Salvation in the Secular Age {MH/GD}

Finale, Part One

Hey all you gorgeous people! I literally haven't updated this story since January, and I cant apologize enough. It was extremely difficult to write this story, since it's the sequel to my baby and I really, really didn't want to fuck it up. I'm tearing up at this already. Please vote and comment if it makes you happy. I love you all.

{Harper}

Of all the weddings I'd been to, I hated this one the least.

At least the actual wedding part was over. My dear friends Tinsley and Ross had exchanged their vows in the 19th century church, it's heavy pews and ornate stained glass windows making me feel nostalgic for a time when I had faith. I had no faith anymore; and least not in that respect.

But, what I did have was Adam, sitting next to me and holding my hand, quietly passing me a tissue and not looking directly at me when I was tearing up because he knew it would only set me off. Maybe I wasn't wife material by the classic, misogynisitc definition. But Adam seemed to like me anyways.

Tinsley and Ross were having their first dance at the outdoor reception; in the evening under all of the twinkle lights and the spring breeze. Hand in hand, one of hers on his shoulder and one of his on the small of her back, the newly married couple swayed to the music, so happy to just be in the presence of one and other. The wedding had been a success with the exception of a few children's tantrums: Millie because she didn't want to wear a bow, Maisie because she lost her stuffed lamb, Matty because Ross had chosen Waughy to be his best man and he still wasn't over it.

After three date changes, Tinsley and Ross had finally managed to get married on this day in April, and it was everything the two could have hoped for. I sat, at a table by myself, watching everyone vaguely and smoking my clove cigarette, my elbow resting at my knee. Although she looked like she was smuggling a pumpkin underneath her dress, Claire looked quite beautiful, as she always did, eating hor's d'eouvers and chatting with her boyfriend and George. Adam's ex-girlfriend Chelsea was there, and though we hadn't spoken much, there wasn't any bit of awkward tension as I thought there might be. She seemed quite happy, and was dancing with Claire's friend Nick.

With the second wave of the tour coming to a long pause, everyone was tired, but happy; fulfilled, even. Matty and Claire were preparing for baby Leo, whose arrival should be in about two weeks, and had just finished setting up all the furniture in his nursery. Not that Matty had put any of it together (bless George and Ross), but he was quite proud of the nursery's aesthetic. George was well too, spending his time with Henry or between the legs of models, and he seemed satisfied with not settling down just yet. Adam and I had been steady--scarily steady like still water--for months, and I was getting a little terrified of how deeply in love with him I was falling.

I had fallen for lots of men, who were handsome and charismatic and toxic. And then, there was Adam, with his pretty eyes and his cheeckbones that could cut glass and his heart as soft as his lips. I needed him so much more than he would ever be able to understand; and he could understand a lot of things, even my multitude of insecurities.

Speaking of my boyfriend, he had snuck off somewhere unknown. I hadn't seen him in about twenty minutes. My eyes peered around the packed crowd, searching for Hann in his red floral suit, to no avail.

"Got a light, Red?" I heard Matty's voice from beside me, looking over to see his figure.

He was wearing a black tuxedo, white button-down, and a black rouched floral piece serving as his tie. His hands were running through his mess of curls, and he was rolling a cigarette between his thumb and middle finger, eyes admiring his girlfriend from afar, who was now slow-dancing with her friend (former, special friend) George.