Hope for All chapter 23
Tony and Jonathan arrived at the gazebo and met with the resort staff. They reviewed the specifics of the ceremony. Tony introduced himself to the pastor who would be marrying them; he previously spoke to him on the phone and provided him with additional last minute details. The guests started to arrive and take their seats. Tony and Jonathan made their way up to the altar and took their spots, Tony standing up front with Jonathan to his side.
"This is it kid! No turning back! You ready?" asked Tony as he turned to Jonathan.
"Hey I'm not the one up here having to say I do! If you want to know if you think I'm gonna puke on Mom, I don't think so!" he laughed. Tony laughed too and adjusted Jonathan's bow tie. He asked him to do the same, allowing the photographer who had just made it down the aisle to capture the precious moment.
Just then, the music started playing, signaling the start of the ceremony. The resort offered a musician to play acoustic guitar at the ceremony, which Tony took them up on. Tony chose Stevie Wonder's 'You are the Sunshine of My Life" as the song Samantha would walk down the aisle to, keeping it a secret from her. He used to sing that song to her every night when she was a baby and even hearing it now brought tears to his eyes.
As the music began, Samantha came out of a white partition set up at the end of the aisle where the bridal party was waiting. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her light pink gown. The sun was just beginning to make its way below the tree line, but still high enough to shine through, light reflecting off her face. Tony couldn't help but see so much of Marie in his now almost grown up little girl. She smiled at the guests as she walked down the aisle and headed towards Tony.
"You look absolutely beautiful Samantha!" he said as he stepped down and embraced her, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. "Thanks Dad- you cleaned up pretty well yourself! And by the way, nice job on the song" she said as she gave him a hug.
They both moved back into their places on the altar as the musician transitioned into the song he chose for Angela. He had been torn between multiple songs- most of them he felt were better suited for their dances as a married couple. Finally, he decided on The Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun' as he knew they were one of Angela's favorite bands.
The music started and Tony momentarily closed his eyes, knowing when he opened them, he would see the most beautiful woman walking towards him. His visions did not do Angela justice- when he opened his eyes and looked up, his breath was literally taken away. Angela was glowing, not just from the sunlight or the pregnancy but from the overwhelming joy and love she emitted. He couldn't take his eyes off of her as she and Mona walked arm in arm down the aisle. Angela looked even better in her dress now if that was at all possible and fit her just perfectly in Tony's eyes. The light was reflecting off of her, making the glow even stronger as she came down the aisle.
Angela could feel all the eyes on her as she walked down the aisle. She was only half way kidding when she told Tony she was going to focus on not tripping down the aisle. She recognized the song immediately and smiled at how well he truly did know her, better than she knew herself some days.
It was so nice to see so many of their friends and family together, on what she gathered was relatively short notice. She couldn't have picked out a better guest list, venue, location or any of the other hundreds of decisions Tony made for their special day.
She almost stopped walking altogether when she first glanced up and made eye contact with Tony. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. The sun was starting to set behind him and the outline it made gave him an almost glow. Her glance moved to Jonathan, looking so grown up, no longer the little boy she remembered. She wondered when the line between her little boy and this young man standing next Tony blurred to the point she could barely see that sweet blond haired baby boy. She turned her attention to Samantha. She looked absolutely stunning in her gown. She had only ever seen a handful of photos of Marie but she was certain that this young woman in front of her was a spitting image of her mother.
Before she realized it, she was at the altar, eyes locked in with Tony's as he stepped down to take her hand from Mona.
"She's all yours Tony… no refunds pal!" she quipped as she leaned over to Tony and kissed his cheek. She turned back to Angela and gave her a quick hug. "I love you Angela" she whispered before heading back to her seat.
Tony and Angela were lost in their own little world. Once their hands joined, everyone else just disappeared. Even Mona's sarcastic comment fell on deaf ears. Samantha interrupted them when she took Angela's bouquet so they could walk up to the altar in the gazebo.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this beautiful spring afternoon to celebrate the union of Tony and Angela. Thank you for being here, providing your love, encouragement and support to Tony and Angela" said the pastor.
"I have to admit this is a first for me. I have been officiating weddings for over fifteen years and this is the first surprise wedding I have ever witnessed! When I first spoke to Tony, I knew this was going to be a special event. While your love story is a unique one for sure, it's also one of the most genuine, heartfelt ones I have ever heard. You both sacrificed your own personal lives to make sure your own children felt loved, secured and cared for in the family you both created for one another. You knew the most important parts of a successful relationship, a successful family life, from almost day one. You both turned four lives, well five so I'm told with Mona, into one family. May this next chapter of your lives only strengthen the bond you two have built for one another" he said.
"Marriages bring hard days, just as they bring beautiful ones. This day is a reminder of what your love has already accomplished and the amazing possibilities of what it can continue to accomplish and overcome in the many, many years ahead of you."
"And now Tony and Angela will take a few moments to express their love and commitment to each other in their own vows" he said as he gestured towards Tony. Angela looked like a dear caught in the headlights. He leaned over to her so only she could hear him. "Relax sweetheart, I didn't prepare anything, I'm just going to speak from my heart okay?" he said as he stood back, taking her hands in his own.
