"My baby girl is getting married. I knew I'd see this day but, not so soon," her father said.
"I'm twenty-eight years old dad," Kenadie laughed.
"Still, every parent has a small part of them that never wants to let go of their child."
He smiled at her and she returned the gesture. Her happiness ran parallel with raging nerves and anxiety. She swore her bouquet would slip out of her hands if her palms kept sweating so profusely.
She was currently staring at wooden double doors that led to a garden behind the Radnor hotel, where the ceremony would be taking place.
Where her groom would be waiting.
Her mother, Eryka and Aurora stood in a line in front of her, ready to file into the garden. She thought it unfair that they would get to see him first, but felt reassured knowing she'd be the one to stand with him. It was her wedding after all.
A tall slender woman who had earlier introduced herself as the wedding planner pinned mics to the back of their dresses and the lapel of Russ' suit jacket. She instructed the three women to go in first. It felt odd, meeting one's wedding planner on the actual day. But then again, nothing about this was normal.
Kenadie fiddled with the heart necklace which hung around her neck with one hand whilst the other held a death grip on a bouquet of purple roses. The necklace felt cool, a slight ease to her anxiousness.
He's just as nervous as you, she thought.
She and Russ watched as Aurora, Eryka and Wanda made their way towards the aisle. Before she could catch a glimpse of the man at the end of it, the doors were closed shut.
She sighed.
"This is it dad, I'm going to get married."
"This is it." He kissed the side of her head.
She hooked her arm through her father's.
The wedding planner opened the double doors, completely this time.
A cool breeze hit them as they stepped outside. The garden was beautiful with large trees whose branches formed an arch over the guests below and flowers in full bloom, green grass beneath their feet. A soft sounding violin echoed from speakers which she couldn't spot.
The guests sat on white wooden chairs. She recognized a few faces and smiled at the fact that her family had actually bothered to show up. But then again, the family's designated singleton was getting married; of course they had to witness this.
A lot more faces were unfamiliar and they looked at her in what she wasn't sure was scrutiny or just awe. They had to be taking her in all her two piece gown, afro glory.
But only one person mattered right now. Her eyes were fixed on the man in a navy blue suit standing next to Pastor Reynolds. He stood with his back to her and as if sensing her intense gaze, he turned around.
At the first sight of her, he broke into a nervous giggle which she mimicked. The smile on his face creeped all the way up his face, forming slight crinkles around his eyes. As she drowned in the blue sea of his irises, her fear and hesitance seemed to dissipate.
He turned to Pastor Reynolds.
"Is this my bride?" his voice was deep and oozing excitement.
"Well she's the only one here wearing a wedding dress," Russ said, stirring laughter.
Mr Williams let go of her arm and kissed her cheek. He gave a firm handshake to the man who would be marrying his daughter before going to take his seat in the front row.
Now the couple was left alone with the Pastor and they couldn't stop grinning at each other.
"Sebastian Carter, meet Kenadie Williams," Reynolds said.
"It's nice to meet you," they said simultaneously, rousing more laughter from the guests.
Kenadie couldn't stop watching him; his sparkling eyes, full pink lips and dazzling white teeth. She was such disbelief that her jaw wouldn't leave the floor.
"Dearly beloved," Reynolds began. "We are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Sebastian and Kenadie in matrimony commended to be honourable among all; and therefore is not to be entered into lightly but reverently, passionately, lovingly and solemnly.
"Now, as you are all aware, this is no ordinary union. These two have been brought together through a social experiment designed to find love. Therefore I should ask that if either one of them is feeling doubtful or wishes to back down, now is the time to say so."
"No doubts here, I'm all in. She's gorgeous," Sebastian spoke the last two words barely above a whisper, but it was just enough for her to hear.
He looked at Kenadie expectantly. "In it to win it," she said.
Everyone laughed again, maybe at the fact that in spite of all that Pastor Reynolds had said, Kenadie and Sebastian spoke as though they were about to enter the next round of a gameshow.
"Alright," Reynolds spoke. "Into this - these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Kenadie cast a glance at her family. She noticed a few holding out their phones and cameras to take pictures. She turned to see his family, an equally large group of people sat watching, their expressions a mixture of joy and curiosity. To her surprise, the three other experts were there, seated at the back row watching as their creation slowly came to life.
Thankfully, there were no objections.
Reynolds gestured for the couple to hold hands. She handed her bouquet to Eryka and reached for Sebastian's large hands that swallowed up her thin fingers. He was warm. A tingling sensation made its way up her arms and through her body.
"Before vows are exchanged, I would like to share a few words. Today is not the most important day of your marriage. It is only the beginning of a lifetime of important days. The good days and the bad days should be incomparable because all of them lead you to something greater.
"They lead you to a sense of unity and oneness that is not defined by mere flesh, or material things, or admiration from others, but unity defined by a spiritual connection. So I say to you; Kenadie, Sebastian, please cherish one another. Through the good and the bad," Reynolds finished.
Kenadie felt her stomach turn to a bundle of knots. She couldn't help but feel like Pastor Reynolds' insistence was some kind of warning of what was to come. She looked at Sebastian whose eyes had fallen to the floor. The speech seemed to have had a similar effect on him too.
When the time for the exchange of rings came Chris, the little boy from earlier, turned out to be the ring bearer. He handed them the rings. She learned he was Sebastian's nephew.
Kenadie smiled at him. "Hey, there," she whispered. The boy shot her a wink. So did Sebastian.
"I, Sebastian Carter, give you Kenadie Williams, this ring as a symbol of my undying love and commitment to you." He slipped the plain metal ring through her finger. She was glad it fit perfectly.
"I, Kenadie Williams, give you Sebastian Carter, this ring as a symbol of my undying love and commitment to you." She put the identical but much larger ring on his finger.
They grinned at each other. She swore that by the end of the day her face will have split in half.
"By the power vested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss, if you wish."
Pastor Reynolds had barely finished her sentence when Sebastian had pressed his lips together with Kenadie's. The kiss was gentle, but hot enough to spark a wild fire whose flames spread from her heart to the rest of her body.
Everyone stood up and began clapping and cheering. She caught a glimpse of her mother dabbing her cheeks with a handkerchief, whilst Aurora and Eryka looked like they were about to jump out of their dresses with excitement.
As they walked back up the aisle towards the double doors from which they came, Kenadie spotted one of the many cameras dotted across the garden and remembered that this wasn't a really intimate affair.
"I can't believe I'm married," she squealed.
Oh God, I'm really married.
A/n; Finally tied the knot! What do you think of Sebastian so far?