The next morning
Lucas headed to the door in his suite. "Apparently its Grand Central Station today," he muttered. First Carson showed up, being a groomsman. Then next was Lee Coulter, another groomsman, but that he only met one time. Rosie, Lee's wife was a good friend of Beth's from the school so since she was a bridesmaid and they needed a matching groomsman, there you go.
"What do you expect, brother?" Joseph said from the doorway, a huge smile on his face. "It's the biggest day of your life."
Lucas hugged his good friend from New York. He and his family were here for the wedding and Joseph happened to be an ordained minister so he was going to officiate too.
"Its so good to see you."
"You too, Luke." Joseph patted his shoulder. "Nervous?"
"Not a bit."
Someone knocked and Lucas just reached to open it. "William," he said, greeting his very soon-to-be father-in-law. "Good to see you, sir."
"You too, son. Welcome to the family."
"I appreciate that."
Before the door shut, Lucas' own dad showed up. "Hey, Pop."
"Hi, son. You ready?"
"Yes. Very ready."
Which was good because they had three hours until the ceremony. "We have two hours until our pictures," Lucas announced. The groom and his groomsmen, along with both fathers were going to take separate pictures. Elizabeth and her bridesmaids and Noa were doing the same at a different part of the beach so they wouldn't see each other until it was "go-time."
"Aren't there two more groomsmen?" Joseph mentioned.
"Yes, Charles, Viola's husband is watching the kids. He's already dressed and ready to go. Julie's escort, a guy named Michael is going to be here very soon."
Someone knocked again. He walked over, assuming it was Michael. "Mike….whoa. Janette? What are you doing here?"
"You think I would miss my best friend's wedding?" She kissed both his cheeks and walked in. All the men in the suite looked at her. And then him.
"You said you were going to be in Paris."
"I moved some things around."
He closed his eyes. Elizabeth had never met Janette and every time he brought up inviting her to the wedding, she agreed but he knew she didn't like the idea. She had shown obvious relief when he had gotten the RSVP saying she couldn't come. Now. She was here.
"Janette…"
"Relax, Elizabeth will be so distracted by you, she won't even know I'm here."
"Well, regardless, you can't be right here. We are getting ready."
"That's alright. I can keep myself busy for a few hours." She patted his chest. "Goodbye, gentleman."
Everyone was staring at him after she left. "Its not what you think. Joseph, back me up. Janette is just a friend. I haven't seen her in months."
"And Beth doesn't know her?" William said, raising his eyebrows.
"No. She's from New York and when Beth and Noa came, Janette had just left to go out of the country."
"Just a thought," Martin said seriously. "Don't mention it to Beth until after the ceremony."
"I won't. Today has to be perfect."
…….
Ninety minutes later, Girl's suite
Elizabeth smiled as Noa ran around the suite in her purple princess dress. She was so excited. "Punkin, its time to get your hair done."
"Okay!"
While Julie took care of doing a very difficult looking coronet braid on the fidgety flower girl, Elizabeth sat very still while Viola did her makeup.
She let her mind wander, wondering if Luke and all the guys were ready yet. They staggered the photography shots and chose different parts of the beach so the party wouldn't run into each other. She really didn't want to wait to see him. It was making her fidgety. She wanted to run her fingers through his beard and kiss those soft lips of his.
"I guess you may not need blush," Viola teased.
"Shush. I just can't wait to see him."
"You could always do a private "first look."
"What's that?"
"You could meet Lucas somewhere. He could be turned around until you are standing behind him. Then when he turns, he gets his first look."
"And so would I. Yes, I want to do that."
Viola mentioned it to Minnie Canfield who left immediately and found Joseph. She would take care of it.
"First look?" Lucas asked. "So before the ceremony?"
Joseph nodded. "A lot of couples choose that. Kind of a private moment."
"Sounds good to me."
Joseph laughed. "I bet. So after your pictures, we can make that happen."
"Thanks, man."
"Of course."
…..
About twenty minutes before the ceremony, Joseph led Lucas to a shady place overlooking the beach.
"Stand here, brother. Keep your eyes on the ocean. Take a few deep breaths."
Lucas did as he was told, shaking his hands a bit to get the nerves out. Now that the ceremony was very close, he was so very ready to marry his Beth. Joseph watched as his own beautiful wife led Elizabeth through the sand to a spot about 5 feet from Lucas.
He looked amazing in his light color suit, even from behind, Elizabeth thought to herself.
"We'll give you two a moment," Joseph said, patting his friends back.
"Beth?" Lucas said quietly. "I miss you so much."
"Hi. I miss you too." She walked another couple feet and hugged him from behind. "I love you, Luke. I can't believe today I finally get to marry my best friend." He covered her hands with his for a moment.
"I love you. Can I see your dress?"
"Sure." She stepped back and watched his face as he focused on her.
"Oh..you are stunning." His eyes teared up and he shook his head. "Good God above. I do not deserve you."
She raised her hand to his beard. He put his hands on her hips and slowly covered her mouth with his. Their slow, purposeful embrace satisfied their immediate need to be close.
They talked quietly and kissed a bit more and then decided they should probably get to their positions for the ceremony.
"See you soon, sweetheart," she whispered, kissing him one more time.
"See you."
….
A few moments later….
"Lucas, you are my best friend and a most wonderful father to Noa. From our very first date in Cambridge, I knew I was going to marry you. I had no idea it was possible to feel so much so fast but here we are. I can't wait to build our future together, whatever that entails. My heart is yours. Forever."
