Matters of the Heart

Chapter 0.26

Fourteen months later...

|| Madison ||

My eyes couldn't help but water as I watched Tamara, an absolute vision of beauty in her ivory lace dress, walk down the aisle, her arm looped with her fathers.

After a long engagement and welcoming a beautiful baby girl, Ruby Belle Ryder, Colton and Tamara had decided to finally tie the knot at a stunning chapel in their home state of Arizona two days before Valentine's day.

My eyes shifted from the stunning bride to be over to Calum who stood beside his brother, acting as his best man, and my boyfriend of fifteen months caught my eye and gave me a soft smile that caused the butterflies in my stomach to come alive. Standing at the alter watching two people that I'd grown inexplicably close to over the last year and a bit prepared to devote their lives to each other launched me into a flurry of flashes into the future that actually didn't scare me anymore.

I won't lie, when Tamara had asked me five months ago to stand alongside Camilla and her sister as one of her bridesmaids, I was shocked, to say the least, but also ridiculously honoured that she considered me close enough a friend to share her special day with her.

When Tamara had reached the altar, she gave her father a kiss on his cheek before the man shook hands with his soon to be son-in-law and then sat down in the front row next to Calum's parents and let Tam and Colton join hands.

The ceremony was just as stunning as I knew it would be and I felt as though my heart would burst as I listened to Colton and Tamara declare their love to each other, as well as their baby girl.

Once again my eye caught Calum's and I smiled at him. He grinned back and raised an eyebrow as if to ask 'what's on your mind?'

The butterflies in my stomach had elevated themselves to being at an Ultra rave as they sent flutters through me while I mouthed 'lief vir jou' to Calum which he quickly caught and then grinned boyishly at me and mouthed back, "love you too."

When the priest had officially announced Calum's older brother and the love of his life as husband and wife, Colton passionately kissed his wife before leading her out of the chapel. A few moments later Calum's hand had found mine and we followed them with Camilla and Tana, Tam's sister, as well as Colton's two groomsmen hot on our heels.

"You look so beautiful," Calum said to me when we stood outside the church waiting for all the guests to vacate.

"Well you're looking pretty fine yourself," I said to him as I wrapped my arms around his neck, not needing to stretch because the five-inch heels I was wearing brought me up to just underneath his eye, and then kissed him.

"Woah, woah, woah, let's try and keep the passion off the premises, please," We heard Kane say with a snicker.

"As if you and Kayli are any better," Calum retorted at his best friend with a laugh as we turned our attention to our friends.

"This is the house of the lord. We know how to behave, unlike you two," Kayli said with a mischievous grin. "Remember, Jesus sees everything."

"Did you tell yourself that after you and Kane made out behind the arch or are you one of those that don't practice what you preach?" I asked teasingly. 

"Damn! Sassy Madison has entered the chat!" She gleamed with a wink.

"Oh, this is nothing," Calum said and then shot me a teasing grin. "The other week she tried to tell me how to cook a chicken properly. As if she could do it any better."

"Now you're just being mean," I pouted at my boyfriend. Nine months short of being together for two years still has Calum being the domestic one in our relationship. I've picked up a few tips and tricks along the way but only just enough to keep Calum and me alive if I ever took to cooking.