Page 169 of Unspoken Words
She handed me the bouquet Dad had been holding and shrugged. “How about extra nice?”
“You can say that again.”
Staring wide-eyed at Connor, I didn’t know what to say. I knew this man through and through and, yet, he still managed to surprise me and leave me breathless. “I … I can’t believe he did this.”
Mum adjusted my off-the-shoulder straps and rested her hands over them. “He had a little help.”
I glanced from Mum and Dad to Connor and Chris, Raelene and Curtis, a tear escaping my eye and falling to my cheek. “I … I really don’t know what to say.”
“You say, ‘I do’,” she said while fanning her hands over her face. “No, no, no. No crying. At least not yet.”
I, too, fanned my hands, wiped my eyes, and willed back any further tears. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Mum leaned forward and kissed my cheek, her lips lingering. “I love you so much, Ellie. Happy wedding day.”
“Okay, Beth, go and take your seat. Connor’s only been waiting all his life for this day. Let’s not make the poor guy wait any longer.”
Mum laughed, let go of my hand, and made her way into the garden, so I turned to my dad, wiped my eyes—again—and sucked in a deep breath, inflating my cheeks before exhaling.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he said, his lip trembling like only a father of the bride’s could.
I hugged him tight. “Thank you, Dad.”
Pulling back, he puffed his chest, and held out his arm for me, his shoulders stiff, his posture proud. “You ready?”
I nodded with just as much resolve. “I am.”
“Then let’s get you married to the only boy who was ever good enough for my baby girl.”
“So true.” I laughed. “But don’t tell him that.”
“I don’t need to. He already knows. He’salwaysknown.”
As Dad and I walked arm in arm along the garden path, my eyes locked on Connor, and I knew deep down to the very core of my soul that what Dad had said was true. Connor had always known he was the only one for me just as I’d always known I was the only one for him. We began at the end, back then and now, and no matter what life had in store for us, we wouldalwaysbegin at the end, like a heart, not a circle. A circle was perfect; no turns, bumps, or corners. Connor and I definitely weren’t perfect—we looped and spun but we always found each other.
Glancing down at the heart on my wrist, I smiled through my tears. We were definitely a heart, one stronger than my own—one that would not break or fail.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said, his voice low and full of love. It immediately drew my eyes to his.
Dad and I stopped, and he placed my hands into Connor’s. “I don’t need to say ‘look after her’ because you’ve been doing that nearly all her life.”
“And I’ll continue to do it. Forever,” he replied.
“I know you will, son.” Dad wrapped his arm around Connor’s shoulder and hugged him tight while patting his back. “I know you will.”
I choked back a sob, as did Chris. And as I looked around the garden, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight.
“Oh, wow,” I said, wiping my eyes. “So much pollen.”
Laughter erupted throughout the garden, and Dad and Connor pulled apart.
“How are you feeling?” Connor gently caressed my cheek with his thumb.
“Fine. A little overwhelmed, but fine.”
His eyes crinkled and shone like diamonds; he was so goddamn handsome.
“I could eat you right now,” I whispered.
