"Surprise! We couldn't miss you getting married, honey".
"Aunt Gretch! Aunt Emmaline! Aunt Vic! You made it!"
"Yeah, we did. Jonathan called and told us he had bought us tickets. We would have been here earlier, but our flight was delayed in Minneapolis".
She turned and kissed him.
"You're the greatest. I love you".
She went and gave each of them a hug and sat and chatted with them for a few minutes.
The waitress came and brought everyone their menus, so she got up and went and sat by Jonathan, across from her aunts.
After everyone had ordered, Jonathan got everyone's attention.
"Thank you all for being here tonight, especially last minute. It means the world to us, really. It's been a stressful and whirlwind last few days, but we managed to move the wedding up a month and get ready for it in about 36 hours time without any hitches so far."
"He's right. We so appreciate everyone's flexibility".
"Tomorrow, the wedding will start at 2, and after this gorgeous woman is officially my wife, we will throw the biggest party this town has ever seen".
Jennifer linked her arm through Jonathans and nodded in agreement.
The steaks were amazing, and the sides were generous, and everyone had a lovely time.
Stephen formally welcomed Jonathan to the family, and everyone agreed that it felt like he'd always been one of them.
"So who is in the wedding party?"
"Well, Ava and Cassie are my two attendants."
"And Max and Bill McDowell are mine. Bill couldn't make it tonight, he is flying back from a business meeting."
Stephen paid the check, and they all walked outside.
Stephen and Jennifer's aunts were all staying at the same hotel, so they took a cab from the restaurant.
"Goodnight, thanks for coming. I will see you guys tomorrow".
"Jennifer, I just love this dress. Where did you find it?"
"It was one of the contenders for my wedding dress."
"It's perfectly lovely".
"Well, thank you. I love it more than I thought it would".
"Ok, sweetheart. I will see you tomorrow."
"Perfect. We will bring your tie with us, or Jonathan will, I suppose. Gray suit, light blue shirt".
"Perfect".
"I love you, sweetheart. I'll see you tomorrow".
"I love you too Pa".
Jonathan and Jennifer, Cassie and Ava, and Max all headed home.
"Where are you two staying?"
"We didn't get a room yet. We were just going to wing it. The Times is paying for the Four Seasons, but not till tomorrow night".
"Well, Jonathan and Max were going to spend tonight at the corporate apartment and I'm staying at the house. Why don't you two stay with me? It can be like a slumber party".
"Great idea!"
They all came into the house and Ava and Cassie went upstairs to get settled.
Jonathan and Jennifer went to the bedroom.
"Darling, can you unzip me?"
"Sure".
After she was in her pajamas and his bag was packed, they went to the living room.
"Now you know how to turn on the security system? And you know how to use the cameras, right?"
"We will be fine, Jonathan".
"Miss Edwards, I made you guys some snacks, and I also went to the market today, so there's popcorn, chips, salsa, whatever you like".
"Thanks, Max".
He headed to the garage to get in the car, while Jonathan was saying goodbye to Jennifer.
"I love you, and tomorrow, you are going to make the happiest man ever".
"I love you too, I can't wait to marry you".
"Oh you can't? Say the word, I'll call Jack. We can be in Vegas and married within an hour".
"Jonathan! We can't do that, besides a Vegas wedding is so tacky".
"I'll marry you any chance I get".
He gave her several passionate kisses.
"You have the tie for Pa? And Bill?"
"Yes."
"Perfect".
"Ok, so a limo will pick you three up tomorrow at 12 and bring you to the wedding hall".
"Wonderful".
"And the next time I see you, you will be walking down the aisle".
"I can't wait."
A few kisses and 'I love you's' later, he left.
The girls came downstairs in their pajamas.
"We brought wine and New York style Cheddar popcorn".
"Yum! I haven't had that in ages".
"Ok, we need to pick our dresses".
"Yes, we do."
Ava and Cassie had both brought the same 4 dresses. They put on all the dresses and let Jennifer see them in each one.
"Ok, which one are you more comfortable in?"
"I like the strapless one. Actually, I like all of them except the high neckline one".
