•-Laine Bennett-•
Watching Austin the last year arranging the details of our wedding, I felt calm knowing things were all under control.
The day has finally come.
And I am terrified.
I stand in front of the mirror staring at my wedding gown for the millionth time since Mahalia and Thea had helped me into it.
The gown was stunning. Despite Austin telling me, there was no budget for my wedding dress, I could hardly help myself when a vintage gown came into the possession of my grandmother's antique shop. The dress was older, and I had instead used the money to repurpose the gown.
The sleeves hung off the shoulders. Rather than a pure white, the color was only just a shade off, making me look much more tan than I was. The gown fell off my hips but not so much I looked like Cinderella. The bodice was covered in lace that then dragged down the hips shading into the mesh cover of the skirt.
I felt like an absolute princess.
My hair was pinned up and out of my face and my makeup so light it hardly looked like I was wearing any.
"Wow," I turn at the sound of my Grams who stood at the entrance to where we were all getting ready.
"If your mother could see you today she would be so proud of you, Laine."
I smile, extending my hand to my grams. She takes it as she walks towards me slowly.
"You look absolutely beautiful today, Lainey."
I smile at my grandmother and pull her to me. I hug her longer than I should have, yet I could not help myself.
"I love you, Grams," I say to her.
Her hand presses to my bare back as she hugs me back tightly.
"I love Austin, Lainey, but if you want to run, just say the word," my grams and I part and I see the sentiment in her eyes.
I couldn't help but laugh as I brush away a stray tear.
"I'm not running, Grams."
Her smile widens as she winks at me.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Before either of us could carry our conversation, Brent knocks on the door before pushing it open.
"It's showtime, Lainey. Are you ready?"
Taking one last look in the mirror I nod my head.
Today was the day I finally got what he promised.
Today was the day that Austin Wood was giving me the world.
•-Austin Wood -•
The New York Public Library was filled with guests. Some I hadn't met, and others I had known for years.
My heart pounded in my chest as I stare at the entrance.
The room of books had been decorated with string lights and white roses, Lainey's favorite of all the flowers. There were thin curtains of mesh tool hanging from the second story draping to the bottom level. Chairs were situated appropriately. I'd instructed guests to fill both sides even if they were not related to Lainey.
I did not want her to feel so lonely on her wedding day.
I stood in the center of the room waiting rather impatiently for the ceremony to begin.
As if God had heard my pleas, the orchestra begins to play and Clover, dressed in a soft peach dress begins walking down the aisle to the wedding march. She tossed white rose petals at either side of her as she walks down the aisle with a gleeful smile as she does.
Following behind her was Graham. His tie was the same peach color as Clover's dress, but at the request of Laine, it had small graham crackers in the fabric. I couldn't help but smile as he runs down the aisle under the pressured stare of strangers. He falls into Chris who stood beside me as my best man. Behind him, I could hear Brent snickering. I look to the men behind me and smile before Thea begins to make her way down the aisle.
She looked as ravishing as always in a long flowing gown. She smiled happily as she walked won't the aisle with Mahalia following behind.
The music pauses for a moment and I can tell the unknowing guests become worried. But, at my request and without Laine's knowledge, the music shifts to "If I Could Fly" by One Direction.
I take a deep breath as Laine, looking to be the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, begins to walk down the aisle with her arm wrapped around her grandmother's.
Our eyes meet immediately. I shift on my feet, now aware of what was about to happen. But seeing her in her gown, the beautiful smile on her face, and the stray tear rolling down her cheek as she approaches, I feel so at ease and absolutely in love with the woman who was about to become my wife.
I am forced to wipe away tears of my own as she approaches me. Evaleen pulls her arms away from Lainey and presses her lips to her cheek. Before she takes a seat, Evaleen takes my hand in hers.
I squeeze her hand in mine before turning to look at Lainey.
I take her hands in mine and caress my thumb along her knuckles.
"We're really doing this," I chuckle in a whisper for just her to hear.
Lainey laughs lightly, "Don't get cold feet on me now, Austin."
It takes all of me to not pull her body to mine. Instead, I turn to Eric who had gotten ordained at our request. I nod to him, and he smiles between the two of us.
"Please be seated."
"We are gathered here today to witness the union of Miss. Laine Bennett and Austin Wood. It is with great pride I get to stand up here today and bear witness to the two most deserving individuals I have ever had the privilege of watching grow together. Austin has asked me to keep this part short," the guests all laugh at this, "It is my understanding the two of you have written your own vows."
