—My Happily Forever After—
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JENNIE
6 months later
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"One year ago today I stepped in a pile of dog crap."
My stylist, Frangelica—yes, like the liqueur—meets my gaze in the mirror briefly and smiles. "Oh?"
Rosé snorts and takes another photo.
The cameraman steps to the right, presumably so he can pan in on my face.
"Is this the story of the first time you met?" Tori asks.
She popped in as soon as my makeup was done so she could get a few minutes with me while Fran finishes up with my hair. It's my wedding day and I'm clearly nervous since it's going to be livestreamed on Tori's YouTube channel.
"It is." I'm about to nod, but remember Fran is working on my hair.
"Oh! I've only heard Lisa's version! I want to hear yours!" Tori claps her hands excitedly.
So I tell her my version, including all the little details, the bang we thought was an earthquake, the broken unicorn glass, the way I lost my ability to speak and string together logical sentences because Lisa was so disarmingly handsome and ridiculously composed. I recall how annoyed and flustered I was, so much so that I stepped in the dog poop I'd marked with a flower and forgot about. Recounting the story helps settle my nerves.
So much has happened in the past year, but the last six months have been an amazing whirlwind. Chan recorded Lisa's proposal and shared it on social media after I said yes. From there things went a little crazy, especially with the incessant requests from people who wanted to see us tie the knot live.
So we agreed to let Tori do the honors, in part because of her role in bringing us together. Yes, there were other variables and factors at play, but if we hadn't been competing against each other, and then eventually banding together to outdo DB, we may not have fallen in love. Shoddy plumbing shut DB down after the Love Is in the Air event, and they ended up relocating to another end of town. The building across the street has been turned into a software company with fifty new employees, which means more business for us.
Which means The Manoban Cap and Cupcakery is thriving.
When we opened the wall between BB and The Manoban Cap we needed to find a way to blend the two very distinct, very different themes. Instead of a complete overhaul, we found a way to work the plaid into my side and the whimsy of cupcakes into hers without emasculating it entirely.
My family shows up as I finish the story. There's a whole lot of hugs and hands flapping in front of faces to ward off the tears. My parents have really come around in the past year, offering support and praise without trying to take over. Although Lisa is pretty good at standing her ground and politely telling them to back off. I've even gotten better at it, too.
Eventually we shoo everyone out of the back room—it's not really made for more than two or three people—so Rosé can help me into my dress.
My dress isn't quite the typical bridal gown. It's far more representative of me and Lisa and where we met, which is here. It's champagne colored and the entire bustier top is red and black plaid. It matches Lisa's tux with her red vest and plaid tie.
"Lisa is going to lose her freaking mind when she sees you in this dress," Rosé mutters. "Let's hope she can make it through the reception instead of dragging you into the office."
I snort indelicately, as though the idea is completely ludicrous. "As if." I can feel my face going red, especially since my mom is also in the room with us.
"Not according to Chan," she mumbles.
"What did you just say?"
She gives me a serene smile. "Hmm?"
I poke her in the shoulder. "Since when do you and Chan gossip about what Lisa and I do behind closed doors?"
Her smile turns into a smirk. "You mean closed office doors, which happen to be right across the hall from the stockroom."
I don't get to grill her about it because there's a knock on the door, but I make a mental note to give Chan hell for telling Rosé about the office incident. He was supposed to take that to the grave.
Rosé opens the door for my dad. "Care Jennie, you look gorgeous." He pulls me in for a huge hug and for once I don't hate that nickname. He holds me at arm's length, eyes watery, a sad smile on his face. "You ready for this?"
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life." And it's true. I can't wait to marry Lisa, because then we can officially start our forever. I slip my arm through his. "You ready to walk me down the aisle and give me away?"
"Never, but I can see how much you two love each other, so I'm willing to put my own feelings aside on this one." He winks and gives my arm a squeeze. "I don't really feel like I have any words of wisdom to impart to you where marriage is concerned, all considering."
I lean my head on his shoulder. "You taught me that love doesn't always fit into a neat little box, and I'm a better person for it. Plus, normal families are boring."
He chuckles and bends to kiss me on the cheek. "I'm glad she loves you enough to deal with the rest of us."
"We're kind of a package deal, aren't we? Now let's get out there so I can marry the one that I want."
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The wedding march starts—bagpipes, of course—and we walk down the short hall, turn left at the end of the bar and there's Lisa.
Her hand goes to her chest and she tips her chin up to the ceiling; her eyes fall closed for the briefest moment and she murmurs something that makes Gramps squeeze her arm. Of course he's Lisa's best man.
As I make my way down the aisle, past our family and friends and Tori and the camera crew, I feel like I'm falling backward through time, Alice traveling to Wonderland, to the moment when Henry and Dottie found their forever in exactly the same place, on exactly the same day, sixty-three years ago. History sometimes repeats itself in the most magical ways.
When I finally reach Lisa, my dad kisses me on the cheek and I take Lisa's hand. She looks magnificent and happy and a tad nervous, and like she's on the verge of tears. So am I.
"God, you're beautiful." She squeezes both of my hands. "You look like you were made for me."
I squeeze back. "That's because I am."
And I know without a doubt that Lisa is mine. That we'll stand beside each other through all the good times and the bad, that we'll argue and cry and laugh and love.
She's the icing to my cupcake. My happily forever after.
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—THE END—