THE BROKEN HEARTS

Chapter 19: "The wedding"

By Bridget25

The big day, had finally arrived. Annie was getting ready happily to become Mrs. Grandchester, in a very little time. Her hairdresser had put her heavy black hair in a up do where she had put some small white daisies and a silver hair slide.

Patty did her nails and put on some transparent nail polish which make her hands so pretty. The make up was also well done, Annie didn't want all the face painting, just some powder and the contour of her blue eyes with a black pencil. A little lipstick and Annie was ready.

When she thought about everything that had happened to her since the death of her dear Candy, she said she probably missed some important moments. Yesterday, she had nothing, no fiancé, no work, no love and no mother. Today, she had a boutique, another one she was going to open soon, a man who loved her and a radiant mother who couldn't stop talking since this morning.

She thought about the one who was going to make her his wife. She knew she wasn't the one he was dreaming of marrying, Candy was that person, but he had sworn that he loved her deeply. We could love people differently. He loved her passionately, and he was burning for Candy. He would've cut himself in four for her and he would've killed for Candy. What he was going to live with her would be calmer than what he had first felt, but she knew he was going to make her happy in another way. And it was fine, he wouldn't want him to treat her like he treated Candy. She wouldn't feel special for him, she would've been a lame replacement. If Susanna was ready to pretend to be Candy and let Terry call her by her name for his pleasure, Annie refused that kind of situation, she was herself and nothing could change that. In her happiness of the moment, she thought about Patty and her love for Albert. He also loved Candy, but just like Terry, he managed to build a new love with a woman he never thought he would fall in love with. He had known her younger when she was a student, now she was his and maybe he was going to marry her soon? Patty had gotten over Alistair's death thanks to Albert who was always by her side. Their relationship was more than probable had moved on to a way that their grief was disappearing. They had both lost a beloved person and they were consoling each other and they learned to respect each other, appreciate each other and love each other.

Annie had dumped everything to move to New York without knowing it was going to take her to a new unthinkable love.

Terry and her... he was scaring her so much when she was younger, he was the one who helped her the best way he could. Terrence Grandchester was terrorizing her at first, but today she was capable of standing up to him and send him off. She wasn't afraid of anything... her only fear was to see Terry get away from her. But that wasn't going to happen, right? When did she fall in love with him? Or when did he fall in love with her? She had seen his jealousy for Archibald a lot of times. How many times did she see him out of his wits, getting angry to make her understand that he didn't want her to get back together with her ex-fiancé? Lord, she could've been smarter and reassure him during those moment and reassure him that she was in love with him. Archie was now just a faraway somber memory in her past life, when nothing was working for her. Her mother kept criticizing Candy and she only felt good shutting up and and take the male authority, and to top it all up, Archie had broken up with her on Candy's funerals. The nice pretty little Annie who shut up, was gone, she said what she had in mind and she left Chicago. That trip had led her to this wedding she was ready to celebrate in less than an hour.

Silently, she left her mother and Patty discussing something, and she walked to the window. She put her forehead on the glass window and looked at the staff coming and going, running everywhere, the arms full of heavy trays , flowers, presents, chairs... the altar proudly erected was in the garden, with dozens of different roses braided all over, among which, "Sweet Candy".

The first guests were already there discussing in little groups scattered all over the garden on the green grass. The light wind made her raise her head on the blue sky. A couple of people attracted her attention and her eyes turned cold. How dare they come here?

Downstairs, Eliza Reagan and Archibald Cornwell were having a serious conversation, before they got interrupted by a Susanna Marlowe, all dressed in black. She got angry, as fast as lightning in her robe, Annie got out and she opened the door, in front of a stunned Patty and Mrs. Brighton. What's gotten into the future bride? They decided to follow her and they arrived in front of a surprising but amusing scene; Annie was talking to Susanna;

- What are you doing here?

- I came to assist to Terry's decadence ...

- Decadence? That's how you see our wedding?

- Terry is mine, I lost my leg saving his life, that's what I get for it...

- Let me tell you something, Miss Marlowe, if I had been with Terry on the day of your accident, I would've pushed you myself from that roof to prevent you for committing suicide for good. Candy was too good to leave you her man, today by marrying Terry, I'm avenging her for your vindictiveness. I refuse to see you assist to the ceremony.

- And who's going to force me to leave? You?

- I would make you leave this place! Said Terry's voice on the last step of the stairs.

- Terry... my love. Don't marry her, you're going to make a big mistake, I would know how to make you happy. Cancel this wedding, come back to me.

- The only big mistake I've made, Susanna, was not to have stop Candy from leaving me. Our break up and your blackmail sent her to die at the war on the battle field in Verdun. Would you have the same courage as her?

- It's stupid to devote your life to wounded soldiers when there's a war! I wouldn't have gone that far!

- That's why I loved Candy with all my heart and I hated you with a passion.

- What? Yelled Susanna.

Mrs. Brighton entered the conversation:

- Wait a minute Terrence, you say you still love Candy?

- And he will love her to her last breath mom, said Annie.

- How could you accept to have a man who loves you only half...?

- He doesn't love me half, mom, he loves me completely.

- I don't understand, said Mrs. Brighton.

- What I mean, is that Terry loves me with all his heart, different from his love for Candy. You know it's normal that he can't forget her, I'm happy with that. Terry gives me all his attention and all his love. I'm happy to have that honor.

- Annie..., said Terry softly, thank you.

