Today was the big day.
Zoey sat in the bathroom of her mother's house which was covered in makeup brushes and dresses. She sat in a low pink chair as Topanga, Angela, Rachel started to do her makeup.
"What did I say about beauty sleep?" Topanga questioned as she masked, buffed and polished every surface on Zoey's body.
"Sorry. Wedding jitters." Zoey replied.
Angela walked up behind Zoey and started shaping her face with a feather light touch. "Weddings... you gotta love them."
Zoey inhaled a nervous breath as she watched Angela braided her hair to the back and placed them in a bun as strands of hair came down in front of her face while Topanga had finished her makeup.
"Zoey!" Lucy called out.
"In here, Mum!" Zoey responded.
Lucy rushed into the room before she saw her daughter's appearance.
"Oh, my god. You're so beautiful." Lucy said as happy tears painted the edge of her eyes.
"Mum!" Zoey exclaimed, embarrassingly.
"I thought you needed something blue." Lucy said as she held a black box. She opened the box to reveal a heavy silver hair comb. Light blue sapphires were clustered into the indicate floral shapes atop the teeth. "Something old. It was your great-aunt's."
Zoey's eyes widen at how beautiful the comb was. "It's beautiful. Wow, thank you."
"It's your first family heirloom." Lucy said as Angela placed the comb into the bun in Zoey's hair. "To pass on to your daughter and her daughter..."
Zoey smiled. "Mum, I love it. How is it down there?"
"Oh, hun... it's wonderful. Everyone is already here. Shawn's looking handsome in his tuxedo." Lucy explained, excitedly with a big grin.
Then all of a sudden, the girls turned at the sound of footsteps approaching. A strange man walked in, wearing a tuxedo. Zoey didn't know who the man was in front of her but from the furious look on her mother's face told her that something wasn't right.
"Leave right now." Lucy demanded.
The man shrugged his shoulders. "Why? Can't a father be apart of his only daughter's wedding?"
Zoey's mouth parted in shock. Her nerves took over. She was afraid. She had no expectations - trying to protect and keep herself ready for the worst. This day, she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Standing right in front of her was Zoey's father. He was tall. He was a bit of a light bright. He was handsome.
"No." Zoey declared softly. "You can't be. Not after all this time."
"Sweetheart...." The man began, taking a step forward but stopped when Lucy stood in front of him.
"Don't sweetheart her, Liam. Why are you here?" Lucy hissed.
"Well, I heard from a friend that my little princess was getting married and decided I should be there to support her." Liam explained.
"Leave." Zoey ordered, clenching her jaw tightly. "I can't believe that all these years you suddenly show up and pretend everything is fine. It's not. You decided to leave mum and I. You decided to continue being a drunk. You destroyed the best relationship you had with mum. You decided to take Blake away. You never called or wrote to me. You never supported me with anything. You didn't even show up to my own graduation. You are a terrible person."
Liam rolled her eyes. "Zoey..."
"And you are definitely not going to ruin the best day of my life." Zoey finished, giving her father a stern look.
"I think you need to leave, Liam." Lucy advised harshly.
"Sure." Liam responded, exasperating by lifting his arms in the air. "Have fun while you can, kid. Marriage doesn't last long."
"If you ever knew me, you would know that I'm marrying my best friend, who loves me." Zoey told him.
Liam sighed before he turned and walked out of the room.
Everyone in the room was silent.
"That was... something." Rachel admitted, hesitantly.
Lucy nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, it was. But what's a wedding without a little bit of drama?"
"Okay. Time for the dress!" Rachel announced, holding the dress in her hands that was covered by a cloth.
Zoey took a deep breath as nerves began to shiver through her body.
This was really happening.
••••
Zoey stood just inside the kitchen as she was in her off the shoulder long sleeve wedding dress, ready to walk down the aisle that was in front of her.
Everyone was already out and were talking to people outside. Zoey then started hyperventilating, just knowing that everyone is going to be watching her as she walked down the aisle.
"You ready?" Blake asked when he approached her side.
"Yeah." Zoey replied shakily as people stood up and turned to face her. She closed her eyes for a moment. "I can't do this."
"You can." Blake responded as he pulled Zoey's hand though his arm and then grasped it tightly.
One step at a time, Zoey told her herself as they began to descent to the slow tempo of the march. She didn't lift her eyes until her feet were safely on the flat ground, though she could hear the murmurs and rustling of the audiences as she came into view. Blood flooded her cheeks at the sound.
