Chapter 39

Emily's Wedding

Kelsey

Today's the day. Emily is freaking out, and rightfully so. It's a bride's prerogative to freak out before her wedding, or so Emma says. She's watched every romance movie known to man, so I trust her judgment.

Kim and I are trying to calm her down, but it's not going well. Currently, Kim is curling her hair and twisting it into some fancy updo I can't hope to do myself. I'm putting on my makeup while occasionally popping a Reece's Cup from the bowl we have. After Kim is done with Emily, it'll be my turn to get the curling iron treatment.

The bridesmaid dresses are simple navy blue ones, with a sweetheart neckline and a cutout in the back. It looks almost exactly like the ones Emily showed me and Kim a couple weeks ago, but these are prettier, if I do say so myself. I had a small pocket sewn in mine so I'd have something to clip my pump to.

I've decked my pump out as Emily had suggested. It's now in a blue sparkly case. I even found a cute sticker to go on my Dexcom. I also have a small clutch with extra supplies, but the diabetes thing isn't as big a deal as Bella made it seem like.

"Emily, take a deep breath. You know Sam loves you. What are you nervous about?" I apply makeup setting spray and then step back to look at myself in the mirror. I'm not an expert, but I think it looks good.

"My scars." Emily mutters. "I know it's stupid, but..."

"It's not." I move to stand in front of her and rest my hands on her shoulders. "I can be the same way with my diabetes. The pump can leave scar tissue. I know it's not the same, but it's similar. For what it's worth, I don't even notice them anymore. Nobody who will be at the wedding notices them, either."

"Thanks." Emily manages a small smile. "I know it's a little vain."

"We're all vain every once in a while." Kim slides the final bobby pin into Emily's hair before stepping back. "You look great." Then, turning to me with an evil grin, "You're turn, Kels."

I hate having my hair done. Partly because it's thick and kind of wild on a good day, and partly because I'm paranoid about getting burned by the curling iron. Kim wields it in a vaguely threatening manner, and as much as I pretend it doesn't scare me, it totally does. It takes about half an hour just to do my hair. Kim curled it and swept it into a partial updo so that some of my curls kiss my shoulders.

"You look great, Kels." Kim gives me a wide grin before weaving flowers through my do. She then helps Emily affix her veil.

"I think the scars will just make you prettier." I muse, giving her a smile.

"Agreed." Kim smiles and squeezes Emily's hand. "Now let's go meet the guys before they worry we've ran off or something."

We meet our men just outside the tint we've been using to get ready. Jared and Kim share a quick kiss, and Paul's eyes widen when he sees me.

"You look beautiful, Kelsey." He smiles and hands me a bouquet.

"Thanks. You look handsome in that tux." He does. It stretches tightly across his shoulders, and makes him look more put-together than the Paul I know.

Kim gets into position behind Emily and her dad, leaning down to grab the train of her dress in one hand. The other she places in the crook of Jared's arm. Paul and I line up in front of them.

Emily's niece, Claire, is the flower girl. She waltzes down the aisle like it's the red carpet, throwing rose petals everywhere before slipping into a seat next to her parents. And now it's our turn.

We make our way down the aisle to where Billy Black sits in front of the ocean. We split off on either side of him.

The familiar cords of "Here Comes the Bride," ring out, and Emily floats down the aisle on her dad's arm. It almost seems like her feet don't even touch the ground. I was right; her scars just make her look prettier.

Once Emily and Sam have taken their places, Billy clears his throat. "We are gathered here today to celebrate a very important occasion; two souls becoming one. For that's what marriage is, a blending of two separate people into one unit. Samuel Uley and Emily Young have committed to each other, and to their future together, and today they will solidify that commitment."

I will freely admit that I zone out a little bit at that point. I get distracted by the fact that Sue and Seth are there, big grins on their faces, but Leah is nowhere to be seen. I know it's because she's on patrol, but it still seems sad. Their relationship has improved lately, but I doubt they will ever be as close as they once were. That's been hard for Emily to accept, but she's been getting better. And of course, I still listen to Leah vent whenever she needs to.

I come back to attention when Sam's nephew Michael walks down the aisle, holding two rings on a small pillow. Billy accepts the rings, then passes the first one to Sam. "With this ring..." he intones.

"With this ring..." Sam chants back, a small smile at his lips.

Emily is crying so hard she has trouble getting through her turn. Her smile is so big I'm worried it'll split her face. I have to wipe a few stubborn tears of my own, too.

"You may now kiss the bride." Billy announces.

Sam carefully lifts Emily's veil and leans in. He kisses her like she's his whole life, which I guess she kind of is. He kisses her for about thirty seconds before pulling back and murmuring something in her ear.

"I now introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Uley."

A/n: I'm back, finally. This semester was a killer. Paul's chapter will be out soon, hopefully. Thanks for sticking with me for the past threeish years. Later!

Lauren.

Replies to Reviews:

LydiaCrazzy: Thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, I am not looking for art at this time. Thanks for your interest.

Guest: I was had a good friend in high school with severe asthma. She had to be on a ventilator a couple times because of it. It's terrifying watching an attack in progress, much less experiencing one. Wishing you clear airways through the rest of cold and flu season.

Guest 2: I mean if you eat pineapple on pizza, you can claim all food groups in one! Bread for grain, cheese for dairy, meat from pepperoni or other protein, mushrooms or peppers for vegetables and pineapple for fruit. Pizza is like, the ultimate superfood. LOL.

Jingerr: I actually had to go back and check that chapter. I guess he put them on when Kelsey wasn't paying attention? I'll have to fix that when I go back through. LOL.

Royan Graner-Nott: Thanks! I have trouble actually sitting down and writing, then when I do write, I don't leave time for editing and posting. All that to say, chapters go up basically whenever I get around to it. I'm hopeful I can finish the story this year, but who knows?