"Angela, I don't even know where to begin. From the moment I first saw you standing there in your bathrobe, some part of me knew that I had found someone to share my life with, to help me raise my daughter, and to help me heal my broken heart. I never thought I'd get a second chance at love. I mean who deserves that, least of all a washed up has been baseball player from Brooklyn! And not only do I get a second chance, I get to take this chance with the most beautiful, smartest, kindest woman who has had my heart for longer than I can remember. I can't wait for this new chapter of our lives Angela as it's more than I could have ever possibly hoped for- I love you Angela" he said as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Angela needed a moment to wipe tears from her own eyes and compose herself before attempting her vows. She made a mental note to remind Tony he owed her big time for springing this part of the ceremony on her without notice.
"Oh Tony…that was so beautiful. I honestly can't remember a time I didn't love you. You have been such an important part of my life from day one. You've been a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, a co-parent to raise our children with, a soulmate to build our life together. You helped me heal my broken heart too. You made me realize there was more to life than work, that I could take down that wall I so carefully built around myself when my heart was broken the first time. You see things in me I don't even see in myself. You are the kindest, funniest, smartest, most handsome man I've ever met and I can't wait to see what our future will look like in only a few short months. You, me, Samantha, Jonathan, Mother and these two new little ones are more than I could have ever hoped for too- I love you Tony" she said, the tears she was holding back no longer being able to be contained.
Drying his own eyes, the pastor continued the ceremony. "Now the rings please" he said as he turned to Jonathan. He stepped forward and handed the rings to the pastor. He proceeded to say a blessing over the rings. He handed Angela's ring to Tony.
"Do you Tony promise to love and respect Angela, to share your life and dreams, to continue to build with her a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth? Do you promise to be a companion to Angela in all of her successes and failures, her happiness and sadness, to always give her your unwavering support? If so, say I do" he said.
"I do" said Tony.
"As a symbol of your undying commitment, faith and love, please place the ring on Angela's hand" said the pastor as Tony slid the ring on her finger.
"Do you Angela promise to love and respect Tony, to share your life and dreams, to continue to build with him a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth? Do you promise to be a companion to Tony in all of his successes and failures, his happiness and sadness, to always give him your unwavering support? If so, say I do" he said.
"I do" said Angela.
"As a symbol of your undying commitment, faith and love, please place the ring on Tony's hand" said the pastor as Angela slid the ring on his finger. Tony took her left hand and placed a quick kiss on her ring finger.
"May these rings symbolize your lifelong commitment and promises to one another, your unwavering love and support. Your rings are special because you wear them with love and understanding. They symbolize your commitment in marriage, in happiness and sadness, in sickness and in health, in good times as well as the trying ones. They will remind you of who you are, where you began and most importantly, where you are going. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are as individuals, but also who you are as a couple. The promises which you have spoken to each other today are inscribed forever in your minds and in your hearts."
"Now, by the power vested in me, by the state of Connecticut, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!" he said as he turned to the couple.
Tony couldn't contain his excitement and leaned in and pulled Angela towards him, joining them in a very passionate kiss. Clapping and some whistles could be heard from the crowd as their kiss intensified. Finally pulling back, he placed a final kiss on her lips.
"Please put your hands together and help us celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Micelli!" said the pastor as the crowd rose to their feet and cheered for Tony and Angela. They each hugged Samantha and Jonathan before reaching for each other's hands as they walked back down the aisle. Samantha and Jonathan followed behind their parents as they smiled and waved at the guests.
When they all met at the end of the aisle, Tony and Angela embraced and kissed again. Neither one of them could believe they were finally married. Samantha, Jonathan and finally Mona came to join them and a group hug ensued.
"We did it!" shouted Tony.
"Yeah it was about time… five years was long enough!" said Samantha.
"I'm just thankful you finally did it while I was young enough to enjoy it…" quipped Mona.
"So Mrs. Micelli… how about we make use of this beautiful sunset and take some photos so we can head in and enjoy some good food?" asked Tony.
"I think that's a wonderful idea Mr. Micelli! Not too long I hope because I'm starving! All this getting married stuff has me working up an appetite!" laughed Angela.
"I can think of some other ways we can work up an appetite later tonight… don't think I forgot about what we started earlier today…" he whispered into her ear, causing Angela to blush.
The photographer came up to Tony and Angela and led them back up to the gazebo. By now, the sun was officially starting to set, with only about a half an hour left of daylight. Tony made sure he found Mrs. Rossini to have a few photos taken with her before she headed up to the reception.
The photographer posed them in many of the traditional shots, making sure to capture as many angles of the very photographic couple. Next were the family shots; Tony wanted to make sure they got in all possible family combinations since they never had taken any professional family photos and this would be the last time to take any before the twins arrived. Finally, it was just Tony and Angela left for a few more intimate moments to capture. For the last shot, Tony got down on his knee and put both his hands on either side of Angela's stomach. He leaned in a placed a gentle kiss to the bump. Angela placed her hands on top of Tony's for the final photo.
"Alright Mrs. Micelli… shall we head into the reception?" he asked as he placed his arm around Angela and pulled her close to him.
"Lead the way Mr. Micelli" she said as they walked towards the resort, the sun finally setting behind them.