Chapter 40

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Standing before the full length mirror, I can't quite believe that the girl... no, not a girl anymore... the woman.... staring back at me with content eyes... is me!

Allowing myself a moment to be on my own after the excitement and constant chatter of the last two hours is what I felt I needed before I walk outside to marry the man of my dreams.

Our babies swirl inside of me while I twist and turn to look at myself in the sunlight that cascades through the bedroom window. Robin knows my tastes so well that she has designed and made the perfect gown. The intricate lace fits like a glove from my collar bone to just underneath my bust where a lighter material then flows delicately over my nearly seven month pregnant belly. A plain veil with the same lace pattern along the edges sits on top of my curled and then loosely pinned up hair. The veil falls gracefully to the bottom of my back. My best friends have then done my make up, keeping it light and natural looking, but with a splash of colour on my pink lips.

Although I never expected to marry Daniel while heavily pregnant, somehow it feels perfect after everything that has happened to us. That somehow doing it now before our babies arrive is the right thing for us.

I become lost in emotion of how overwhelmed I feel that Daniel would do all this for me. The planning and effort that he has made to give me the wedding of my dreams causes my heart to swell in my chest. I never thought I would ever feel whole again after losing Charlotte, let alone find someone who loves me so completely and unconditionally.

"Lizzie." My Dad shouts from downstairs, drawing me from my thoughts. "It's time!"

Glancing back at myself, I nod with a slight smile. "It's time." I repeat my Dad's words to the woman in the mirror. "It's finally time."

My heels click on the hardwood fall as I open the bedroom door. Daniel's photographer friend, Luca, is waiting patiently outside like I asked him to after he had taken some shots of us all getting ready.

"Lizzie... you are a vision!" He exclaims in his soft Italian accent. "May I take a couple of photographs before you join your father?"

I nod in response, and he then immediately positions me back into the sunlight. I feel like a doll as he gives me instructions on how to pose.

"Lizzie?" My Dad shouts again.

"We're coming." I respond swiftly.

"Let me go down the stairs quickly so I can snap your descent." He instructs rather than asks, then immediately jogs out of the room.

I pick up my simple bouquet of cream roses from the table before taking a long shaky breath. I refuse to give myself chance to begin to hyperventilate, I make my way to the top of the staircase. Unable to see  the steps before me over my stomach, I descend slowly in my floor length wedding dress.

When I reach the turn in the stairs, I finally look up. My Dad is standing just below the bottoms step, and I can see from here that his lips are trembling. "Oh, sweetheart." He says, his voice thick with emotion. "You look absolutely breathtaking." He then pulls his handkerchief out of his tuxedo pocket and begins to dab at his eyes before putting it into his trouser pocket.

"I love you." I say simply in reply while I walk to him, blinking rapidly to try and stop my own tears from falling down my cheeks. When I reach the hall we both smile at each other through glazed eyes.

"I love you too." He says before kissing my temple.

Caroline and Sarah then join us in their stunning bridesmaid dresses. They both embrace me and I hold them tight. "I love you guys... so much. Thank you for this." My voice wobbles.

Sarah pulls away first. "We love you too... but no tears... we haven't got time to do your make up again." She grins mischievously as Luca continues to snap away almost invisibly.

"Just a second, Lizzie. Daniel asked me to give you these before we join him outside." Dad then pulls a jewellery box from his pocket.

I pass my bouquet to Caroline, and then reach with shaky fingers to hold the small box. A note is pinned to the top of the box in Daniel's handwriting.

Forever xxx

Opening the box, I gasp when I see yellow diamond stud earrings that match my engagement ring. My hand covers my mouth as they sparkle in the sun. "They're beautiful." I mumble with trembling words.

Sarah takes them carefully from the box, and places each one in my earlobe. She then hands my bouquet back to me with a wink. "They look gorgeous... now it's finally bloody time for you two to get married!"

I nod, unable to speak in case I cry. Instead, I bite my lip while I take my Dad's arm. He must feel me shaking because he pats my hand reassuringly. We begin to walk through our kitchen, and I see that the bifold doors are fully open onto the patio. Squinting into the sun, I'm unable to see anything outside which frustrates me.... I just want to be with Daniel now.

Just as we step onto the patio and begin to walk along the path through the extensive lawn, I hear string instruments playing Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars. Above our heads, decorated along the path are wooden arches with string lights and cream roses embroiled against the dark wood.

We continue to follow the path in silence, my grip never loosening from my Dad's arm. As we turn along the path a large white marquee comes into view. My breath hitches in my throat at the sight of it. The marquee is nestled in between the mature trees and stunning colourful flowers of the garden, and it's everything I imagined it to be.

The melody of the string quartet grows louder the closer we get, but the chatter from inside the marquee decreases to silence when someone must have given the signal that I was outside.

Just as we reach the doors to the marquee, my Dad stops to look down at me. "I'm so proud of everything you are, my darling Lizzie. I know there is no need to ask you if you're sure about marrying Daniel because even this foolish old man can see how you adore him. But, it's mutual... the love you two have for each other is something very special, and I'm just so happy that you found each other." He pulls his handkerchief from his pocket and dabs his eyes again. "You ready?"

"Thanks, Dad. I love you so much." I place a kiss on his cheek. "Yes, I'm ready." I turn quickly to grin at Caroline and Sarah who are both smiling with glistening eyes.

As I take a deep breath, the doors begin to open and the string band begin to play Coldplay's Yellow for me to walk up the aisle towards Daniel.

- hey guys!

I hope you are all safe and well at the moment, wherever you are!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please let me know what you think.

What do you think of Daniel's planning?

Still love Lizzie's Dad?

I toyed with going straight to the wedding ceremony, but wanted you to see the build up and Lizzie's emotions before she finally gets to marry Daniel!

Thank you for still reading and please tick the little star too. Love T x -

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