As soon as her feet were past the stairs, Zoey was looking for him. For a brief second, she was distracted by the profusion of white blossoms that hung in garlands from everything in the room that wasn't alive, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons.
But Zoey tore her eyes from the bowery canopy and searched across the roes of satin-draped chairs- blushing more deeply as she took in the crowd of faces all focus on her- until she found him at last, standing before an arch overflowing with more flower, more gossamer.
All Zoey really saw was Shawn's face; it filled her vision and overwhelmed her mind. His perfect face was almost severe with the depth of his emotion. And then, as he met her awed gaze, he broke into a breath-taking smile of exultation.
Suddenly, it was only the pressure of Blake's hand on her that kept Zoey from sprinting headlong down the aisle. The march was too slow as she struggled to pace her steps to its rhythm.
Mercifully, the aisle was very short. And then, at last, Zoey was there. Shawn held out his hand. Blake took her hand and, in a symbol as old as the world, placed it in Shawn's.
Zoey was now home.
"You are breath-taking." Shawn murmured.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're gathered here on this glorious day to witness the union of Shawn Hunter and Zoey Francis." The priest announced as everyone took their seats. "Although I don't know them well, I know that this is a good match. How do I know that? Well because of you, because of all of you. Looking out at their friends and their family and seeing the joy on all your faces, seeing how happy you are for them, tells me everything I need to know. It tells me that these two people deserve to be together. They deserve to be happy and fulfilled. And they deserve a long life together. Please present your vows."
Shawn took a deep breath and took out a piece of paper from inside his tux. He nervously unfolded it and began to read it.
"I love you, Zo." Shawn started nervously. "I love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I vow to love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you. Through the years we have faced obstacles, some harder than others, that have helped us build the strong foundation of our relationship. It had shown me your unwavering love, constant support, and silent strength. O promise to encourage you to follow your dreams. I promise to continued to challenge you to be the best version of yourself. I promise to make you laugh, when you're taking life too seriously. Our journey as a family has only just begun and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. Zoey, you are the person I choose to spend forever with, as my true soulmate. I love you."
Zoey gave her soon-to-be-husband a tight smile while tears began brimming her eyes. She sniffled as she shakenly pulled out of the piece of paper that contained her vows and began to read it.
"I also love you, Shawn." Zoey began as a tear rolled down her face. "I promise to always be your biggest fan and your partner in crime. I promise to create and support a family with you, in a household filled with laughter, patience, understanding and love. I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together. I will love you faithfully through the difficult and the easy. Before you, I never truly believed in a 'one true love'. In you I found a partner in life, a lover, a friend, a sage place, someone I can be my ugliest and most vulnerable with. As I have given you my hand to hold... I also give you my life to keep."
Shawn smiled loving at Zoey, gripping her hand tighter.
"Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one another, and to speak the truth in love? Do you promise to honor and tenderly care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all the days of your lives?" The priest asked.
"I do." Shawn and Zoey said in unison.
"By the power vested in me, and as witnessed by friends and family... I now announce you husband and wife." The priest announced. "You may kiss the bride."
Shawn wasted no time at all, placing one hand on Zoey's hip to pull her closer as his other caressed her cheek. His lips pressed to hers softly as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
Everyone stood to their feet, cheering loudly for the couple. Zoey pulled away with a small laugh.
••••
The wedding flowed into the reception party smoothing- proof of David and Lucy's flawless planning. It was just twilight over the river, the ceremony had lasted exactly the right amount of time, allowing the sun to set behind the trees.
The lights in the trees glimmered as Shawn led Zoey through the glass back doors, making the white flowers glow. There were another ten thousand flowers out there, serving as a fragrant, airy tent over the dance floor set up on the grass under two of the ancient cedars.
Things slowed down. The little crowd spread out under the soft shine of the twinkle lights, Shawn and Zoey were greeted again by the friends they'd just embraced. There was time to talk now... to laugh.
"Hey, man." Jack greeted with a smile as he approached the newlyweds, shaking Shawn's hand. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, Jack." Shawn told him with a smile.
Blake strolled over to the married couple. "I hope you'll be very happy, Zo."
