Something Better

I Remember You In White

Martha let her fingers glide through the fabric of her wedding dress. The pale cream tulle spread out under her touch, the golden sparkles catching the light. It had been easy to design, she had imagined it so often. It was long and simple, an embellished slash neck, moving down tightly, hugging her petite torso and floating out elegantly from her waist. The pale cream and gold fabric of her veil sat up high on her head and draped softly down her back and trailed in a wide lacy scalloped edge.

"You look beautiful," Lauren said as she looked in the mirror alongside Martha, gently fluffing out Martha's veil at the back.

"Thank you," Martha answered trying to hold herself together. She had promised herself she would try and control her emotions at least until the wedding photographer had finished.
"I'm so happy you are here," Martha smiled as Lauren passed over Martha's bouquet of cream and blue hydrangeas, "I know it's not been easy for you and a wedding might be last thing you want to attend."

"You managed to attend my poor excuse for a wedding to that fucker!" Lauren snorted, "I know that this is the real deal and I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

The two friends faced the mirror and smiled at each others reflection. Martha's brother, Martin, appeared between their heads in the mirror with a grin.

"Check the two divorcees," Martin said with a cheeky smirk, "Martha already on to husband number two!"

"Shut up you!" Lauren said making a vain attempt at hitting Martin's arm.

"Ouch!" Martin acted dramatically, rubbing his arm. Martha noticed how his eyes sparkled at Lauren and how she giggled at his antics. She smiled to herself and made a wish that Lauren and Martin would get together.

"Ready?," Martha's mum asked, dabbing her eyes, "look at you three! I remember you lot eating crisps and drinking fizzy juice in the kitchen like it was yesterday," She sniffed.

"Mum, don't start!" Martha laughed, swallowing down her tears.

Martha looked out at Brandon's apartment, as she rode in the vintage Cadillac with her brother by her side. She suddenly felt a rush of excitement, thinking she would, after today, share that apartment with Brandon as their home and he would be her husband. She felt like her while body was fizzing and the anticipation and nerves crackled and popped inside of her. Suddenly it hit her how much of a big deal this was. She looked at Martin with panic in her eyes.

"I'm marrying Brandon Flowers from The Killers," she said with such surprise that Martin burst into laughter.

"Have you only just realised?" He smiled kindly, "Listen, no matter how big this wedding is, it is about you and Brandon, everything else is just decoration, you love each other and that's it," Martin held her hand and gave it a a squeeze as the pulled up at the wedding venue, which was a lovely big house with a beautiful garden.

"Aren't you the expert in romantic advice?" Martha smiled, feeling proud of her brother.

"Yeah, if only I could take some my own advice," he said as he climbed out of the car and sorted his kilt.

"Well take my advice," Martha said as she took his hand and pulled herself out of the car, "make a move on Lauren," she winked as she walked towards Lauren and the other bridesmaids, who were waiting to fuss over her veil, dress and flowers.

Lauren was grinning like a crazy person, bouncing on her high heeled toes, "Brandon came out and asked me to give this to you," she laughed, her excitement making Martha giggle.

"What is it?" Martha smiled, holding the little jewellery box in her hand.

"Open it, open it!" Martin said in a high pitched voice clapping his hands. He was shot down pretty quickly with death stares from Martha, Lauren and the other bridesmaids, "What? I'm excited," he grinned.

Martha opened the box to find a fine golden chain with a small delicate gold disc lying on the velvet. Martha lifted the little disc to see it was embossed with a lightening bolt, that sparkled subtly. As she pulled the chain out of the box, she noticed the inscription on the back of the disc. She hugged herself as she read it,

'My Lightening Bolt Girl, B x'.

"It's so lovely," Lauren said, close to tears, moving Martha's veil so she could fasten the clasp around her neck. It matched her dressed beautifully.

After hugs and kisses and wishes of good luck, Lauren led all the bridesmaids to the beginning of the aisle and stood, as Martha had done for her, and as the music began she stepped forwards.

"Are you ready to marry Brandon Flowers from The Killers?" Martin said with a smirk, his eyes shining.

"Yes," Martha said with a smile, collecting herself and letting Martin slip his arm through hers. Her stomach was tight and she felt her breath shallow in her chest, as she stepped onto the aisle. She felt herself blush and tears sprung into her eyes. Martha looked ahead, gripping onto her bouquet for dear life. Then she saw Brandon turn and look at her, his eyes shining with love, and everything else disappeared.

Martha felt suddenly shy as she faced Brandon at the altar. She beamed at him and he grinned back. They joined hands as the sermon began, Martha could feel that Brandon was shaking. She gently stroked the heel of his hand with her thumb. The butterflies multiplied as he caught her eye and gave her a sideways smile.

Their vows to one another were the same as she had held in her heart for Brandon since Lauren's wedding. Every word a special promise to each other. Martha felt her voice was ready to break with the emotion of it all and found it hard to concentrate on the words that she had to repeat. As she slipped Brandon's simple gold band onto his finger she looked into his eyes. He grinned so widely that Martha had to bite her bottom lip to stop a fit of giggles taking over. During the last prayer, Martha opened one eye to sneak a look at Brandon. He was so handsome in his tux and golden bow tie, his eyes closed in prayer, brown lashes fanned out against his cheeks. She couldn't wait to be alone with him and talk to him.

As they were pronounced husband and wife, everyone in the garden cheered. Brandon stepped forward and kissed Martha softly, pulling back quickly with a shy smile. Martha could still feel he was shaking as they joined hands and walked back up the aisle, as Mr and Mrs Flowers.