"I'm back." Donna calls out as she enters our room. "I decided to get dressed here. Too many small children in Ainsley's suite."
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise." I swing my legs off the bed and stand up to give her a hug and a kiss.
"Nice look." She says with a smile. I'm still in my boxers and t-shirt. It really doesn't take me that long to get dressed. I've got plenty of time.
"Do you like my hair?" She asks brightly.
Not particularly, but I'm not going to tell her that. It's one of those times where word choice is really important.
"Fancy!" I turn the mega-wyatt grin and dimples on and she assumes that I just said yes. Works for me.
She grins back. "I'm going to get dressed now. Maybe you should too?"
"I'll watch you first."
"Okay."
Donna sits down on the couch, and looks up at me. "Can you unbuckle my sandals?" I'm happy to help. As I take each one off, I caress her calves and ankles. I'm glad to see they aren't swollen. I'm concerned about her being in heels all day.
"Can you hand me that package?" She points to a bag on the desk. When I hand it to her she pulls out a flat, rectangular envelope. Ah, new pantyhose. But when she opens it and starts to put them on, I feel my eye-brows shoot up past my hairline. And that's not the only part of me that reacts. Those aren't pantyhose, they're thigh-high stockings.
She pretends not to notice but I see her sly smile. She's not impervious.
"Where- where'd ya get those?" I manage to squeak out.
"It was actually Brinley's idea. We were talking about how horrible pantyhose are at the end of pregnancy last night. After I told her how miserable I was, she suggested these. The bands at the top are sticky. So I don't even need a garter belt! I may never wear pantyhose again!"
"Okay with me." Maybe Brinley isn't so bad after all.
Once she has her legs full ensconced in the hose, she stands up, unties the wrap dress she wore to get her hair and make-up done, and let's it drop to the floor. My jaw drops with it.
She's just so incredible. The curve of her abdomen, the curve of her breasts, the curve of her ass. I adore her. I wish we had time for me to worship her right now. I groan slightly and she gives me a slightly sympathetic look. She isn't trying to tease me but I think she's genuinely pleased that her body still causes me to react so instantaneously.
She pads over to the closet and pulls out the dress. "Can you give me a hand?"
"Of course. Are we going over the head or stepping into it?"
"Stepping in." She unzips the dress and hands it to me to hold open. Then she takes my arm and puts one hand on the wall to steady herself as she steps through the opening. I help lift the top up so she can put her arms through the sleeves.
"Hold on. I'll zip you up." I move to her back and slowly slide the zipper up the column of alabaster skin. From this side you wouldn't even know she's pregnant. It's all baby, all up front.
Once I'm done our eyes meet in the mirror. She takes my breath away. The dress is floor length chiffon, The top part is lace. It doesn't really have sleeves, but it covers her shoulders. There's a wide belt just over her bump and when she puts her hand under her belly you can see the perfect roundness of it. She looks like a fertility goddess.
She looks at herself in the mirror and laughs. "I look like a tomato. A big giant tomato, why'd I talk Ainsley into this color? We could have had nice sage green dresses."
I'm torn between wanting to sing her praises, and laughing along with her. If the dresses were green, she'd be saying she looks like a head of lettuce or a Brussel sprout!
The laughter wins out. I can't help it. Sometimes she cracks me up. I wrap my arms around her. And she grins with me. I'm glad she's not mad.
"Oh god, Donna. Your body amazes me. The way it's changed to accommodate our baby. I'm absolutely breathless. You are a goddess." I put my hand next to hers and Lulu gives a few kicks in agreement. We hold each other for a few minutes, then Donna reminds me of our responsibilities.
"We've got to be downstairs for pictures in 15 minutes. You better get a move on."
"Yes, ma'am."
I dress pretty quickly. Then Donna straightens my tie and smooths the shoulders of my tux. She gives me a nod and smile. It's one of my favorite rituals.
"Too bad it's not a bow tie." She sighs.
"Yeah." I think once I get a certain age, I'm going to start wearing only bow ties and have Donna tie them for me every day. I wonder how old I'll have to be to get away with that?
"Don't tell Ainsley, but I'm kind of glad her Mom nixed the brown suits. You look sharp in that tux."
"I thought you liked my brown suits?"
"I do, but this is better. I mean, we look good."
We do. The grey tux is nice. The red vest and tie are a perfect match to Donna's dress. I'm normally not a big fan of renting, but this turned out okay.
"Alright, let's go." She links her arm through mine. At the elevator, she stops and gives me a kiss.
"You're meeting Sam in the lobby. You guys are going to the church to get some photos, while we take some here. Then they'll lock Sam up until the wedding. Your job is to keep him from bolting."
"He won't bolt. Even with the crazy in-laws, he doesn't have cold feet."
"I know. I meant you have to keep him from trying to find Ainsley. She's doing the traditional thing of not seeing him before the wedding."
"Okay. How are you getting to the church?"
"Ainsley's parents rented Limos."
I'm not really thrilled. I'd really rather our detail drove us. And there are enough extra agents that if we need two separate details that can be arranged. But really, there is nothing that suggests she's in any real danger from riding with the bridesmaids in the limo.
"Is Jackie going with you?"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
I'll be satisfied with that. It's just so hard to let them out of my sight sometimes. I can't even imagine sending Lulu to day care. I know we have to figure that out soon. I wonder if I can arrange for her to have her own detail?
When the elevator opens, Phil and I get on, while Jackie and Donna walk down the hall towards Ainsley's suite.
"So Phil, are you comfortable with Donna's arrangements?"
"Yes, sir, Jackie will ride in front with the driver. An SUV with 2 agents will follow. Ron wants more agents at the church before the special guests arrive anyway."
