Chapter 44: Drake

“How did you get that recording?” Drake asked as he stared down at Lydia.

He wasn’t sure if he was feeling jealous at the thought of Lydia contacting one of her own clients, or proud that she finally got the best of Dianne.

“I had Martin gather a list of your father’s supporters. Daniels was one of the biggest supporters; knowing what I do about his… err sexual appetite, and what I know of your parents, I knew there was something there. I had Martin contact him and blackmail him into giving me information on Dianne. I was just luckily their little err… quid pro quo happened in his office.” Lydia replied.

Drake felt a sense of relief flood through him when he realized Lydia hadn’t in fact contacted Daniels herself, “What were you blackmailing him with?” Drake asked suddenly curious on the dirty deets Lydia had on Daniels.

“Well I figured since the world already knows I use to be an escort, I might as well use it to my benefit. I had some rather high end cliental that weren’t smart enough to get a NDA. Daniels was one of those clients. He didn’t want to be part of my new tell all novel.” Lydia replied a grin on her face.

“Have I ever told you, that you’re a deviant?” Drake asks, “a smart, insanely beautiful, wickedly sexy, deviant.” He states as he pulls her towards him lowering his lips to hers.

“I can’t say you have,” Lydia replied, “But I wouldn’t mind hearing you tell me it again.” She replied against his lips.


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Lydia glanced down at the open casket, her mother looked beautiful in her sky blue sun dress. It was her favorite church dress and Lydia only felt right that she be buried in it. The mortician had followed Lydia’s directions to a T. Rebecca’s beautiful brown hair was slightly curled and fanned out, her lips were painted a soft pink, and her eyes had the slightest shade of brown colored on the lids. Looking down at her mother, Lydia swore her mother looked like she was sleeping, but she knew better, her mother would never wake from this slumber. She was finally at peace.

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When Lydia finished her rendition of Tim Mcgraw’s Live Like You were dying, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. Everyone who knew Rebecca, knew that she was a free spirit who enjoyed living life to the fullest. Lydia couldn’t have chosen a better goodbye song for her mother.

“The funeral was beautiful.” Margaret stated as she gathered a now sobbing Lydia into her arms, “Don’t cry Darling, Rebecca was and still is so proud of the woman that you’ve become. And you know that she wouldn’t approve of you having red swollen eyes on your wedding day.”

“Margaret, you’re the closest person to family that i have left, would you mind walking me down the aisle tonight?” Lydia asked, as she aggressively wiped the snot and tears from her face.

“I’d be honored.” Margaret replied, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

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“I can’t believe I missed your mother’s funeral.” Madilyn stated, as she pinned Lydia’s blond hair up into a fashionable up-do, “As your best friend, I should have been there lending you a supportive shoulder, you shouldn’t have had to endure that alone.”

“I wasn’t alone Madi, I had Drake with me.” Lydia replied as she watched Madilyn add tiny jewels to her hair, gluing them on with liquid gel.

“I know you had Drake.” Madilyn replied, “But it isn’t the same as having another female present. Will you ever forgive me?” Madilyn asked her eyes glancing up into their mirror staring into the reflection of Lydia’s.

“There is nothing to forgive.” Lydia stated for the umpteenth time. “Are you sure you don’t want to do a joint wedding still?” Lydia asked Madilyn, “I feel terrible for ruining the initial plans.”

“Err.. actually, that’s the reason we were late this afternoon. Sampson and I decided we couldn’t wait a moment longer to be husband and wife. We went to the courthouse and exchanged vows.” Madilyn gushed, relieved to finally spill her biggest secret to Lydia.

“Wait WHAT!” Lydia exclaimed, “Oh Madi, I am so happy for you. I can’t believe y’all got married in secret. Think of the scandal. What will the tabloids write? What will Dianne say?”

“Fuck Dianne, and screw the tabloids.” Madilyn replied tugging a little too roughly on Lydia’s hair as she pinned up the last strand, “There you go gorgeous, all done.”

Lydia wanted to inquire on what happened between Dianne and Sampson, but Madilyn had already whisked out of the room running across the hall to grab Lydia’s wedding dress. Lydia made a mental note to ask Drake if he’d heard anything after the ceremony.

“Alrighty lets squeeze you into this beauty. We have about thirty minutes before your expected to walk down that aisle.” Madilyn stated excitedly as she came running into the room, with Lydia’s wedding dressed draped over her arm.

Lydia held perfectly still as Madilyn began to strip her of her clothes, “Hot Damn,” Madilyn gushed as she took a step back to admire Lydia’s body. “If I wasn’t a married woman, I’d tell Drake to watch out. You’re something else.”

Lydia’s entire body flushed pink as Madilyn continued to openly admire her physique. She still wasn’t completely used to Madilyn’s openness.