- You're going to regret it, said Susanna bitterly, in two years, your marriage would be burning and reduce to nothing.

- Thank you for all your wishes of happiness, said Annie. Now I want you to leave my house now.

- It's Terry's house...

- She lives with me Susanna, it's her house. Do as she says! Leave!

Green of rage beaten, Susanna turned around and left crying. Annie had a sigh putting her hand on her face. Terry was worried and approached her:

- You're not feeling good honey?

- I'm fine, she said smiling. It's just this little minx who got me upset. I just need to get myself together.

- I love you, you know that?

- As much as I love you my love.

Terry was getting ready to kiss her when Patty intervene:

- Hey Casanova... not before the wedding, and need I remind you that you can't see the bride before the wedding...

- Since I'm not wearing my wedding dress, I don't see where the problem is, said Annie.

- No, no, said Mrs. Brighton with a smart smile on the lips. Later! Let's go finish getting you ready.

- Well, you've heard the colonels, said Annie.

- I'll see you later, said Terry smiling.

Annie was taken back upstairs and Terry went back to Albert and his mother, waiting for the time of the ceremony.

In the bedroom, Annie had just put on her white wedding dress. Mrs. Brighton looked at her smiling, then she told her:

- This is your great grandmother's necklace. For something old.

- Annie here is a bracelet Albert offered me, for something borrowed.

- I wanted to give you these earrings, said Mr. Brighton, for something new.

- And finally for something blue, your garter! Said Patty coming near her.

Annie pull up her dress and her friend slipped the circle garter blue and while until half her thigh. She got a bouquet of flowers in her hands from her mother and her mother put the veil in front of her face. She observed herself in the mirror and the pride she felt at that moment was indescribable... she was finally getting married. She was on the verge of linking her life to the one of the man she had fallen madly in love with. Mr. Brighton knocked on the door and got in. he looked at his daughter and his smile confirms that he loves the result. He approached her and lifted the veil lightly to kiss her on the forehead:

- You are magnificent, my daughter. My biggest pride.

- Thank you dad.

- Are you ready?

- Yes.

- It's time, let's go.

Mr. Brighton gave him her arm and he took it. Mrs. Brighton got out of the room and Patty congratulates Annie before leaving the room too.

In the garden, in front of the altar, Terry was waiting for his future wife, talking to his best men, Albert and Charlie. They're interrupted by the Cannon by Pachelbel, which started, played on the piano by one of the guests. Terry looked at the little flower girls walking on the aisle with putting their petals on the ground, the little ring bearers were following them, they went to sit on the first row next to Eleonor Baker. The wedding march started. All the guests stood up to greet the bride. She appeared at her father's arm and was walking towards Terry who smiled at her. When she got close to him, Mr. Brighton gave his daughter's hand to the actor who took it with tenderness. The couple then turned to the priest who asked the guests to sit.

- We are gathered here today to unite this couple. If anyone has any reason for which this couple can't get married let them speak now of forever hold their peace.

The silence was the reply the priest got.

He continue his speech and read the Bible. Songs were sang and the ceremony went on very well. Patty made a speech citing Candy by saying:

- She would've been happy to see you get married, I'm sure of it. Don't be ashamed of what you're doing, live your story and leave the past in the past.

The priest got the people to stand up and he said:

- Terrence Graham Grandchester, do you take Annie Jones Brighton as you lawful wedded wife?

- I do.

- You swear to love her , to respect her, to be faithful until death do you part?

- I swear, said Terry looking at Annie.

- Annie Jones Brighton, do you take this man Terrence Graham Grandchester as you lawful wedded husband?

- I do.

- You swear to love her , to respect her, to be faithful until death do you part?

- I swear, said Annie clearly with conviction.

- Did you prepare any vows?

- Yes, they both answered.

- Go ahead.

They both say at the same time:

- This ring will be the reminder of our love until the end of times. I'm giving you this ring to seal the vows that I'm going to pronounce and by wearing it, remember how much I love you and not only this precious day. Without you, my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete.

Then Terry said:

- I was lost, I was in the desert, heart broken and you came into my life. Your love slowly invaded my heart, like the foam on the sand on the beach. And since there will never be a morning without an ocean, there won't be a day without my love for you. May our love stay as constant as the waves and never-ending like the ocean. I don't doubt that our engagement and I know that we can overcome anything. I take you as my wife and especially as my best friend, in front of God and men. I promise you today, that our love will never change, like the waves, like the waters that nourish the earth and maintain life, my love with be constant and will support you until the end of times. I love you Annie.

- I look at you and I see my best friend. Your energy and your passion inspire me in a way I didn't think was possible. Your inside beauty is so strong that I'm not afraid of anything anymore. I never thought I would find someone I could love and that would love me back, I never thought I would find unconditional love with you. I realized that even when we were appart, you were always with me, you are my soul mate. You gave a goal to my life, when I didn't have any. Without you, my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life and I thank you for loving me. It's a miracle for me to find peace of mind and the happiness you're giving me. In honor of this miracle, I promise to love you and to cherish your forever. I love you Terry.
(The wedding vows chosen by Mallory Quinn (Gentillefille) )


The rings were exhanges and the priest authorize Terry to kiss the bride;

- I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

Terry lift Annie's veil and he leaned to kiss her. He closed his eyes and whispered:

- I love you Mrs. Grandchester.

Then he kissed her tenderly under the guests' applauds. Annie put her arms around her husband's neck and kissed him back fierily. They were married, on their way for a new life together.