by Louise Hall
I look across at my dad and I realise that he and Mr Warner have a lot more in common than you’d think. He might come across as a curmudgeon but I know he only wants what’s best for me. Maybe it’s the same with all fathers. I hope I’ll be lucky enough to find out some day.
“I’ve been through enough in my life to know that I don’t want to play games anymore, Dad. I love Lola and there isn’t a single doubt in my mind that I want to be her husband tomorrow and for the rest of my life.”
Dad nods, “that’s all I needed to hear.”
LOLA
Mats is spending the night at Vada’s apartment so after we’ve come back from the girly lunch, it’s just me, Mum and aunt Liv at the house.
“What’s up, Lola Bean?” Liv asks when she catches me sat on the end of my bed, staring at my wedding dress again.
“I’m a little nervous,” I admit.
She sits down beside me. “What about?”
“I’m getting married tomorrow,” I let out a strangled laugh.
“Is everything OK?” Mum asks, joining us in the bedroom.
“Your daughter’s freaking out.”
“Did you feel like this the night before your wedding?” I ask Mum.
Mum laughs, “nope because I only found out in the morning that I was getting married that night. Your Dad made all the arrangements. I did have a little freak out about half an hour before the ceremony though.”
“What about you?” I ask Liv.
“I was a bit worried that Jax would have second thoughts about marrying a crazy lady like my good self because heck, he did see me almost burn down a church, but we’d had a baby together by then so I figured he knew he couldn’t actually ever escape from me.”
“OK, you’re not actually helping,” I flop back on my bed.
“What’s this really about?” Mum asks. “I know it’s not because of Zev.”
“It’s not,” I agree, “it’s the actual wedding itself that I’m nervous about. The first time I ever met Zev was on that beach and I still nearly fell over even though I had a calf and foot then.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Liv asks softly, “that you’re going to fall over tomorrow?”
“Sweetie, listen to me,” Mum says, “your dad will never let you fall and before you start going all uber-feminist on me, that’s not because you’re a girl. It’s because we’re your family and that’s what we do.”
“I know what we need,” Liv jumps up off the bed.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” Mum reassures me as we lie there on my bed. “There were only a couple of witnesses in the chapel when I married your dad but at least you know for sure that Zev loves you. I worried that your dad had only asked me to marry him because I was pregnant with you.”
I bust out laughing because that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. My dad loves my mom with his whole heart.
When we join aunt Liv downstairs in the lounge a couple of minutes later, she’s recreated some of my favourite childhood memories by building us a blanket fort. I give her a big hug because it’s exactly what I need tonight. “I loved making these when you used to look after me.” Even though my parents’ marriage is rock-solid now, they actually split up for six months when I was at primary school and Mum and I moved in with Granny Reen and Liv.
Liv has even found some fairy lights from somewhere and draped them over the top of the fort. “I don’t know if you remember this,” Mum says, lying down on my right side. “When you were little, your Dad was looking after you while I was at university. There was a really horrible thunderstorm and you were so upset, he made you a fort just like this with lights over the top. He said the lights were…”
“Grandpa Eamon watching over me,” I finish because I remember how safe it made me feel.
I lie there quietly, sandwiched between two of my favourite people in the whole world and look up at the lights twinkling above my head. How can I be scared of falling when I’ve got this crazy bunch supporting me? Excitement fizzes in my belly at the thought that this time tomorrow, Zev and I will be married.
ZEV
I stand on that same stretch of beach where I first saw Lola or Jane as she was then. Danny and Shanks are by my side and I can see my Mom is already reaching for her tissues.
The front door of the grey and white Craftsman opens and I watch my bride walk down the steps towards the road. She’s completely transformed from the sad, lonely girl I saw that first day, hiding her injuries with padded leggings and chunky trainers.
The hem of the vintage lace dress brushes against her gorgeous legs, flesh and prosthetic. I hold my breath as I watch her cross the road, feeling that same surge of protectiveness. The sensation is as familiar to me now as breathing.
She lifts her dark eyes to meet mine as she steps on to the sand and gives me a shy smile. The music we’ve chosen for her to walk down the aisle to might be unconventional but it’s us. Jax plays the first few chords of “Still Falling for You” by Ellie Goulding.
I physically fell for her the first time we met right on this beach but I’ve been falling in love with her every day since.
The guests stand and join me in watching my beautiful bride walk down the aisle on the arm of her dad. Sierra and Maggie are her bridesmaids.
I can’t take my eyes off my girl. Her inky-black hair is tied up in a loose chignon and threaded with white flowers so I can see the lotus flower on the back of her slender neck and her dress dips in a low v at the front so I can see the start of the script which runs between her breasts. She wears the ink and piercings I’ve given her on her skin but I wear the marks she’s given me deep inside; the peace that I’d struggled to find after my accident, the love that’s nothing like I’ve ever felt before, the excitement for the future because every day with my girl, even when we argue, is better than the last.
“I love you,” I murmur when she joins me in front of the minister. I reach for her delicate hand and brush my lips against her knuckles. The skin at the base of her finger is still bare but tomorrow we’ll go to the Ink and Rusty will gives us our tattoos. We’ve worked separately with him to design each other’s and I’m excited to see what she’s come up with for me.
“I love you too,” she whispers back.
