chapter fifty-four
Three Months Later
After Freddie had proposed to me three months ago, he and I told the news to everyone, and let me tell you. They were shocked, again... I remember telling them the news and Mrs. Benson was crying her eyes out as she hugged her son in a loving way that made him lose air for a short second. My parents were happy for me that I said 'yes' to Freddie. Apparently, Freddie asked my father if he could marry me a couple of months before, and the aftermath was a disaster. My dad was skeptical, but after calming down he finally said yes to him, and Freddie bought the ring right away.
Melanie was so proud of me she did her hug and cry routine again on me, and I couldn't get her off me. She's strong when she's upset in a good way. I couldn't get her off for at least ten minutes.
As for Uncle Carmine?
That was also a disaster.
I remember when Freddie and I told him at the bar he works at and I swear Carmine wanted to punch Freddie in the face. I thought it was hilarious at first, but I saw how scared Freddie was when he saw my uncle's fist appear; I had to protect my fiancé from that happening. And I didn't want Carmine to end up in jail again.
It's so weird saying fiancé. Freddie and I were once best friends, lovers, now engaged. Those stages have different titles, but the experience we had together was always the same that I would not trade anything for.
The engagement was so different than I thought it was going to be. When you watch movies or T.V. shows you always see the bride and groom have to prepare everything for the wedding, and it was a struggle to agree with each other on when the wedding is going to happen. We had to plan what food to serve for everyone (my favorite part of the planning), then plan to get a cake at the wedding reception. It was a lot of work, but it got the work done.
We decided we wanted our wedding to be around the summer time where the sun is out and won't have a possibility of rain, which is perfect. Mrs. Benson went through the catering for our food choices for the guests and the cake. It felt great to be a part of choosing what you want and control everything. Freddie thinks otherwise, but that's just him.
The part that got me worried the most was the dress shopping.
Since I wasn't a professional at fashion, I asked Carly and my sister, Melanie, if they could help me pick out a dress since they're into fashion more. They agreed to help with happy smiles and dragged me to The Wedding Palace to try on dresses. I remember that God awful day...
"Sam, what do you think of this one?" Carly said as she pulled out a white dress from the rack. I turned to her and saw what she was suggesting and looked carefully at the dress. The white dress was silk with short sleeves attached that came with flower-like lace pattern in the neck area of the lace. The dress looks elderly, I didn't like it one bit.
"Um... no." I said directly.
"Oh," Carly shrugged putting the dress back on the rack. "Did you find anything you like?" She asked walking to my area of the dress selections.
"Not really. These are like old people clothes. I need a dress that would actually make me look young." I scoffed as I cringed at the dress choices.
"Well, maybe Melanie found something." Carly walked ahead of me as I followed her to meet up with my sister at the other side of the store. We've been at this store for an hour, and the girls made me try on like five different dresses that didn't look good on me. This is supposed to be the best wedding store in Seattle, and I found no luck finding the right dress.
I know I usually shouldn't care about this type of thing, but this isn't just any kind of thing. This is my wedding. My first wedding. And I want to find the right dress that would make me go pop and make people turn heads on the new bride to see how hot I look. It sounds cocky, but don't judge me! The wedding is a new event for a man and woman to say their vows and agrees to always be there with each other and it's supposed to be special. That's why I want the wedding to be perfect and by starting that is to find the perfect dress that I would wear and be proud of wearing.
Carly and I saw Melanie looking at some dresses in the rack and met up with her in no time. "Hey, Melanie. Did you have luck finding something Sam might like?" Carly asked.
Melanie looked up at us with a smile on her face as if she thought of a brilliant idea. "As a matter of fact, I did. While you two were looking at some dresses, I asked a lady that works here, and she gave me the best dress that's perfect and affordable." She cheered. She pulled out a dress from the rack and showed the dress that she was proud of finding from an employee's help.
Carly gasped and smiled as she looked at the dress. "Oh my gosh, it's perfect! What do you think, Sam?"