"Yeah, I agree with that".
"Ok, so that one's out. And I like the halter, but I think I'm going to eliminate it too. So, we now have the strapless bandeau and the strapless sweetheart one".
The strapless sweetheart gown had a sequined bodice, and a soft organza waistline with several layers. The strapless bandeau had a banded hemline at the top, and several tucked layers across the bandeau. After several minutes of hemming and hawing, Jennifer chose the sweetheart strapless dress.
They sat around talking and giggling and having fun till about 2 a.m, and then they headed to bed.
They all piled into Jonathan and Jennifer's bed and went to sleep.
***Saturday***
Jennifer woke up when her alarm went off at 7. She quietly got out of bed and went to make coffee.
The phone rang while she was in the kitchen, and she quickly grabbed it.
"Hello?"
"Morning, gorgeous. Miss me last night?"
"Immensely".
"I missed you too. Listen, I ordered breakfast for you three from Smokey Joe's. It will be delivered in 20 minutes".
"You're wonderful".
"I love you, I can't wait to marry you today".
"I can't wait to marry you today".
"I'll be the one with the biggest smile on his face at the altar."
"I think I might be able to spot you".
"I love you, I'll see you at the altar".
"I love you too".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up the phone.
Ava and Cassie came in to the kitchen then.
"Morning".
"Morning. Jonathan ordered us breakfast, it should be here soon".
"That was very kind of him".
"Yeah, it was. He's always so thoughtful".
"Ok, so how are you going to wear your hair, have you decided?"
"Well, I'm going with a tiara and not a veil, so probably ringlet curls with the top pulled back so the tiara can fit on top".
"Wonderful idea".
"We have hair and nail appointments at 10, and then we have to be back here by 12 for the limo to pick us up".
"Great. Do you want us to have updo's or what?"
"Whatever you want".
"You are the most laid back bride, I swear".
"I wasn't earlier this week, I promise you".
Their breakfast arrived, and Jennifer got them all set up. They ate and then she started running around like crazy.
She took a shower, and got dressed in some skinny jeans and a black tank top.
They hurried to the salon, and got all dolled up.
Jennifer looked absolutely beautiful.
As soon as they got back home, they slipped into their dresses. Ava made her a garbage bag dress to slip over her head just in case so Jonathan wouldn't see her walking to the bridal room.
Jennifer had on her mother's dress, some white strappy stiletto heels, and her mother's earrings.
Once they arrived at the wedding hall, Jennifer, Ava and Cassie were ushered into the bridal room.
The photographer came and took some pictures of her and the girls getting ready, and then took them to do some pictures outside.
They staged a photo with her and Jonathan where he was blindfolded and they were kissing and holding hands.
"Darling, we forgot rings! We never got them!"
"Yes, we did. Well, I did. I picked them up the other day, it's ok".
"Really? Ok great".
She held his hands and the photographer gave them a few minutes alone.
"You still want to marry me, darling?"
"Yes, you?"
"Absolutely".
"Great, glad to hear it".
She kissed him a few more times and then Max came and took him to the groom's suite and she went back to the bridal suite.
Jonathan sent Bill with her wedding present.
"Hey pretty lady, your groom wanted me to give you this".
He kissed her cheek.
"You are so gorgeous. Listen, there's a closet in our groom's suite. You say the word and I'll stuff him in it and take his place at the altar".
Jennifer chuckled.
"Maybe next time".
She opened the package and found a card and a box.
"Out of everything I've done in my life, by far the greatest and best was finding you and falling in love with you. See you at the altar, baby. I love you, Jonathan".
She opened the box and found a gorgeous diamond and emerald tennis bracelet.
Jennifer sent Cassie to give Jonathan his gift-a silver Rolex with a black leather band. On the back she had inscribed "Hart to Hart", and two interlocking hearts.
Her note to him said "No matter what, from this day forth, we will always and forever be the Harts. Two Harts are better than one. I love you, Jennifer".
"Ok, so let's see. Do you have your something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?"
"Something old is my mom's earrings. Something new is my bracelet. Something borrowed is my mom's dress, I suppose. And something blue is this my garter".
