CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
(chapter title – White Horses, Red Flowers and Surprises)
"Daddy!" Sara called throughout the house. She and Mark were supposed to be down at the church by now. It was Sara's wedding day – the most important day of her life. Tiffany, her Maid of Honor, was helping Sara get ready for her big day.
"I'm right here, baby. You look beautiful." Mark told his daughter, kissing her on the cheek. Sara smiled and took his arm, Tiffany following right behind them.
"Oh my God, Daddy!" Sara gasped. A white carriage with red roses on the sides and front was waiting for them. Two beautiful white horses stood at the front of the carriage, tossing their heads and biting each other's necks.
"River! Dance! Quit it!" the driver told the horses. The horse called River tossed his head one last time as Mark, Sara and Tiffany climbed into the carriage. Sara was now eight months pregnant and was moving right along. Dr. Thoms had told Sara and Peter they were expecting a girl in the spring of next year.
As the carriage moved along, no one said anything – Sara was too excited that she and Peter would be getting married in a short while. She twisted her engagement ring around her left ring finger.
Fifteen minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of the church. Mark helped Tiffany and Sara out of the carriage and led Sara into the church. Since Peter had asked Jeffery to be his Best Man, Sara had asked Mark to give her away.
"There you are! Let's go!" Jennifer hissed. Sara laughed and stepped behind Jennifer and Will – Peter's brother. Mark and Sara linked arms as Pacabel Canon in D played – the five bridesmaids and the five groomsmen walked down the asile. Sara and Mark waited for the Wedding March to play before they walked down the asile. Sara looked straight ahead, briefly smiling at Joanne and Maureen who were sitting towards the front of the church. Joanne had made a full recovery from her mugging, so Sara was happy that she was going to be okay.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" the minister asked.
"I do." Mark kissed Sara's cheek and put her hand in Peter's. Peter smiled and mouthed 'I love you.' Sara had tears in her eyes as the two of them exchanged vows that they had written for each other. Soon, it was time for the rings. Adam handed the rings to the minister as Sara dabbed the tears out of her eyes.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The minister told Peter, nodding to him to take off the veil that covered Sara's face. The guests applauded as Peter and Sara kissed each other passionately.
At the reception, both Sara and Peter went from table to table, interacting with the guests. Peter's dad, Michael, had flown all the way from Europe on a business trip to see his son get married.
"Thank you so much for coming Mr. Baxley." Sara thanked her new father-in-law.
"Oh, you're welcome, sweetie." Michael Baxley said, hugging her tightly.
"May I have everyone's attention?" Kaitlin asked politely. Tiffany laughed and took the mike away from her.
"YO! PEOPLE!" Tiffany yelled into the mike. Everyone turned their attention to the petite red-head.
"As wedding tradition calls for, it's time for Mr. and Mrs. Peter Baxley to have the first dance together as husband and wife." Tiffany told the guests as Sara and Peter walked to the dance floor, hand in hand.
"For their first dance together, the couple chose the song Your Eyes." Jennifer added. As the song played, Peter and Sara slowly made their way around the dance floor, holding each other close.
"I should tell you I should tell you
I have always loved you
You can see it in my eyes"
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A week later, Sara and Peter left for their honeymoon. They were going to Italy and Greece for four months and then they would be moving into their new house when they returned home.
Four months later, Jennifer, Carolyn, Kristen, Kaitlin, Tiffany, Mark, Jeffery, Adam, Heather, Joanne and Maureen were waiting in the terminal of the airport.
"Bonjorino familio!" Peter called as he wrapped an arm around Sara's waist. She was carrying a baby carrier. Everyone rushed forward and looked at the sleeping baby.
"Aww!" everyone said in unison. Sara and Peter laughed.
"When was your beautiful baby born?" Jeffery asked.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Adam inquired.
"What's the name?" Kaitlin and Jennifer questioned.
"Okay! Okay! We'll answer your questions after we get our luggage." Sara told the group, looking down at her baby. Sara walked with the girls while Peter walked with the boys.
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After the couple had their baggage, they exited the airport and went to the brownstone house.
"Now will you answer our questions?" Adam was getting impatient. Sara took the baby out of the carrier and held it for a bit.
"Everyone – meet our new daughter – Angel Maria Baxley." Sara introduced her family to the little baby.
"She's beautiful." Mark commented, handing his camera to Jeffery as Sara handed Angel to him. Mark had tears in his eyes – she was so perfect.
"Did you have any complications during the delivery?" Maureen asked, snuggling closer to Joanne.
"I actually had a C section." Sara told the group.
"Why didn't you call us when you went into labor?" Joanne inquired.
"Well, we wanted it to be a surprise." Peter answered. Sara had disappeared, along with Jennifer.
"What'd I miss?" Sara asked as she sat in front of Peter. He massaged her shoulders and kissed her neck.
"Nothing, baby." Peter told her, watching Angel being passed from person to person.
"So, Adam, how do you feel about being an uncle?" Sara asked her brother.
"I love it! Angel's so cute!" he shouted. Angel screamed from across the room – Tiffany was holding her.
"Adam, you need to use a quiet voice, okay?" Jeffery told him as Tiffany brought Angel over to Sara.
"When's her birthday?" Kaitlin piped up as Sara soothed her baby.
"April twenty first. She was born at exactly twelve o'clock – midnight." Peter answered as Angel yawned.
"May I hold her?" Heather asked. Sara nodded, stood up and walked over to where Heather was sitting. She then showed the young girl how to hold the baby. Mark got everything on film, as always.
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After everyone had left – except for Mark, Adam and Jeffery, Sara put Angel to bed and changed into her pajamas. Peter was showing the three of them pictures of their trip of Italy before Angel had been born.
"Hey handsome." Sara greeted her husband, sitting down next to him on the couch. Peter smiled and brushed Sara's hair out of her face. He then kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her middle.
"Eww! Get a room!" Adam told the couple, covering his eyes. Sara smiled at him as she rested her head on Peter's shoulder.
"Adam, it's time for you to go to bed." Jeffery told him. After a whole lot of pouting and whining, Adam finally went to his room. Mark had gone to bed early – he hadn't been feeling well.
After a while, Jeffery said goodnight to the couple and headed to bed. Peter and Sara decided to follow suit, going to the guest room where Angel's crib was set up. As the couple looked at their baby, they thought about how lucky they had been that she was perfect, healthy and surrounded by people who would love her until the day she died.
