If last week was crazy, this one was batshit crazy, I saw Alex only at night before going to bed, she was busy with work, helping Andrew with the paperwork before the wedding, coordinating the last details with the photographers, reviewing the printings of the photos that were going to be at the rehearsal dinner and reviewing the edition of the video that they were going to show that night, this was a surprise for Ana. Busy with the hotel, I made a mental note that if I ever got married, I wouldn't do it in such a busy month, I had to review and approve the menus for business dinners, the Christmas and New Year's menu, review new prices of the new suppliers, supervise that the budget we had set for decorations is met, anyway ... I hadn't even decorated anything in my house for Christmas, everything was in cardboards in the new apartment. Apart from this, I was supervising the last details of the rehearsal dinner, checking the list to make sure that everyone is going to be there, the rehearsal dinner was only for the relatives and the wedding party and their partners, but since it was not going to be in the city, I had to check everybody's RSVP.
"Emma ... hi"
"Hi Jordan, I hope you're okay. I was just calling you super quick to confirm your presence at the rehearsal dinner this Friday in Saint Augustine."
"Yes, of course I'll be there" he said enthusiastically.
"Perfect ... two people?"
"Yes, so far yes" he said with a laugh. "I hope she doesn't ditch me before that" I giggled.
"Ok, perfect, see you on Friday then" we said goodbye and then I called Oscar, another of Andrew's friends who was flying from San Diego, he confirmed his attendance, but he was coming alone, the last person on the list was Raul, but I knew he wouldn't be able to go to Saint Augustine until Saturday morning.
My parents were going to fly from Seattle directly to St Augustine on Saturday morning, Ana's brother would arrive on Thursday directly to Sarasota and from there they were going to drive with Jen and Ana's parents, everything was perfectly calculated, but this didn't prevent Ana from being a bundle of nerves. Jamie took Ana's mental health as her responsibility, she was with her day and night trying to calm her down and enjoy the process. Ana, Andrew and Jamie were leaving on Thursday, and Alex and I were leaving on Friday morning.
On Thursday night, sitting on my couch, with a paper cup in my hands full of wine, I was going over in my mind all the things that I had to take with me, underwear, check, dress for the rehearsal dinner, check, strapless bra for that dress, check, jeans and t-shirts, mmm I had packed 3 blouses and two jeans, plus the one I was going to wear, but if it was very hot? .. One more blouse or a t-shirt was not going to hurt, shoes! The high heels are packed, I'm taking some flip flops, my converse ...
"Babe!" Alex said pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Al! You scared me, why are you yelling?" I asked with a frown.
"Because when I spoke to you normally you weren't listening to me, and your leg has taken on a life of its own again" she said pointing to my leg that was shaking in its own space, I immediately stopped moving, I looked at Alex, I rolled my eyes, and I made a face at her. "Chill baby, everything is packed, everything is ready, and the most important thing is there" She said pointing to our dresses that were in hangers carefully supported on an armchair next to our suitcases. I nodded and sighed dropping my head on her shoulder.
The next day we arrived a little after lunch, we went to the hotel where almost all of us were going to stay, it was a super luxurious, a modern and beautiful hotel facing the sea, today the couple was going to sleep in separate rooms, because Andrew firmly believed that the groom couldn't see the bride on the wedding day, but for now we were all chatting in Andrew's room. I greeted Jeremy, I haven't seen him in years, then Ana introduced him to Alex, there was an air of celebration, everyone was wearing their best smiles, Ana's parents were overflowing with happiness to have their two children together. Andrew and Alex were talking about something, while she arranged his hair, those identical sets of black eyes were shining as they smile and laugh. Suddenly I felt that my emotions were going to overflow me, I quietly apologized to Jamie and without Ana seeing me, I went out to the balcony. I took a deep breath filling my lungs with iodized air, letting the sea breeze ruffle my hair, I leaned back on one of the balcony pillars and just let my mind wander, I was so happy for my friends, to be part of this day, being next to Alex, I felt a wave of emotion invade my body, I closed my eyes to prevent the tears from falling when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
13:53 Alex <3: <photo>
It was a photo of me, taken a few seconds ago. There I was, in my wide beige beach pants, my black sleeveless blouse, my shoulder-length dark brown hair dancing in the wind, leaning on a pillar with my arms crossed and the vast ocean in the background. I turned around to see my favorite photographer leaning against the frame of the balcony exit window, she was wearing tight white jeans with a small tear on the left knee and a loose red button-down blouse, and her oversized sunglasses over her head, she looked at me with a smile that told me how much she loved me, my eyes could not take any more and let a tear shed, Alex frowned and approached me.
