Private Emotions – Promises (The Private Emotions Trilogy) (12 page)

We drove for a while and then I said, “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Not something that any man wanted a woman to ask him but he just smiled and told me that he had gotten directions from Sophie herself. Finally, we arrived at the destination and it was more breathtaking than even I could imagine. Thank goodness the weather held out because the weatherman did mention a chance of showers. There were a few clouds in the sky but the sun shone through them brilliantly.

There was a gazebo set up at the end of the aisle where a platform was raised. That was where they were going to make their vows. I could see that many of my friends were already here including Ronnie and Mark, who waved to us as we arrived.

Wondering where the two brides-to-be were, I noticed three tents to the side and realized that they were probably being used for getting dressed. I entered into the first one as Ethan took his leave from me and went over to see Ronnie and Mark. Sophie saw me behind her and turned to see me holding the black zipped-up cover. Before I even knew what was going on, she had snatched the garment off my hand and was shakily pulling the zipper down to see what I had created.

The moment of truth was upon us and I knew that I was in the clear when she looked up at me with tears in her eyes. It was a look that I would remember for the rest of my life. “Emily, this is so beautiful that I don’t feel worthy of wearing it. This should definitely be on display in a window somewhere.” I blushed two shades of red as I had never heard anybody talk about anything that I made like that.

Her sister, Gail, said, “Wow, I know who I’m getting to make my dress when I get married. I think I will leave you two and take the other dress over to the other bride.” Sophie and I hugged each other and I couldn’t help but remember the precious times that we spent together as friends and as lovers. We stood at the edge of the tent as we saw Gail go into the other one. We waited on pins and needles to hear the reaction and then heard a shriek of joy that did my heart proud.

I left Sophie to get ready and walked out to where the chairs were, only to see three women surrounding Ethan. It was obvious from their body language that they were flirting with him and trying to seduce him with their womanly charms. I suppose I could’ve been jealous but he did not seem the least bit interested and I had to wonder if he was still interested in offering his services to other women. In fact, he was looking at me the whole time that they were talking to him. I knew that he was capable of taking care of himself but I decided to help him out this one time.

I walked over and asked Ethan if he wouldn’t mind giving me a hand with getting things ready for the wedding. “No, I’m right there with you. Sorry, ladies, but duty calls.” They were all disappointed to see him leave, although it was obvious that they had some kind of intimate knowledge about him. “Thanks, Em. I was about to just run the other way but they converged on me too quickly. I didn’t even get a chance to talk to Mark and Ronnie.”

Mark was now coming over and I left them to talk while I helped with the last minute preparation of the wedding.

Ronnie saw me a little while later and came over and said, “You wouldn’t believe what I just heard but I think that Ethan just admitted to Mark that he had feelings for you. I was a little too far off to hear their entire conversation but I think that was the main part.” The idea that Ethan had confided in Mark about falling for me was a little surprising although not at all unwanted. I still thought that this was just an arrangement because he had made it abundantly clear during our time together. Hearing now that he was feeling something more for me than friendship had taken me off guard.

“That is news to me. We did have a major breakthrough at his parents’ place in the country, and I did see a softer side to him. Maybe he has dealt with his loss and is finally ready to love again?”

“I don’t know about that but I think you should capitalize on this newfound knowledge and see if you two can finally get together. I know that you’ve both been through a lot but I have seen the way you both look at each other. I think the thing you’ve both been looking for is right in front of you.”

We heard the music start and we all took our places. I lead the rest of the women in the wedding party down the aisle and the groom’s women stood to the right of us. When we got to the raised platform, I noticed right away that there was no minister waiting to do the ceremony. I didn’t have time to do anything about it because the brides-to-be were coming down the aisle and there was no stopping this now.

When they both got to the platform, I heard gasps from the crowd as they whispered how beautiful Sophie and her bride looked and that the dresses did them justice. It was nice to hear but I was still worried that there was no minister. The minister finally walked into the room and I sighed with relief. He was late and I almost had a heart attack. That was close but at least everything was now in place for the day’s proceedings.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered today to join this man...oops…these women in holy matrimony.” The crowd laughed and even the brides began to snicker at his slip-up. They then exchanged their personalized vows.

Sophie said, “My friends were a little surprised that I was marrying a woman but when they saw how happy I was, they had no choice but to get on board, and now I am going to marry this beautiful woman by my side. I have to tell you all that you are the best thing that has happened to me in all my life…” She sniffed. “...sorry, but I get a little emotional at weddings, so you can imagine what I’m feeling at my very own.” Again there was some emotional laughing in the crowd but it was all in good fun, and then she continued where she left off. “I promise to love and cherish you for all the days of my life because there is no other person that I would want to be at my side in life than you.”

Then Joanie said, “I’ve never been much for public speaking but Sophie and I were meant to be with each other from the moment that I laid eyes on her. Sophie you are my life. You have agreed to marry me and there can be no other joy as powerful as what I see in your eyes right now. Know that I will be a passenger in your life until we both gasp our last breath.” Her words were more than any of us could take. Kleenex was passed around as tears fell with the emotion of her declaration.

