I laugh and step back from Noah. “Are you kidding? It’s your wedding day. You get to do what you want!”
She opens the door and slips through quickly, like there’s a monster outside about to gobble her up. “If Emily sees me coming in here she’s going to go berserk,” she says, closing the door silently behind her. When she turns forward again, I watch my brother’s face melt into something so tender I want to clutch my heart.
He breathes out in a rush as his eyes drop to take in her vintage-inspired wedding gown. It’s made of delicate white lace and is fitted to her every curve. Loose cap sleeves of fine sheer lace cover her shoulders, and the neckline dips into a steep V. In the back, the dress flows out to the smallest suggestion of a train. It’s a simple yet stunning gown that is the perfect contrast to Amelia’s dark eyes and loosely waved hair, swept back on one side by a pearl-studded hair clip.
“Amelia,” my brother whispers reverently as she crosses to him. “You’re so, so beautiful.”
She smiles. “Thank you. I know we’re not supposed to see each other before the ceremony, but…” She breaks off as she approaches Noah and he takes her hand, lifting it above her head to spin her around and admire her from every angle. And then he pulls her into his chest and engulfs her in his arms. “I just needed to see you first. And my wedding planner keeps throwing tasks at me, and I love your sister, but I’m seconds from murdering Emily because she seems to be trying to one-up the wedding planner in her bossiness and—”
Noah captures Amelia’s lips, showing no reverence at all for her makeup. And that’s when I turn away and quietly leave the room—giving them the moment alone they need.
Unfortunately, seeing them like that does nothing to ease the pain in my heart. How am I going to move on from Will? How am I ever going to be held by another man and not wish the entire time that it was Will?
And the strange part is, I still think marriage is a wonderful idea and something I’d like to have one day—but I’m now seeing that it was the wrong thing to be placing on a pedestal of ultimate happiness. I was looking for the perfect person with the perfect traits and the perfect timing, when really, all my heart actually wants is to be fully known and loved. Someone to share the quiet moments with—someone to turn to when everything is good or everything is bad. Someone who wouldn’t be mad if I snuck in to see him before the wedding and ruined traditions—but who’d be just as eager to be with me as I’d be with him. Someone like…Will.
The details were never as important as I thought they were.
In the hall, I’m not looking where I’m walking and run smack into a man. “Oof! Sorry.”
“Oh, sorry Annie. Wow, you look so pretty,” says James, admiring my light blue silk bridesmaid’s dress.
“And you look very dapper.” I return his compliment with ease even though I feel like shards of glass are pumping through my heart. I just want to get through this day and move on.
“Hey,” he says suddenly, the look on his face changing. I’m afraid he’s going to prod me with questions about Will just like everyone else, but he shocks me by going in a completely unexpected direction. “Is it true about Maddie? Is she moving to New York for culinary school?”
“Oh yeah, it’s true. Can you believe it? We’re going to have to be without her for two years.” I laugh lightly. “Then again, that will probably feel like a break for you because you won’t have to deal with her constant badgering anymore.”
I expect him to laugh with me. He doesn’t. He looks oddly troubled as he gazes blankly at the stairs that lead up to the bridal suite.
“Yeah. It’ll be nice.” He clears his throat. “Anyway. I’ll see you out there.” He winks and lightly squeezes my elbow as he passes. I watch him go, wondering if James has a secret too. Maybe I don’t know him as well as I think I do.
* * *
—
We’re all lined up in our places after having just walked down the aisle and are desperately trying to choke back tears as Noah escorts Mabel to her seat. The seat of honor where the groom’s parents would usually be seated. Sniffles sound all around the audience as he kisses Mabel’s cheek and whispers something in her ear before taking his place at the front of the aisle.
Noah casts one meaningful glance at each of us sisters, silently telling us how much he loves us. I’m a wreck. Holding in a sob has never been so painful. And then the music shifts, and the audience turns to look over their shoulders and Noah’s expression guts me. His eyes lock on Amelia walking down the aisle, holding her bouquet of white, green, and pink flowers, her long veil trailing elegantly behind her. She sees him and smiles softly, her eyes misting over and her chest expanding with a deep breath. When she reaches Noah, he takes two steps forward to take her hand, like he couldn’t even wait that long to touch her. It’s only then that she releases the breath she took.