Chapter 16: The night before.
It was the 8th of June and it was the night before the wedding. Neither Kelly nor Peter had wanted to have a proper bachelor party or hen night so their friends arranged for everybody that was close family and friends to attend a meal. The meal was to take place promptly at seven o'clock to allow a couple of hours before they split into groups for the night. Melinda was Kelly's maid of honour so it was her job to ensure Kelly was ready in the morning. For that purpose it was arranged that Melinda would stay the night at Kelly's and Peter would stay with Jake.
Kelly and Peter walked hand-in-hand into the restaurant to find everybody else already assembled at the table. They had a massive table in the corner where nobody would interrupt and it was nice and private. Katie and Craig sat Opposite each other at the end of the table grinning with delight as they saw them enter. Everybody that they loved was there. Kelly's mum had flown over, Melinda, Jake, Mischa, Adam, Ben and Rachel had all come and of course Peter's kids. Smiling at each other Kelly and Peter took there seats next to each other as everybody greeted them, The table was beautifully decorated with candles and white rose petals were scattered everywhere. The cutlery and china were very fancy and three bottles of the most expensive champagne sat in the middle of the table.
Whilst they ate everybody chatted away to each other and the guys were digging for information of what Kelly's wedding dress was like. Nobody had seen it. Only herself, Melinda and the sales woman. Kelly had insisted on keeping it a surprise with the hope of blowing peter away when he turned around to watch her walk down the aisle.
"I'm not telling you anything!" Kelly teased.
"Why not? We just want to know what it's like."
"It's a surprise. I want to impress people when they look at me and have them think I look beautiful."
"And us knowing what the dress is like will not make you look beautiful?" Adam asked still probing.
Peter loved how excited Kelly sounded. "That's impossible" he butted in "she would look beautiful no matter what she wears. Plus I am looking forward to the surprise." He kissed her as she turned and gave him a look of thanks.
Everyone around the table was excited. As they finished the meal it was time for the toasts. Taking everybody by surprise Craig got to his feet and hushed everyone before turning to look at Kelly and Peter who were sitting with their fingers laced together.
"I would like to say a few words" He swallowed and took a deep breath feeling slightly nervous before continuing. "I know that my Dad and Kelly are very grateful to everyone for being here tonight and for supporting them throughout their relationship. Katie and I have often spoken about why Dad seems so much happier now than he did before and in the end we have always concluded it to one reason. True love. Kelly is an amazing woman and I think everybody can tell how much my Dad loves her but also how much she loves him. When he and Kelly got together it was like he came alive again and is a new, better man purely because she makes him happy. Katie and I want you to know Dad that nothing makes us happier than seeing you like this and we hope you have that happiness for eternity, which we know you will because you and Kelly will be together forever, You're destined to be together. Good luck for tomorrow. And Kelly Katie and I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that you also mean the world to us and we now can't imagine life without you. You are just like a mother to us. We love you very much."
At that Craig sat back down. Looking at his father and Kelly who were both crying. Kelly a little more obvious that Peter but it was still obvious.
"Kelly and Peter! May they live happily ever after!" Melinda yelled as she raised her glass prompting the other to follow.
Kelly turned to Peter and Kissed him before whispering "I love you" into his ear.
"Oh I love you too".
After they chatted a little while longer everybody left the table and they went to the bar where they could sit on comfortable sofas. Kelly held Peter back.
"Can you get Craig to come here for a moment" she asked.
Peter nodded and went to fetch him.
"Hey Kel what's up?" he asked as they came back.
She hugged him. "Thank you for what you said. It was beautiful"
"You're welcome. I meant every word of it."
"I hope you know that I love you and Katie too. Just like you were my own children".
This made Peter smile as she said this.
"Craig sweetie," she continued," I wanted to ask you if you would do me a huge favour tomorrow?"
"Sure, name it anything" Craig said.
"Well, as you know I don't have a father to walk me down the aisle and I wondered if you would do me the honour. I know it's not how it's meant to be but I don't wanna walk down on my own and I can think of nobody else I'd rather have do it."
Now Craig was crying. "Kelly it would be my pleasure." He hugged her tight before he went away.
"Us that ok with you." she turned to Peter.
He just smiled and said "God I love you so much."
She kissed him until Melinda's voice interrupted.
"Right come on Kel! Time to go. Say good bye."
"Okay." she turned back to Peter who looked down. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing" he said " I just don't wanna spend the night away from you."
"well I don't want to be without you either, but it's bad luck to see the bride befor ethe wedding." She reasoned.
He held her close to him in his arms and kissed her temple.
"Plus," she continued "after tomorrow we will have every night together for the rest of our lives".
This made him smile "yeah, you're gonna be my wife, and I'm gonna be the happiest man alive."
They kissed the nicest of all their kisses, it was full of love and want for each other. Neither thought they could ever stop until Melinda grabbed Kelly's arma dn forced her away.
"Enough time for that tomorrow." She laughed as she pulled kelly out the door.
"I love you!" Peter called after them.
Both Kelly and Peter lay alone in their beds that night dreaming of their whole future together as Husband and wife, It was the best dream either of them have ever had.