Chapter 17: I Do!
The time was almost here. She was about to dedicate herself and her entire life to one person. The man She loved.
Kelly sat nervously in her dressing room in the back of the church, awaiting the knock on the door that would tell her everyone was ready to witness her be joined In Holy matrimony. She stared at herself In the mirror and let out a contented sigh. Putting the finishing touches on her make-up and making sure she looked her best. Then she heard it. Three light taps on the door and then Melinda's voice.
"Kelly it's time."
Gathering her bouquet of flowers she rose off her seat and headed for the door. Before she opened it she turned around to look back at the mirror one last time.
"Goodbye, Kelly Rowan." She whispered to herself.
When she opened the door she was greeted with a hug by Melinda,. Then her eyes caught onto Craig's.
"Wow," he said, "you look truly beautiful!"
Kelly smiled before laying a kiss on his cheek. "let's do this thing!" She said as they heard the introduction to "Pachabell's Cannon" coming from the church organ.
Taking this as their cue Rachel and Mischa linked arms and walked down the aisle towards the alter closely followed my Katie and the maid of honour, Melinda. They all adopted their positions left of the alter and watched Peter as Craig offered his arm to Kelly.
"I am so honoured to be giving you away." He whispered to her as they began their glide down the aisle.
Int hat moment Peter turned around from his position and looked at his bride-to-be. She was stunning. Her dress clung to her body in the most perfect fashion. It was silk and white, went all the way to the floor and the straps crossed with each other over her shoulders. Kelly's hair was curled slightly and her flowers were as beautiful as her. Her secret of how she was going to look had been well worth the wait. When they reached the head of the church Kelly turned and Kissed Craig's cheek before he took his place by his father's side. Looking into one another's eyes Kelly offered her hand to Peter and they turned together to face the minister.
The minister's words travelled through the church air for everyone to hear before Kelly and Peter took the stage with their vows. Both had prepared vows of love and cherish, which they would uphold forever and in that moment they claimed them for all to hear.
"Do you Kelly Rowan take the Peter Gallagher to be your lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad, 'till death do you part?"
"I do."
Kelly took His ring and gently slipped up his finger.
"Do you Peter Gallagher take the Kelly Rowan to be you lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad, 'till death do you part?"
"I do"
He copied her motions sliding the platinum circle up her finger until it met her engagement ring, under her knuckle.
They smiled deeply and lovingly at each other.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!"
On hearing those words Peter encircled Kelly in his strong embrace and their lips met for a sweet but passionate kiss. Their tongues touching slightly not making the kiss inappropriate for church and their audience.
When they finally broke apart they turned to walk hand-in-hand out of the church as husband and wife. They stopped as they reached the steps outside and posed for photographs. Ones with friends, ones with family and the one that would hang proudly on their living room wall, One of just them, Mr and Mrs Peter and Kelly Gallagher.
It was then time to throw the bouquet which was caught by Rachel making Adam feel a little awkward but everyone laughed it off. Peter never let Kelly leave his arms.
"I have you and I'm never letting you go" he had whispered. She just hadn't thought he meant literally.
-
As they entered the reception all everyone stopped to admire the large cake that sat on a table . It had three tiers and two small figurines on the highest of them. Everybody watched in awe as they clasped their hands, Peter's on top of Kelly's, around the knife and split the white icing in a single stroke. They shared another kiss before seating themselves amongst their guests for the meal. So far everything had been perfect. Next the best man made his speech and everybody chatted away until the DJ announced Kelly and Peter to take to take the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple. He escorted her to the wooden floor before holding her close against him one hand clasping hers against his chest and the other on her back. They began to sway to the music of their chosen song "on the wings of love".
"Just
smile for me and let the day begin
You are the sunshine that
lights my heat within
I'm sure that you're an angel in disguise
Come take my hand and together we will rise
On the wings
of love
Up and above the clouds
The only way to fly
Is on
the wings of love
On the wings of love
Only the two of us
Together flying high
Flying high Upon the wings of love"
They stared happily into each other's eyes telling the other all they needed to know. Slowly other couples began to take to the floor swaying rhythmically together. Kelly and Peter did not notice them. All they saw was each other, to everything else they were oblivious. The music continued:
"You look at me and I begin to melt
Just like the snow when a ray of sun is felt
I'm crazy bout
ya baby can't you see
I'd be delighted if you could come with me
On the wings of love
Up and above the clouds
The only
way to fly
Is on the wings of love
On the wings of love
Only
the two of us
Together flying high
Flying high Upon the wings
of love"
"I love you" Peter whispered to her.
"I love you too". Soon they were kissing, not caring who was watching them as the song came to a close.
"Yes
you belong to me
I'm yours exclusively
Right now we live and
breathe Each other
Inseparable it seems,
We're flowing like a
stream
Running free flowing
On the wings of love
On
the wings of love
Up and above the clouds
The only way to fly
Is on the wings of love"
Everybody clapped them as they left the floor and collected a glass of champagne each to toast themselves as they thanked everybody for everything and told people to enjoy themselves.
After another couple of songs the music stopped unexpectedly.
"Before I play the next song, I believe Craig would like to say something."
Kelly and Peter watched as Craig rose to his feet and looked over at them. He cleared his throat.
"I everybody" he began. "the next song is a tradition at weddings, it's the father and daughter song. Now I know that Kelly wishes her father was here today as they say it's the proudest day in a man's life to see his little girl get married. I know that the song that is about to be played is infact a song that Kelly and her father shared a bond over. So Kelly I know it's not the same thing but, I had the great honour of walking you down the aisle and now I would like to ask you if you would do me another honour and share this dance with me?"
Kelly was touched. That was the nicest speech she had ever heard. She could feel a tear trickle down her cheek before Peter wiped it away with his finger. He couldn't have been more proud of his son. Who seemed to have a way with words.
"The honour would be mine" she smiled ot him attempting to hold back more tears.
Kelly and Craig took to the floor as the sweet tune of "A song for my daughter".
"Just
once upon a yesterday
I held you in my arms.
You grew into a
little girl
With lovely childhood charms.
Now it seems I only
turn around and I see you by his side.
Oh I can't believe my eyes
today,
My daughter is a bride"
They were allowed the opening verse before Peter and Katie joined them along with all the other proud fathers and daughters at the wedding..
"I
guess somehow I always knew
This day would soon be here.
Still
I wonder as I look at you what became of all the years.
And no
words could ever quite express
The way I feel inside.
Oh I
can't believe my eyes today,
My daughter is a bride.
All
the laughter and the tear drops,
The sunshine and the rain.
I
would re-live every moment dear,
If I could bring them all back
again.
And now my love, the time has come
To send you on your
way.
So I wish you well and happiness
And the blessings of this
day.
And I hope the love I've given you will forever be your
guide"
"I love you Kel. You mean the world to Katie and I and I hope you have had a wonderful day." Craig said as he spun her around.
"I love you too sweetie. And my day could not have been any better. It was the perfect fairytale wedding I always dreamed about. And that last part was definitely one of my highlights. Thank you."
At that the song finished and Kelly and Craig were met by a chorus of applauses.
Soon the reception was over after all the booze had been drunk and the DJ had played all his tracks.
Kelly and Peter left The party that night and everyone knew that they were off to put the final touches to their commitment as they headed home to an empty house where they would share their first married night of many. In the morning they would leave for their honeymoon. IT was the perfect end to the perfect day.