One Night in New York

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Every now and then, in the midst of our seemingly ordinary and sometimes mundane lives, love provides us with a fairytale. The day would be our magical moment with our prince charming, and all eyes would be on us. There would be nothing but happy moments during that time, being surrounded by so much love and laughter from so many people, but it could also make you cry.

I barely slept as the wedding jitters returned to my stomach. I had no reservations about marrying Liam. That day, it was the fear of forgetting or messing something up. I had spent so many days and nights over the last few months planning out all of the details that I was beginning to obsess, convinced that I had overlooked something. The days leading up to that day had been so chaotic and blurry that I knew there had to be an oversight somewhere. I called my wedding coordinator before anything started that day, and she assured me that she had taken care of everything. Okay, so I could relax a little. But, can one truly unwind on their wedding day? My caffeine fix was the one thing I knew would help me relax.

Liam had bought that ridiculous coffee maker for our house, so I had Angie make some lattes for myself and the other girls while I hopped in the shower. Given that I had only a few hours of sleep, I couldn't start or even get through the day without a caffeinated treat or four. My lovely ladies began to arrive as soon as I jumped into my scalding shower to calm my nerves.

As we waited for the hair and makeup artist to arrive, I stepped out in my fluffy robe and greeted everyone in the kitchen. While my mother ran behind, we sipped our lattes and talked about how much fun the wedding would be. She, too, had gotten little sleep the night before due to caring for a young baby. Connie decided she wanted her mommy or daddy and kept her grandmother awake for most of the night. My mother refused to call either of us because she considered our sleep to be more important than hers.

I hadn't spoken to Liam either that morning. We had agreed to stop communicating until we saw each other for the first time when I took my first steps down the aisle towards him. He wanted to build up the suspense, which I thought was adorable and romantic. It's amazing how much of a soft spot he'd developed over that year, despite his adamant refusal to fall in love. He was never the romantic type, he told me, only wanting what was right now rather than what would last forever, but I changed all that.

My mother eventually arrived with Connie, albeit a few hours late. As she walked in, I couldn't help but snicker silently. She resembled me when I first had the baby, with her hair disheveled, mascara running down her face, and old ratted sweatpants.

"Wow, mom, good look. Is that your outfit for the wedding?" I jokingly asked my mom.

"Ha, ha, smart ass. I need some coffee and a shower bad. Your dad wanted to get to Andrews fast, so I didn't have time to clean up at the hotel. He so lovingly told me he was in a hurry, and you probably owned a shower." All my mom could do was shake her head as she spoke.

My father was a character, to be quite certain, and I inherited his witty sense of humor and sarcasm. My sister Lyn quickly grabbed Connie from my mother after she dropped the diaper bag, so she could jump in the shower and get ready. I told her to take a nap, but she insisted on not missing any of the events of the day. I wasn't going to argue with her because she was still the boss, running the show as she always had. As she walked to the shower, I just shook my head and laughed.

Time began to fly by as I worried that we would not finish before the limo arrived. I started to panic a little, but then Angie handed me and the other ladies glasses of champagne. Okay, a little alcohol would help. Angie started speaking just as I was thinking that.

"I'd like to make a toast," she said, commanding the room's attention. "I just want to say how happy I am for this woman right here. Who knew she'd be whisked away by such an amazing person and become such an amazing mother in the next year? Natalie, I adore you, and I couldn't be happier for you and Liam. Please know that I will always be there for you, Liam, and, of course, Connie. Here's to the two of you, er, three of you, and long and happy life together."

"Ugh, Angie, I have makeup on my face! Thanks for the tearful toast," I said as I cried in my best friend's arms.

As a result of Angie's moving speech, I needed to have my face redone. If Angie kept making me cry all day, I knew I'd need my cosmetologist to follow me around like a lost puppy, fixing any flaws. Just kidding, I'd never do something like that, would I? She was getting paid well, after all.

The time had finally come, and all hair and makeup were finished. It was then time for me to put on my gown. My mother was on one side, and my best friend Angie was on the other. They carefully held the gown in place as I stepped in slowly and steadily. They each lifted it to secure it to me as I made my way in. From the back of my neck to the middle of my back, each button was fastened.

My shoes were then placed on my feet as if I were Cinderella, and they fit perfectly. I stood with my mom kneeling, bracing myself with her shoulder as Angie slipped on my heels and buckled them around my ankles, one foot at a time. As I noticed my reflection in the full-length mirror in my room, I walked over to it. In my mind, I saw the little girl I used to be, staring at me, except it was my current self smiling on the other side, and that day was actually happening. That daydream had finally come true, and I was about to meet my prince charming.

I shifted my gaze to face all of the lovely ladies in my life, and all I saw was my mother. She stood, hands over her mouth, taking in the sight of her daughter, dressed to be given away to her husband. There was not a dry eye in the room as she told me how beautiful I was and how proud she was of me. It was one of the most beautiful mother-daughter interactions I'd ever experienced.

My sister Clarissa came in shortly after our faces were touched up for the third time, holding Connie. I couldn't believe my baby was going to be my flower girl at our wedding. Clarissa would carry her because she couldn't walk, and I didn't mind that flowers wouldn't be scattered down the aisle. That was not the most important consideration for us. The mere presence of my daughter would suffice for Liam and me. Her chubby figure was dressed in a baby gown similar to mine. It was short-sleeved, with lace at the top and plain white satin at the bottom where it met her ankles. Her delicate head was wrapped in a white headband with a white rose on one side. Her baby legs were dressed in white tights and matching white booties. She was one of the cutest things I'd ever seen, and she smiled bigger than she'd ever smiled before as I extended my arms to her. She seemed as excited as I was that her mother and father were getting married.

We lingered a little longer as the photographer and videographer snapped and beautifully captured each moment. We toasted once more before making our way to the stretch limo waiting for us outside. Many people had heard about our upcoming wedding and had gathered on the sidewalk. As the driver shielded me with an umbrella, the media and citizens of New York City tried to photograph our exit. As I took it all in, I paused to pose for a few photos. Who wouldn't want a little extra attention on their wedding day?

Liam and the other men had already arrived at the venue. We didn't want to cross paths or catch sight of each other until it was time for my grand entrance. We had a stretch Escalade, so we could all sit comfortably. The girls sat next to each other in the seats, while my mother held Connie on her lap. The entire ride was pure exhilaration, knowing that it would begin in a matter of minutes. I had waited my entire life for that moment, and it had finally arrived.