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Chapter 10 – Only two more weeks
Kim stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the fit of her sleek yet casual dress. It was the perfect choice for a dinner date—stylish but not overdone. A smile crept across her face as she felt a spark of excitement. After the whirlwind of recent days, she was eager to spend some uninterrupted quality time with Ron.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door and the unmistakable voices of her brothers, Jim and Tim.
"Kim!" one of them called out with exaggerated drama.
"It's your husband!" the other teased, both of them bursting into laughter.
Kim rolled her eyes. "Can you two ever act normal?"
Ron appeared at the door, holding a shy grin. "I don't mind the title, KP," he said with a playful shrug.
Kim's smile widened as she stepped into the doorway. "Hey, Ron." She leaned in, kissing him softly, pretending not to hear her brothers giggling and whispering jokes to each other behind her.
"Alright, you two, enough," Kim said, her laughter bubbling as she guided Ron out of the house.
As they walked to the car, Ron glanced at her with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Your brothers are relentless."
Kim giggled, shaking her head. "You have no idea what I've had to endure this past week. They amuse me just as much as they annoy me."
Ron laughed, opening the car door for her. "Well, here's to escaping the madness for a little while."
Kim slipped into her seat, looking up at him with a warm smile. "Absolutely. Just you and me tonight."
At the restaurant, the couple was seated at a cozy booth near the window. Kim slid in next to Ron rather than across from him, their shoulders brushing. It felt natural, comforting.
Ron picked up the menu but couldn't help sneaking glances at Kim. "So, two weeks, huh? Are you ready for round two?"
Kim laughed. "More than ready. I mean, the first one was great, but this time it'll be with our family and friends." She paused, her smile fading slightly. "Although… I'm still a little nervous about it. The gossip about our elopement is spreading like wildfire on my side of the family."
"Tell me about it. My mom had some interesting conversations with my aunts when she called to invite them to the reception. I'm pretty sure they think we've lost it."
"Well… we kind of did," she said with a mischievous grin.
"True," Ron replied, his smile just as mischievous. "But it was really fun, wasn't it?"
"It really was." Kim's smile grew wider. "We only missed the opportunity to have Elvis as our officiant," she joked.
Ron chuckled. "Right?!" Then his amused expression shifted to something more shy and serious. "Still, that night was... amazing." His voice dipped slightly, filled with affection and nostalgia.
Kim's cheeks flushed as memories of their wedding night surfaced. Her expression softened. "It really was. I'll never forget it."
Ron reached for her hand under the table, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles. "Neither will I," he said, his voice filled with warmth. Then his gaze shifted, noticing the ring on her finger. "Hey, you're wearing your band again," he remarked, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
Kim glanced down at her hand and smiled, her blush deepening. "I am. It… just makes me happy, you know?"
They stood there for a moment, both shy but savoring the quiet intimacy of the exchange, their shared connection unspoken yet palpable.
Ron eventually broke the silence, grinning. "Well, gossip and weirdness aside, I'm really excited for the party."
Kim smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Yeah, me too! Tomorrow, I'm going dress shopping with Monique and Mom."
Ron grinned. "Dress shopping? Guess that means I'm not invited?"
"Nope," Kim teased. "You'll see it on the big day, just like everyone else."
"Well," Ron said, leaning closer, "whatever you pick, I know you'll look stunning."
They spent the rest of the meal chatting about the ceremony, the guest list, and how they'd transform the Stoppable backyard into an intimate wedding venue. The conversation was peppered with laughter and stolen glances.
As they left the restaurant hand in hand, Ron glanced at Kim with a mischievous grin. "Do you think we could serve Bueno Nacho food at the reception?"
Kim chuckled, leaning into him. "Absolutely not."
Their night ended with a peaceful walk, a moment of quiet reassurance before the whirlwind of wedding planning resumed.
The next two weeks were busy. Ron drove Kim insane with how picky he was about the catering. Monique, the maid of honor, stepped in to help Kim with the decorations, while Anne even took a five-day leave from work to lend a hand. It was going to be a small gathering—just family and a few close friends, 30 people tops—but everything had to be perfect. Little Hanna would be the flower girl, and Jeane had picked out the cutest dress for her. Even James got involved, his enthusiasm slipping through despite his efforts to maintain his cool and protective demeanor.
By the day before the wedding, the Stoppable backyard had been transformed into a cozy, romantic venue for Kim and Ron's special day. Kim was hard at work overseeing the final decorations. String lights twinkled along the fences, and soft pastel flowers adorned the tables and the wedding arch. It was intimate, simple, and exactly what they had envisioned.
Ron, meanwhile, was doing what he did best—providing moral support and snacks. He carried over a plate of nachos to Kim, who was busy arranging centerpieces. "Milady," he said with a playful bow, "your nachos await. You've earned a break."
Kim laughed, brushing her hands off before taking a chip. "Thanks, Ron. But I've got to make sure everything's just right."
As evening settled in, they enjoyed a quiet dinner with Ron's family. The table buzzed with excitement for the big day ahead. Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable were delighted to host the ceremony and reception, while Anne and James contributed by covering the cost of the catering service. Little Hana was her usual bubbly and cheerful self, and even the twins managed to be on their best behavior—for now.
Later that night, Kim and Ron shared a quiet moment on the porch. "You ready for tomorrow?" Kim asked softly, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Ron smiled, wrapping an arm around her. "Absolutely. As long as you're there, everything will be perfect."
Kim's heart swelled as she looked up at him, her worries about the details fading away. Tomorrow wasn't about perfection—it was about them, their love, and the start of the rest of their lives together.