Chapter 79

Ailee

After we got to the reception the first thing we did was pose for pictures. I wanted a bunch with everyone. My ma loved taking pictures. She said it helped preserve memories. So we could look back and remember our times together. I thought it was silly but we had fun so I never said anything. After she was gone those pictures became more important so I carried on taking pictures.

And this is just another day I want to be able to look back on. I want to remember my grandda smiling and laughing with the club and members of our group. I want to remember Katrina giggling and playing with her cousins. I want to remember the kids running around like maniacs on a sugar high. I want to look back and remember the look of pure love in Tank’s eyes as he dances with Lilly. All those memories are a once in a lifetime shot so I have two photographers for the reception capturing as much as possible.

I was talking with Gretchen when the D.J came over the mic “ Ladies and gentlemen please welcome to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan LeBlanc.” I turn and see Lug standing in front of me with his hand out “ May I?” he asks. I place my hand in his, laughing “ Of course.” He leads me to the middle of the large dance floor. Grandda booked the reception at a grand upscale hotel and we have use of the ballroom. The wedding coordinator did a great job decorating this place.

It looks like a fall forest in here. Even the chandeliers are giving off mute light to make it look like the sun is just setting. It is perfect. I couldn’t be happier at how it turned out. There are round tables covered in orange and red table clothes and the chairs are covered in brown fabric. The center pieces are an arrangement of leaves with tall candles in the middle. It was everything I asked for come to life.

Once in the middle of the floor Lug puts one hand on my waist and takes my hand in his other one. When the music starts to play we start a dance Merigold taught me the two step. Then Lug starts singing Chris Stapleton’s ‘ Millionaire’ to me. I let Lilly have full charge of the music when we hired a D.J. since to me she was the expert. But I never would have thought Lug would sing to me during our first dance. I have always known my Lug was the sweetest man ever but this just proves it even more. I felt my heart skip a beat in a good way. I had to fight the tears even though they were happy tears.

But I surprised Lug as well by knowing the steps to the dance. When we discussed our first dance he told me he wanted to do the two-step. When I explained that I didn’t know how Lug said it was easy all I had to do was follow his lead. I trusted Lug but I took it one step further and had Merigold teach me so I could surprise him. And the look on his face was worth it. At the end of the song Lug dipped me and kissed me. When he pulled back and he looked at me with so much love I’m sure the whole place could see it. “ With you Ailee, I feel like a millionaire.” he said. Like I said, the sweetest man ever. “ And with you I’m on top of the world.”

After we had our dance we danced some more and ate. We chatted with everyone. I made sure to talk to as many of our family as possible. I wanted them to feel welcome and I wanted them to have fun. Plus it was a good way to make our bonds stronger. By having them included they feel closer to the family and that increases their loyalty. Is it wrong of me to use my wedding like this? Probably. But when am I going to get another chance like this?

I’m headed over to talk with Anna when my grandda stops me. I look at him wondering what he is up to when the D.J. announces it is time for the father daughter dance. Lilly picked ‘ I Loved Her First’ by Heartland. It was the perfect song. It is about a father reminiscing about the childhood of his daughter watching her grow up. I’m sure as we dance grandda was thinking about moments of me growing up. I could see it in his eyes as he heard the words to the song. It felt bittersweet to have this dance with him. It should have been ma. And I should have danced with Ace. Although I would change anything about my life I wish Ace had been able to be there. But he is here now. I need to make a point to dance with him.

Just as I finish that thought grandda steps back halfway through the song. “ I thought you might want to dance with your da.” he says. Ace steps forward “ May I?” he asks. All I can do is nod as I wipe away tears. “ You look very happy.” Ace said. “ It is because I am. I married the man of my dreams. I have my family and friends to celebrate this day with me. I have an adorable daughter. And you da. You are here with me. So of course I’m happy.” I told him. I laid my head on his shoulder as we danced. “ Are you happy da?” I asked. “ I’m dancing with my daughter at her wedding. I see my brothers dancing with their daughters. I couldn’t be happier. There is no place I would rather be.”

I lift my head and sure enough I see Brick dancing with Alana, Axel with Kassidy, Rowdy with Kadance and Lug with Katrina. But that isn’t the only thing I see. “ They aren’t the only ones. Look.” I told him and motioned my head to our left. There is Gretchen dancing with Ford, Speed with Jax,Merigold with Jace, Lilly with Bastian and Trina with Ratchet. It was so cute. I see one photographer snapping pictures in both directions.

The rest of the evening went by in a blur of cake cutting, laughing, and dancing. I even line danced with Merigold’s help. I danced with Finn and Callen because there was no way I wasn’t. They have been part of my life for so long I wasn’t leaving them out. Before I knew it it was time for Lug and I to take our little princess home. Anna and grandda were picking her up tomorrow and keeping her for a week while Lug and I went on our honeymoon to Ireland.

I was going to show him my home country. And check on some business while I was there. Just like the club we don’t keep business hours. We never know when something is going to come up that needs our attention. But I wasn’t going to spend very much time on work. I wanted to show Lug the sights and where I grew up. We planned on doing the same thing in a few months to Lousinana so Lug could show me around and where he grew up. I looked forward to it. He wants to see where I come from and I want to see where he grew up. I can’t wait. And as much as I love Katrina I couldn’t wait to have Lug all to myself for a week.