Belinda was her maid of honor and she had been a life-saver. Reagan hadn’t had any close friends since high school. Aiden had made sure of that as part of his attempt to control and dominate every aspect of her life. She had met Belinda at the company. She had worked for Rex Ferris for two years as a junior assistant and she and Reagan hit it off almost immediately. Belinda had also only been married for less than a year so she had tons of amazing tips to offer Reagan as she began planning her own wedding. Her husband was a really nice guy and although he and Lucas probably wouldn’t ever be best friends because of their age difference, they got along well enough for the two couples to hang out and do things together on occasion. Reagan loved having a best friend and she confided almost everything to Belinda.
Belinda pulled the door open and two women and one man came inside. Each of them carried a leather bag full of supplies and they were set up and ready to work their magic in minutes. When they left the hair stylist showed up and by then it was time for Reagan and Belinda to put on their dresses. Reagan had worked with a designer from Bali who had created a dress for her that was beach casual but at the same time, wedding elegant. Belinda was wearing a pale green dress and Lucas, his father and his best man, a friend he’d had since college named Tim, were all wearing black tuxedos with light green cummerbunds and ties. The color wasn’t Reagan’s favorite, but it had been her mother Carey’s. It was Reagan’s way of honoring her and letting her know if she was out there watching somewhere, how much she missed her.
“So, are you nervous or excited or both?” Belinda asked her as they waited.
“Both,” she said with a smile. “But you know what is consuming me right now more than nerves and excitement?”
“What?”
“I miss Lucas. I have barely slept in two days. I don’t know how to sleep without him any longer. I miss him like someone cut off my arm and I had to live without it for two days before getting it sewn back on.”
Belinda laughed. “Well, that’s a good thing because you’re going to be sleeping with him for the rest of your life.”
Reagan could feel herself beaming from the inside out. The idea of being with Lucas for the rest of her life was a feeling that she couldn’t even put into words if she had to…but the gist of it was all good.
“Okay ladies!” The wedding planner Reagan hired to help with the last-minute details barrelled into the room. She was so high energy that sometimes she made Reagan nervous, but she definitely got the job done. “You’re up matron of honor.”
Belinda gave Reagan a tight hug and whispered, “Good luck, honey. You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you. Thank you for being here too.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” she replied with a smile.
“Come on now before you make her cry and she ruins her make-up,” the wedding planner nagged. Belinda laughed and followed the little hyperactive woman out the door. Almost as soon as they were gone Reagan heard the soft, beautiful harp music begin to play and she knew that her time to walk down the aisle was near. Another knock on the door produced Rex Ferris looking sharp and handsome in his tuxedo. As soon as he saw Reagan he let out a low whistle.
“You look so beautiful. My son is a lucky man.”
Reagan smiled. “Thank you, Rex. But, I’m the lucky one.”
“You’re going to both have a great life.” On ‘life,’ the wedding march began to play and the wedding planner was tapping on the door saying, “Let’s go, bride, you’re up!”
Reagan took the arm that Rex offered and together they stepped through the door. They stood at the start of the long, white runner and waited for their cue. Rex bent down and kissed her cheek and said, “That one was for your mama. I know she would have loved being here more than anything else.”
Reagan’s eyes filled with tears at the mention of Carey. The wedding planner appeared as if out of nowhere and handed her a tissue.
“Don’t wipe, blot.” Reagan giggled and gently blotted the tears. Then she took a deep breath and slid her hand back through Rex’s arm. The guests all stood and Reagan and Rex began walking together toward the altar. She could see Lucas waiting for her and the butterflies in her belly took flight at the sight of him. He looked so gorgeous in his tuxedo and with an almost euphoric smile on his face. He locked eyes with Reagan and neither of them looked away until she and Rex reached the front. When they did Rex moved her thin, lacy veil out of the way and kissed her cheek before whispering, “I love you.”
Reagan smiled and said, “I love you too. Thank you.”
“No, thank you. Thank you for making my son happier than I’ve ever seen him.”
He handed her over to Lucas and she slid her arm through his. Lucas was beaming at the sight of her. “God, you’re gorgeous,” he whispered.
“So are you,” she winked. He looked so gorgeous as a matter of fact, she wanted to jump him right there. She was amazed at the fact that after two years together the sight of him still gave her goose bumps and caused her breath to catch in her throat.
“Are we ready to get started?” the minister asked them.
“Yes,” they both said in unison.
Reagan was smiling so broadly that her face almost hurt. She didn’t even care where Aiden was at or what he was doing. She was marrying the man of her dreams today and no matter what Aiden chose to do from here on out, he couldn’t take her joy away. She couldn’t wait to see what Lucas had planned for the honeymoon that he had insisted on planning in secret…And for the rest of their lives.
**
When they left the reception and headed for the airport Reagan asked a million questions about where they were going, but Lucas wouldn’t even give her a hint, other than to tell her it was someplace she would love and a place where absolutely no one would bother them.
They flew on his company’s private jet and Reagan continued to try and get out of him along the way where they were going. Lucas looked amused each time she guessed and held firm to not even giving her a clue. When the plane began to descend, she looked out the window and all she could see below them were snow-capped mountain ranges.
“Switzerland?” she said.