181 — Husband and wife…

I look at myself in the mirror, slightly surprised by what I see. The soft makeup highlights the bright brown of my eyes, and the loose hairstyle in my hair, tied to the veil, brings delicacy to my appearance. Even the diamond earrings and necklace Julian bought me seem like mere details when I see myself in this long wedding dress.
The clothes fit my curves like they were made for them. I absolutely love the floral lace details along the sweetheart neckline, corset, and long sleeves. I remember seeing a similar dress that stuck in my mind as a child, and now I can actually wear one.
But if I’m being honest, my hands are sweating. The snow has already started to fall outside, rebellious to the beginning of winter. Still, I feel warm.
I know that behind that door, in the ballroom, Julian is waiting for me with all of our more than three hundred guests. Although my list of friends is small, Julian is someone with many contacts. When we noticed, there were so many names that it turned pages, but I really don’t care — what really makes me happy is knowing that the people I love are close to me.
Through the large mirror, I notice that the door opens. I turn, watching Cathy’s smile as she approaches in her stunning rose nude dress and a bouquet of white roses. Funny enough, if it were before, I would probably hate receiving them. Still, I hold the bouquet with affection and close my eyes, smelling its fragrance before finally walking down the aisle.
“I know I said this before, but you look beautiful. You’re seriously the most beautiful bride I have ever seen… and I have been to a lot of weddings.” Cathy says, making me giggle.
“Are you sure you’re not saying that because it’s your first time as maid of honor?” I retort playfully, and she raises her eyebrows, feigning offense. “You look amazing too, Cathy. Thank you for being part of this day.”
“I’m glad you chose me.” She fixes my hair, then puts her hands on my shoulders. “Julian is already waiting for you, and your father is outside. You are ready?”
I take a deep breath, gather my courage... then I nod.
Cathy takes my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze before leading me out of the dressing room.
When I walk through the door, I see my father in a gray suit, looking elegant as usual. He turns to me, his lips parted and his eyes wide with surprise. Emotion wets his eyelashes, and he squeezes his eyes shut, fighting back the tears like it’s the most difficult thing in the world.
I smile, feeling my own eyes ache, and Daddy finally lowers his hand, seeing my soft expression.
My father gently holds my face with both hands, placing a long kiss on the top of my hair.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart... Julian is a lucky man.” He says, analyzing my face as if recording this vision in his mind and heart.
The double doors open, and I peer past my father’s shoulder as Cathy gives me one last wink and strides down the aisle with a graceful walk worthy of a model. I also catch a glimpse of the room and feel my stomach twist from the door’s crack.
“We’re next.” Daddy offers me his arm, straightening his posture and widening his shoulders, assuming a serious posture. “Ready to be married?”
I cross our arms, holding my breath as he guides me to the double doors... “Ready.”
My father places his hand over mine on his arm, restoring my courage and reminding me to breathe.
Then, the bride’s march starts playing, and the violin notes make my skin shiver.
When the doors finally open, butterflies dance in my belly.
I walk slowly, and my father follows my pace, respecting the slow steps that lead me to the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Our eyes meet, and my heart speeds up, pounding in my throat. Julian looks so handsome in the white suit, but he’s looking at me like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world.
I’m mesmerized by it, so much so that I don’t even care about the details of the venue... I just move forward along the path of petals and lamps. It’s like there’s just the man I love under the arch of roses — just us in front of this big window that shows the winter outside.
Daddy stops, and Julian approaches with a beaming smile that almost reaches his ears. Exchanging a meaningful look, my father let off my hand, which he held the entire way, and Julian invited me to hold his.
The moment our skin touches, my smile widens, and we lock our fingers while Julian guides me under the arch, now holding both of my hands. His thumb caresses my knuckles, and his eyes never leave mine.
If it weren’t for the officiant’s speech, I would probably forget that there are other people around. All of Julian’s brothers are groomsmen, wearing gray suits, lighter than my father’s, his best man. On my side, Amelie, bridesmaid, and Tyler, bridesman, also match their clothes with Cathy’s.
Suddenly, between the words that I’m not really paying attention to, I catch a quick glimpse of Mr. and Mrs. Adams behind Julian’s shoulders, and that makes my heart feel a little tighter... After all, I really wish my mother was here, by my side.
