A few horns honked as we made our way to the entrance, and I couldn’t help but turn and wave as people honked, rolled down their windows and yelled congratulations. Luckily, no one told me to turn and run or hollered that marriage sucked. That definitely would have put a damper on the celebrity moment I was having.
Marcus pulled open the heavy door to the church, and my mom helped me enter quickly. After we made sure all of my dress was safely inside, I gave the okay to close the door behind us. Grace had already arrived separately, wanting to make sure everything was perfect. I also believed she secretly wanted my mom and me to have a moment alone together. It wasn’t necessary, but I appreciated the gesture. It had been nice to spend the last couple of minutes with my mom while driving down the streets of New York. I didn’t know if I would get another chance to just be with her like this before Jude and I left for our honeymoon. I was guessing Grace had known that. She always seemed to know exactly what to do.
“Oh, Lailah, it’s beautiful,” my mother said, her voice full of awe.
I finished smoothing out my skirt and looked up to see that the church had completely been transformed. It was daytime when Jude and I had visited, and although it had been absolutely dreamy then, we had known we wanted an evening wedding. Having returned sometime later during an evening service had only given a glimpse of what it might look like since the bright lights above washed everything out.
Now, only the glow of what seemed like a million candles lit the room. It was romantic and everything I’d imagined it would be. The glow from the natural lighting flickered and danced against the stone walls and high Gothic cathedral ceilings.
“It’s perfect,” was all I could manage to say before I was whisked away to the bridal suite.
Guests were starting to arrive outside, which meant I would be walking down that candlelit aisle in less than an hour.
I TOOK A deep breath, touching the new cuff link on my sleeve, as Marcus stood next to me in front of the congregation. The small a cappella choir began, their angelic voices filling the church, from high above where they stood in the balcony.
Grace emerged first, carrying a small bouquet of red and white flowers against her green dress. She looked happy and elated as her head turned briefly to smile at Brian and Zander seated in the crowd. Brian held out their son’s tiny hand and waved at her as she walked by before taking her spot to the right of me, leaving a wide space where Lailah would be.
Lailah.
I turned just in time to see her and her mother round the corner. With one arm wrapped firmly around Molly, Lailah lifted her gaze as they both took their first steps down the aisle.
I lost the ability to breathe.
She was breathtaking, exquisite.
Dear Lord, she was mine.
Loose curls fell around her shoulders surrounding her like a halo, her floor length veil trailed behind her like a thin train. Her dress was winter white and fit her personality and body beautifully.
My fingers itched to touch her, to roam over every inch of that silky skin.
It had felt like an eternity since I saw her last, yet it had been less than twenty-four hours. I knew now more than ever—as she walked toward me, escorted down the aisle by her mother—that Lailah was the one I was always meant to be with.
I might have started my life down one path, but all roads had led me to that hospital, to this moment, and to this woman.
It was true—what they said in cheesy romance movies. When the bride entered the church, as she looked at her husband-to-be, everyone else seemed to disappear around them.
As Molly placed Lailah’s hand in mine, giving me a tender squeeze on the shoulder, the entire church melted away. I saw nothing but the dazzling gleam of her eyes under the candlelight and the soft tender smile radiating through her as we turned to face each other.
I wanted to whisper something to her, to tell her how beautiful she looked and how much I loved her. But how could I fit a hundred different emotions and feelings into a single sentence?
It was impossible, and I only hoped that the vows I’d prepared would do her justice.
The pastor greeted the congregation, and I briefly took a moment to look out and see our family and friends smiling back at us. Our mothers were in the front pew. My mother was already clutching a delicate lace cloth between her fingers, knowing she’d need to blot away the tears that would eventually make their way down her cheeks. After giving Lailah away, Molly had taken her seat next to my mother.
The church was filled. Many I knew, but most I didn’t. I had argued with my mother, trying to keep the attendance low, but ultimately, I’d given in, knowing that my professional position and our family name required me to invite certain individuals.
At this moment, I didn’t care who was here with us.
As long as Lailah was in front of me, looking at me with that wondrous excitement in her eyes, the church could be filled or empty, and I’d still be the luckiest damn man on the planet.