I've got to say... she did a great job. I felt my lips lift up as I looked at my possible wedding dress and pictured myself wearing it as I walked down the aisle and people watching me like I'm on the red carpet. But most importantly, I'm picturing what Freddie might think when he sees me in this dress. Would he be happy? The dress might be worth the risk, and I love a good challenge to see what he might think.
"It's perfect."
That day was sure stressful. The dresses that I had to try on was totally a waste of time because of the certain type of dress I was looking for. Then doing another hour of searching for them in racks which caused more problems. Fortunately, Melanie was the hero at the end since she found our winner of a white dress that I'll be wearing to the wedding.
I can't believe this is happening to me now that I'm thinking about it again. I can't believe I'm going to marry Freddie; my partner in crime, my best friend, my rock, my anchor, my everything.
Today.
I'm at the local church in the dressing room, while Melanie is applying my makeup and Carly curling my hair. I woke up really early this morning trying to make it to church since our wedding is scheduled early afternoon at one-thirty. Right now, it is one o' six, and I'm getting nervous about this whole thing.
I'm about to marry Freddie in twenty-four minutes, and it feels like I'm far away from him. The one thing I hate about weddings is being away from your partner. Apparently, you can't see your fiancé one day before your wedding because it's "bad luck" and being away from him for twenty-four hours is harder than I thought it was going to be. We both stayed at the same hotel and was brought to our rooms at different times so we wouldn't see each other the night before.
It must've been hard for Freddie to be sleeping alone in his room without me. It was awful not being in his arms in bed and feeling the warmth from him. It felt awkward with the bed empty by my side; it was like years ago when we weren't in a relationship and slept in different rooms.
But now I'm excited thinking about being with him again in the ceremony.
I'm getting nervous again...
"Sam?" I heard a voice that snapped me back to reality and saw Carly through the mirror behind me. "What's wrong?" She asked me.
"Oh, nothing, nothing's wrong. I'm just nervous." I said softly. I see her finishing clipping a white flower clip on my hair, then she pinned my hair in a high bun with a couple strands of hair out in front of my face, neatly.
"Oh, I can imagine the nerves being your first wedding and all. It's okay if you're nervous," she rests her hands on my shoulders feeling the soft cotton fabric of my robe as Melanie continued applying lipgloss on my lips. "It's a very special day for women because they get to be with their Prince Charming."
"She's right though!" Melanie agreed, nodding her head eagerly.
"Man, you guys watch way too many movies." I rolled my eyes and saw Melanie shove all the makeup supplies she used on me in her makeup bag. "But I know what you guys mean."
Melanie leans herself against the makeup desk as she looks at me. "Just think about Mom's wedding day. Do you remember the story she told us when we were young?" She asks with a grin on her face.
I think about the story our mom told us and chuckled at the memory. "Yeah, she told us how grandma picked out her dress and sent out the invitations without her say."
"Yeah," she smiled. "Then it turned out great, and at the ceremony when the priest asked mom if she'd marry Dad; she said, 'just hurry up and let me kiss this man'." We both laughed including Carly behind me, and it made me feel a little better about the event after all. It made me happy that I have these girls to be a part of my wedding.
Carly is my one and only bridesmaid while Melanie is my Maid of Honor. I have my two girls supporting me in the aisle as I go marry my fiancé. I thought Carly was going to complain about not being my Maid of Honor, but she was surprisingly okay with my sister being in charge of that position. Carly and Melanie are like twins when it comes to romantic stuff, so they're just happy about my day.
"Okay, go put your dress on, you're going to get married in fifteen minutes." Carly smiled as she lays my wedding dress on my lap. "Hurry up!" She grabs Melanie's wrist and drags her out of my dressing room with her.
Once the door was closed, I crane my neck down to my dress looking at the style Melanie helped me pick out. The dress may be too much, but it's beautiful nonetheless, and I'm glad I get to wear it. This whole thing is nerve-wrecking because it's real; the day is finally here, and every guest we have invited are outside waiting for the bride to come out soon. I am so nervous right now! Just think about something happy, think about something happy. What makes me happy so it can help me relax?