I nod my head and turn my attention to Laine.
"Laine," I smile, "Two years ago today you changed my life," I'm forced to take a deep breath to keep myself from crying in front of all our guests, "From the day I first saw you I knew that there was going to be trouble," we both laugh at this, "I tried to deny it. I didn't want to believe it myself. But when we met you were all that I thought of. You drove me crazy from the start."
It had felt like everyone else had faded from existence and it was just Laine and I as I continue to pour my heart out to her.
"You are an amazing woman. I never knew what I had until I risked losing you. I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove to you how much you mean to me. My love for you is eternal. I love you with every fiber in my body and I will continue to show you that love and to cherish every second I have with you. I love you Lainey, and I am so excited to call you my wife."
Lainey looks at me with tears in her eyes. She takes a shaken deep breath.
"Austin," she begins, "When I met you, I had no idea how much of an impact you would have in my life. I thought I would be able to push my feelings aside. But, everything drew me back to you. I wanted to run, I wanted to save myself the inevitable heartbreak, but here we are," she smiles up at me as tears start to stream down her cheeks, "Loving you has been the best adventure. Loving you has given me everything I could ever want."
I take a step closer to her and brush the tears from her cheeks.
"You have consumed me with love. You tell me that you are going to give me the world, but standing up here today has shown me that you have exceeded that. Austin, you have always been my world. Today you've given me much more. I hope that one day I can give you as much as you have me. I love you, Austin."
We were both in tears as we stood in each other's presence confessing our love for each other.
The clearing of a throat draws our attention to Eric. I turn to him, seeing that he too was in tears.
"The rings please?"
•-Laine Wood-•
I stare at Austin, my heart pounding and my mind racing.
"We're married," I whisper as the photographer captures another picture.
"Crazy, huh?" Austin laughs before pressing his lips to mine.
I lean into him but use all the restraint I have to not further our kiss as we were in the presence of others and that was wrong.
Austin pulls away and takes a deep breath.
When we've finished the pictures of our small wedding party, Austin guides me towards reception.
The music stops for a moment and the DJ announces our entrance.
"I am pleased to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Wood!"
Austin and I walk down the short path to the center of the dancefloor.
Having planned none of this, I had no clue what our wedding song would be. Austin had given me a clue judging by the song I had walked down the aisle to, and I was not disappointed in the slightest, and "They Don't Know About Us" by One Direction begins to play over the speakers.
Austin takes my hand in his and begins to spin us.
"I'm sorry, but did you really plan a One Direction wedding in a Library?" I tilt my head at Austin as we begin to waltz around the dance floor.
Austin's cheeks flush red as he pulls me closer. "Yeah, I guess I did," he whispers in my ear.
"I love you, Austin," I smile as my cheek pressed to his suit jacket.
We dance around the room happily while others watch but despite their stares, it felt like Austin and I were the only people in the world.
As the song comes to an end the room erupts into applause. Austin and I make our way to the front table that had a large open canopy above it with the same mesh tool hanging from the sides. With his hand in mine, the microphone is handed to Thea.
"I made a promise to Lainey that I wouldn't tell any of her embarrassing stories. But, Austin paid me 500 bucks and I'm going to take the money, sorry Laines," Thea shrugged her shoulder and I shove Austin jokingly, "When Laine asked me to be her maid of honor I thought she was crazy. I knew she loved me, but enough to give me speech privileges? Honestly Laine, mot your smartest moment."
The room laughs and I can't help but join.
"When I was thinking of embarrassing stories to tell tonight, there was only one that truly stuck out to me. When Laine and I were kids, she once tried to eat-" Thea stops herself with a smile, "I'm only joking. I won't embarrass you today as much as I truly want to. Austin, if you want to give me 500 bucks anyways, I do accept cash or Venmo."
The crowd laughs again but this time, Thea turns to me with a kind smile and a glimmer of a tear in her eye.
"I have had the joy of watching my sister become an amazing young woman. I have watched her work hard for everything she has, and I have watched her wallow in her doubts. I remember the first time Laine had told me she loved Austin."
My eyes nearly bug out of my head in fear that Thea may disclose what had happened before my confession to her two years ago.
"It was Christmas. It was late, I had heard her walking around our apartment and so I snuck into the kitchen and sat at the table waiting for her to tell me her troubles," she winks at me and I sigh in relief. When I turn to Austin I find him hanging on to every word Thea was saying because I had never told him about this.
