The Wedding (Complete)

Ch2: Daddy

Recap:

               I paused for a moment, and then smiled. “Ya know, Tori? You look wonderful too. The dress is perfect on you and I’m sure Aaron won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.” I watched as a blush slowly crept up her face again as I said the last few words.

               She quickly recovered.  I watched as a smile spread across her face as she said, “I hope you’re right . . . about both things.”

“I know I am.”

               Tori spun me around quickly so I was facing her and gave me a huge hug. It was a hug that said thank you, and so much more. When she let me go, there was a huge smile on her face.

“Your father still hasn’t seen you yet. Do you want me to go get him?”

“Yes, please Tori . . . Thank you; you’re an amazing maid of honor.”

               Tori squeezed my hand again, smiled, walked out the door, and shut it. I was, again, left to myself.

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 Tori's POV

               I squeezed Claire’s hand again, smiled, walked out the door, and shut it. I headed downstairs to find Mark so he could see his baby girl in her dress. I also needed to find the photographer, Dennis, and his camera so he could catch a couple of good shots of them. I walked into the kitchen and saw Linda, Claire’s mom, and Beth, one of Claire’s younger cousins and bridesmaids, but no Mark.

“Hey Linda, where is Mark? Claire’s ready to let him see her.”

“He’s in the living room with the rest of the bridal party, dear.”

“Thanks,” I said smiling at her.

               I walked into the living room to see Mark sitting between the other bridesmaid, Emma, and the flower girl, a squirmy four-year-old named Zoe. It was one of the cutest things that I had ever seen.  In a chair next to them, Allie was watching her daughter and father-in-law and next to her was the other person I was looking for, Dennis—taking pictures, of course. No one noticed that I had come in; they were all too busy watching Mark and Zoe. I cleared my throat, and everyone looked over to me.

“Um, Mark? Claire is ready for you to come up.”

“Oh, uh, ok. I guess I’ll go up and see her. I haven’t seen the dress yet. Does she look pretty?” He said, hesitantly getting up and walking over to me. I could tell he was nervous.

“You’ll have to see for yourself Mark . . . But, yes, she looks stunning.” I smiled.

               As the two of us left the room, I turned and motioned for Dennis to follow us. He stood and followed us up the stairs. We got to the landing and walked over to Claire’s room. I knocked.

“Claire, your dad is here with me,” I called through the door. Then I spoke directly to Mark, “Close your eyes; I’ll tell you when to open them.” As I said this, I opened the door and let Dennis go inside so he could get a couple of pictures and then get out without intruding. Claire nodded at me and I told Mark he could open his eyes; I stepped back and returned downstairs, leaving the father and daughter to a very special moment.

Claire's POV

               I nodded at Tori and she told dad he could open his eyes, she stepped back and returned downstairs. Dad stood there for a moment looking at me. I couldn’t help but blush a little bit under his gaze.

“What do you think Daddy?” I asked as I twirled around, feeling like a little girl all over again.

“Baby, you look beautiful,” Dad said with tears in his eyes.

               I took two quick steps and hugged him. I hugged him as if our lives depended on it. I hugged him as if we would never see each other again. I guess it was sort of true, though. I mean, in a couple of hours I wouldn’t be Claire Harms anymore. I would essentially be someone else and yet, still myself.

               Dad and I stayed like that for what seemed like an hour; though I know it was only ten or fifteen minutes. Slowly, we pulled apart. He had his hands on my waist and held me at arm’s length. I could still see the tears in his eyes, a few of them having spilled over. I reached my hand up and brushed them away.

“Daddy, don’t cry,” I paused. “I love you, Daddy,” I said as I kissed his cheek.

“I love you too, baby girl.” He cupped my face in his hands and kissed the top of my head.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked, seeing his mind processing something. I just couldn’t tell what.

“Nothing much, sweetie. I just can’t believe I’m going to be giving you away today. It seems like just yesterday I was holding a small, pink bundle of you for the first time,” he paused, contemplating what to say next. I was about to say something when he started talking again.

 “I knew from that moment on you would be my baby girl, Daddy’s little girl, and so much more. Even though I already had three children, my heart swelled yet again with love. It grew so much when your little hand closed around my finger for the first time.

“I have loved you so much from the time I first held you in my arms, and I love you still to this day, and will forevermore. And from the moment I first held you, I knew this day would come. I have looked forward to it and dreaded it all my life, because I realize that you won’t be just mine anymore.”

“Daddy. . . I will always be your little girl. I may be Levi’s too, but I’ll never be anyone else’s little girl. ‘Daddy’ will always belong to you.”

“How did I ever get a girl so smart?” He smiled widely at me.

“I don’t know,” I said, smiling right back at him.

“Levi is a lucky man. He gets a beautiful, smart, breathtaking, wonderful, loving woman.” As he said this, he pulled me back into a humongous hug. After another few minutes, we broke apart.

“I love you, baby. Don’t you ever forget that.”

 “I won’t. I love you too, Daddy. And don’t you ever forget that I’ll always be your little girl . . . always,” I said quietly, tears in my eyes.