Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 67~

~Emily~

~June 1st 2024~

The air was tinged with a blend of excitement and nostalgia as I stood in a room filled with my closest friends, all of us draped in the elegance of dark green. The soft chatter around me felt comforting, yet my heart fluttered uncontrollably.

Isa, my rock throughout this whirlwind, caught my eye in the mirror as she adjusted the tiara on my head—a delicate crown that had graced my grandmother's brow on her own wedding day.

"Em, you look like you've stepped out of a fairy tale," Isa whispered, her voice laced with emotion.

I met her gaze in the reflection, my own eyes brimming with tears. "I just wish dad could see me now," I murmured, the bittersweet pang of his absence tugging at my heartstrings.

"He's here, Em," Isa reassured me, her hand squeezing mine. "He's in every part of this day, especially that tiara."

The room hummed with the rustle of fabric and the soft steps of my flower girls, Gigi and Brynlee,  and Daisy who Kalani will be carrying, their innocence a stark contrast to the depth of the moment.

Gigi, ever the little helper, was showing Aspen how to toss petals with the utmost seriousness.l

"Like this, Aspen," Gigi instructed, demonstrating with a gentle flick of her wrist.

"You gotta make it pretty for mommy and daddy."

Aspen, clutching her basket, gave a gummy smile, her tiny feet surprisingly steady as she practiced her walk.

My mother, her eyes a mirror of my own, came to stand beside me, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder. "Your father would have been so proud, sweetheart," she said softly, her voice a soothing balm to my jittery nerves.

I reached up to cover her hand with mine, drawing strength from her touch. "I miss him so much, Mom. But I feel him here with us."

Colby's mom peeked in, her smile warm and encouraging. "It's almost time," she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Oh my gosh, you look absolutely gorgeous."

I smiled as I got up to hug her. "Thank you Lesa." As I released from the hug, "I think someone is waiting for you." she said as I sighed. I nodded.

I took a deep breath, the bohemian dream that surrounded me—a vision of greenery and blooms—anchoring me to the now. This was it, the beginning of a new chapter with Colby, my heart, my partner, my soon-to-be husband.

~

As I descended the staircase, my heart danced to a rhythm of pure joy. Colby stood at the bottom, his back to me, anticipation etched into his posture. The soft click of the photographer's camera captured the silence of the moment, the quiet before the storm of emotions.

I reached him, my fingers trembling as they found his shoulder. The gentle touch was a silent herald of the magic about to unfold. Colby turned, and time seemed to stand still.

The tears that filled his eyes spoke volumes, a testament to the love and awe he felt. Words failed him, but his voice, thick with emotion, managed to convey everything, "You are... breathtaking."

My own tears cascaded down my cheeks, a river of happiness and love. We embraced, the world around us fading into oblivion, our hug a fortress against anything that lay beyond. And then, as if drawn by an unseen force, we shared a kiss, sweet and tender—a promise sealed with the softest of touches.

"You're my dream come true," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

"And you're mine," Colby replied, his forehead resting against mine. "Today, tomorrow, forever."

The photographer circled us, capturing every nuance, every tear, every smile. This was our moment, a snapshot of pure love, destined to be etched in their memories for a lifetime. I sighed as I released from the hug and took it all in.

"You clean up pretty good, Colby," I teased, my eyes twinkling with mirth.

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Only the best for you, Emmy. But seriously, look at you! You're stunning. I can't believe in just a short while you'll be my wife."

I laughed, a sound that sent a ripple of joy through him. "I know, right? Who would've thought you'd get so lucky?"

"Hey now, I think I'm the one who hit the jackpot here," Colby retorted with a grin.

Just then, we heard the soft clearing of a throat. Lesa stood there, a smile on her face, but with a sternness in her eyes that said it was time to wrap it up.

"Alright, you two lovebirds, that's enough. Em, we need to finish up your hair," my mom added, appearing beside her with a teasing smile.

Colby reached for me, pulling me close for one last kiss, a promise of the moments to come. "See you at the altar," he whispered.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," I whispered back, my voice filled with love.

With a final giggle, I turned and followed my mom upstairs, leaving Colby with a goofy smile plastered on his face and his heart full of anticipation for the ceremony to come.

The excitement was palpable as we ascended the staircase back to the dressing room. I could feel the flutter of butterflies in my stomach, the day I had been dreaming of was finally here.

~

The room was buzzing with activity as Devyn added the final touches to my eye makeup. "Hold still, lovely," she murmured, as she perfected the green smoky eye with gold accents.

Aspen, my little bundle of joy, was nestled comfortably in my lap, her tiny fingers playing with the hem of my dress.

Gigi was right beside us, her eyes wide with fascination. "You look like a princess, Emily," she whispered, and I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you sweet girl."

Lesa pulled back my hair into a beautiful, braided bun as Kalani, the ever-so-cheerful and boisterous one, was already pinning my veil with practiced hands. "There, now you're almost ready to knock Colby off his feet!" she exclaimed with a wink.

"But I'm warning you now, that man snores louder than a French bulldog." She said as we all erupted into laughter.

Isa gently placed our grandmother's tiara in my hair, her touch as light as a feather. "Daddy would be so proud, Emily," she said softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Tara presented the shoes she had picked out for me, a perfect match for the dress. "You're the most beautiful bride," she beamed, helping me slip into them.

And then there was Mom, her hands trembling slightly as she clasped her pearl necklace around my neck.

"You're wearing it, sweetheart," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "You're wearing my dress and you look absolutely stunning in it."

The room filled with compliments and laughter, but the moment I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, a single tear escaped.

Devyn was at my side in an instant, dabbing it away with a gentle scold. "No tears ruining my masterpiece," she chided playfully.

Just then, Sam, Colby's best man, sauntered in with his usual confident stride.

"Wow, Emily, you look... wow," he stammered, clearly at a loss for words, which was a rarity for him.

We all gathered for a group picture, the air filled with the clicks of the camera and the warmth of shared smiles. My mom, Lesa, Katrina, Devyn, Tara, Isa, Kalani, Gigi, Aspen, and I, all of us together, a moment captured in time.