Page 1 of Always and Forever

Is this a dream, or is this my reality?

I’m getting married. To a man who owns my body and soul. A man who taught me to love again, and to take a chance on forever.

I stare at myself in the full-length mirror in my parents’ bedroom and run my hands down the organza material of my wedding dress. I’ve chosen an off the shoulder, full-skirt dress in ivory, the bodice covered in sparkling crystals. You can see my baby bump and I run my hands over it, loving the way I can feel my baby kick. This feels so right. My hair is left down, and red roses are pinned in my curls. I had originally chosen to wear a veil but when I came to Tennessee, and my father came home with roses for me, I had to have them in my hair, along with a bouquet of them to hold.

“You look gorgeous, honey.” I look at my mother through the mirror. Tears are rolling down her face, and my vision gets blurry with my own.

I turn to face her. “Oh, Mom, I’m so happy.” She embraces me and I begin to cry tears of pure joy and happiness in her familiar arms.

“How’s my favorite daughter?”

I look over to the bedroom door and see my dad, wearing a black tuxedo, a rose pinned to his jacket.

“Dad! I’m your only daughter,” I reply, laughing at the same time.

“You are a sight, baby girl. As for your future husband, I think he needs a bag. Man looks like he’s going to be sick from all his nerves.”

“Poor Quill.” I forget I’ve been married before, and that this is a first for him. He never thought he would get married. That was until he met me, that is. And I thank God every day that fate stepped in and had Quill and I meet that day at the hotel. If I had allowed Luisa to organize the flower arrangement that morning, our paths would have never crossed.

“Baby girl, you are beautiful,” my dad says, and I see his eyes are shiny with unshed tears. “I love you, Jasmine, I’m so very proud of you.”

“Oh, Daddy,” I cry. “I love you so much.” I hug him closely and weep on his shoulder.

“Shush, sweetheart, this is a happy day. Now, let’s get down there, your future husband is waiting. And I don’t want to piss any of those bikers off. Are you sure you’ve met them all?” my dad asks, frowning as he holds me at arm’s length.

I giggle and pull back to look up at my handsome father. “Yes, Dad, they are family to me. You’ll get used to them.”

“Something tells me that’s not very likely, sweetheart.”

He wipes my tears away and I blow out a breath. “I’m getting married,” I say excitedly, and then see Luisa walk in.

“Here, dry your eyes, you’re going to ruin your makeup if you keep crying like that,” she says holding out a tissue to me.

“I can’t help it, it’s the hormones,” I reply, blaming the baby for me being so emotional.

I look up into Luisa’s eyes and see tears starting to fall there as well. “Don’t you dare cry, Lu. If you cry, then I’ll cry again, and then we’ll both have to fix our makeup.”

“I’m sorry,” she says, her chin quivering.

“Get it together, Lu,” I tease, and we both gently dab our eyes.

“I love you like my own sister,” Luisa says, and brings me in for a hug.

I hug her in return, then pull back. “I love you too, Lu. You’ve always been here for me. We may not be related through blood, but to me you are my sister.” Leaning in I kiss her left cheek. “Now, let’s do this,” I state, glancing at myself in the mirror one last time.

Butterflies begin to erupt in my stomach when my father holds his arm out to me, smiling. I gladly accept it and link my arm through his. My mother’s lip quivers and I look away, not wanting to ruin my makeup any further. She grabs my other arm, and Luisa quickly lifts the train of my dress off the floor.

Walking out into the hallway, Hailey and Tess are there waiting on me, wearing the sliver silk gowns designed for them. They hug in all the right places, flowing at their feet, with a small trail. They look stunning on them, as do the girls. Each of them has their hair up in a knot, and gorgeous silver jewellery gracing their necks, ears, and wrists. A friend of my mother’s owns a hair and beauty salon and came over to do our hair and makeup earlier. I absolutely love the natural colors she applied to all of us. I’m wearing a subtle pink gloss, silver eyeshadow and black liner, with bronzer.

Just as I reach them, I say excitedly, “It’s happening, ladies. I’m getting married.”

Hailey and Tess both laugh, and kiss me on the cheek. “Yes, you are. And you make a gorgeous bride,” Tess adds.

“Thank you, Tess.”

Hailey and Tess walk ahead of me down the stairs, and as we reach the bottom Tess turns to face me. “Good luck out there, girl.”

I reply, “Thank you.”

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