Chapter Thirty-Four ~ Joey's P.O.V.
Sitting in front of the mirror in Bessie's room I watch as Jen fiddles with the clip that will hold my veil in place.
"Jen I'm sure its fine." I say wincing as she pushes another painful bobby pin against my skull.
"I just don't want this coming loose." She mumbles around the two or three pins between her lips.
"Don't worry it won't." I assure her, when all I desperately want is pull out the offending objects. My hair is piled on top of my head, with a mass of ringlets cascading down the back of my head and falling to just below my shoulders. Pacey always loves it when I were my hair like this I think, smiling broadly as I think about him for the hundredth time today.
"Jo, how can you be so calm? You're getting married in less than an hour." Jen exclaims, nervously chewing on her lip as she assesses my appearance.
"I'm not calm, trust me. It's taking all my self-control not to freak out and completely fall apart, but every time I feel myself slipping I just think about Pacey, and what our life is going to be like and all my wedding jitters disappear."
"Aw you guys are so meant for each. I can't believe that today is finally here, you are going to be so happy." She says smiling at me.
"I know." I smile back at her. Jen looks really pretty today. Her hair is pulled up into a French twist, and there are tiny flowers intertwined into it that match the flowers decorating the tent, the yard and the flowers in our bouquets. We still haven't put our dresses on; we're waiting until the last possible moment so that they don't get wrinkled before the ceremony.
"Hey how's it going in here?" Bessie asks stepping into the room.
"We're almost ready. What time is it?" Jen asks, again fussing with my hair.
"It's 1:00, they guys should be here anytime now so don't go wandering around. Everything out here is all set. Andie's been a great help getting everything organized. By the way you guys look great."
"Thanks." I say smiling at my sister.
Suddenly Bessie's expression becomes serious as she looks at me, our eyes meeting in the reflection of the mirror. "It's a beautiful day Jo. Everything looks perfect. I'm so proud of you." She says coming over and hugging me "Mom would be too." Her voice cracks as her emotions get the best of her.
"I wish she were her Bess. I miss her so much." I say tearfully returning her hug.
"Oh no. No crying you two. I just spent the last two hours making you beautiful, I won't have you ruining it with tears." Jen says over the frog in her own throat, trying to lift the sombre mood of the room.
Carefully I wipe the tears from my eyes and smile at my friend.
"That's better, now I'm going to put my dress on. I'll be back in five minutes to help you with yours." She says hugging me quickly. Letting me know how much she cares with the simple gesture.
"Okay." I say watching her hurry from the room.
"Wow, Jo you look amazing!" Andie gushes as she enters the room carrying a clipboard. "Okay, Bessie every things all set in the tent, the photographer just got here, so he's setting up for the ceremony."
"Hey Andie." I say cheerfully, knowing that today must be hard for her given her past with Pacey.
"Pacey's eyes are going to pop out of his head when he sees you." Andie says admiring my dress, which is laid out on the bed.
"As long as he remembers his vows."
"And your name." Andie says as she recalls an old episode of Friends.
"Alright, I'm back. Now let's get you dressed." Jen says breathlessly as she runs back into the room.
"Hi Jen, you look great." Andie says greeting her.
"Thanks, you too. Turning to me she grins. Also the guys just got here, that's why I was rushing so they wouldn't see me. Pacey looks so sexy in his tux, Jack too for that matter. I have to say our boys clean up really nicely."
"I know." I say grinning back at her, resting the urge to squeal and giggle.
"Joey, I'm going to go make sure that Jack and Bodie know they can start seating guests." Bessie says hugging me one last time. "I love you!"
"I love you too Bessie." I say smiling.
"Okay, I'll send Bodie in for you when we're ready to start." She says when she reaches the door.
"So how are we doing this?" Jen asks picking up my dress.
"I think I need to step into it. That way I won't wreck my hair or make up." I say getting up from the stool in front of the vanity.
"Wow!" Andie says, staring at me as I take off my silk robe and lay it on the bed.
