This is love

SIXTEEN

Borgo Corsignano was a perfect piece of paradise nestled between an immense sight of crystal clear waters and acres of green hills. I became obsessed when Jason and I visited the coast months back and we stumbled to the vineyard to buy a bottle of it’s home grown wine, run by an old friendly couple that had known the Hayes' family for years previous. It was large enough to hold our entire wedding party, guests and some. Four villas and sixteen independent suites and hundreds and hundreds of yards of sheer beauty. There were no words. 

“You ready?” Flo smiles, smoothing her thumb across the back of my hand as we sit side-by-side in the beautiful vintage Bently. My heart was pounding painfully with anxiousness as the driver, Paelo, opened the door with a tip of his hat. He helps Flo first, her slight whimper causing my brows to pinch in concern. “I’m fine. Baby just moved right under a rib.” 

“Was I selfish having a wedding in a foreign country when you’re so heavily pregnant?” 

She rolls her eyes, helping me fix the wonderful lace veil that was almost the same length as my dress. “Don’t be so silly. I’m allowed to fly until I’m thirty-six weeks and providing I get home by Monday, I’m not breaking any rules. Now, stop frowning like that - you’ll crease your makeup.” 

Dad wheels from inside the villa and his eyes water at the sight of us standing only feet away. Circling his lips and breathing out a shaky, laugh. “My God. I -” 

He can’t finish his sentence and Flo swats her hand to him, dipping back under her shoulder strap to retrieve her tissue again. “Don’t you dare ruin these lashes, you don’t know how many tries it took poor Tabatha to try and get them stuck on - twice!” 

“You’re both so beautiful.” He beams. “And you.” He points to Vivian who rocks back and forth from heel to toe. “You’re the most beautiful little girl I’ve ever saw.” 

“Paaaaa.” She giggles. 

“Is everyone ready?” Flo asks and he nods. She turns to me and tenderly tucks her hands around my cheeks, staring at me with watery eyes. “I love you so much. So much. I'm so proud of you, sissy."

“I love you too, Flo.” I whisper. 

She sniffles and takes Vivian by the hand, disappearing inside and leaving me with trembling hands and a somersaulting stomach. I was thankful for the satin ribbon that was tied around the stems of imported sunflowers, lilies and daisies that Ms Lemon so proudly and kindly made for us to bring, because otherwise my the expensive dress would be ruined with splodges of blood with how tight my hands curled around the thorny stems.

 Ms Lemon's tears of gratitude when we asked her for her tiny little flower shop to be our entire wedding florist was worth the shipping fees. Her shop was sentimental to us from the very beginning, as was asking Marco and Matteo from Rito's restaurant back home to do our catering. Things were always about loud and lavish luxuries, it was about the reason behind everything. 

“Ready?” 

I nod. “Ready.” 

I walk by him inside, savouring the final moments of silence to gather myself. I wasn’t nervous, I had no reason to be. I was marrying my soulmate. I was nothing but excited but the butterflies that flapped against my ribcage was making it seem impossible to breath, and the harder they flapped with every step forward, the harder my knees wobbled and my hands shook. We come to a stop just short of the doors that lead to our awaiting family and friends, and the dashingly handsome man I’d soon call husband. 

“Are you okay?” I ask dad after noticing him pulling the breaks on his wheels. Suddenly, I felt queasy. Was he not going to walk me down the aisle? Did he have a problem with me and Jason getting married? “Daddy?”