Lois, wearing a black dress similar to Erica's, came in and took her hands. "You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. My son is so lucky to have you, but we are luckier to have you as part of our family."
"Thank you," Eden said, tears threatening to drown her again.
"I know it hasn't been long since we met, but I'm looking forward to all the years of getting to know you, Edie." Lois took out her blue monogrammed handkerchief sprinkled with white lilies along the edges. "Your something blue. I have a feeling you'll need it a lot more today."
"I love him, and I'm going to make him so happy," Eden promised her.
"You already have." Lois gently touched her cheek. "Now, you have ten minutes before your big moment. Are you nervous?"
Eden shook her head. She thought she would be. But she felt oddly calm, at peace, and just giddy with joy.
"Good, because Liam's anxious enough for you both. I've never seen him so nervous."
Eden found it hard to believe that something made Liam nervous. With his larger than life personality, he was always so sure of himself, sometimes to the point of cockiness.
"See you in a bit." Lois waved over her shoulder.
Steve, looking spiffy in his tuxedo, his cheeks rosy from excitement or maybe from a glass or two of whiskey, came to pick Eden up five minutes later, her friends following behind him.
"Your chariot awaits, princess." He bowed and linked their arms.
Sienna shoved the wedding bouquet in Eden's hands and pulled down her veil, while Lydia and Cassandra carried her train as they made their way out of the room. They hugged her at the chapel's entrance one last time and took their places alongside the groomsmen, who looked dashing in their grey suits.
When the orchestra broke into something moody and romantic, they began their walk down the aisle, with Sienna and Matthew leading the procession.
As the ring bearer, Aiden should have followed them. But, he screeched with glee and dumped the rings tied around a small pillow on the floor when he saw her, "Mommy!"
Eden crouched to the floor and hugged him. "Hey, Aid. Did you miss me?"
"Yes," he nodded and kissed her cheek through the veil.
After a lot of convincing from her, he finally decided to take his job seriously. He picked up the pillow and, amidst everyone's hearty laughter, ran as fast as his tiny legs would carry him to the altar, where his father waited.
The flower girl, a relative of Liam's and not much older than Aiden, wasn't in the mood for the slow march either. Taking a leaf from Aiden's book, she, too, bolted down the aisle and forgot to sprinkle the daffodil petals from the basket hanging loosely in her hand.
The church bells drifting through the overhead speakers inside the chapel announced Eden's appearance. All the guests rose to their feet and turned to her when the opening strains of Ave Maria resounded through the room.
The anxiety Eden hadn't felt the whole day finally kicked in when the millions of eyes zoned in on her. Even though she was safely hidden behind her veil, she suddenly had a newfound appreciation for Aiden's plan. If she could have run down the aisle, she would have, just to get out of the spotlight.
But her father wanted to take things nice and slow, explaining to her that it wasn't every day his only child got married, and he wanted to remember every little detail.
"You look so happy, honey," he whispered as they made their way down the aisle in time with the music.
"I am, Dad. I'm so happy I feel like it's a crime."
"Soak it all in, sweetheart, because this is the first day of the rest of your life with that man," Steve said, nodding at Liam waiting at the altar.
Chapter
Fifty
BEGIN AGAIN
As Liam watched Eden slowly make her way to him, he was overcome with emotion. He'd tried the whole day to keep it together, and had lost track of the number of times his cousins had to stop him from running to her guest suite.
Now that she was here, and they were so close to the start of their next chapter, hard as he tried to blink away his tears, Liam couldn't. He choked back a sob, unable to believe how lucky he was. He'd never seen that many brides before, but of the few he had, Eden took the number one spot. She looked incredible in her dress, a vision of grace, elegance, and beauty, exactly how he imagined a real-life princess would be. But then again, she was his Princess, his hell, his paradise, and her slow progress down the aisle wasn't working for him. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, and in a heartbeat, he had her in his embrace as he kissed her fiercely, much to everyone's surprise and cheers.
"I don't think it's time for that yet," Eden said on his lips.