"Thank you, Blake." Zoey said gratefully as Shawn wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Hi, excuse me." A voice called out. Everyone turned towards the small stage as Cory stood in front of the microphone. "Well, if you haven't guessed I'm Cory, and for those at the back if you can't hear me, don't worry. You won't be missing much. The best man as three main jobs on the wedding day: get the groom there on time: don't lose the rings and giving a side splitting speech. Shawn, Zoey and I have been best friends all our lives. When they got engaged, you can see the joy on Shawn's face when he talks about how much she means to him. He's become a much better-rounded person and I would put that down to Zoey.
"Oh, my god." Zoey muttered.
"I wish the two of you a long and happy marriage together. Zoey, I know Shawn has a soft and loving side for you. I know that you will both make each other very happy and you are everything that he needs. Just please try and look after him as he struggles to look after himself. So everyone, please raise your glasses to the bride and groom, congratulations!"
Shawn's grip on Zoey's waist tighten slightly as he smiled across the room at his best friend. Zoey felt tears brimming her eyes as everyone clapped once Cory was finished with his speech and walked off the stage.
Blake walked up on the stage and stood in front of the microphone. "Good evening everyone, I'm Blake, and I'm Zoey's older brother. I am here to give my first ever 'brother of the bride's speech' and I promised myself I won't cry so bear with me if I do shed some manly tears. Let me start off by congratulating the newlyweds for tying the knot and on behalf of our family I would also like to thank everyone for being here and sharing this memorable life even with us. Unlike most siblings, Zoey and I haven't had the privilege of growing up together until a few years ago."
"Please don't be embarrassing." Zoey pleaded under her breath.
"Since then, we have become very close and I wouldn't take it back. When we had just met for the first time, our Aunt forced us to live with each other. I was hesitant at first, but now... I'll never regret it. As Zoey's brother, it has been a true privilege to be able to walk my sister down the isle today. Standing up here now looking at her I can hardly believe that she's my baby sister! I have never been married but my advice to both of you is love one other, laugh together and always strive to be better for each other. On behalf of everyone in our family, we welcome you Shawn and we look forward to this new chapter in both of your lives. May it be filled with happiness and joy." Blake finished.
Everyone clapped once Blake was finished with his speech and walked off the stage.
Lucy was up next as she stood in front of the microphone. "Hi everyone, I'm Lucy, Zoey's older sister. I'm just joking! Zoey and I have always been so much more than mother and daughter, we're best friends, so I couldn't let this moment pass without saying something. Zoey has been very lucky to find true love with Shawn and that will forever make me so grateful. The two of you are perfect for each other and I couldn't imagine anyone better - or as patient- as Shawn to start this new adventure with. I know he was the right person for you. See you two together, I know I've taught you all the lessons I can and all I can do now is to wish you a lifetime of happiness as you start your own family."
Everyone applauded while Shawn and Zoey laughed at Lucy's speech.
"I hope you're all having a lovely evening. My name is Topanga; if you haven't met me yet, you may be at the wrong wedding because Cory and I are pretty much inseparable from these two." Topanga introduced next, leaning into the microphone. "I am the maid of honor, and is nervous as heck about this speech, so I promise to keep it short. I never had a sister, but Zoey has been like a sister to me for all these years. We have similar taste; we like similar clothes... I knew Zoey had found 'the one' when Shawn walked into her life. You could see that it was love at first, second, and third sight. He is her Prince Charming. And when I see the way Shawn looks at my best friend with such love and adoration, it reminds me how strong their love is. My advice to you is this... never go to bed mad, stay up and fight because the making up is the best part. To the bride and groom!"
Then all of a sudden, Shawn released his hand from Zoey's waist and walked up to the stage, beginning to talk into the microphone.
"As some of you here may now, Zoey and I started off as friends. Naturally, I tried my best not to fall in love with her, I really did. She is a selfless person who is always thinking of others. But I have other selfless friends too. She is thoughtful, but so are my other friends. While I love her for all of her many great qualities, what I love about my wife more than anything is how well she gets me. She knows me inside and out and never once ran away screaming. And I love her for who she is as well. And that is why we are all here today, because one day, we decided that it was not enough to just be friends. We knew that we could not live without each other and we wanted to spend the rest of our lives side by side. Zoey, I cannot believe how far we have come. Sometimes it still has me in shock, just thinking about how lucky I am to be able to wake up knowing that I have you in my life. Thank you for marrying me and for being my wife."
Zoey let out a small laugh and smiled at her husband while everyone started to applaud for the married couple.
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PUBLISHED: May 12, 2019
WORDS: 2936