Thinking Out Loud

Chapter 18

"Can you believe she's already sixth months?" Dianne scooped up Annie, sitting her on her knee and pulling funny faces much to the delight of the baby.
"It's crazy," Amy agreed, "it only seems like yesterday when she was born. And she was so small!"
Dianne looked at Amy and nodded her head. "That was scary, how small she was. What, 5 lbs 6oz."
"Bless her." Annie started to giggle as Dianne played with her hands, smiling and watching her mum in awe. "She's too cute."
Dianne smiled at Amy before turning back to face her daughter, opening her mouth as wide as possible much to the amusement of Annie. "But she's a little monkey, aren't you? Always throwing your food around because you think it's funny." A knock sounded on the hotel door. "Aimes, do you mind getting that?" The brunette nodded and turned, walking towards the door and pulling on the handle to reveal a very excitable Chloe, bouncing on the balls of her feet with a huge bag held in both hands.
"Hi guys!" She exclaimed loudly, giving Amy a hug before rushing over to the bride- Dianne- and hugging her too, carefully to not catch Annie. "Aw Annie, hi gorgeous!" The baby on Dianne's knee smiled a bright and very happy smile at the giddy girl in front of her before she turned back to Dianne, waiting for her mum to pull another funny face at her.
"Jeez Chloe, you're like a hurricane!" Dianne laughed once she'd settled slightly, the massive bag on the bed and her shoes by the door.
"Sorry, I'm just so excited!"
"We couldn't have guessed," Amy laughed.
"I love weddings!"

"Di, do you want me to take her?" The hair stylist had just started Dianne's hair and Annie was starting to her restless sitting on her knee.
"Please Chlo." Chloe bent down and, with her hands under Annie's arms, she lifted her up and sat the baby on her hip, bouncing her slightly.
"Your mummy and daddy are getting married today, isn't that exciting?" Chloe said.
"Here she goes," Amy whispered in Dianne's ear. "She'll be rabbiting on forever."
"As long as Annie doesn't kick up a fuss, I'm happy. If that means listening to Chloe talk about anything and everything, so be it," Dianne laughed, smiling at the giggling sixth-month-old behind her. "Maybe Annie would like to go see Joe." Both women turned their heads as a happy squeal echoed from behind them. "On second thoughts, I think she's having more fun with Chlo than she would be with Joe. I bet he's stressing out right now. Like properly stressing."

Joe was at his dad's house, sat in the kitchen eating his lunch. Their wedding was in late summer in a little church near where he grew up. The reception was to be held at the same hotel Dianne had stayed in the night before, but as Joe was funny about traditions, he hadn't seen his fiancé or daughter since early afternoon yesterday. As he swallowed his last mouthful, Graham came back in from being in the toilet and smirked at Joe, sat all by himself, a lonely look on his face.
"Someone's missing his girls," he grinned as he took the empty plate from his sons place at the table.
"Yep," Joe nodded, "I am and I feel bad for leaving Di with Annie, she's got way more to do than me and now she's got a baby."
"Ah Joe," Graham sighed, patting him on the shoulder, "I'm afraid to say that men don't have tits. And your little Annie is currently still being breastfed so you'd have come a bit unstuck." Joe smiled slightly but slouched over in his chair, resting his head on his hand. Sensing something was up, Graham pulled up a chair next to Joe's and sat down in it, facing his son. "Look, Joe. I know your mood is because you're nervous or anxious but, trust me, you'll be absolutely fine and when it comes to saying 'I do' you'll find all the nerves melt away and it'll be like it's just you and Di stood up there okay? Stop stressing yourself out so much, you'll make yourself ill." Looking at his dad, Joe smiled as he held a hand over his heart, slightly comically.
"Having a granddaughter has sent you all soft big man," he laughed.
"I know, how disappointing."
"But seriously, thanks for the pep talk Dad. I'll need it again when we get there, Okay?"

"Oh. My. God," Amy gasped as she came back in the room from getting changed. "You look... out of this world!"
"Thanks Aimes," Dianne said, feeling the heat rise into her cheeks as an uncontrollable smile sat on her face. Her wedding dress was gorgeous. It was mostly plain and simple, the bodice being figure-hugging, sitting against her curves perfectly. The bottom was slightly 'mermaid' style, layers of tule built up on each other. Underneath the outer layer were lacey appliqués delicately stitched into the tule. The dress was classy and elegant but the deep v in the back added a little extra to it.
"That dress is everything," Chloe said as she walked out of the bathroom. "And it suits you so well."
"Mhm," Amy nodded, "it does." A wedding photographer had been in the corner, snapping away at the girls' conversation the whole time. Annie, still not changed was sat on the bed, staring in awe at Dianne, gazing at her as though she were a Princess in Disney World- to Annie, Dianne was a Princess, and Joe was Prince Charming (or as Dianne liked to call him, Prince Eric.)
"Shall we get you changed now?" Dianne asked, turning to her daughter. "Let Mummy put your pretty dress on." The photographer sat up, seeing an opportunity for some very cute pictures and held her camera to her eye as Dianne began to change Annie, bright smiles on both of their faces.

"Ready?" Mark asked Dianne as they waited outside the church. The whole of Dianne's family, the ones who had been able to fly out for her wedding, were all still jet-lagged, but they were all too beside themselves to care about feeling sleepy. Their Dot was getting married, and they were all very excited.
"Yep, lets go." With Annie on one hip and Dianne resting her arm on his, Mark led his daughter through the double doors and into the church. Dianne caught Joe's eye straight away and smiled shyly as he mouthed one word to her. "Wow." As she walked and got closer to Joe, Dianne could just about see a slight tear forming in the corner of his eye as he drank in the sight of his almost wife. After what seemed like ages, Mark stepped away and sat in a pew with Rina, Tracey and Graham, bouncing Annie on his knees slightly in an effort to keep her quiet.
"You look incredible," Joe whispered as they came together in front of the altar.
"Thank you handsome," Dianne whispered back before they both turned to face the priest, holding each other's hands in front of their bodies.

"You may now kiss the bride." Joe smiled and leaned into Dianne, pushing his lips against hers gently as their family and friends started to clap and cheer.
"Come on wife," he whispered, a infectious smile on his face. Dianne took the hand he extended as they began to walk away from the altar. Dropping it quickly, Dianne let go of Joe's hand and picked Annie up, laughing at her very emotional father, and sitting her on her hip. She went back over to her husband, took his hand once more and allowed him to lead her out and into the gardens.