I Can't Live Without You (Sixth book of the Finnick and Annie series)

Chapter 19: Maggie

Chapter 19: Maggie

After high school, I also got a job working at the high school. Dare was still the history teacher, and I was the English teacher. And after one more year, we were getting married.

I bought a dress from District 1, it was slightly low cut with lace and buttons all down the back. There was a white belt underneath the chest and I couldn't wait to wear it.

Ronan and Riley were getting so big. They were already two by the time they'd be walking down the aisle just in front of me. Riley was my flower girl and Ronan was the ring-bearer.

They were so much bigger and beautiful, I loved being a middle child with two little siblings. I loved Finn and Angie's kids so it seemed natural.

My wedding was the following afternoon, I remember how Finn and Angie didn't even have their first kiss until their wedding but Dare and I had kissed and gone beyond that. I was no longer a virgin before high school ended.

Obviously it worked out, we ended up together and it wasn't like I had regrets. I knew it was what I wanted to do.

As I got ready, my mom, Angie, and my friends were shocked by the dress I chose and how it fit. They loved it and were surprised I'd choose something more "out of my comfort zone". I was wearing a white crown of flowers instead of a veil, and my ocean-colored engagement ring sparkled on my finger before Ronan slid it off my finger.

My bridesmaids were wearing a teal color I loved, and they were holding white flowers and I was holding teal ones. I wanted it to be very simple.

We walked down the beach, unlike the other girls in my family I walked barefooted. I didn't feel like wearing heels or any shoe for that matter on the beach.

My dad held onto me and I held onto him, he remained all smiles as he walked me down the aisle.

Dare saw me and started tearing up, I smiled and wiped away tears of my own.

Now that it was time to hand me off, my dad started crying just out of the blue.

"Dad," I said.

He turned to Dare and I and said, "Don't forget who set you up." 

We both laughed, he kissed my cheek and hugged Dare.

"Please join hands," My mom said, she'd be performing the ceremony. We did as she said. "We're gathered here today to celebrate the love between Darius Mellark and my daughter, Maggie Odair. If anyone has any reason these to shouldn't wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace."

No one said a thing.

"Okay, Darius, do you take Maggie to have and to hold, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, till death part you?" She asked.

He smiled, "I do."

"Maggie, do you take Darius to have and to hold, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, till death part you?" 

"I do," I smiled back.

"If you have written your own vows feel free to do so while exchanging your rings."

Ronan came over holding our rings and handed mine to Dare and his to me.

"Maggie, since the day we met when we were just kids I had a massive crush on you. Obviously there wasn't much I could do- you lived far away. But once I came here on vacation with my family and we fell in love within the blink of an eye, there was nothing I wanted more than to be here in this moment staring into your eyes with your wedding rings in my hand. Everyday I've fallen more and more in love with you and I can't wait to wake up to your beautiful face every morning for the rest of our lives." He slid my rings onto my finger.