Freddie.
My eyes close picturing him showing me his charming smile and saying crappy jokes and laughing at them by himself, which causes me to beam. My heart leaps at the thought of being with him for the rest of my life and cherish him forever. It sounds cliché and cheesy but it's the truth.
But it's worth it when we get married in a few minutes...
Oh shit, I have to get ready!
Freddie's POV
I'm waiting at the altar, waiting for the wedding to start. Man, I haven't been so nervous in my entire life, I can't believe I'm about to marry an amazing girl in three minutes.
After Sam and I had told her family and my mom about the news of our engagement a few months ago, I was scared of what her father was going to do to me and if his punishment for me was going to be violent. But now I'm not worried anymore since he's okay with everything. Sam's uncle, however, was going to beat me to shreds after finding out about our news for sure. I knew too well that he loves his niece and he doesn't want anything to happen like her father showed me, but how he stared at me with that look scared me to death.
Sam's family is scary.
Anyways, getting a wedding together is a lot of work, but it's going to be worth it once the ceremony starts. Sam decided she didn't want a big wedding; she wanted to have our close friends and family there and I agreed with her decision. Our loved ones being able to watch us get married is all that matters.
We had to make the best of the planning since we had three months to prepare for it: we had to get the caterer settled for everyone to eat, make the invitations for the people who are invited, and buy our attire. It took us a month almost to have that list completed, and it worked out perfectly with no complications whatsoever. Well... except for the food part. Sam was picky the whole time.
What was easy for me was finding my tuxedo for the event. My mom helped me pick out the tux that would suit for the scenery we planned for the wedding, and I have to admit that she did something right for once in her life. It wasn't easy shopping with her over the years, but she managed to do this right for her only son's day. The whole time, she was tearing up with every tuxedo I have tried on and was crying about how much I'm growing up and how I didn't need her anymore.
She's my mother and I'm always going to need her for some advice once and a while since I'm new to this experience. It's not every day that I get to marry anyone. This one girl is who I want to be with, and that's how it's going to stay.
In other news, we bought the tuxedo, and I'm happily wearing it as I stand next to my best guy friends.
I have my best man, Gibby behind me. Brad and Spencer are my groomsmen. These boys were supportive when I proposed to Sam on her birthday months ago, and they were fighting over who got to be the Best Man. I chose Gibby since I knew him the longest and always knew the bright way to see in him like a brother would. He's the weirdest guy I've ever met, but I love the guy. Spencer is the new member of our group who's probably the funniest guy on the planet. He happens to be Carly's older brother and Sam and I met him recently, and I thought it would be a great idea for him to be a part of our wedding.
He was honored that he got to be one of my groomsmen and he didn't mind at all.
I'm nervous about this, I'm currently standing here while my hands are sweating and me bringing the back of my hand wiping a sweat on my brow. Is it hot in here?
"Hey man, calm down," Gibby said behind me.
"I'm just a little nervous." I lied. Who's calm about seeing their fiancé for the first time in twenty-four hours?
"Don't worry about anything. Once you see Sam walk down here, it'll be like no one was ever here, and it will be just you and her." He pats on my shoulder with his hand and I relaxed a little bit from his encouraging words.
He's right. Once I see her, I'll be able to go anywhere I want with her and feel free knowing she's the one I'm supposed to be with. I can't wait to spend every minute with the rest of my life with her.
My Sammy.
I hear the pianist and orchestra playing the entrance song Princess Bride filling the room and hear the big doors open. I turned my head in the direction of two silhouettes appearing in the doorway. My jaw dropped slightly as I couldn't move my feet or body; my eyes must've stung as they saw the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.
Sam's POV
After I put my wedding dress on, I walk to the full body mirror that is hooked on the door seeing a new human being. I can't believe that's me. I see my reflection wearing a bright V-neck white gown with lace straps stopped to my shoulders, the dress ending with a long train. My hair has a veil clipped to my high bun ending next to my long train. My face is filled with makeup that Melanie helped me with, it's not too heavy, it's not too light; the makeup amount is average with eyeshadow, pink blush, mascara, and last but not least, lipgloss.
