Almost Everything

Chapter 40 - This Love

The photographer walks into the room and announces that we are going to start pictures. We walk towards the beach for the first round of family pictures, Jackson has already posed with his family and he's heading towards the ceremony site. Nate, grandma, and I pose for a couple of pictures before Jackson's family fill in around us. I take several pictures with the girls before we get in our cars.

My brother and I hold hands the entire way to the ceremony site. I show him the pictures on my flowers, and he tears up. Our family may have been screwed up, but we did love each other in our own strange, dysfunctional way.

Kira is waiting for us at the car door with her famous clipboard and earpiece. The door opens and she's giving directions the moment we step out.

"Yes, Avery is here. Jackson is waiting in the spot for the reveal." She says in the mic before acknowledging us. "We found the perfect spot this morning. The sunset is coming through the trees perfectly right now. We need to hurry."

I look at Nate before gathering my dress up, so it doesn't get dirty. "See you in a bit."

I follow Kira up through the forest and thank myself for wearing flip-flops. She tells the person on the other end of her earpiece that we are almost there. We hit the clearing and he has his back to me. I look around at the scenery and the sun is beaming through the tree covering. It's so beautiful.

My groom is wearing the gray suit we kept from the movie, his hair is cut short, and I can see his face is bare, and the damn beard is gone. Kira lines me up behind him, and he grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze.

"Jackson, are you ready to see your gorgeous bride?" Kira smiles at me.

"Yes, please. It's been a very long morning." He chuckles.

"Turn around." She instructs.

Jackson brings his hands to his face and folds his fingers over his nose, he is crying. My heart starts racing at his reaction. "All for you." I smile at him through my tears.

He looks like a model in his suit, with fresh hair, and a smooth face.

"Ava, you look better than I could have imagined. You're absolutely breathtaking." He pulls me towards him and holds me to him tight. "This is what I've been waiting for. This is what I envisioned for us. Everything about this day has been perfect." He kisses my forehead.

"I'm so glad that we are doing this," I whisper up at him.

"Me too."

We spend the next twenty minutes taking pictures before joining the rest of the bridal party. We spend the next hour and a half playing in the trees for epic pictures. The boys hold the girl's flowers and shoes while we drink from beer bottles. Jackson and I stand in the middle of the tall forest, holding hands and smiling at each other with utter adoration. Plus, we have a ton of pictures kissing each other. We snuck them in whenever we could. We had pictures with Meeko, pictures with family, and pictures with our friends.

The photographer told us all to get in a circle and huddle around each other, he lays on his back below us and starts telling us to make funny faces, smile, and kiss. For the last posed photo, it was Jackson, me, and Meeko in the tree clearing. I was on Jackson's back, Meeko was at his feet in an adorable doggie tux looking up at us while Jackson kissed me and raised his hand in victory.

"It's time," Kira announces.

Brad and Nate come to my side. "Brad's going to walk you half the way. I don't want to fall halfway through because I'm tired and weak. I wish my body wasn't such a bitch."

"Stop. I'm just grateful you are here."

"Love you." My brother kisses my cheek.

I watch him get in the wheelchair and his girlfriend pushes him up the path.