"I was just saying, no point since Darius isn't at the altar."
"What?"
"Whoa! Okay, I was joking. Jesus, calm down. I came to give you this." He pulled something out of his pocket. "You're supposed to wear something blue."
I looked at the blue mystique orchid headpiece he had. Some of the bulbs have lost their petals, no doubt from being squashed in his suit pocket.
"Thanks."
He waved a hand, gushing as Rose rolled her eyes and crossed her hands across her chest.
"Here."
I lifted up my veil as he placed it on my head. "Wow. See? Now you look good. Before you ugly, now you pretty."
I rolled my eyes dramatically, giving him a push as I pulled my veil back on.
"Alright, you go down. I'll be there."
Adrian said, "Take your time, please. I'll tell him you aren't here and make him panic."
I laughed as Rose scolded him. Imagining Darius, he probably would be panicking. He had asked me four times if I was sure before he left to stay at Adrian's last night.
Adrian was pure evil, I liked it.
"And by the way, that is one hot dress."
"Adrian, go," I told him and watched as Rose tried pushing him out the door. It seemed to be hard work.
"I am so fed up with him,” Rose was telling me with a shake of her head. “Can't believe you're going to be related to him now."
"Technically I still am. This is just a re-marriage. We are already married, remember?"
"Duh. So, are we going to make him wait?"
I looked in the mirror.
Something old, the veil that was my grandmother’s.
Something blue, the orchid headpiece. It was beautiful with white stones in the middle. Did Adrian make this?
Something borrowed, Rose's silver heels which, I was surprised, I could walk in.
And last but not the least, something new. He had given it to me before he left for Adrian's. A simple silver necklace with one blue teardrop at the end. Of course, that could have passed for something blue but it was miniscule. It sat perfectly just below the middle of my collarbones. It had soft diamond and silver work at the sides of the drop.
"No,” I was telling Rose, “that'll be too cruel. Let's go."
Walking down the aisle this time was different. I wasn't sure if it was Rose holding my hand, my dress allowing me to breathe or the fact I wanted to be re-married to him.
I could see Adrian beside him at the altar. I hid a smile as Adrian looked at me, his mouth open, as he was saying something to Darius and his shoulders slumped.
"I think his joke failed," whispered Rose. My exact thoughts.
I saw Darius turn around and my heart skipped a beat, seeing him standing there dressed in a simple black suit. And the look on his face was priceless.
"Go get him, tiger." Rose gave me a push toward the stairs and I handed her the bouquet.
This is it, Ivory, I told myself as I stepped up and he held out a hand.
"You look beautiful," he whispered, making my cheeks go red.
"Nice tie," I said to him, holding back a grin. It was a plain silver tie, the bottom was dipped blue which made me smile but the funny thing was his knot. He made a new definition of a tie knot.
"I did it myself."
"I can tell."
The priest began. "We are gathered here today -"
Last time, I was too busy trying to breathe rather than listen to the father, and majority of the ceremony was skipped. This time, I was too busy staring at my husband’s green eyes as I held his hands. And this time, I was in love with the man I was going to marry. Or re-marry. We were having another wedding, even when we were already married.
"If anyone objects to this marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Darius raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes. Of course, he asked the priest to include that phrase. It was outdated and rarely included in weddings anymore, but here he was giving me another chance to get out. Did he realise that even if I said no, we were technically still married?
"I do."
What?
Darius looked just as confused as we looked at Adrian who was standing there.
The priest said, "In that case, let us pause this ceremony an -"
"Oh no, I was joking," said Adrian, laughing crazily. Rose walked over and smacked him across the face with the bouquet.
"My son, this is a wedding. You cannot make such jokes," the priest scolded and Adrian frowned, cupping his cheek.
"You can carry on," said Darius, glaring at Adrian and shaking his head. "Shouldn't have invited him," he muttered as he pulled me closer, holding my hand.
"Well, free entertainment," I said with a shrug, even though he did make it inappropriate half the time.
"Do you, Darius Quartz, take this woman, Ivory...Quartz?" he looked up and Darius motioned for him to carry on while I held back a smile. Maybe we should have told him that we were renewing our vows. That would have been a better thing to do.