This is very un-Sam like to be wearing something like this, but... I couldn't stop my lips from smiling at the reflection. Today is going to be a new day for me, and I can feel myself being confident about how the next few minutes is going to turn out.
I know it's going to turn out well.
I hear someone knock on the door and I'm afraid it's Freddie who's not supposed to see me right now. "Who is it?" I called.
"It's your dad." My dad's voice muffled behind the door. I sighed in relief as I walk closer to the door and open it wide, seeing my dad wearing his black suit with a black tie hugged around his collar. I never thought I would see him wear a suit again since he despises them. I walk backwards letting him have room to walk inside. He walks into the room with his hands in his pants pockets, and he glances at me up and down observing my look. "Wow..." He stares at me with wide eyes while closing the door behind him. "Who is this beautiful young woman?"
"Thanks, Dad." I chuckled as I run my hands through my dress to smooth out any wrinkles.
"You know... I hate to say this, but you look just like your mother when we got married."
"I do?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"You sure do... and it's kind of creeping me out just a smidge. But that's what happens when you have her genes, right?" He chuckled. "I remember when you were just a little girl and you used to hurt yourself when you ran around the house or played at the playground climbing on the monkey bars, and you would always fall." He laughs and I join him at the memories.
"Yeah, I remember alright. Then mom would blame me for running around so much, but I didn't care." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
"Now, you're a young woman about to marry a man..." I hear my dad pause as a sniff arrives from him. I looked at him closely and saw his eyes are starting to fill with tears.
Is he... is he crying?
"Dad, why are you crying?" I asked as I reached for his face, wiping a tear from his eye with my thumb.
"It's just... my little girl is getting married, and you're not a baby anymore." He sniffs again and wipes the tears in his eyes furiously. Mom would say when I was little that dad never cried about anything in his life except the day Melanie and I was born. That was the only time he cried because that was the day he became a father and was still skeptical about it. Now that he's crying again because one of his daughters is getting married is starting to grow on him that we're growing up. Now I feel my eyes stinging and tears falling out of my eyes copying his gesture. Thank god Melanie put waterproof mascara on my lashes. "Sam, why are you crying now?"
"From what you s-said." I hiccupped. "I don't want you to be upset though, Dad. I guarantee you that everyone didn't see this coming anytime soon, even me." I laughed, and he joined with tears still in his eyes. "But... I'm going to be living a new life as a wife that might be scary for you and mom, and it's going to be a fun challenge to endure. I want you to promise me that you won't cry anymore for the rest of the wedding until I leave because those are going to be tears of joy." I said, pointing my index finger at him.
He nods his head at me and smiles. "You got it, Peanut." I nodded my head in approval as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he wraps his arms around my waist as we embrace the last moments before the big moment comes among us. "I love you, honey."
I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. "I love you too, daddy."
"Ready to get married?" He asks after a while of hugging each other. I pulled away from him and looked at his face while nodding my head at his question. I wiped as many tears as I could so it wouldn't look suspicious for everyone from outside to see. My dad extended his elbow out, and I snake my arm around his firmly. I grab the small peach colored bouquet that was left on a small couch. He opens the door and we walk out of the room, heading outside to the church doors.
I take a deep breath and feel myself shaking causing goosebumps in my arms. Dad must've noticed my nerves because he's rubbing my hand that is hugging his upper arm with his thumb. "You ready?"
I nod my head eagerly, "I'm ready."
Dad opens the doors and we hear the orchestra and pianist playing from the inside. Everyone stands from their chairs at my entrance and looks at me with smiles on their faces as I'm walking down the aisle. I see Freddie's mother on her side of the family, and she smiles at me from the seats. Then I look over into my side of the family and see Uncle Carmine and mom smiling at me giving me a short thumbs up as I could see her eyes glossing. I couldn't stop smiling at them. Next, I look forward, seeing Melanie and Carly next to the priest on one side wearing their short silk sea-teal dresses that were picked out by me as they hold small flowers in their hands.