"I assume that roughly the same protocol applies to me."
"It depends." He says with a slight smirk.
"On what?"
"Whether or not you want to ride in the limo with Ainsley's brothers."
"Ha! Good point, but I wouldn't do that to Sam. I've got his back."
The pictures don't take that long. Thank goodness. The photographer gets group shots in front of the red church door, and some in front of the stone walls. Then she takes a few individual shots of Sam. He really could be in a Tommy Hilfiger ad. Then she takes a few individual ones of each of us. That's kind of nice. I bet the twins Mom will really like the pictures she got of them. They look really cute in their little bow ties and vests. She let them hang upside down from the railing for one of the shots.
Sam is pacing in front of the window. The shades are down so he can't see anything in case the girls walk by while they are getting their pictures outside of the church.
"Sam, why don't you have a seat?"
"Too much energy."
"Are you nervous?"
"Not at all. . . . I'm excited. Is this how you felt?"
"The J.O.P. had to hold me back from running down the aisle to meet her."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm telling you man, the doors are going to open and she's going to be standing there. And she's going to be so incredibly beautiful. It's going to hit you right here, I mean like, for real." I place my hand over my chest, recalling the feeling. "And your knees are going to feel a little weak, but you're also going to feel like you can do absolutely ANYTHING, because this woman, this incredible woman, is promising herself to you for life. And there's no other feeling in the world like it."
"Yeah?" Sam says with a slight smile.
"Yeah."
"How much longer?"
"Not much longer now."
Standing at the front of the church next to Sam is a bit surreal. A few years ago I never would have thought that either of us would make it to this point. Well, maybe Sam. He's always had a bit of a romantic streak. He may joke about wishing they had eloped but deep down, I know he's thrilled to be here in a big church, waiting for his bride to walk down the aisle on her father's arm, so that they can make their vows in front of God and two hundred and fifty of their closest friends.
This really is a nice church, Stone walls, lots of arches, stained glass windows. The music starts and I try to hold back my smirk. Sam really did a good one with this selection. I wonder how many people actually get it.
As Ainsley's cousins come down the aisle, I notice that their hair style is the same as Donna's. It's kind of weird. Their hair is smooth but there's an odd bump and then some little braids leading into a bun at the nape of the neck. It looks fine on them. I can't wait to get Donna's undone. I prefer it long and straight. This style doesn't let me run my fingers through her hair.
Ainsley's sisters in law come down the aisle next. I can only see Beau and Duke out of the corner of my eye, but they both smile broadly at their wives. I guess some things are universal.
My breath catches as the door opens and reveals Donna. Here she comes. She looks amazing. Definitely not like a tomato. She's still tall and willowy. And she's carrying our daughter with grace and strength. I honestly don't think she's ever looked more beautiful. She's smiling softly as she walks down the aisle with her eyes on mine. I can't help the grin on my face. I'm the luckiest man alive.
I watch Donna get settled in her space and when she looks up at me I give her a slow wink. Then I turn back towards the door. Brinley's almost all the way down the aisle. It won't be long now.
The boys are next. They walk solemnly up to me. I take the ring from the pocket in each of their pillows and cup them in my hand. Then they go stand by Duke.
The little girls are most of the way down the aisle when I notice Miranda Santos. She's watching them with what can only be described as a little bit of envy. It makes me feel a little bad that we eloped. She could have been our flower girl. But then the Flower Girls stop, and based on the looks they are giving each other, there could be blood shed. Instantaneously, the feeling of regret is gone.
"I'm out of petals! I need some of yours!" Maggie hisses loudly at her cousin. I can immediately see what the problem is. Maggie dropped a lot more flower petals early on and ran out, while Clemmie appears to have dropped exactly 1 petal every 12 inches. The aisle looks really funny. Clemmie looks to the front of the church for guidance. Her mother is nodding furiously, as is Brinley. Clemmie's lip pops out in an adorable pout, but she hold her basket out to her cousin who takes several fistfuls and transfers them into her own basket. The audience is trying to stifle their giggles while the girls finish the job and join their Moms on the stage.
When the music changes and the doors open, I see Sam sway like he just got hit in the chest. Now he knows the feeling too.
Ainsley is quite pretty. She's got this dress that is tight then suddenly puffy. Her hair is up in that crazy bump thing, but she's got a lot of curls coming out of hers, and falling over her shoulders. I didn't know she had that much hair. As she gets closer. I see that she has a tiara, I bite back the chuckle.
She doesn't hold a candle to Donna's simple cream dress and the flower tucked behind her ear. We didn't need the fuss and fanciness. And we certainly didn't need several hundred witnesses. We just needed each other.
When Ainsley and her Dad reach the front, the minister asks who gives this woman, and for a moment I worry that her Dad is going to say no. He's a little choked up, when he finally says "her Mother and I." I suddenly realize that someday I may have to give Lulu away. I can't even contemplate it.
Once the flower hand off has happened, and Ainsley's train is straightened, the minister starts the ceremony. Sam promises to love and cherish Ainsley, and she promises to love and cherish him. I can't see Sam's face, but she's grinning as she says it.
Then, I'm up when the minister says, "Do you have the rings?"
I've been clasping them in my hand ever since I got them from the twins. Sam holds his hand palm up and I place them gently into it. They might be a little sweaty. But he doesn't seem to mind.
"With this ring, I thee wed." He tells Ainsley, slipping hers onto her finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed." She responds putting his in place.
"By the power vested in me by the State of North Carolina, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Sam pulls Ainsley close to him, then takes her face in his hands, and he kisses her like no one is watching. Good for him.