brandon laughed, his body shaking. Her lighthearted comment had its intended impact, breaking the tension and making him realize how silly his apprehension was. "Thanks, Bren. I think I'm ready to do this now."
"Well, I'm glad that I could help. I should probably get back to Dylan," Brenda replied. She hugged her brother affectionately and kissed his cheek. "I am so proud of you, Bran. I wish you all the happiness in the world."
Steve leaned against the wall outside Brandon's room, praying that Brenda would talk him into going through with it. Kelly and Donna were down the hall getting ready, and he didn't want to have to be the one to break it to them that a wedding wasn't in the cards for today. As more guests continued to walk into the chapel, one particular caught his eyes. A slender strawberry blonde dynamo sauntered toward him, her hair pulled off her creamy neck. Dressed in a formfitting powder blue slip dress, all the old feelings came rushing back to him at one time. "Clare."
"Hey, Steve," she said softly, stopping a few steps away from him. Clare looked at her feet, pretending to be unusually interested in her heeled sandals. "How are you?"
Steve looked up, his blue eyes meeting hers. He ran his fingers through his curly blonde hair just as another girl came bounding up the hall. "Daddy!"
"Hello, my darling," he greeted her, reaching down to scoop her into his arms. He placed a gentle kiss against her temple as she buried her face in his jacket. "You look beautiful."
"Donna helped me get dressed. She wanted me to come make sure that you and Uncle Brandon were doing okay."
"Brandon is in there with Brenda, but we're doing fine. Go tell Donna that we'll see you beautiful ladies up there very shortly."
"Okay," she giggled as he sat her on his feet. Maddy looked up at Clare. "Bye."
"Bye," Clare called after her. "Is she yours?"
Steve nodded. "That's my princess, Madeline."
"You're married?" Clare asked softly.
"I was. My wife died of cancer this year."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Thank you, me too. I was sure Kelly would have told you."
"She doesn't really keep me filled in on anyone other than herself. It's made it easier for me to stay away. I've asked about you, just to make sure that you're doing well, but I always told her to spare me the details."
"How are you, Clare?"
"I'm happy, Steve. I love living in Europe, and I've gotten to spend a lot of time with the people that I grew up with there. My dad really loves teaching in Paris."
"Are you seeing anyone?"
"I'm engaged."
"That's great," he remarked happily. "Anyone I know?"
"Do you remember Carl?"
Steve laughed and nodded. "Of course. I bet that would make your mom happy."
Clare grinned in return. "I'd like to think so. How about you? Have you moved on?"
"Donna and I are living together. She's been our guardian angel. I really love her."
"It couldn't have happened to two better people," she replied. "Well, I should probably get in there. It sounds like they are starting to seat everyone, and I want to be able to see everything. Take care."
"I'll see you, Clare," he whispered to her retreating back, allowing the words to dissolve into the palpable silence of the church.
"Don, what if he's not up there?"
"He will be, Kel."
"What if he freaks out and leaves?"
"He won't, Kel."
"What if he realizes this is all a mistake?"
"It's not, Kel."
"You're not going to stress out with me, are you?"
"Nope," Donna replied happily, carefully arranging Kelly's skirt around her ankles. "Brandon loves you, and he wants to marry you. You love Brandon, and you want to marry him. There is no reason to worry."
"You're right. I'm so happy. I'm happy that we're all happy. Especially you and Steve, you both really deserve it. I'm glad that we get to share this day with you."
"Me too," she told Kelly, standing up to give her one more look over. "You look beautiful. If he sees you in this dress, there's no way he'll run."
"He better not," Kelly laughed as she looked at herself in the mirror. She really did look beautiful, and she couldn't wait to be Brandon's wife."
A knock at the door interrupted the moment. "Kel, it's time," Mel said through the door. Although he wasn't her biological father, he had been the most consistent male figure in her life. Kelly had been thrilled when he had agreed to walk her down the aisle along with her mother.
"Come on in," she replied. Jackie and Mel came in, grinning in unison at their daughter. "Where's Erin?"
"She's inside with David and Valerie," Jackie answered. "Sweetheart, it really is time."
Donna lifted her train and followed the family out the door. Maddy was waiting outside, dressed in a dress to match Donna's. Handing the little girl a small bouquet, the three girls walked to the back of the church. As the organ boomed, Maddy started down the aisle, marching a half beat ahead, counting to herself. She looked up and spotted her father, throwing off her count. Instead, she just ran down the aisle and hugged Brandon and Steve before taking her place on the far left side.
Donna was next to make the journey down the aisle. Her eyes locked with Steve as she came closer to the front. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to pretend that this was their wedding, not Brandon and Kelly's. Quickly brought back to reality, she smiled bravely at Steve and just kept walking ahead. She knew that she was walking toward something, and as long as she could always find his blue eyes in a sea of people, she'd get there someday.
Finally, the opening chords of the Wedding March filled the packed church. From behind her veil, Kelly could see Brandon waiting calmly for her at the altar. Flanked by Steve on his right side, she knew that he had never looked better to her than he did at that moment. It took all her restraint not to take off running like Madeline. Instead, she put one foot in front of another until they came to a rest beside her husband-to-be. The preacher smiled at her and then began the ceremony.
"In this world, we must choose a partner to accompany us on our journey through life. Today, Brandon and Kelly will make that commitment to each other in the eyes of the Lord," he stated. "Who supports this woman in her marriage to this man?"
"Her mother and I," Mel answered before lifting the veil to kiss her on the cheek. Jackie followed suit, crying softly as she lowered the veil again. Mel took Kelly's hand and laid it in Brandon's. Kelly turned to watch them take their seat, her eyes catching Dylan's from the front pew. She smiled his way as he handed Brenda his silk handkerchief. As she turned back to Brandon, Kelly knew that she had made the right choice.
"Brandon and Kelly have elected to write their own vows. These words are a reflection of the love they share and the bond that will connect them all the days of their lives."
"Kel, I can't remember the exact moment I fell in love with you. I've tried to retrace it, to relive the years of our friendship and relationship. But thinking back, I think I might have always loved you. Despite what we've been through, or maybe because of it, we're still here. I can only hope that fifty years from now, we'll still be here. I love you, and I am honored that I will take every step of the rest of my life with you by my side."
"Brandon, you have saved me more times than I can count. I could stand here and list each of the instances in which your love has sustained me. While these hardships have always seemed insurmountable, I've always known that with you, I could get through anything. You have been my strength and my guiding light and my saving grace. I love you, and I cannot wait for our lives together to begin."
"And now, Brandon and Kelly will exchange their rings," the preacher announced.
Donna handed Kelly the simple platinum band. Kelly took his hand and looked up into his eyes. "To my best friend and the love of my life, I wed with this ring." Quivering, Kelly slid the ring down his ring finger. Tiny tears slipped from her eyes.
Steve then pulled Kelly's ring from his jacket pocket and placed it in Brandon's open palm. The light caught the matching platinum band as he gripped it between his fingertips. "To my best friend and the love of my life, I wed with this ring." He carefully placed it on her left finger until it rested next to her knuckle.
"Kelly and Brandon have said their vows to each other and exchanged rings. By the power vested in me and by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Brandon, you may kiss your bride." Brandon leaned over and lifted her veil. Dipping to meet her slightly parted lips, he gentled caressed her. His arms encircled her waist as she clutched the lapel of his jacket lightly. Finally, they broke apart, grinning up at each other in realization that they were actually married.
"It is my honor and privilege to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Brandon and Kelly Walsh."