Torn

Chapter Twenty Four part one

It was wedding day and I woke up sore with swollen eyes. Calum's mother greeted me with hot tea and a warm smile. "Calum said he will see you at the wedding." I nodded. "We heard everything last night." My mouth formed an O in embarrassment. "Not wanting children is not a crime my dear. But for my son having his own has always been a dream of his."
"I don't know if i am capable of loving it." I whispered honestly. She sat down beside me, her warm arms wrapped around me.
"That's a normal fear." She stroked my hair as tears began to fall. "Just be open minded for the man you love." She held me for almost an hour as I cried against her.
Too soon she was shushing me into Calum's room to get dressed.

••••

Allison smiled as I walked into the full room. "Finally you're here, looking like shit." Her tone was clipped with irritation.
"I am sorry. You know i will have your makeup hair and mine done in no time so shut up."
"What would I ever do without you."
I began with her makeup, her eyes stared forward. "What's wrong?" She asked slowly.
"To much sex last night." I shrugged with a smile. She laughed and shook her head.
"I know you better than that but i'm not going to push it." I nodded silently thanking her.

An hour later her makeup was clean and elegant and her hair was dressed in soft curls. "No excuse me it's my turn." She turned her chair to the mirror.
"You're too good."
"That's why I am the maid of honor." I joked as Jackie stepped into the room her dress already on. She wore a knee length lavender gown with sequins across the chest.
"Who did your hair?" I snapped as she came to myside.
She pushed up on the curls. "My damn self." I rolled my eyes. "I learned from the best." She patted my shoulder. "Use lots of concealer we can tell you've been crying." My mouth parted as she walked away. My eyes darted over my face, the circles under my eyes could hold oceans.
I sighed looking at myself, my makeup was finally finished a glow to my skin that was not there thirty minutes before. I kept my blonde hair straight and braided my bangs into a headband. "Your dress is waiting for you in the back room." Allison's mother Tina said with a warm smile. I nodded at my second mother and hurried along. My dress was different than the other girls, it was floor length and cream colored. It hugged my breasts with a sequined belt before flowing off into a silk waterfall. I slipped on the jeweled heels and returned to the party.
My heart was racing as time grew closer. I wouldn't see Calum until after the ceremony but he would still be in the same room as me. "Ladies." Allison said loudly. "I just want to thank every single one of you for everything you've done during this process. Anne thank you for putting a wonderful man on this earth for me to cherish, Momma thank you for supporting me in every move I've made in this joyous life of mine." She patted under eyes with a tissue. "I'll try not to ruin my makeup." Everyone chuckled along with her. "Jaclyn you're a pain in my ass let me tell you but I will always enjoy it." Her eyes came to me. I was already emotional mess. "Toni, my dear, dear best friend." The tears were already forming. "What in the hell would I do without you? I would be a mess of stress and horrible makeup." She wiped her eyes once more. "Just everyone, please have the best night cause I know I am going to." The group of women erupted into clapping as we all huddled around hugging the bride.
"Okay ladies." I clapped my hands. "I am going to go check on the groom, 10 minutes until we line up." They nodded as I hurried out into the hotel. The men were located on the west wing of the ball room. My heels clicked as I hurried across the large dance floor.
I pushed the door open obviously erupting a moment as Calum came into my view with a raised bottle of beer. His eyes trailed across my face before gliding down my dress. "Excuse me gentlemen." I pressed a smile as my heart pounded. Luke's cheeks warmed as my eyes came to him. "Ten minutes then I need you in line up. Maggie will be coming to get you when it's time." They all smiled as I nodded my head towards Calum. The door slammed as I caught my breath, this was going to be a long as night.
Maggie was running across the dance floor as I made my way back. "Why the fuck are you over here?! Get the hell to the dressing room." I ignored her as I made my way.

All the bridesmaids were already in a line as I took my spot in front of Allison and her father. "Breathe you're going to do amazing." I smiled at her before grabbing my flowers. The music was starting as we headed out. We were to meet up with our paired groomsmen before heading down the aisle. Calum was my pair, the irony. We stopped, facing each other before linking arms. "You look lovely." He whispered as we made our way down. "I'm extremely sorry for my behavior last night." I couldn't speak and too soon we were going different directions. I took my spot, turning to my best friend as she made her way down the aisle. Her gown was laced knee length, quarter length sleeves. The beaded belt glistened as she smiled up at her father. The ceremony started and my mind focused on Calum. He was smiling at his best friend his cheeks a little flushed. This could have been us soon, hand in hand bonding our love together. He ruined that, now there was no wedding for us. My perfect man was gone, too good for me. He spoke my worst fears that night, he knew what he was doing even If he was drunk.
My mind came back to the bride and groom as they turned to each other to say their vows. Ashton was going first, fresh tears in his eyes. "I can't promise you that dark clouds will never hover over our lives or that the future will bring us many rainbows. I can't promise you that tomorrow will be perfect or that life will be easy. I can promise you that I'll see you through any crisis, and dream with you, build with you, and always cheer you on and encourage you. I can promise that I'll willingly be your protector, your advisor, your family, your everything because I love you." Allison couldn't hold back her tears, hell none of us could.
"I guess it's my turn." Allison said with a chuckle. Ashton was gleaming down at her his eyes wet with tears. She took a deep breath. "As I stand here before you, looking into your eyes, I see all of the things I fell in love with. As I stand here before you, my heart beating so strongly, I find myself so lost for the right words to say. Always remember how you complete you make me, how without every laugh and hard time we've made it through it's made me the woman I am. I am ready to grow with you in every way that's possible. You are mine and I am yours." They exchanged rings before exchanging their first kiss as man and wife. Turning to the large crowd hand in hand they were pronounced 'Mr. and Mrs. Ashton Fletcher Irwin'. Clapping erupted as they ran out of the room and the bridal party followed close behind.