Wedding Night

Jonathan Sweeting

I steadied her shaking hands, feeling all eyes on us. She peeked over her shoulder and smiled at me; there was a flash from the photographer’s camera. I watched the thin knife cut through the caramel icing and then marble cake. I reached for a white plate and Aubree put the piece of cake down gently. She held a black spoon in her hand, eager to feed me the first bite.

I picked up my own metal spoon and scoped a piece of the cake. I looked into Aubree’s plum eyes which were staring into mines. I held my breath as I inched my spoon closer to her mouth. Her painted lips parted slowly, as if time was a snail, and her head leaned in.

I watched my lovely wife take up a piece of cake in her spoon. Her trembling hands brought it closer to my mouth. I leaned into the bite, opening my mouth for my first bite. I felt the smooth of the spoon as it slid over my tongue. I closed my lips around the metal and felt Aubree pull it from me. A rupture of sweetness conquered my taste buds and my senses.

Flashing from the camera nearly blinded me; I could barely witness it myself. But, I saw her lips envelop around the spoon. The corners of her mouth curled upwards into a subtle smile while she chewed on the cake. Everyone was silent in anticipation, watching the beauty in this moment.

We swallowed the cake simultaneously and heard everyone clapping and cheering. I wrapped my arm around Aubree’s waist and threw my fist into the air. I heard her giggling and I turned to look at her again. I brought my forehead to hers and inhaled her beauty before I kissed her.

“I love you,” I whispered once our lips parted.

“I love you, back.” She breathed and pushed her lips against mines again.

I glanced at the sobered David, who had his hands around my younger sister’s waist. He danced off beat and sloppily, but that only made Alice laugh. I glared at him. He better not get handsy, or I’d have to leave my bride for a moment.

That was something I never wanted to do. I wanted to hold her in my arms always. I pulled her close to me, ignoring David and Alice for a moment. Her hands were interlocked behind my neck and her head lay against my chest. She was listening to the heart that thumped for her.

“Can I dance with my beautiful daughter?” My father-in-law asked me.

I nodded. Kissing Aubree on her forehead, I watched her father take her away from my arms. I felt cold with out her near me. I stood awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor, wondering what to do now.

I felt a tiny hand tug my dress pants. I glanced down at my niece who stared at me with her big eyes. She wore a pink ballroom dress with a matching pink ribbon in her hair. Her tiny fingers let go of my pants and she smiled.

“Uncle Jonathan,” she said over the music. “You can dance with me!” She exclaimed and lifted her tiny arms towards me.

I picked my niece up and smiled. “I can?” I teased.

I grabbed her tiny hand in one of my own and spun her around. Her curly hair swayed and she giggled. She moved her little head to the beat of the music and even sung the words. I was surprised because it wasn’t current. This song was a throw back for all the adults here.

“Can I get something to drink?” She asked me.

“Sure, do you want some soda?” I asked her and walked off the dance floor. “Is it you or Mia that likes grape soda?

“It’s not me, I hate grape!” She exclaimed. “I like orange.”

“I can never tell with you two.” I said. “Alright, Ava, orange soda it is.” I placed her back down on the floor and held her tiny hand in mines.

I brought her towards the drink table and looked for orange. Her tiny hand slipped away from me as she tried her best to see over the top of the table. She jumped up and down, trying to find the orange soda.

“Here,” Aubree said with a tiny voice. I could barely hear her over the music. “You like orange, right?”

Ava looked up at Aubree and bobbed her head. Her tiny hands took the large plastic cup from my bride. “Thank you, Auntie Aubree.”

I walked over to Aubree and smiled down at her. “How did you know she wanted orange and not grape?”

“Because her twin likes grape, but Ava hates it.” She poked my chest with her index finger. “I’m just better at this than you.”

I watched her smirk and then trail her hand down my chest, stomach and then she turned to walk away. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards me. Her eyes reflected my face and I could see I was smiling.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

She licked her lips. “You can follow me if you want to find out.”

We danced until our feet where sore. Alice had caught the bouquet, which made me worry. I hoped she wasn’t feeling anything for David. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he wasn’t the right guy for my baby sister. I waved her goodbye as she walked off with my parents. She was still in their house, so I didn’t have to worry too much. My parents would keep David at bay.

I held Aubree’s hand as one by one, our guest drove away. My parents had brought my car to the reception and placed our luggage into the trunk. I walked with my wife, hand in hand, to my car. I put her into the passenger seat and watched her sleepy eyes flicker shut.

I slid into the driver’s seat, thankful that I didn’t drink a drop of alcohol after the wedding. Mainly because I was afraid it would make Aubree remember what I did that morning. I felt the car shake and rumble as I pulled out of the parking lot. I had a long drive ahead of me. Our flight was in the morning and the cold weather made the roads harder to drive on.

Traffic wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I still drove slowly. It hadn’t rained like it was supposed to, but the roads still seemed a bit slippery. The hotel near the airport was pretty far out, too. I wanted to get there already. I wanted to carry my sleeping beauty over the threshold.

The bright lights of the hotel could have been seen a few miles away. The tall building stood above all the others with bright golden letters: The Lyons’ Den. A young woman with a tiny vest shivered in the cold. She must have forgotten her jacket or, maybe, just wasn’t allowed to wear anything over her uniform. I handed her the keys to my car and she congratulated us on our wedding. It must have been obvious, a woman in a wedding gown and a man in a tux.

My bride rested her tired head against my shoulder as we walked into the hotel. The front desk woman smiled at us. She was older and wore dark rimmed glasses that blended with her dark hair and her dark eyes.

“Welcome to The Lyon’s Den. May I please have your name and phone number?” She said in a rehearsed fashion.

“Oh, yea, it’s Jonathan, without an H, Sweeting. The number is 555-777-5577.” I replied.

“Ah, the honeymoon suite. Here is your room key; your room is on the ninth floor.” She explained. “This number here is your door number.”

“Thank you.” I said and took the key. A bellboy came from out of nowhere and took our luggage.

“And congratulations.” She said with a wink.

I blushed, “thank you.”

I stood on the elevator with a woman who was barely able to stand on her own. Aubree was exhausted. I felt bad for her. She must have been running around all day. Not to mention the entire process to get the wedding done. I barely lifted a finger.

I had to make it up to her. Tonight.

I picked my giggling bride up and cradled her into my arms. She laid her head against my chest as I carried her over the hotel room threshold. It wasn’t our house or anything, but that was for another time. I sat her on the bed and took off her shoes. She looked so sleepy; I doubted anything would happen tonight.

I rested beside her and turned off the lamp light. It was dark and I could hear the music of Aubree. Her soft snoring was adorable.

“Jon, are you tired?” She asked me and I felt her place her chin on my chest.

“I thought you were asleep.” I whispered.