Page 94 of Down the Aisle
The brightness of the white umbrellas curtained away to reveal a lovely arch made of roses and ribbons with Adam at the center. He hadn't seen me yet, which was the point because this was our first look shot for the rest of time.
As if the embellished ballgown didn't feel like a thousand pounds on my body already, standing there behind Adam in anticipation made me feel like the whole thing cemented me to my spot.
Unlike my first wedding, my dress this time around was of my choosing. It wasn't some old, raggedy gown from the 1800s that was forced down my throat and onto my body. This time around, I wore the perfect dress of my dreams.
When I found the dress, I instantly fell in love with the sweetheart neckline and delicate illusion inset. The refined sparkle tulle, glass beading, and sequins gave it just the right amount of shimmer without being too much. Then, the off-the-shoulder long sleeves added the hint of modesty I wanted, and they were made from the softest rose net, with lace accents that felt so romantic. Oh, and I don't even get me started on thefloral details—petals, leaves, and vines—and how they gracefully wrapped around my arms, making me feel naturally elegant. And the killer part was the back; the illusion V-back with buttons perfectly accentuated my curves before flowing into the most stunning cathedral train.
It may seem simple to some, but it was more than perfect for me. Hopefully, Adam will think so as well.
Guess I'll find out.
Adam's whole face dropped at the sight of me the moment he turned his head, and his eyes snapped to me. No words left his aghast expression as his mouth hung open. Wide eyes teared up as they scanned my body up and down endlessly, even when he ended up falling to his knees. He just stared up at me as if I was the only thing that mattered in the world, and to him, I wouldn't be surprised if that was how he saw it.
Slowly, in a stupor, he got up to his feet again before reaching out with shaky hands, almost as if he was afraid to touch me. "Oh, darling, my little rose." He whispered with a widening smile.
Slipping an arm around my waist, he held me close and tight. He brought his other hand up to my face, cupping it with tender strokes to my cheek like always. "Oh, mia piccola rosa, sei così fottutamente perfetta. Sei così eterea, è irreale. Non riesco a credere che questa sia la regina che sarà mia moglie. Non mi sento degna di te, ma ti amerò dannatamente finché non lo sarò."
Giggling, I leaned into his touch. "I don't know what you said, but it sounded romantic as hell."
"You look fucking perfect and so much more. I don't know how to put it into words, but you look like Heaven to me," he whispered against my lips with a big smile before kissing me deeply. "Are you ready to officially be Mrs. Santini?"
With a big smile, I nodded before forcing myself away from him so that I could get myself into place before the guests got there.
Standing at the end of the aisle, I watched as the workers finished setting up the last of the chairs and decorations on the beachfront. I knew we had the funds to have the wedding anywhere in the world, but I wanted to have it all in our backyard. I don't know why but having it close to home felt intimate and more heartfelt.
All the seats filled within the blink of an eye, and by the time I blinked again for a second time, I found myself across from Adam at the end of the altar. Hailee and Eve stood a little way behind me as my bridesmaids, while Asher and Rosie sat front and center with Adam's parents.
This perfect family of mine would only grow more perfect with time, and I thrived off that fact.
Our wedding was perfect. Besides Adam's family from all over, all our close-town friends filled the seats, and I even got Eve and her family over for the wedding, too. Well, more like Eve did all she could to make sure she'd be here because, and I quote her, "Like hell am I missing my best friend's wedding!"
"Before we exchange the rings, do the bride and groom have vows they want to exchange?" The priest's question pulled my attention back to the main point of everything.
Both of us looked at the priest and nodded before taking each other's hands tightly. Adam was the first to go, mainly because he spoke up before I got a chance to, "Eliza darling,mia rosa, you are the only thing right in my life besides the kids, it feels like. I thought I knew what it was like to live and love, but I realized now that my life never started until I met you and Asher." Taking a moment to appreciate our children with a happy smile, he chuckled a little. "Never thought I'd meet my future in the grocery store aisle, but unique relationships startoff as so. From the moment Asher grabbed me and I saw both of you, I knew right then and there that you two were my family. You are the gem that I've been searching for all my life, and I am so glad that I made the last-minute decision that day to go to the store."
Taking a deep breath, he brought my hands up to his lips in a chaste kiss. "I know I am not perfect and hard to love, but I am so grateful that you learned to love me in your own special way. I will never be able to put into words my love for you because they don't exist in the dictionary or in the world. What I will do is show it to you every day for the rest of our lives as I have been every day so far. I will never stop cherishing you each second of each day. Every morning, I wake up to you is a blessing like no other, and every night I get to have you in my arms is a gift from the heavens. I swear to you that I will continue to love you for as long as I breathe, through sickness and in health, through rich and poor, for better and worse, until death can try to do us part."
No matter how hard I tried to hold my tears in, they wouldn't stay put behind my eyelids. Well, at least my makeup was waterproof, so no runny mascara. "Oh, Adam." Dropping his hands, I brought mine up to hold his face. "I'm so thankful you're as stubborn as you are. You knew what I needed long before I did, and you saw my worth when no one else did. Before you, I just wanted to get by the days with Asher safe by my side. I never knew the warmth of life until you graced mine and brought the sun to it. Your selflessness when it comes to me and your family is what I love so much about you. You always looked after me and tended to me until I bloomed into the stunning rose you saw me for. Never once did you ever stop and ask for anything but my happiness in return. As long as I thrived, then you did as well. And I will never be able to thank you enough for all the love you have shown me and continue to show me."
Taking a moment to recenter myself, I brought his head down to rest my forehead against his. "I swear, I will continue to do right by you by thriving like you want me to. I will continue to be a wonderful mother to our children while you continue to be the most amazing father to them. I will never stop loving you for as long as I live and breathe." Cracking a small laugh, I smiled at him in disbelief. "You know, I swore to myself long ago that I would never walk down the aisle again. Yet, I end up finding my forever down an aisle, even if it's a grocery store aisle, and walking down the aisle of life with him. I never would've thought that the hot stranger my son snagged back then would end up being my missing half. I never knew how half-empty I felt until I saw your bright eyes the first time they looked at me, and in a way, my heart and soul knew at that moment in the store that you were the one. And now, I can't wait to continue walking around the path of life with you by my side, through sickness and in health, for rich and poor, for better or worse, until death does us part. I will be with you until the world ceases to exist."
After a quick exchange of the rings, the priest popped the most important questions of every ceremony.
"Before all the witnesses here today and God, do you, Adam, take Eliza to be your wife until death does you two part?"
Without a nanosecond of hesitation, Adam answered, "Yes, I do." So much confidence and pride in his voice and smile.
Then, the priest turned his attention to me. "And do you, Eliza, before all these witnesses and God, take Adam to be your husband until death does you two part?"
And unlike last time, I didn't hesitate one bit with my reply. "Yes, I do."
Closing his book with a soft and satisfied thump, the priest gestured us together. "With the power vested in me by the state and church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."
Immediately, Adam grabbed my waist and face, bringing me into a soul-searing and breathtaking kiss, dipping me for extra added effect. "Adam!" I squealed against his lips, afraid that he'd let me slip to the floor.
"I haven't let you down yet, darling, and I never will," he replied with a cheeky grin before planting another one on me as he pulled me back up.
The rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch, and a small interlude of pictures and socializing later, the reception was all set up and on its way. Just like the ceremony, it was perfect and went off without a hitch. There weren't any issues with the catering or the food; all the guests were more than happy with the choices and open bar, and the DJ—Max—had all the right jams to keep the mood set. Some table greetings and games later, and it was time to cut the cake by the time I knew it.