It’s so sad that Mom and Jack aren’t here right now... But that only inspires me to go ahead with the surprise I prepared.
The officiant keeps the ceremony with a soft voice, but Julian’s eyes don’t leave mine, nor do his fingers stop caressing my hand. Every word the man says just makes me smile more, eager to say my vows.
“Julian Adams, you can start your vows.” The officiant says, speeding up my heart.
Julian gives me a mischievous smile and lets go of one of my hands, searching for a card in his pocket. He seems to have thought a lot about it because, the moment he opens it, he puts on a serious posture.
“Angelee, it was winter when I first saw you... I remember thinking that you seemed cold, but I never imagined that everything about you was warm and bright. I never could have imagined, back then, that years would pass and you would walk down the aisle to be my wife... I could never imagine that I would love you so intensely and deeply or that I would be capable of feeling something like that. But as always, you bring out the best in me.”
I crisp my trembling lips, fighting the sobs, but I’m unable to stop the tears from rolling down my face.
Julian lowers the paper, giving up on his rehearsed words, and touches my face, drying the wet patch of my cheek.
“I could never love another person like I love you. I could never feel happy with someone else by my side. *You are the love of my life*, Angelee, and I swear in front of all these people, looking into your eyes,” Julian reaches behind my neck, touching my hair and veil with his fingertips. “I will love you until the rest of my days, and I will make you happy until my last breath.”
A long moment of silence passes, and he smiles, brushing his thumb against my lips slowly. I know he wants to skip to the part where he can take them, but there are still words I need to say.
“Angelee O’Neil, you can say your vows now.”
I take a deep breath, then place my hand over the one that’s on my face. With our eyes still locked, I let the words come out from the bottom of my heart.
“Julian, you say I’m bright, but it’s you who brought color to my gray world. On that blue day, you were like my sun. And every day, for the last seven years, I have loved you deeply. You were my first love, and you will be my last. You taught me new things; you showed me the strength that lives within me… You gave me everything, Julian. Love, friendship, a family…” I lower his hand to my belly, and he drops his eyes to look at our intertwined hands, exactly where we hear the hearts of our children. “I am the happiest woman in the world right now. I’m marrying the man I fell in love with at first sight, carrying his daughters in my womb, and promising at this exact moment that I will love him until I die.”
*“Daughters?”* He asks quietly, with a sigh, looking at me with wide eyes.
I nod, my smile widening.
“You saved my life, Julian… And I want to spend the rest of it by your side. I want us to be together. Me, you, Jacklyn, and Elizabeth... our little girls, *our family.* I love you, Julian Adams, I always have.”
Upon hearing the names I chose, Julian closed his eyes, pressing it with his thumb and forefinger. He doesn’t move his hand on my belly but allows himself to cry in silence for a few moments.
I caress his shoulders, certain that this tribute means as much to him as it does to me.
The two people most missed on this day, *I hope you feel a little closer to him, Julian.*
When he pulls his hand away and looks at me with wet, slightly swollen eyes, he doesn’t wait for the officiant to allow it — he seals our lips with a long, passionate kiss.
I break the brush of my lips with a silly smile, and Julian kisses my forehead, caressing my face one last time before taking my hands and returning to the ceremony, finally remembering that everyone is watching us.
“The rings, please.” The officiant asks, and my father holds out a velvet box with two white gold rings.
“Julian, will you have this woman to be your wife in holy marriage? Will you love, comfort, honor, keep her in sickness and in health, and be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”
“Yes, I do,” Julian says, slipping the ring onto my finger.
Then, the officiant turns to me.
“Angelee, will you have this man to be your husband in holy marriage? Will you love, comfort, honor, keep him in sickness and in health, and be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
“Yes, I do,” I say, putting the other ring on Julian’s finger.
“Then, in the presence of your family and friends, I declare you husband and wife.”
We stay silent, just admiring each other, when the officiant says with a laugh, “You may now kiss each other.”
Without waiting for another word, Julian wraps me in his arms and holds me close. I grab the back of his neck, closing the distance between our lips.
And with a slow kiss full of feelings, everyone applauds us while snowflakes fall outside… *just like the day we first met.*