Page 42 of Flawless Foundations

"Nah, he's always looked out for you. He's always considered you a friend. Sure, he could pester and annoy, but you've always been friends. Even when you tried not to be." She narrows her gaze at me, so she knew what I was doing all those years I acted like I couldn't stand him.

"Okay." I nod to myself, deciding right then that I will not have another near nervous breaking point. Levi and I are doing the right thing.

"Come on, let's finish that make-up and get your shoes on," she says as she searches the tiny room for my shoes, I turn back around and apply my lipstick.

She kneels down and places the three-inch, navy blue rounded toe pumps that are embellished with an ivory lace applique over the heel and down the sides, in front of me. I lift my dress and carefully step into them. She moves back and studies me, tears fill her eyes.

"My gosh, Becca. You look so amazing. Just seeing you like this, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the ceremony without bawling my eyes out." She sniffs.

I point across the room at a box of Kleenex. "Hurry, your eyes are going to run. And just take a couple of those, wrap them around your flowers.” She turns and busies herself with that task.

I look in the mirror and nearly tear up myself. When Levi and I made the decision to have the wedding as soon as possible, I assumed I'd end up with a more business style white dress. Emmy and I walked into a little vintage boutique that she insisted we go in and we were surprised to see that they had a very small section of wedding dresses. The single dress in my size ended up being the dress of my dreams.

The gown is a vintage romantic dress with a nude lining that shows through the off-white color floral lace. It's a silhouette fitted lace bodice that features a shallow scoop neckline and seven-eighths length sleeves. Delicate hand-cut lace covers the entire dress. My favorite part of the dress is the low-cut open back. Paired with my half down-half up soft-wave hair, I embody the perfect twist of romance and vintage beauty. I don't think I have ever or will ever feel more beautiful than I do right now.

A ding from Emmy's phone catches my attention. She smiles down at it then slides it into her clutch.

"Okay, future Mrs. King, it's time to get this show on the road." She gathers our modest bouquets and then opens the door.

The Love Ridge Harvest Church is closer to Emmy and Jake in Brooklyn Heights than Madison Ave. It's a good sized, non-denominational church that we were lucky to find would grant us access to their sanctuary for a last-minute wedding. Levi and I had to meet with Pastor John before we were able to book the space for the hour they are allowing us. Two days ago, so he could get to know us, he called it a required mini pre-wedding counseling session. We agreed to attend several more with him in order to have him marry us today. In truth, I felt a little relieved that he offered to spend some time with us after our big day. Levi suggested that as a show of good faith, that we try to attend one of the churches many services each week. As a second show of good faith, Joseph King made a sizable donation, in the form of six figures after Pastor John agreed to marry us.

We come to the front of the church; the large, wooden doors opening up into the foyer of the church. Jake and his brother Kevin stand close, in heavy conversation. Neither of them notices the click-clack of heels coming toward them.

Kevin shoves a hand through his hair, something shiny on his finger catches my eye. He says in a hissed, stressed tone, "I'm just kinda freaking the fuck out Jake, I just won a fucking shit ton of money." Say what, now? We get closer, and Emmy, who's now at my side, makes a face as if she has no idea what's going on.

"Yeah, I get that, but now you also have a wife?" Jake hisses quietly.

Shut the front door! I come to a stop right next to them. They both lift their heads and turn toward us. Beside me, Emmy mutters, "How am I the only one not getting married?"

Jake hears her and pulls his eyes away from me and looks at her, frowning.Yeah, buddy, she wants that ring, you got her the house, now give her the sparkle.

Kevin clears his throat, bringing Jake and Emmy back into the present. "Fuck me, Becca, you look stunning."

I chuckle. "No thank you, seems as if you have your own someone to take care of that."

He snorts and then lets out an uneasy sigh. As much as I want to dissect this and figure out what kind of mess Kevin got himself into, I've got a groom to marry. That can wait until after the ceremony when our handful of guests have a late dinner at Emmy and Jake's house. The reception will happen later next month before we take a three-night honeymoon in Sonoma.

I try to peek around the guys into the sanctuary, but I only see rows of pews. They take the hint, Kevin leans in and kisses my cheek as Jake gives Emmy a peck and an arm squeeze. "Good luck in there, Becca," he says, and the brothers turn and disappear into the room.

Emmy gives me a final smile and heads in, just as she does, my father finds me. Giving me his arm, he walks me down the aisle.

We didn't have time to invite everyone we knew. Our parent's social circles, as one can imagine, are large. So, we invited only those close to us. My parents, the Kings, which caused Levi to grumble, but we couldn't not invite his father and step-mother, his stepsister is here too. Jake stands next to Kevin and the woman I recognize from our apartment building; she works the front desk. His best friend Charlie stands up next to him, and Emmy is on the other side of Pastor John, where I will stand.

I find Levi, standing tall, handsome as ever in a navy suit. His full head of hair is freshly cut and perfectly styled. I can't wait to run my fingers through it later, giving it his signature messy look. His eyes are wide, his mouth slightly open, and I realize he's taking me in, I can't help but blush. Then he pulls himself together, and his smile becomes wide.

I climb the few steps, and he holds out a hand, which I grasp tightly.

"Hey," he whispers as I turn toward him, after handing my flowers to Emmy.

"Hey, yourself," I reply. Pastor John chuckles then welcomes the small audience.

After he reads several passages and talks about love and becoming man and wife, Pastor John asks, "Do you Levi have this woman to be your wedded wife, and will you be faithful to her as long as you shall live?

Levi clears his throat before he replies, "I do." His eyes search mine as they fill with unshed tears. He holds my hands tightly in his, and I squeeze them as he speaks those coveted two little words.

"Then repeat after me," Pastor John says, but his voice sounds distant. The only two people here are me and my love, and the entire world has faded away.

In sections, Levi repeats the words that will bind us together, "I, Levi Robert King, take you, Becca Marie Nicely, to be my wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live." His voice is raspy with emotion, but his words come out strong, and I know he's never spoken truer words.

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