"Yeah, well I thought that since I'm only doing this once I'd go all out." I say smiling at my two friends in my white silk stockings, garter belt and teddy.
"Pacey's going to die a happy man, that's for sure." Jen grins wiggling her eyebrows at me.
"He's already happy." I say sticking my tongue out at her.
"That's because you're both total nymphomaniacs."
"We are not!" I say indignantly.
"Please!" Andie says joining in on our bantering. "The way Jack tells it you two go at it all the time."
"Not all the time!" I stress. "Jen, tell her?" I beg my best friend.
"Sorry Jo, but she right." Jen giggles.
"Fine, we're total nympho's who go at it twenty four, seven. Are you happy now?" I say pouting.
"Pfft!" Jen says waving a hand towards me. "Now come here, let's get this dress on you before you have to get married in your underwear."
"Somehow, I don't think Pace would mind." I say raising an eyebrow at her and grinning. I step into the dress and turn around so Jen can secure the zipper before reaching for my veil.
"Sit!" she commands pushing me towards the bench in front of the vanity again, so she can attach it to the clip that is still digging painfully into my scalp. Once Jen's sure that its secure I reach for my shoes.
"Wait!" Andie screeches as I begin fastening the second shoe. "You need this." She says producing a penny.
"Why?" I ask not sure what I'm supposed to do with it, and what it has to do with my shoes.
"My mom told me about this along time ago, she says that if you put a penny in your shoe on your wedding day, it brings prosperity to the marriage. You have to do it."
"Andie, in case you haven't noticed, these are sandals, the penny will just fall out." I say lifting the hem of my dress to show off the shoes.
"No problem, we'll just tape it into the insole that way it wont be too uncomfortable." She says after thinking about it for a couple on minutes.
"Fine!" I sigh taking off my shoe and handing it to her.
"Jo, while we're doing the silly tradition thing. Grams wanted you to have this. Jen says producing a blue garter for around my leg. It's your something blue, and she says every bride needs the something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."
"Well, I think I've got the something borrowed and something old covered." Bessie says coming back into the room. She holds up a pair of simple diamond earrings.
"Oh Bess!" I exclaim recognizing them as the ones Mom left her when she passed away. "I thought you should have a little piece of her with you today."
"Thank-you." I say hugging my sister tightly.
"So we've got old, borrowed and blue now we just need something new." Jen says looking around.
"Jen, my dress. It's something new, so I think that will count." I say.
"Here you go." Andie says handing me back my shoe.
"Thanks. How do I look?" I ask nervously, standing up smoothing the non-existent wrinkles out of my dress.
"Stunning!" Bessie says.
"Okay, now I'm nervous. What if I trip? Say the wrong thing?" I ask wringing my hands together.
"Joey, remember it's Pacey. He loves you, nothing is going to go wrong. Trust me." Jen smiles trying to reassure me.
"Phew!" I exhale, releasing some of the tension I'm feeling. "What time is it?"
"Almost 2:00, you ready?" Bessie asks.
"Yeah, where's Bodie?"
"I'm right here Princess." He says smiling as he steps into the room, looking very handsome in his tuxedo. "What do you say we get this show on the road? You've got one very nervous groom standing out there at the alter."
Smiling at him, I'm glad that Pacey's nervous about what is about to happen as well. "Okay, lets go. I just need my bouquet. Andie would you mind? They're in fridge keeping fresh." I say as she automatically starts towards the kitchen.
Bodie takes my arm, and Jen hurries out in front of us. "Remember, just like we practiced." He winks at me, as he pulls my veil over my face.
"Here you guys go." Andie says returning, handing Jen and I our flowers.
"Thanks, now get out there." Jen says shooing her from the room. As she slips into her seat behind Bessie, she cues the harpist to begin playing the music.
Jen steps out into the sunshine making her way toward the alter, beneath the archway. Bodie then leads me out of the house; reaching the aisle the string quartet starts to play the wedding march.