When We Were Young

One

"So, before I say too much and risk giving away my best man speech a tad early," Daniel's best man joked, "here's a toast to the happy couple!" He held up his glass, smiling at the two of us. "I'm sure we're all excited for tomorrow, but not nearly as much as you two." As he finished his make-shift speech, everyone in the wedding party cackle as they clinked their glasses with their neighbors'. 

I stared at my fiancé, smiling ear to ear as he downed a large sip of his wine.

Dinner had been served and we were all more than willing to have the speeches come to a close. The walk-through at the church had gone far over the suggested time length, leaving all of us eager to get to the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. Not for any rehearsing though. Just for the dinner. 

Throughout the day, I had heard an abundance of "I can't believe the wedding is actually tomorrow." It was like a broken record on repeat since the minute I woke up. All of it was very overwhelming, but that sort of feeling comes with the territory.

Daniel's hand reached over to my thigh and I felt his thumb rub my skin in a consoling motion. The man I had known for four years was about to become my husband. Husband, what an exciting word.

"Em, you feeling alright?" He asked in a soft tone, tilting his head to me.

I smiled at my fiancé, bringing my hand to the side of his face. "Of course." I reassured him, my eyes in a trance of his beauty. His nose was narrow, and his eyes were so brown they almost looked black – an enticing shade that could paralyze me if I stared too long. My hand fell from his cheek to his hand on my thigh. "I think the wine is getting to me." I told him, shooting a quick grin in his direction.

"Oh," He pursed his lips playfully, the way I always loved, "let's get you some food then." He laughed the most adorable laugh, sliding his hand from my grip. "I can't have my bride hung-over on our wedding day."

Chuckling, I shook my head. "I would never!" Our laughing joined amongst the mix of banter in the room as everyone was beginning to dig in to their plates.

I tried to eat, but the nerves were getting the best of me. All I kept thinking about was something going wrong. I had been looking forward to this day since Daniel slid the ring on my finger a year ago. Although this was an exciting time, the dreadful thoughts were still rummaging through my brain. One the outside, I was smiling and laughing, but on the inside, something just wasn't sitting right with me.

After dinner, everyone was up and mingling. Daniel's nieces and nephew were running through the chairs with his sister chasing after them. As they rounded the corner, I took a step over, blocking and startling the three little ones to a halt.

"What are you three up to?" I crouched down to their level, smirking at their sudden shyness. The oldest was Steven, who was rather tall for his status of an eight-year-old. The twins followed, Mallory and Hillary, who just celebrated their fifth birthday.

"They were chasing me!" Steven pouted. It was a typical sibling fight – the oldest throwing the younger ones under the bus the first chance they got – and would carry out until someone was crying.

Hillary groaned. "Because he was picking at our dresses!" Mallory was nodding beside her as Steven turned toward them, opening his mouth ready for an argument.

I smiled at them. "If you guys aren't good I might not be able to let you walk in the wedding tomorrow." My smile turned to a frown, hoping it would convince them. Since I didn't have any relatives under the age of thirteen, Daniel and I decided to have the twins be the flower girls and Steven be the ring bearer for the wedding. The girls were excited to wear the dresses and sprinkle the flowers down the aisle, they cheered when we told them. Steven was also excited, even though he often pretended otherwise. I would catch him smiling here and there, especially when he tried on his tux for the first time.