I look to my right seeing Gibby being the Best Man and Brad and Spencer as the groomsmen with their gray suits on, which they look handsome in.
Finally, I look at the Groom.
Finally, after not seeing him for a day, I get to look at him. Freddie is staring at me with a huge smile on his face as I'm getting closer to him. My eyes couldn't look away from his and saw the mixed emotions as they screamed at me. I could tell his brown eyes were glistening while he's trying to control them. I started to feel anxious as I'm almost close to him; his attire of wearing a gray tuxedo that hugged his body so well looks handsome on him. I just can't stop staring at him.
Once I walk up a step and stand in front of him, Dad squeezes my hand gently and smiles at me, pulling his hand away from mine, walking away to his seat. I turn my attention at Freddie and he smiles at me while I'm doing the same, feeling my lips stretch in excitement.
We look at each other while the minister starts to speak for our behaves. "Thank you to the friends and family that are here today to celebrate the union of Samantha Michelle Puckett and Fredward Karl Benson. This occasion not only marks the beginning of their marriage commitment together, but it is a commemoration of the love nurtured and shared between these two. Together, they embark today on a new life together, built on the foundations of trust, compassion, and mutual respect. If there is anyone in attendance who has cause to believe that this couple should not be joined in marriage, you may speak now or forever hold your peace."
The room was silent for a good ten seconds, and the pastor nods his head for countenance. I mentally exhaled a breath knowing no one regrets having the both of us getting married.
"Marriage is an ancient human tradition. The personal and social merits that accompany the bonds of marriage have led to its continued endurance and have paved the way for us to be standing here before God celebrating the union between these two people today. As we celebrate this bond of unity today Under the eyes of God, it is important that we keep in mind that, while this is certainly an occasion of tremendous joy, the promises we witness here today are serious and life-altering commitments.
"Fredward and Samantha are here to publicly declare that because of Jesus Christ's love, they too can truly love one another. As God demonstrated His love in Jesus, our Lord, they will demonstrate this God given love by giving themselves to one another and one for the other."
The Pastor looks at both of us with a grin on his face as he continued. "They no other human ties are more tender; no other vows are more sacred than these you are about to assume. You are entering into that holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the very sacrament of divine love.
"At this time, before proceeding with the bonding ceremony, I would invite the couple to share their vows. Sam, would you please deliver yours first?" The pastor asked me with a smile on his face.
I looked at him nodding my head as I found the words I memorized late last night as I couldn't fall asleep for this day. The words I jotted down on paper flash back in my mind as I meant every word of what I feel about Freddie and our lives.
I cleared my throat as I felt my body shaking, but looked into Freddie's eyes as they seem to calm me down from puking all over the church floor. I opened my mouth and started my personal vows.
"Freddie... it felt like yesterday when we first met even though I don't remember a whole lot of that day. Being with you for almost two decades has been amazing and wonderful because you made our moments together wonderful. You are also my best friend who I will always love unconditionally until the day I die. I will always be there for you when you need me if you need to laugh or cry. We may have our differences and fights from time-to-time, but I know we can fix them because that's how we are. And I'm glad to say that I want to experience those moments together in the future being your wife... and vow to love you for the rest of our lives."
As I finished my vows, Freddie stares at me with a small smile approaching on his lips. He looks at me as he's trying to tell me something through his eyes, but I know he is willing to say them aloud for me to hear them loud and clear.
"Thank you, Sam," the priest smiles at me with a small nod then turns his way to Freddie. "And now Freddie, would you deliver your vows?"
Freddie takes a deep breath and does not look away from my eyes. He exhaled a shaky breath as he looks timid and nervous about speaking, but he starts to open his mouth starting to talk for the first time.