"You're all set".
"I just want to tell you two thank you so much for being here with me. I couldn't have done it without you".
"It's our pleasure. We couldn't have and wouldn't have missed this for anything".
The photographer got several sweet shots of them together. And just before Stephen came to walk Jennifer down the aisle, she got a great shot of Ava and Jennifer holding hands.
At precisely 2 p.m., the wedding started.
The ceremony was outside on the patio.
Jonathan and Max and Bill walked down the aisle to "What a Wonderful World".
Ava and Cassie walked down the aisle to "Make You Feel My Love".
Everyone stood up, and then Stephen and Jennifer walked down the aisle to "Can't Help Falling in Love with You".
Jonathan teared up when he saw her, and couldn't get over how beautiful she looked.
The minister kept it short and sweet, which was what they had both asked for.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Jonathan and Jennifer have elected to write their own vows. Jonathan, you may begin".
She handed her flowers to Ava, and then he took both of her hands.
"Ever since I met you in London, I've been captivated by you. You did something to me, and I could feel it, but I couldn't put it into words. I was so scared of my feelings, that I convinced myself that we didn't have anything. And then we survived the plane crash, and ever since that day, I've been consumed with protecting you and caring for you. And somewhere along the way, we fell in love, and you've made me so happy ever since. We've had our ups and downs, that's for sure. But we've gotten through it together, and I do believe it's made us stronger. My heart is frozen, darling. And I hope it never thaws out and loses its love for you. More than anything in the whole world, I want to go to bed every night knowing that I'm waking up to you in the morning. And every morning, I'm going to choose you all over again. You're not only my best friend, and my soul mate, you are the love of my life. I promise to spend the rest of our days together telling you and showing you just how much I love you".
Jennifer wiped away the stray tear that had found its way to her cheek.
Cassie handed her a piece of paper with her vows on it.
"Jonathan, when I met you, I was caught off guard by your charming personality, and those deep blue eyes of yours. And we survived the plane crash, and to this day I haven't figured out how. You saved me, not only from the perilous waters of the ocean, and the bad intentions of other people, but from myself. You have shown me that I am capable of doing more than just working myself to death. You have shown me that it's not only the big things in life that matter, but the little things too. You have shown me that it's not so much what you do in life, but also who you do it with that counts. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone other than you. I am so excited to see what lies ahead for us, and I know that because I am on this journey with you, that we can handle anything. You never fall short of making me feel desired, loved, cared for, protected, and important. I promise to do everything I can to make you feel the same way, each day, for the rest of our lives. And in case I forget to tell you at some point in the next 50 years, I love you with all my heart and soul, and my heart is frozen too".
"Jonathan and Jennifer will now exchange rings. Jonathan tells me this part will be a surprise for Jennifer, because she hasn't seen them yet."
Bill handed the rings to Jonathan, who handed them to the minister.
"Jonathan, place Jennifer's ring on her finger and repeat after me".
Jonathan slid the ring on her finger, and she gasped at how beautiful it was. It was a curved white gold band with pave diamonds. It fit her engagement ring perfectly.
"I Jonathan, take you Jennifer, to be my wife. Your love is my anchor, your trust is my strength. I will give you all my love from now until the end of eternity. You make my life complete".
He slid the ring over her knuckle and then slipped her engagement ring off her right hand and onto her ring finger in front of her wedding band.
"Jennifer, please place Jonathan's ring on his ring finger and repeat after me".
Jennifer slipped the ring on his finger, and then repeated the minister.
"I Jennifer, take you Jonathan, to be my husband. Your love is my anchor, your trust is my strength. I will give you all my love from now until eternity ends. You make my life complete".
"By the powers vested in me by God and the State of California, I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has brought together, let no man put asunder. Jonathan, you may kiss your bride".
He leaned forward and picked her up and kissed her passionately, while everyone clapped.
Ava handed her flowers back and they turned to the audience.
"I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hart".
"Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles began to play as they walked up the aisle and into the tent that was off the side.
"We did it, Mr. Hart".
