Page 139 of Remember Us This Way

It’s an incredible night, easily the best one of my life, and as Noah drives me home after all is said and done, I can’t help but smile. His hand lingers on my thigh, the weight of my illness not welcome here tonight. As I gaze at him, his elbow resting against the driver’s door, his fingers carelessly draped over the steering wheel, my heart flutters. Things could not be more perfect.

This incredible man is going to be my husband.

Right from the start he was mine, and now I’m going to walk down the aisle to marry him before he inevitably walks me through to the end, our hearts entwined until the end of time.

57

Zoey

The beautiful Arizona sun peaks above the horizon, welcoming a new day and turning the sky into brilliant shades of dazzling gold. It’s a perfect day, more than I could have ever asked for because, in a little more than an hour, I’m going to marry my best friend.

It’s been a week since Noah proposed at the lake, and while I know this is all happening so fast and not typically how this would go down, I wouldn’t have it any other way, especially considering the circumstances. We want to make the most of every second, and if that means getting to marry the man who makes me the happiest woman in the world in a short, private ceremony while the sun still rises in the dewy morning, then that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

I stand at my bedroom window, not brave enough to crawl out onto the roof. At this point, I don’t even think I’d have the strength to haul myself out through the frame. While this past week has been incredible with Noah getting to plan our wedding and Mom helping me choose a dress, I’ve also continued my steady decline, which is part of the reason why we’re doing this so early in the morning.

By the time the sun is just reaching the top of the sky, I’ll be too exhausted to even stand, and by the time it lowers back down to the horizon, I won’t be able to keep my eyes open. If we opted for a starlight ceremony like I’d always imagined, I would have only been able to enjoy it for an hour or two. This way, I get to take my time and soak up every last second—even if it means asking my family to wake up before dawn.

A soft knock sounds at my door, and I turn to find Mom beaming at me with glassy eyes. “Are you ready to start?” she murmurs, her voice filling my room with nothing but unconditional love.

I nod, glad that I get to relax and sit down through this part. “Born ready,” I tell her as butterflies dance through my stomach.

I make my way back to my bed, knowing Hazel is about to come in and bombard me with makeup, and as I drop down, I can’t help but glance toward Noah’s empty side. He stuck to tradition and snuck out early so he wouldn’t see me the morning of our wedding, and while I love that about him, I also hated not waking up in the warmth of his strong arms. It’s daunting that I don’t know how many mornings I have left to open my eyes to him, but I know from this day on, I will never have to wake up alone again.

Just as expected, Hazel shows up only moments later and doesn’t waste a single second. She dives straight into my makeup, going the extra mile to make sure I’m pampered at the same time. Hope turns up halfway through makeup, and seeing just how gifted Hazel is in this department, demands that she does hers too, which Hazel is more than happy to cater to.

Without hair to worry about, getting ready doesn’t take long, and before I know it, Mom and Hope are helping me into my dress as I gaze at myself in the mirror. It’s a beautiful silk gown with delicate beaded straps and a plunging back, soft and flowy, that perfectly accentuates what little curves I have left. The gown trails down to a small train, the material gathered at my feet, and while it’s not exactly the extravagant gown I pictured for myself, it’s beautiful all the same.

I always wanted something covered in beading with a long train, but I’m simply not strong enough to bear the weight of a gown like that anymore. Looking at myself now, taking in the subtleness, the soft lace, and the headband veil that falls like a gentle summer breeze over my face, I realize that nothing could have been better. It’s absolutely perfect, but what makes it better is knowing that this will be the dress Noah always remembers me in. This very moment will live in his memories, treasured and cherished until the end of time.

When I’m ready, my dad appears at the door, his soft intake of breath drawing my attention. I glance up, peering at my father across the room, a small smile stretching across my glossy lips. “Hi Daddy,” I whisper.

A single tear falls from his eye as he wanders toward me, not stopping until he’s standing right in front of me. He gently collects my veil between his fingers and lifts it over my head, letting it fall back behind me. “You’re absolutely breathtaking,” he tells me, his fingers gently brushing over my cheek. “You truly are an angel sent from the heavens.”

I smile up at my father, willing myself not to cry. “You’re walking me down the aisle, right?”

“There’s no greater honor for a father than to give his daughter away on her wedding day,” he whispers. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

My cheeks flush, and for a fleeting moment, I feel like that same little girl who used to dress up in Mom’s old wedding gown without a single care in the world. I would make Dad walk me down the aisle and give me away to Hazel, who was forced to step in as the groom when Noah had enough of playing weddings. It’s surreal to think that we’re right back there again, only this time, it’s for real, and no one is playing.

“You won’t let me fall?”

“Never,” Dad murmurs before reaching back around me and gathering my veil once again. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek before meeting my eyes. “I love you, Zo. You’re always going to be my sweet angel, my little girl.”

I can’t keep the tears from falling and he hastily wipes them away before finally lowering my veil back into place. “Let’s go get you married,” he says, and with that, he steps in beside me, his arm folding right around my waist. I place my hand over his, and as Hazel collects the bouquet of tulips, made out of the dozens Noah has gifted me over these past few weeks, one each and every day without fail.

The nerves and excitement creep in, but I can’t wait. I’ve never been so ready in my life. We make our way down the stairs, and Dad holds on to me tighter than ever as Mom and Hope follow behind us.

Dad opens the door of the fancy limousine, and I can’t help but laugh to myself. This is insane. I’ve never ridden in a limo before, but it’s absolutely everything and more. I feel like a princess. This has Hazel written all over it, and I love how she put her two cents in to make sure today is absolutely perfect for me.

We all climb in, and after we all get settled, the driver hits the gas, and we’re sailing down the road, away from East View and out toward the countryside. I have no idea where we’re going, only that I’ll get to see Noah when we get there.

The second Noah found the place, he decided he wanted to keep yet another surprise. It’s been bugging me all week, but I know whatever he’s chosen is going to be amazing.

It’s a thirty-minute drive before the limo turns down a long, winding road, and as he does, my eyes light up with an array of breathtaking, vibrant colors. Beautiful shades of reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, and whites fill the rolling hills of the tulip fields before me.

I sit up straighter, my eyes so wide as the morning sun glistens off the dew lingering on the delicate petals. It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. “Oh my gosh,” Mom whispers, her hand falling to my thigh and gently squeezing. “I knew it was going to be beautiful, but I never could have imagined this. It’s breathtaking.”

I’ve never heard truer words in my life, and my eyes start to water. It really is breathtaking. I didn’t think anything could outdo Noah’s incredible proposal, but this is so much more than I ever dreamed.

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