"Sam, as nervous as I am to say this, today is the day that I become more than your best friend and fiancé. Today I give you my whole heart, mind, body, and soul without condition. I promise to recognize you as an equal and to recognize that your interests, desires, wants and needs are just as important as mine. I promise to stand by your side to laugh at the good days and suffer through the bad. I can't wait until I get to see gray hairs on you and make fun of you for it," I rolled my eyes, and a few guests let out a small laugh. Freddie seemed to be proud of what he said before he continued. "But most importantly, I can't wait to become your husband and love you like a precious treasure each and every day."
My lips couldn't stretch long enough as I smiled from his remarkable vows. His words touched my heart to the fullest, and I wanted to capture his words in writing and reread them knowing I chose the right man to be with forever.
"These kids are adorable, aren't they?" The priest asked as some of the guests responded with a simple "Yes" and some with a laugh. "Thank you, Freddie." He smiled.
"Sam and Freddie, please join hands." I turned around and gave Melanie my bouquet for me to use my two hands for the pastor's instruction. She took the small bouquet from me and I turned back around as Freddie had his hands out for me to hold. I rest my hands on top of his, and he softly grasps them giving them a small squeeze as we looked at each other. "Freddie, will you take Sam as your cherished wife, in front of these witnesses, and promise to stay by her side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Sam, do you take Freddie as your cherished husband, in front of these witnesses, and promise to stay by his side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?"
I feel my eyes welling up without me controlling them. "...I do."
"May we have the rings please?" Freddie turns around to get his ring from Gibby, and I turn around to get my ring from Melanie. She smiles at me as she gives me my ring and I smile back at her in appreciation. Freddie and I turn back around at the same time and look at each other holding the rings in our hand.
"The wedding rings perfectly symbolize the never-ending love you two have for each other. By exchanging these rings, you solidify a lifelong commitment to one another. The rings serve as a welcome and constant reminder of the bond you've formed with your partner. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place that many will find there a friend. May these rings on their fingers symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts."
"Freddie, in placing this ring on Sam's finger, repeat after me: I, Freddie, give you, Sam this ring as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, so you complete me."
He looks at me and does his cute boyish smile repeating the words he was ordered to say. "I, Freddie, give you, Sam this ring as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, so you complete me." He holds my hand gently and places the ring on my ring finger, sliding it all the way down to the end feeling a second cold metallic ring hitting my wedding band.
Right now, my heart is racing and I feel tears starting to come out of my eyes.
The pastor looks at me for my turn. "Sam, in placing this ring on Freddie's finger, repeat after me: I, Sam, give you, Freddie this ring as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, so you complete me."
I look at the brunette and he stares into my blue eyes. "I, Sam, give you, Freddie this ring as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, so you complete me." I place the ring on his ring finger, sliding it all the way down to the end. He smiles at the ring before looking at me again like a little boy.
"Sam and Freddie, by the power vested in me by the state of Washington, I am pleased to pronounce you husband and wife. Sealed together today both in law and in love Under the eyes of God," Silence filled the room again as Freddie and I look at each other for the next six words to be said out of the pastor's mouth.
"You may now kiss the bride!"
Freddie moves two steps closer to me and he wraps his hands around my waist, and I do the same thing around his neck and finally...
We have our first kiss as Husband and Wife.
We hear cheering and clapping in the church and we pull away from each other, looking at our family and friends happy for us.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I now have the privilege of presenting, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Benson!"
More cheers surrounded the room as everyone stands up with smiles on their faces. I look at Freddie again and see him staring at me with a satisfied look on his face.
"Well, looks like you're stuck with me for good," I said smirking.
He laughs and looks down at me. "That's okay," He shrugged. "Because I get to be with you every day and I can't wait for it." He smiles as he leans over and kisses me for a couple of seconds before pulling away from me.
I can't believe I'm married to my new husband.
Now I'm officially... Mrs. Benson.
/ this is probably the longest chapter I have ever written for this story / (5,903 words to be exact)
I hope you guys enjoyed the ceremony! ^•^