“I don’t think I can even come close to topping that, so by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” They leaned towards each other and their lips met. Suddenly Sophie dipped her new bride to the crowd, while she continued to kiss her like no one was there in front of them. When they finally came apart everyone stood and clapped as the tears of joy still flowed.

It was time for the bouquet to be thrown and I purposely stayed to the back, hoping that I wouldn’t be the one that it landed on. Sophie raised the bouquet over her head and then tossed it over her shoulder. It was about to land on me when this woman dove in front of me from nowhere and caught it. I swore she could have been in some science fiction movie dodging bullets in slow motion. It made me realize that my situation was not as desperate as I had thought.

Sophie turned to me and said, “You may not have caught the bouquet but I hope that you are next and I bet I know who it will be with.” She never mentioned any names, but she did point to Ethan, which made him shuffle his feet in discomfort. He sheepishly smiled at me so I knew that her teasing wasn’t really bothering him as much as it used to.

The garter belt was the next thing to go. All the men lined up and wouldn’t you guess it, Ethan was the one who caught it in his hands. He wasn’t even looking when it was thrown but on instinct alone he realized that something was coming towards him and he put his hands up in response. Everyone looked at us and we both knew they were thinking that fate had raised its hand.

The reception after the wedding was still in the gardens and finger foods and champagne were the order of the day. Sophie came over after doing the usual pleasantries with her new wife and teased, “So, when do I get an invite to your wedding.” Ethan and I stammered over our words and she laughed and said, “Just joking, I’m just playing with you both.” We let out a sigh of relief and then headed over to the table with the finger food. We filled our plates and walked around to mingle with the guests.

Mark and Ethan had some business to talk over so they left me with Sophie and Ronnie, and I said, “It was a beautiful wedding and I can see you having many years of blissful union.”

“Well, I have to say that it couldn’t have gone any better and even the weather made this wedding something to remember.” Ronnie regaled us with her own wedding story, even though I was there, but Sophie wasn’t so she was intent on listening. I looked over at Ethan and we exchanged glances that said we wanted more than anything to be together.

Ronnie eventually moved on to another couple that she knew which left Sophie and me together while Joanie was getting dressed in the tent. “Emily, I’ve seen the changes in both you and Ethan, and I want you to know that you have nothing to fear from him. He may not be the easiest man to understand but I have known him for a very long time and I have never seen him look at anyone the way that he looks at you. Even now, I can see the both of you looking at each other and I can tell that it is a struggle to stay apart. I say throw caution to the wind and go over to him and kiss him so hard that it will leave him wondering what the hell just happened.” I smiled at her suggestion because it was such a Sophie thing to do.

“I can’t do that, but I appreciate what you’re saying, and it has been my privilege to become your friend. I wish you nothing but happiness in your new life. So, where are you going on your honeymoon?”

“I have a little place in Italy that I have rented over the years and I am going to surprise Joanie by taking her to the airport after we leave here. I’m going to whisk her to Italy for a two week vacation that will probably have us never leaving the room.”

“She is a very lucky woman to have you in her life.”

“Oh, I think we are both lucky to have found a true love that stands the test of time. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you are giving him the same look that I give to my new bride. Perhaps, this is just the start of something more permanent between the two of you? I know it is not my place to push, so I will leave you with one thought and then say no more. Ethan is a proud man and when he wants something he goes for it with everything in his being. I can see that he wants you more than anything so you’d better be prepared for the unexpected around him.”

There was a limo waiting on the road and we all gathered around it as the two lovebirds got in and then popped up out of the sunroof with a glass of champagne clasped in their hands. We waived to them and then watched as they drove off into the sunset, making it a true fairy tale ending for the both of them. The love that I could see in their eyes for each other was something that I wanted but didn’t believe that sort of thing could happen to me. There was no way that I was going to be disappointed and left alone after a marriage ended just because we didn’t get along or were not compatible.

“Penny for your thoughts, or is that a quarter with inflation and all.” Ethan had said that to me before and it was starting to be something that he was always asking me.

“I was just thinking how beautiful she looked and how much in love they are with each other. We should get packed up and get back on the road, and maybe we can find some time to just talk.”

“I would really like that because I have missed you the last couple of days. I hope you know that no other woman is in my thoughts other than you, Em. Those women at the wedding were previous clients and it is only a one-sided infatuation. I have no feelings for them whatsoever.” He didn’t have to explain himself to me but it was nice to know that he was willing to. It showed me that he was concerned for my feelings and wasn’t interested in anybody else.

We drove home, and I could still remember the reaction of the crowd when they saw my dresses wrapped around Sophie and her bride. They gave me food for thought as to what I was going to do about my own life. I suddenly had a revelation that I wanted something more for myself, and the space near Ethan’s gallery was exactly what I was looking for.