He opened his eyes she was the first thing he thought of, he wondered if she would do the same, today was going to be one of the best days of his life.
She had agreed to become Mrs James three months ago when he had taken her to New York for the weekend they had taken a rowing boat out on the lake at Central Park and had a lovely afternoon as they walked back through the park they stopped at the Bethesda Fountain and he had drawn her closer for a tender kiss, now was the moment he got down on one knee and got the little box he had been carrying around in his pocket all day out, held her hand and asked the question. she hadn't hesitated for a single moment and agreed instantly his heart had almost burst as he slid the ring onto her finger.
He got out of bed, checked his phone, no messages and went to have a shower and shave. He looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror as put on a little of Molly's favourite after shave and put a little wax in his hair to tame the curls he wanted to look his best for her, as he moved back into the bedroom he heard his phone vibrate on the bedside table. He picked it up there was a new text message, he swiped to open it "see you soon handsome love you xoxo". He couldn't stop smiling as he took his suit out of the bag and began to get ready. His mother had gone with him to pick the suit they had agreed on pale grey in the end, with a white shirt and pale blue silk tie. He had just finished getting dressed apart from his jacket when he heard the door phone buzz. He came out from the bedroom and answered the intercom it was his father and Sam, he buzzed them in.
They had moved into their own flat together six months after Molly had got back from her second tour, Charles's parents were hosting Molly and the Dawes family at the old house to keep with the tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding. They had only wanted an intimate wedding for close family and friends, including two section of course, there was only one place that they wanted to have the day at the Pump Rooms, the place where they had their first date.
Sam was in a mini version of Charles's outfit he bounded down the hall and Charles scooped him up into his arms and gave him a big hug and kiss and told him how smart he looked. Charles sat him on one of the dining chairs to pin a small buttonhole onto his lapel and he gave his father a velvet pouch to look after containing the rings. Once they got to the venue his father would give them to Sam so that he could present them to Molly and Charles at the right moment in the ceremony, it was how Charles wanted to make Sam feel involved and and an important part of the day. Charles got his own jacket on and his father helped him pin on the Ivory rose buttonhole, he was ready to go and see his bride.
They arrived at the venue, the ceremony was in the Kingston room as he, Sam and his father were escorted to the room by the wedding organiser guests had already started to arrive he was met by the two section lads in the corridor indulging in their usual brand of banter with each other. They each shook his hand as he made his way into the room and went to take his place on the front row. The registrar approached him to check over the necessary details before she could marry them, which helped calm his building nerves, allowing him to revert to efficient "captain" mode as he answered her questions.
The room started to fill with guests, Charles glancing around the room from time to time to smile at them as they took their seats behind him. Sam held his hand as if sensing his nerves and his father gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He tuned into the classical music playing in the background Arioso by Bach, his mind drifted to the day Molly was due to arrive for their first date, he had felt the same nerves then, sat at the table occasionally glancing out of the window and drumming his fingers on the menu the same butterflies were fluttering around his stomach then as now. Then he had been worried if she would come or not and if she did what he would say to her, today he was nervous that everything would be perfect, he couldn't wait for her to arrive. He didn't have to wait long he was brought back from his thoughts as the registrar asked everyone to please stand for the bride.
He got to his feet and stood to attention, there was a moment of silence and then Clare de Lune by Debussy started, he heard the double doors at the top of the room open and took a moment before slowly turning to look over his shoulder. There she was stood with her dad, it was as if the rest of the room melted away and all that he could see was her, they held each other's gaze as she walked slowly forward, she was breathtaking, he put his hand up to his heart and held it there as if checking it hadn't stopped and followed her until she came to his side. He moved to hold her hand not taking his eyes from her for a single moment, he couldn't she had locked him there under her spell, they turned to face each other, it was time.