"Baby..." she wrapped her arms around me causing more tears to fall "What's the matter? Are you okay?" She was stroking my back, then she pulled away a bit to look into my eyes, she was worried which made me smile and want to cry even more, God, I was a mess.
"Yes baby, I am perfect, these are happy tears" I said caressing her face, she smiled and gave me a kiss on the forehead, then she hugged me sideways and we continued looking at the sea. I wish I could encapsulate this feeling forever.
That night, it was simply spectacular, it was the party before the party. The path from the parking lot to the reserve area was lit by the dim lights of the small torches and decorated with photos of the bride and groom, inside the decoration was impeccable with the colors of the wedding and the music was soft but happy, the sun setting could be observed through the large windows, while we were chatting before the food was served, Samara approached Alex and said something in her ear, she nodded and squeezed my hand as she smiled at me, then she stood up and clinked her glass.
"Good evening everyone. Welcome, thank you very much for being here and for sharing with us the wedding of my brother and Ana. I had the joy of meeting Ana in person only a few months ago and only days before Andrew proposed to her, but technically I already knew her and I adored her thanks to everything my brother told me ... he couldn't shut up about his perfect girl, I came to think that he was imagining her and when he told me that he was going to ask her the most important question of his life, I had to come to meet her in person and I can only tell you ... that my brother was not exaggerating. Ana, I wish my parents could have met you, that they were here with us to share with you this weekend, but I know that they are as happy as I am, to be able to formally welcome you to our family. You are an exceptional woman, and I cannot be happier for you both, please..."she said raising her glass "For Ana and Andrew! " we all toasted and smiled, many of us had wet eyes, Alex hugged the couple before resuming her siting position.
After that it was time for lunch, everything was spectacular, delicious, while I was chatting with Alex and Ellie who were next to me, I felt someone's gaze on me, I didn't want to be so obvious and find out who it was, but after a few seconds, I couldn't hold it anymore and turned my head to see who it was, in just a second I was struck by that look. Sky blue eyes, super straight blonde hair, with a bob cut that perfectly framed her face, she was very pretty, Jordan had not yet formally introduced her to me, but I knew her name was Jill, she gave me a shy smile and looked away. A few seconds later, Andrew clinked his glass, and we all gave him our attention.
"Thank you all very much. On behalf of Ana and myself I want to thank everyone for attending this incredible dinner and of course for joining us tomorrow. I want to thank my sister Alex, not only for giving us this wonderful night, but for all her support and the love she has for us, as she said earlier, my happiness would be complete if my parents were here, I would have liked nothing more than for them to meet the love of my life and to be able to hug them today, but even though they are not here, I feel that life has been good and it has given me wonderful friends and some in-laws whom I love as my second parents and they have not stopped supporting us for a single second. To my beautiful future wife, today I want to take the opportunity to thank you in front of the people we love the most, for agreeing to unite your life with mine, I am sure that we will have a wonderful life together, I know that we will have ups and downs because that is life, but with your hand on mine, I know that we can face anything. Thanks everyone, enjoy today because tomorrow we will enjoy twice as much" We all clapped, they kissed, Maggie wiped away a tear, Alex squeezed my hand a little tighter and I could tell she was excited.