"We sure did, Mrs. Hart".
He kissed her a few times while they waited for the rest of the wedding party to come.
They took about 100 pictures, and then they headed inside for their reception.
They shared their first dance to "Up Where We Belong".
"Darling, are we staying at the house tonight?"
"No, we have a room downtown".
"Well, can we go by the house so I can get my honeymoon bag?"
"Certainly".
Their reception was full of dancing, fun, and great food. Everyone had a blast.
Jennifer went to sit with her aunts for a bit while Jonathan was mingling with some of his Navy buddies.
"Sweetheart, when are you two leaving on your honeymoon?"
"I have no idea. It's a surprise."
"You sure do look beautiful, and your mother's wedding gown looks absolutely gorgeous on you".
"Thank you. I fell in love with it the minute I slipped it on".
Jonathan came and took Jennifer to the dance floor.
"Do you want to tell everyone we're expecting?"
"You can".
He grabbed a microphone and got everyone's attention.
"Jennifer and I are about to cut the cake, and then after that we are heading out. So, before we do, we just want to take a minute and say thank you for coming and sharing in this special occasion with us. It means the world to us that you love us and wanted to be here. We originally picked this locale because the moment that Jennifer saw this room, she fell in love with it. And she painstakingly planned every detail of this wedding, and more than anything she wanted it to be perfect. So, to that end, she was a little panicked when the club called a few days ago and said they weren't going to be able to accommodate us. But we pulled it together and got everything moved to today, with only 4 days notice. Now, we have some announcements to make. Darling, if you open this envelope, you will see where we are going on our surprise honeymoon".
She took the envelope from him, and opened it.
"Antigua! Hello, beach time".
She leaned up and kissed him.
"And now for the next announcement. A few weeks ago, Jennifer told me she had a riddle for me, and that it was going to be a hard one. Here goes. What do you get when you mix a heart and an Edward? And the answer is, a boy or a girl. We elected to wait, so we will get back to you just before Christmas on what the answer is".
Everyone clapped and cheered for them.
"Ok, so now we are going to cut the cake and then do the bouquet toss and garter toss, and then we will head out. Thank you all for loving us and sharing in this special day".
He turned and kissed her, and then they walked over to the cake table.
Their wedding cake was absolutely gorgeous. They did their toast, and linked their arms together to take a sip. They cut the cake and she fed him a piece of the vanilla. They went to cut the groom's cake, which was devil's food, and he fed her a piece.
They did the bouquet toss, and Cassie caught it.
Next was the garter toss. Jennifer sat in a chair, and Jonathan pulled her dress up and slipped the garter off her leg using only his teeth. Stanley caught it and was mortified.
He dutifully slipped it on Cassie's leg, and they spent a few minutes staring at each other.
Jonathan and Jennifer shared one last dance, to "It Had to be You", by Frank Sinatra.
After it was over, they did the legal stuff, like signing the marriage license, and paying the bill.
Cassie and Ava went to help Jennifer pack up her stuff in the bridal room.
"Jennifer, what do you know about Stanley?"
"He's one of Jonathan's employees. He's very intelligent and dependable. He's also the most nervous human being I think I've ever seen".
"He has the cutest ears".
"Really Cassie? You come all this way to LA and fall in love at Jennifer's wedding?"
"He has the most beautiful eyes, Ava. And who said anything about falling in love?"
"Tread carefully, Cassie. From what I can tell, Stanley hasn't had much experience".
Everyone lined up outside, and Jonathan and Jennifer ran through as everyone tossed streamers on them, and cannons shot off silver glitter.
Bill and Jack had decorated Jonathan's convertible with beer cans hanging off the back, and strings of condoms hanging off the side mirrors. They had tied a "Just Married" sign across the back of the car. They had also filled the backseat with packing peanuts.
He picked her up and placed her in the car, and then after a few pictures, they drove off.
Stephen, the aunts, Ava and Cassie, and Max all followed them back to the house.
"It was a lovely wedding, sweetheart and you looked absolutely beautiful".
"Thank you Pa. I'm so glad you could make it".
