Page 68 of Safer Together
~ Epilogue ~
Angela
“You look so beautiful Angie, he won’t be able to keep his hands off you.” Liam’s voice comes from behind me, bringing me out of my own thoughts. I look at myself in the full-length mirror I stand before. The custom-made strapless white gown with gorgeous lace detail clinging to my curves perfectly. The cathedral length white veil with Swarovski crystals sewn into place resting over my shoulders. My thick black curls kept in place by hundreds of bobby pins hidden underneath.
I turn to face him, “You know what, you actually scrub up okay in a suit yourself.” He smiles back at me and makes a mock bow.
“I know, right? I can’t believe this was me three weeks ago. Man, that time has gone by quickly,” he laughs. My mind flashes back to when I was in the same position Liam is now. Me comforting him before his big day.
“Time goes by so fast now that we are getting older doesn’t it?” I say. He nods in response.
“Can you believe that in an hour both of us will be married?”
“I know, scary isn’t it? We are officially grown up, now.” I think that over for a moment. As much as being married does take adulting up another level, it’s not like I am really going to change that much. I will still be the same Angela after the ceremony that I am now. With one big exception: I walk down the aisle with my father as a White and when I walk back with Elliot at my side, I will be a Sands.
“Well, I know, Elliot is probably losing his mind out there waiting for you. So, let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” He hands me a bouquet of white roses, that match the pin he wears on the lapel of his suit and walks outside just as my father walks in the door.
“Oh, Angela. My beautiful baby girl. You look so grown up and gorgeous,” he says, and he comes to me and envelops me carefully in his arms.
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“To me, it only feels like yesterday that you were placed in my arms at the hospital, and now you stand before me as a bride.” He pulls away and looks at me, getting a little teary.
Dads comment brings back a conversation I had with my gynaecologist a month ago…
“The internal damage done to your body was incredibly severe, Angela. In time you will be able to have children, however your only option for delivery will be a caesarean section” shock was the first feeling that washed over me, followed by relief. Relief that Dylan hadn’t taken away my ability to have children.
“I’ll always be your baby, Dad,” I whisper.
“You got a good one with, Sands, and he sure got the best when he got you to agree to marry him. Let’s get out there and make it official, shall we? Unless you have got yourself a pair of cold feet that I should know about?”
“Nope, no cold feet here. A little nervous, perhaps, but mainly ready to start this next chapter of my life,” and it was so true. The emotions rolling around within me were like butterflies. Ones I knew would settle as soon as I was in Elliot’s arms. He has this amazing way of making me calm.
We hear the music outside begin to play. “This is it!” I say excitedly.
“All right we’re up. You guys coming?”
I look to my father and then to my best friend. “Let’s do this.”
The music gets louder with each step bringing us closer to our back yard. Once we leave the back patio, I see the rose petals scattered on the ground and see all of our family and friends standing up ahead. We walk toward them slowly, coming around the bend until we are at the end of the aisle. I look straight ahead; my eyes find Elliot immediately, standing with his back toward me, his best friend Drake standing beside him, wide smiles spreading across his face.
Drake leans towards Elliot and whispers something to him and Elliot’s body begins to straighten, lifting himself even straighter, making him seem taller, before slowly turning around. Our eyes lock and his face expresses an emotion I’ve never seen before. A smile widens across his features and his hands come up in front of his mouth, his thumbs slipping under his chin. We continue our slow walk closer to him until we are only a few steps away, and Elliot can wait no longer. He takes a step closer to us, needing to get to me just like I need to get to him.
My father places my hand into Elliot’s. “It is your job to look after my daughter, not just for today but for the rest of your lives now, Elliot.” He speaks loudly, a small tremor evident.
Elliot’s free hand lands on my father’s shoulder. “It will be my greatest honor, John.” My father steps back, taking his place beside my mother in the front row. Elliot and I walk to the officiant together. Once there, I pass my bouquet to Liam and turn my body to face Elliot fully.
“You look so incredibly beautiful, my love,” he whispers. Pulling one of my hands to his mouth, he presses his lips to my knuckles and the all-so-familiar electrical current vibrates across my skin. This is where I belong. I tried to fight it, the feelings that began to consume me, but in this moment, there is nowhere that I would rather be, and no one I would rather be standing here with.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Mr. Sands” I smile at my man, and the officiant begins the ceremony. We both promise to love, cherish, be completely honest with each other, and laugh at each other’s jokes for the rest of our lives. Elliot slips a beautiful white gold band on my finger beside my engagement ring, and I place his larger matching band onto his finger with ease.
When it is finally announced we are now Mr. and Mrs. Sands and that Elliot can kiss me, his look changes. The tears that he has been holding back get blinked away and the alpha male from within comes out. He leans in and whispers in my ear, “finally you’re mine, forever,” before pulling away and planting his lips possessively on my own. One of his arms cups the back of my head while the other holds my waist.
I kiss my husband with everything I can, pushing all my emotions into him so he can feel how much I love him in this moment. With that kiss, we promise each other our love and support for the rest of our lives.
When our lips finally separate, we turn to face our family and friends. They are all beaming up at us, applauding our union. Our mothers are both crying happy tears, dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs they have no doubt gotten from our fathers who are holding them close. We walk farther along the aisle and I see James, his arms wrapped around a beautiful brunette smiling up at him. They kiss and I smile even more in this moment knowing that one of my closest friends has also found someone to love. I hope that he is as happy as I am.
The reception goes by too quickly. We enjoy delicious food and wine, dance till our feet hurt with our family and friends, and I cry at the wedding speeches. Especially when Elliot tells everyone that he never thought he could be as happy as he is here with me today.
