In The Light

Something New

It was almost too chilly for the outdoor photos Tor had hoped for, but this was her third Virginia winter, and she had built up enough of a tolerance to not shiver when a breeze carrying flurries swirled around her skirt. The snow had come early that year, and it had stuck around. David had bemoaned needing to get every walkway shoveled and salted, but Tor was too caught up in memories of her mother to care. While most of the reason for the winter wedding was to get married as quickly as possible after Aaron proposed, a small part of her had secretly hoped for a snowfall from her mama.

By mid-November, she had her confirmation that her mother approved of the wedding.

Looking out across the white scenery, she felt strangely warm despite the low temperature.

"Alright, this is our first stop," Oliva, the wedding planner, announced, pointing to a patio area encircled by heat lamps. Tor spotted the photographer and videographer out of the corner of her eye. Neither she nor Aaron wanted to feel like they were being posed, so they had opted for a "documentary style" that promised to be unobtrusive and authentic. They came highly recommended and miraculously had an available weekend in December with only four month's notice.

Jess helped Tor to fluff out her skirt over the cleared stones and busied herself by straightening the off-the-shoulder collar and the wide sleeves. Tor looked to see a hint of pink on Jess's ears that she recognized was not from the cold. She bit back a happy giggle, knowing only one man could fluster Jessica Brookes without even being in the same room.

"You look beautiful," she assured Jess, catching her hand before she could distract herself with more fidgeting.

"That's supposed to be my line," Jess replied, giving her train one last brush before backing away from Tor with a grin.

"Go," Tor insisted with a laugh. "Heaven knows you're the only one who can keep my brother on schedule."

Jess's laughter carried through the crisp morning as she walked to the house to find Virgil. He had graciously offered to wait until after Tor and Aaron had done their first looks to see his sister, but Tor had known that the only thing that would be powerful enough to get her to let go of Aaron was the knowledge that the sooner she kissed him goodbye, the sooner she would see him waiting for her at the end of the aisle. So, she insisted Virgil be the first to see her. After all, it was customary that the one walking the bride down the aisle got a first look too.

She heard Virgil before she saw him. His flirtatious tone carried further than his words, and she was relieved to not have to fight a laugh or a scandalized look as he showered praises upon Jess and her maid of honor attire. His unabashed pursuit of her had only gotten more audacious the longer they knew each other. It was as if moving to Virginia so he could live with her had not given him enough opportunities to loudly proclaim how stunning she was. Not even Roy's scowling or Aaron's grey hairs could get him to slow down. Fortunately, Jess loved it and matched him tit for tat. Aaron had started to take out his hearing aid when they were together, but Tor could not bring herself to disapprove of their effusiveness. Jess and Virgil deserved someone who was crazy about them, and they had found it in each other.

A moment later, Virgil rounded the corner of the house, wiping his cheek to no doubt remove the smudge of lipstick Jess had placed there. He stopped when he saw Tor staring at her with a dropped jaw and a hand over his heart. She laughed as she waved, determined to not start crying until he was no more than three feet away.

He startled as if suddenly reminded that he was supposed to be by her side and hurried over.

"I don't think I can call you 'Ick' today," he said with an amazed laugh. Tor scoffed as she accepted his outstretched hand and allowed him to lead her into a spin. Her skirt swished over the swept cobblestones, and he carefully stepped back to ensure it would not pass over his shoes. "Damn, Tor," he exhaled, looking at her with tears making his eyes shine. "You look like a bride."