Everyone brought the wedding gifts in and filled the dining room with them.
Jennifer and Jonathan took their luggage to the Land Rover.
After she told her aunts goodbye and said goodbye to her dad and Cassie and Ava, she and Jonathan headed out.
He had gotten them a room at the Ritz-Carlton.
They checked in and headed to the room.
Jonathan was starving so they ordered from The Bistro and had it delivered.
Jennifer sat on the bed and started rubbing her feet.
"So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"We are sleeping till we wake up and then calling Jack. He's flying us to Miami, and then we are taking a commercial flight to Antigua."
"Wonderful".
She stepped into the bathroom and slipped into a pale pink baby doll nightgown and matching robe.
She was combing her hair out and taking out all the pins.
"I swear I think I'm going to have glitter in my hair till I'm 40".
Their dinner arrived and he paid the guy and brought it in.
They decided to eat on the patio.
They chatted about the wedding while they ate, and how much they loved it.
"I really think Cassie and Stanley have something. Did you see the way they were staring at each other?"
"You should have heard him going on about her in the groom's suite. He couldn't say enough times how pretty she was".
After they were finished eating, he changed into some pajama shorts.
Jennifer turned down the bed while Jonathan turned on some soft music and turned down the lights.
She climbed into bed next to him, and then straddled his waist.
"Want to untie my robe?"
He reached up and untied it and she opened it and pushed it off her shoulders.
He pulled her down on top of him.
"You are so beautiful, Mrs. Hart".
"Thank you, Mr. Hart".
Several passionate kisses later, he was pulling her nightgown up and over her head and she was pushing his pajama shorts down.
He took her nipple into his mouth and suckled it for a few minutes, while she ran her fingers through his hair. He kissed his way from her chest to her neck, and spent a few minutes kissing that one spot that he knew was her favorite.
She lightly dragged her fingernails up and down his back, and across his shoulders.
She reached down and grabbed his butt, and he grabbed her face with his hands and kissed her.
He laced both of his hands through hers, and quickly and easily entered her.
He kissed her as he thrust his hips in and out of her, eliciting moans of pleasure from her.
"Jona….than….."
They exploded into intimacy together, and clung to each other as they enjoyed what they were feeling. He kissed her softly as they calmed down.
"We are so lucky we get to do that every day for the rest of our lives".
"Lucky indeed".
They spent the rest of the night making love and chatting, before they fell asleep together.
***The next morning***
Jonathan woke up first and ordered them breakfast from room service.
Jennifer slept till the room service guy knocked on the door.
He made sure she was covered up and then opened the door and wheeled the cart in.
"Thank you".
"Darling, did you order us breakfast?"
"I did. We both have eggs and bacon and toast and fruit, plus fresh juice and coffee".
"Yum."
He put her plate on a tray and set it on the bed on her lap.
He climbed into bed with his own tray and then poured her some juice.
After they ate, they laid around a bit, and then packed up and checked out of the hotel.
Jack met them at the airport and Jonathan called Max and asked him to come get the car from the airport.
They boarded the plane and sat down and buckled up.
"Ok guys, It's about a 5 hour flight. I'll let you know when we are about to land".
"Thanks, Jack".
They spent the flight reading, and talking some. Jennifer leaned back and took a short nap about an hour and a half before they landed.
Jack came and told Jonathan they were about to land in 20 minutes.
"Thanks".
He leaned over and started kissing her.
"Wake up baby, we are going to land soon".
She sat up and leaned over onto his shoulder.
"Have a great nap?"
"One of the best".
Jennifer started cleaning out her carryon bag, and making sure she could have everything in it on the regular plane.
After they landed, they took the shuttle to the front of the airport and checked their bags, and then went through security.
They had about 3 hours till their flight took off, so they found a restaurant and ordered a meal.
Pretty soon, they were boarding.
As they buckled into their first-class seats, the flight attendant asked them if they wanted a drink.
"Sparkling water, please".
"I'll have a beer, Michelob light if you have it".
She handed them their drinks.
"Thank you".
They clinked their glasses and then he leaned over and kissed her.
"Happy honeymoon to us".