Not Yet Yours

Epilogue

Harriet

Two months later

I love the dress I finally chose for my wedding dress. It’s white and gauzy but that’s the only similarity it has with the dress I always thought I’d choose. This one isn’t a ball gown type dress, it’s much more fitted than I ever thought I would dare to wear and it’s super soft and sheer. It’s absolutely perfect for a wedding in the heat of the Maldives. I have my hair pinned up so it’s off my neck to help keep me cool. The hairstylist weaved tiny white pearls and little yellow and pink flowers through my hair as she pinned it up and I absolutely love the way it looks. The yellow and pink flowers in my hair match the flowers in my bouquet.

I peer out of the glass door, keeping out of sight while I look over our tiny congregation. Cullen stands in front of a white arch decorated with tiny yellow and pink flowers that perfectly complement those in my hair and in my bouquet. I know Liam is standing beside Cullen just to the right of the arch because I can see his shadow, but I can’t actually see him. That’s good in a way because I want that special moment where I start walking down the aisle and we see each other in our wedding outfits for the first time.

There is only one row of white chairs set out behind the altar area, and two of them are taken by Liam’s mom and his Aunt Dorothy. A couple of days before we came out here, Liam confessed to me that he had purchased an extra room in case I decided at the last minute that I wanted my father here. I told him I most definitely did not want him here, and I don’t regret the decision for one moment. If I had him here, it would only have been to rub his nose in the fact that he was wrong about me and that’s not the right energy for a wedding. We both agreed that his Aunt Dorothy was the right choice for the spare place, our secret matchmaker.

There are three more empty seats waiting to be filled. One by Cullen, Liam’s best man, and one by Max, my matron of honor, once the ceremony starts. And the final one is for my mom after she walks me down the aisle.

“Are you nervous?” my mom asks as the music begins to play and Max steps out onto the white marble walkway that leads to the archway.

“No, surprisingly, I’m not,” I say. “I know Liam is the one and I have no doubts at all about marrying him. If we’d had the big, traditional wedding I’d be nervous I would fall over walking down the aisle or something, but here it feels different, like there’s no pressure if I fall, it won’t be such a big deal, you know?”

It helps that I have flat shoes on I’m sure, because in heels I would be scared I would twist an ankle or something.

My mom nods and smiles at me.

“I love you, Mom,” I say spontaneously as I’m hit by a wave of affection for her as she stands there beside me, ready to embark on this short but, oh so, significant walk. “I know I haven’t always been the easiest person to be around, but I want you to know that I have always loved you so much.”

“Oh Harriet, I love you too, honey. And I am so proud of the young woman you have grown into,” my mom says.

We have a quick hug and then the wedding march starts to play, and we break apart.

“That’s our cue,” my mom says, and I take a deep breath, hold my bouquet in one hand, and link my other hand through my mom’s elbow.

She pulls the door open, and we step out into the tropical sunshine, and I walk into the rest of my life. Liam looks at me as I walk along the aisle, our eyes meet, and I beam at him. My soul mate. The love of my life. The one I can’t imagine my life without. I have never been happier than I am when I am with Liam, and I know that our life together is only going to get better.

We reach the end of the aisle, and my mom hugs me and sits down. I stand before Liam, and we have a moment where we just look at each other and then Liam moves closer to me and whispers in my ear.

“After we say our vows, that’s it. No backsies,” he says.

“No backsies,” I repeat.

People say their wedding day is the happiest day of their life. And don’t get me wrong, I am happy. So happy. But every day spent with Liam is the happiest day of my life, which means I have a whole lifetime of happiness to look forward to starting with today. No backsies.

THE END