He smiled at her, intertwining their fingers. He kissed her forehead and began his vows too.
"When I first started writing my vows, I couldn't figure out how to express in words what I feel in my heart. So I'm just going to see how this goes."
Everyone present chuckled. Elizabeth dried the tear that fell down his cheek.
"Beth, my love. I love you with all that I am. Thank you for giving me our daughter. For being my best friend. Supporting me. Loving me, even when I do something stupid. I promise to always pour my heart out to you, to accept your ideas and our disagreements with love. I promise to cherish you and respect this covenant we are making today. Forever."
"Very nice," Joseph said. "May I have the rings, please?"
Viola and Charles stepped forward, placing the rings in his hand.
"Lucas, Elizabeth, please take these rings and place them on each other's finger, repeating after me."
"This ring is a symbol of my unending love and faithfulness." They did as he asked and stepped closer, just needing to be in each other's space. To feel the connection of the powerful moment that was beginning their forever.
"By the power vested in me by God, I now declare that you are husband and wife. What God has yoked together, let no one put apart. Amen."
"Amen," the guests repeated.
"Lucas, you may now kiss your bride."
Lucas cradled her face in his hands and softly, tenderly sealed their vows with a kiss. "I love you, Elizabeth Bouchard."
"I love you more."
"Yay!!!" Noa yelled, running up and hugging them both.
"Look at you, sweet pea. You're beautiful."
"Thanks, Daddy!"
"You're welcome."
"Can we have cupcakes now?"
Elizabeth and Lucas walked down the aisle, hand in hand, leading the way toward the small reception area where cupcakes and a light lunch were being served.
William took Noa's hand and Grace took her other and they walked down the aisle, followed by Martin and Helen and then the rest of the wedding party.
Before they went inside, Nick, the photographer pulled them aside to get a few shots of just the two of them.
After about a dozen of those, Lucas asked if they could get some family shots in a bit with Noa and their families.
"Lucas and Elizabeth Bouchard!" Joseph shouted as they walked in the tent. Everyone cheered and clapped and Lucas scooped her up into his arms, causing her to squeal.
Lucas put her down after a rather lengthy kiss. "Thank you all for sharing this day with us," he announced. "We love all of you so much."
"I WANT CUPCAKES!!" Noa yelled, causing everyone to turn.
Lucas let go of Elizabeth's hand. "I'll take care of it. Then we can go get lunch."
She nodded and stepped over to talk to her sisters while he wandered over to his loudly grumbling daughter.
"Noa Faith, let's calm down."
"But I want cupcakes!"
He scooped her up and walked outside the tent with her.
"Daddy….." she sobbed.
"Noa, listen, honey. You can't throw a fit every time you don't get what you want."
"Its not fair."
"I know but remember what we talked about yesterday, sweet pea?"
"What?" she sniffled.
"When Mommy and I aren't with you, whoever the grown up is that's with you is the one you have to listen to. So if Grandpa William said you couldn't have cupcakes right then. You have to listen."
"Why?"
"Because Mommy and Daddy and your grandpas and nanas and aunts all want to take care of you. They get to make the decisions."
"When can I make decisions?"
"When you are a grownup."
"That's forever!"
"It seems like it. It will go fast though." Hopefully not too fast though. He wasn't sure how he would handle a teenage Noa.
"So I gotta say sorry to Grandpa?"
"Yep."
"Okay."
"Thank you, sweetheart."
Lucas put Noa down and they walked back into the tent. He watched as she ran over to William, wiggled her finger at him and he squatted down. Then she hugged his neck, causing a big smile on William's face.
"She okay?"
"Yep."
"Good job, honey."
He leaned down and kissed her. "Should we eat so everyone else can too?"
"Yes. Plus our plane leaves in three hours."
He did the calculation again. They should touchdown in Maui at around 8:30pm San Diego time, or 6:30am in Maui. They could check in at the resort at 8am. So their "wedding night" would be their "wedding morning" but that was semantics.
After they had their light lunch and after a few toasts, they were going to do a couple dances and leave. Noa finally got her cupcakes but now she was clinging to Lucas.
"Honey, can Nana Helen hold you? I need to dance with Mommy."
"Will you dance with me, Daddy?"
"After Mommy, yes."
"Okay."
"Thank you." He held his hand out to Elizabeth and she smiled, stepping easily into his arms. "Let's dance, babe."
The slow, easy music started playing and Elizabeth started singing softly the words to Speechless by Dan and Shay.
"You say you'll be down in five
The smell of your perfume
Is floatin' down the stairs
You're fixin' up your hair like you do
I know that I'll be a mess
The second that I see you
You won't be surprised
It happens every time, It's nothin' new
It's always on a night like tonight
I thank God you can read my mind
'Cause when you look at me with those eyes
I'm speechless
Starin' at you, standin' there, in that dress
What it's doin' to me, ain't a secret
'Cause watchin' you is all that I can do
And I'm speechless"
Lucas had been speechless when he had gotten his first look at her in her dress. It fit every curve perfectly and it had a flesh-colored lining under the lace, making his imagination run fast. The front had a deep V-neck and the back was open to her waist. His fingertips grazed the skin on her lower back.
"Whatcha thinking about?" she asked, noticing his ears turning red.
"You. This dress. The bungalow. Tonight."
"Mm. Sounds perfect."
"It will be."
About thirty minutes later, the newlyweds were on the way to the airport in the back of Martin's SUV, ready for their two weeks in paradise.