"Laine has never been the type of girl to put herself first. She always prioritizes others which is a quality I am jealous of. Still, that night, Laine confided in me about her woes. She was under the impression that Austin did not love her back. But I knew. I have never met someone who could hate my sister. Well, maybe one but she's not here tonight thank God you dodged that bullet, eh, Austin?" when she points at us I can't help but roll my eyes, "Alright, alright. When Laine told me she was in love I had known since November. I got the joy of watching my big sister fall in love with her soulmate all while giving me an older brother. Austin and Laine's love is like a fairytale. And so when Austin enlisted me to help him plan the perfect wedding for Laine, I knew that their story was hardly over. It was the end of a chapter in their lives, but here, today, we get to watch them start another. They are the love you strive to have. They make you believe true love is not just something for a happy ending, but a reality. So to Austin and Laine, the two most amazing people I know."
Everyone raises their glass at Thea's call and when she turns to me, I can't help but blow a kiss in her direction.
Turning, Thea hands the microphone to Chris.
"As most of you know, I've known Austin his entire life. I changed that punk's diaper and it was never a pretty sight. But, I got the joy of watching Austin become a man. From preschool to his college graduation day, there was never a moment I was not proud of Austin. He is a compassionate, caring, and honest man. I met Laine on their first date. Anyone who knows Austin knows that his bringing a woman around had never happened before. So imagine my surprise when this beautiful and intelligent woman walked into my restaurant. That is the day I think Laine joined our family. She is full of life and passion. She strives for greatness as does Austin. Seeing the two of them together warms my heart. I have nothing but respect and love for the happy couple. And free babysitters too, which is always an added bonus," Chris tilts his glass towards us, "Our family is complete now that we have Laine. Congratulations you two, because of all the people in the world, I know you will be the ones to make marriage look easy."
We all raise our glasses in the air and Chris and Thea approach us. We hug them both and thank them for their wonderful speeches.
The party goes into full effect and soon we were all on the dance floor. Austin's parents had dropped their strict party guidelines and began dancing crazily on the floor next to the rest of us. Austin's sister, Audrey had even made it to our wedding. We had only met a few times but from what I knew of her, she was wonderful.
A year ago Adam had realized the constant abuse he was suffering from Hannah and had gained full custody of their child because of it. Ever since he and Austin were gradually fixing their relationship and he and his daughter joined us on the dancefloor as well. Clover and Graham clung to me and Austin as we danced and we hardly minded. Mahalia had found herself a man with a gold wallet as she would say, and they were talking each other's ears off in the corner. Thea and Brent, who were yet to confess their love for one another were dancing in each other's arms both blushing brightly.
My grams was sat at a table tapping her foot to the beat because she needed a break from all the dancing we were doing. It was a wonderful event and I was happy to know that our guests were enjoying it as much as we were.
As the song comes to an end and everyone cheers, Austin tugs on my arm.
"Come with me!" he calls into my ear over the loud music that had begun again.
I apologize to Graham and Clover before Austin leads me out of the main hall and towards the front entrance of the library. I hardly had time to question him before he brought to me a large wooden dining table.
"What's this?" I ask as I lift my dress t the sides so it doesn't drag against the floor.
Upon further inspection, I see the small letter carvings into the wood.
"Oh my God," I mumble as my fingers glide across our names carved into the dining table perfectly. Surrounding them were the initials of every guest in attendance tonight.
"I thought we could start our own little tradition," Austin's arms wrap around my waist, "My grandparents had the coffee table, and I thought it would only be fitting that we would do the same with our dining room table. Do you like it?"
I turn in Austin's arms and wrap my own around his neck. I pull him to my height and press my lips to his.
"Austin, it's beautiful. Thank you so much."
I collapse in his embrace and he tightens his grip around me.
There was no one I wanted to spend my life with more, and I was beyond excited to start this new adventure together.
"You better be careful, Austin," I say warningly, "You know what comes next, don't you?" I look up at him curiously.
"Sex in the bathroom? Because that's what I've been thinking."
I roll my eyes up at him, "No you idiot. I mean yes to the sex, but not in a bathroom. I'm a married woman, Austin. Bathroom sex is no longer appealing to me."
"What if we sneak into one of the study rooms?" his eyebrows lift suggestively and my shoulders shrug.
"Yeah, okay. That works."
"Wait, actually?" he asks me as I take his hand in mine and start leading him to the stairs.
"Yes, sir."