Page 63 of Twisted Obsession

“I have something for you before we go,” my best friend tells me, holding out a much larger box. “This is your something blue,” she says with a wink.

Opening the box, I find a blue garter and laugh as Emylyah drops to her knees and battles with the layers of my skirt to draw it up my thigh.

The mothers hurry out to take their seats and my father fills the doorway.

"Ready, sweetheart?" he asks, his voice gruff with emotion. He’s been surprisingly restrained in his opinion about the situation, apart from letting me know he thought it was a good match, one that benefited our family. But that’s fine. He’s a hard, old-fashioned kind of man, and not one who’s prone to showing his feelings.

I take a deep breath, smoothing my hands over the soft fabric of my dress. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life, Da."

He offers his arm and I take it, feeling the strength and stability he's always provided.

“Wait! You don’t have something borrowed,” Sienna remarks. “You nearly jinxed the whole thing.” The horror in her voice sounds real.

“I don’t have anything new, either,” I remind her wryly.

She waves her hand. “Pfft. Everything is new. Your dress, your shoes, your tiara. But none of it is borrowed.” That said, she pulls a bracelet off her wrist and hands it to me. “For the best luck,” she whispers, fastening it around my own wrist, and that’s when I know I’m gaining a sister along with a husband.

Finally, we’re all ready.

As we make our way down the hallway, Sienna in front of me, and Emylyah, as my Matron of Honor, behind, I can hear the soft murmur of voices from our guests. The processional melody begins to play, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, music that makes my heart soar.

My pulse begins to race, but not from fear. It's anticipation, excitement, and love all rolled into one. As we arrive at the entrance of the church, I can hardly contain my eagerness to see Dominic and become his wife in every sense of the word.

The feelings build with each step, and as we pause at the doors leading to my future, the music swells, then the doors open and I catch a glimpse of Dominic standing at the altar, lookingimpossibly handsome in his tuxedo, waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

Our eyes meet for just a moment, and the love I see reflected there nearly takes my breath away.

A hush falls over the crowd as my father and I begin our walk down the aisle. I drink in every detail. The way the late afternoon sun casts a golden glow over everything. The sweet scent of flowers mingling with freshly cut grass from the churchyard. The faces of our friends and family, all beaming with joy. I want to commit it all to memory.

But most of all, I can't take my eyes off Dominic. With each step, I see his expression shift from awe to tenderness to pure, unbridled happiness. The corners of his eyes crinkle with his smile, and I feel an answering grin spread across my own face.

As we reach the altar, my father places my hand in Dominic's. His fingers are warm and strong, steadying me. I hand my bouquet to Sienna as Emylyah moves the veil from my face, since my father declared he wasn’t handling such a thing. and I turn to face the man I love, the father of my child, my soon-to-be husband.

"You look absolutely breathtaking," Dominic whispers, his voice thick with emotion.

"So do you," I manage to reply, my own voice barely above a whisper.

The officiant begins the ceremony, but I'm only half-listening. I'm lost in Dominic's eyes, in the gentle way he's stroking my hand with his thumb, in the overwhelming feeling of rightness that has settled over me.

When it comes time for our vows, Dominic surprises me by clearing his throat and it becomes clear he’s written his own. Something I never expected and wasn’t prepared for. "Roisin, from the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You challenged me, you made me laugh, and you saw the real me behind all the walls I'd built. Our journey hasn't been easy or conventional, but it's been ours. And I wouldn't change a single moment of it. You've given me a family, a future, and a love I never thought I'd find. I promise to cherish you, to support you, and to love you fiercely every day for the rest of our lives. I promise to be the best husband and father I can be, to always be honest with you, and to face whatever challenges life brings us together. You are my heart, my home, and my happily ever after."

Tears spring to my eyes and I blink rapidly to keep them from falling. I haven't prepared anything nearly as eloquent, believing we’d stick to the traditional Catholic service, but as I look into Dominic's eyes, the words come naturally.

"Dominic, you came into my life unexpectedly, but you've become my everything. You've shown me what true partnership and love really mean. You make me feel safe, cherished, and understood. I promise to stand by your side through all of life's ups and downs, to be your biggest supporter and your most honest critic. I promise to love you and our child with everything I have. I promise to always be open with you, to share my joys and my fears, and to build a life filled with laughter, love, and adventure. You are my friend, my lover, and my soulmate. I can't wait to see what our future holds."

When I finish, Dominic's eyes are glassy, and I can feel my own tears threatening to spill over. We exchange rings, simple goldbands that feel weighty with promise as we slide them onto the other’s finger.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest declares. "You may kiss the bride."

Dominic cups my face in his hands, his touch infinitely gentle. As our lips meet, I pour all of my love, all of my hopes and dreams for our future, into the kiss. The church erupts in cheers and applause, but I barely hear it. In this moment, it's just Dominic and me, starting our new life together.

We turn to face our guests, hands clasped tightly. As we make our way back down the aisle, I catch glimpses of our loved ones' faces – my parents beaming with pride, Lizzie dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, Sienna grinning from ear to ear. The love and support surrounding us is palpable.

As we step out of the church into the warm afternoon sun, a shower of rose petals rains down on us. Laughter bubbles up from deep inside me, and I turn to see Dominic's face lit up with joy. He pulls me close and kisses me again, more deeply this time, as our guests continue to cheer.

"I love you, Mrs. Romano," he murmurs against my lips.

"I love you too, Mr. Romano," I reply, savoring the way my new title rolls from his tongue.

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