DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 30 - Wedding morning

 “No…. No Jace. It’s too late. I’m marrying Luke.”

“Dawn, Dawn, wake up.”

Dawn woke in a cold sweat finding Annie bending over her.

“You were shouting in your sleep. Having a bad dream I think.”

“Ohhh, what was I shouting?”

“You were shouting about Jace.”

“What… did I say? Do you think anyone heard me?”

“No, it’s too early and everyone is still fast asleep.”

“Annie what did I say?”

“You just said it was too late and you were going to marry Luke.”

“Well that’s not too bad then.”

“Dawn are you sure you want to go through with this wedding?” 

“Yes. I’m absolutely sure. Jace was just a mistake. Once Luke and I are married and on honeymoon, Jace will be a distant memory. Sorry I know he is your brother and I don’t mean to sound mean.”

“It’s fine Dawn. I understand.”

Annie frowned, not quite sure whether to believe Dawn or not. She had a really bad feeling about this wedding. Not only for Dawn but for how she would feel seeing Luke saying ‘I do’ to Dawn. She knew she had to keep it together and ignore the way her heart raced every time he looked at her. Maybe she could tell Dawn she had a migraine and not attend the wedding. She definitely did not want to go to the reception and risk dancing with Luke. That would be the worst idea ever and then there was Chris to think about. He was the Best Man and she was the Maid of Honour and they would be partnered for the first dance after the bride and groom. It was really going to be uncomfortable. 

“Annie I can’t sleep anymore. I’m going to take a shower and wash my hair so I’m ready for when the hairdresser comes.” 

“Dawn, it’s only five a.m. You are going to be exhausted if you don’t try get a couple more hours sleep.” 

“I just can’t Annie. Today feels like the first day of the rest of my life. I’m too wound up to sleep anymore. But you go back to bed. I’m sorry I woke you. Sorry we had to share a room, but with Aunt Eve staying over…”

“Dawn, it’s okay, really it is. So much more fun sharing.”

***

Chris had decided to bunk down with the ranch hands in their boarding house adjacent to the barns. He just could not deal with being under the same roof as Annie, knowing how she felt. He felt like he’d been hit by a bus. How could Luke kiss Annie? Was Luke so blind that he couldn’t see he was interested in her? And how could he cheat on Dawn like that. Thinking about it made his blood boil. 

He had tossed and turned all night long after Luke’s phone call. He couldn’t even contemplate that Luke might be the other man in Annie’s life. He tried hard to close his mind to any thoughts of Luke and Annie together. Maybe he should talk to Dawn before the wedding, just to make sure she still wanted to marry Luke. Being Luke’s Best Man felt like a thorn in his side. What would Dawn say if he didn’t turn up? One thing was for sure, he was going to keep a watchful eye on Annie and Luke all day.

Luke woke up feeling like someone had put an axe through his head. It was his wedding day and he felt more dead than alive. He should have spent the evening with his Best Man who had been his best friend for so long, but Chris was nowhere to be found and his phone was off. Instead Luke spent the night drinking in a biker’s pub and somehow ended up in the back seat of his car in the middle of nowhere. He rubbed his aching head and dug in his pockets for his phone. He swore and threw the phone on the floor when he saw the battery was flat. When he looked over to the ignition there were no car keys.

“How the hell am I supposed to get home? I don’t even know where the bloody hell I am.” He moaned as he looked all around him and staggered out of the car. He was on a dirt road on what appeared to be a cattle ranch as he could see cows wherever he looked. Judging by the rising sun it was still early so he still had time to find his way home and get to the alter before Dawn got there.

Luke looked down the road behind him and then at the road in front trying to figure out which way to walk and decided to walk in the direction his car was facing. He must’ve been going that way for some reason.

“Oh, please don’t let it be too far to wherever I was going. If I’m late for the wedding Dawn will think I jilted her because of Annie.”

Luke stopped in his tracks. “Annie, I need to apologise to Annie. I need her to know I never meant to… ohhhh damn, why did I ever kiss her. She’s Dawn’s best friend. We will see her often. It’s going to be awkward. Shit, my head hurts.”

A few feet down the road Luke doubled over and threw up everything he’d drunk the night before.

***

The hairdresser and beautician arrived at ten a.m. and Dawn’s room was quickly turned into a beauty salon. Her hair was being done and her feet pedicured and hands manicured.  The bridesmaids arrived and started getting dressed and waiting in turn to have their hair and nails done. It was a hive of activity and the smell of hair spray, nail varnish and perfume filled the air.

Dawn had no time to dwell on any thoughts she might’ve had about getting married today. So much was going on around her that she was caught up in the festive atmosphere and laughed at silly jokes the girls made.

“Hi Aunty Eve.” Dawn shouted above the chatter in the room.

“Hello Dawn. I am so glad to see you in such a happy mood, especially after yesterday.” 

“Yesterday is a million miles away. I am getting married in a few hours. No time to be sad today.”

“Well I am pleased to hear that. I just popped in to make sure everything is running smoothly and you are okay. By the way how is your ankle?”

“The swelling has gone down.  It’s a little painful when I put my full weight on it, so I may just limp down the aisle.” Dawn laughed.

“Are you sure you’re going to be alright Dawn? I can organise a wheel chair or crutches for you if need be.”

“Thanks but no thanks. I will be just fine Aunty Eve. Dad will be there to support me and I won’t put all my weight on that foot.”

“Well if you change your mind, let me know.”

“I’ll be fine, but thanks for caring.”

“It’s a pleasure dear. It is your special day and we need to make it perfect for you.”

“Thank you Aunty Eve.”

Eve smiled at her niece and was surprised to see how much she looked like her mother today. She remembered standing in this very room the day her mother married her brother and helping her with her wedding dress. Her mother had her wedding here at the ranch just as Dawn would be doing today.

“Dawn I’m going to check on the marquee and then I’ll come back and help you with your dress.”

“Thanks Aunty Eve and thank you so much for helping Dad organise everything today.”

“You’re very welcome my dear. I’ll be back in a little while.”

Dawn nodded and smiled.

“Dawn you hair looks amazing. I can’t wait to see you in your dress.” Annie said giving her friend a hug.

“Thanks Annie, the hairdresser did an amazing job with my unruly curls.”

“In a couple of hours you will be walking down the aisle starting a new life as a married woman and then there will be little Dawn’s and Luke’s running around too.”

“Slow down Annie. Babies not happening for a long time yet. Let me get married first.”

Annie laughed.