Haunted by the Immortals

Chapter 33

Pat

"Deep breath," Cami advised, tugging gently on my dress. It felt heavy and firm around my body, and I was afraid that I might pass out in the church's dressing room if I didn't breathe. When I looked in the mirror it was someone else entirely – this girl was dressed in a long, white gown of satin and silk, with a high-waist, beaded bodice that managed to make me look tall and regal, whilst still giving me curves.

The dress was long-sleeved, but it didn't make my arms look so skinny. A long fall of sheer fabric embroidered with silver and white sequins and beads cascaded from the back, and almost touched the floor. And with the fancy jewelry set of a silver necklace and a glittering bracelet (which were both lent by my mother from her wedding), and my long hair worn up, fixed with sparkling pins and two earrings, which dangled from my earlobe in silver patterns, I felt like a princess.

Mom was sitting in the corner of the room, and now she came towards me to put her arms around me. In these past few months, she had been nothing more than a best friend to me. "You look so grown-up, honey." She went on, "I could not be happier for you."

"Really," I turned to look at her, trying not to cry, because of well, make-up. "I didn't think you liked Xav as much as Dad did." It was true. It had been mostly because of the age difference and that my mom didn't want to give her 'baby girl' away to a guy who was already twenty-three. Dad liked him, though. He thought Xav was perfect in all the right senses: personality, body, even age. He said that it was good if the boy was a few years older, perhaps helped with him being more mature and not hurt me.

I feel as if he's...changed," she said, "and you love him. I think I should be smart enough to know that you're the second most stubborn person in the world."

I cocked my head to one side. "Only the second?"

"Well, you did get it from your father. Oh, and your grandmother," she chuckled, "I remember so much with her from my childhood." She paused. "Someday, when you're older, I'll tell you how I persuaded your father to marry me," she insisted.

"You better be helping me with this, too, Mrs. Evans. I think I'm having trouble persuading Nat," Cami interjected, still fixing tiny adjustments on her own dress through the other mirror.

Mom chuckled quietly, but didn't give an answer in return. She picked up the bouquet of flowers from the dressing-table – red roses wrapped in silver ribbon. Cami's bouquet, of orange roses, wrapped with white ribbon totally complemented her light pink Maid of Honor dress. She was smiling up at me, and she looked so beautiful that I was sure Nat was going to be running out of the After Party with her. "If you're completely ready dear, I heard a slight knock on the door."

"Mom–" I hugged her hard, then. I didn't know what else to say to her. She'd done everything for me. And for that I loved her. "Thank you. Thank you for everything."

She gave me a heart-melting smile. "You're welcome, honey."

And then she opened the door to find Dad standing there in a clean-cut suit. He gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen him give me, and then offered me his arm. As I was walking toward the start of the aisle, Zeke met me. The meeting was brief – he smiled at me, hugged me hard and I had to remember not to cry, and kissed my cheek, melting my heart. There were tears in his eyes as he whispered he would always love me and that he was so happy for me... and it broke my heart, literally; then before I could say anything, he hurried off into the pews of people.

Behind me and Dad, were Cami and Nat and somehow, I wanted them to be in front. It was a little pressurizing to be seen by everyone. Having every person stand just for you, every eye on you was a little more than a dream. I took long, shaky breaths so I wouldn't faint there and then.

I hardly felt the steps down the aisle. It was over in what seemed far too little time, and then Dad handed me to Xav, and my heart nearly stopped as his eyes met mine.

"I love you," my father whispered in my ear. "And I'm so proud of you, my gorgeous, baby girl." He sniffled and wiped away his tears as he walked away, leaving me with Xav. He sat back down next to Mom who couldn't look happier for me. Though she did have a box full of tissues in her lap, at the moment, there were only tears welling up. I was scared that I would start crying if she did.

I hadn't seen Xav since Thursday – it was now Saturday – and during that long period he'd gotten his hair cut, which suited him perfectly; it brought out the strong lines in his face. And even though he probably hated wearing the tuxedo, he utterly rocked it. Then he winked at me and I knew that he was still the Xav, who I was snuggling up next to the TV on Thursday night. I had the slight, dizzying urge to giggle.

The minister seemed to be half-smiling, even though the way he said the words were harsh and all the way serious. But he was very cute. At only approximately twenty-six he'd done good to become a marriage minister. He was good at keeping me calm, saying the words ever-so slowly.

The service passed in a blur, and I wasn't even sure if I said the words right. Then all I felt was the cool touch of the ring sliding onto my finger, and then the warm pressure of Xav's lips on mine, and the sudden rush as he bent me backward, and the laughter from the audience.

I didn't exactly get my breath back until we were in the reception hall and he was spinning me around in a slow and romantic dance. I felt alive, free somehow. "I love you," he said. We stopped dancing and I kissed him, even though nothing in this world would be exactly right...

For this moment, everything was perfect.

Xav bent down so his lips brushed gently against my ear. "My Mrs. Kennecott," he whispered.

I smiled, "My Mr. Kennecott."