“Alright, lets get you into this dress, before I’m give into my urges and ravish the bride.” Madilyn stated, causing Lydia to chuckle as Madi slipped her slit over her head, before helping Lydia into her dress and tightly doing up the corsets, once again stepping back and admiring her work. “And of course your breasts still look fantastic, even without a bra.”

“Thanks Madi.” Lydia responded feeling happy that this girl had come into her life.

“Of course, what else are best friends for.” Madi replied, “Now lets get you downstairs before your groom starts to worry that his bride ran off… again.” She chuckled teasing Lydia about her sudden departure from the island.

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Once the music starts to play the entire crowd stands welcome the bride. Of course, instead of the traditional wedding march, Lydia is walking down the aisle to Meet in the middle by Diamond Rio. The song was important to her in more ways than one. Lydia believed that marriage should not only be met with sacrifices but also with compromises as well.

***You start walking your way, and I’ll start walking mine we will meet in the middle, by that old Georgia pine.***

Drake’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he watched his future walk down the aisle arm and arm with her old neighbor. She’d never looked more beautiful to him than she did today. She was not only promising herself to Drake tonight, but she was also sacrificing a part of herself as well. She was sacrificing the part of her that was afraid of commitment and love. The promise that she’d given herself all those years ago, that she wouldn’t allow herself to be tied down. While she’d always had the love of her mother, Lydia had never truly experienced what it was like for two people to be in love. She assumed love was a myth and that most people settled for a life long companion. But the moment Drake walked into her life, her heart had betrayed her mind, and she fell more deeply in love each day. Lydia didn’t mind sacrificing the most vulnerable parts of herself, as long as she did it with Drake by her side. He was her person, and she knew when she needed, he would be there to hold her up.

Once Margaret handed Lydia off to Drake, Drake couldn’t help but pull Lydia in for a quick kiss. “You look beautiful princess.” He whispered before pulling away.

Lydia’s cheeks blushed a soft pink as the monster cleared his throat officially starting the wedding ceremony.

**“The couples have decided to write their own vows. Drake you may proceed.” The minster stated once he got through half the necessary jargon that came with getting married. **

*“Lydia,” Drake began, “With you I found compassion, love, happiness, and pure blissfulness.*

*I pledge to always catch you when you stumble, and carry you over every threshold. I promise to protect you from and to stand in the storm with you against your troubles. I vow to not only hear you, but to listen to you, I vow to not only trust but to be honest as well, and I vow to not only receive the love that you’ll give me, but to also give my love in return.*

*I promise you faithfulness, never ending patience, and respect. I promise to be attentive and to better myself each and every day. I promise to celebrate your triumphs, and for your losses, I promise to love you even more than I already do today.*

*Throughout this marriage, I’ll be your greatest cheerleader, biggest fan, and your partner in crime.*

*Princess, today I give you my life.*

By the time Drake finished his vows, Lydia’s cheeks were coated in tears. She didn’t know what she did to deserve a love like this, but she knew that she would cherish it forever.

***Lydia, you may now recite your vows.” The minster stated, directing Lydia to proceed.***

*”Drake,” Lydia began,*

*Today, I vow to not only be your wife, but to be your best friend, your biggest supporter, and a shoulder you can lean on when the pressure of the world becomes to heavy to carry.*

*I promise to be your honest, loving, and faithful wife for the rest of my days. I vow to love you with all of my heart, with a passion that words cannot express. I will devour you with kisses, glances and years of devotion by your side.*

*Today, I say the words I do, but what I am really saying is I will. I will take your hand and stand by your side in the good and the bad. I will dedicate myself to your happiness and your success.*

*Drake, I promise to love you forever and ever, forever and ever, amen.*

Drake chuckled at the ending of Lydia’s vows. He wouldn’t expect anything less than her love for 90’s country music to find a way into their vows to.

**“Do you, Drake Whittenberg take this woman, Lydia Gulbransen to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”**

*“I do,” Drake replies to the minster, his gaze never leaving Lydia’s eyes.*

**“And do you Lydia Gulbransen Hunt, take this man, Drake Whittenberg to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness, and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”**

*“I do.” Lydia replied, before whispering, “I will.”*

**“Drake and Lydia,

**You have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. It is with these in that I now pronounce you husband and wife.

**You have kissed a thousand times, maybe even more. But today, the feeling is new. You are no longer simply partners and best friends, today you are husband and wife. Today your kiss is a promise, it is a seal to your marriage vows.

**Drake, you may now kiss the bride.” The minster stated, officially ending the ceremony.

Drake pulled Lydia into his arms and he kissed her like he’s never done before. His kiss expressing his love more clearly than his vows ever could. It was with this kiss, that Lydia knew no matter what happened in their lives, no matter how many times Dianne tried to attack their character, or what information Martin discovered about Amelia, that Drake would be there by her side, supporting her and cherishing her along the way, just as she would him. They were in this together now, til death do they part.

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: and that wraps up the end of Book 1***