by Kyra Lennon
I felt like I was floating as we walked back up the aisle, and this time, we smiled and waved to those who caught our eye, and camera flashes went off as people tried to capture our first moments as husband and wife.
**
Something nobody ever told me about their wedding day is that it rushes by you in a blur. That, when you look back, you can’t quite remember every moment of the day because you’re swept along on a tide of things you have to do, and along the way, everyone wants to talk to you, and it’s so overwhelming that bits and pieces get lost. But one thing I knew I would never forget was that look. The sheer happiness in Radleigh’s eyes the moment we were pronounced husband and wife. If I forgot everything else about my life, that was the one moment I wanted to remember. That, and the moment Jessica was placed into my arms for the first time.
After the photos had been taken, we’d had a little down time, and we’d had dinner, it was time for the speeches. At this point, after a few glasses of champagne and some food, everyone had totally mellowed out.
Radleigh and I sat at the centre of the top table, with my dad beside me, and my mum beside Radleigh – we actually had the longest top table I’d ever seen; necessary with so many bridesmaids. Chrissie and Josh took one for the team and sat at a table with the kids – it just made it easier to keep an eye on them all, and neither of them minded supervising them.
My dad finished his toast to a huge round of applause, and he’d left me feeling like I was the best daughter anyone ever had - which probably wasn’t the truth, but I knew he’d meant every word he spoke. After thanking him, and hugging him for what was probably the hundredth time that day, Radleigh squeezed my hand before standing up for his own speech.
I turned towards him, and he blew out a long breath as the room quietened again and all eyes fell on him.
“Okay,” he began. “I’m sure most grooms spend hours and hours figuring out the exact right thing to say for their wedding speech. They come prepared with notes.” He shook his head. “Not me. That’s not to say I haven’t prepared for this. Because believe me, it’s kept me up a lot of nights while I worked out what I wanted to say. But notes felt a little too formal, and I want everything I say to come from how I’m feeling today. Right now.
“First and foremost, I need to thank all of you for being here today. Leah and I couldn’t imagine this day without any of you. Each and every one of you has played a huge part in our lives, and we’re so happy you’re here to share it with us.” Radleigh paused and glanced down the table at my bridesmaids, then over at the kids’ table where the rest of my party, plus my brother, sat. “Freya, Bree, Chrissie, Izzy, Kayla, Jayden, Jamie, Grace, and Jessica…” he paused and chuckled, “I can’t believe I got that out in one breath. Thank you for your support, not just today, but in the lead up to the wedding.” He turned back to the rest of our guests. “I think we can all agree they look amazing.”
Shouts of agreement and applause rippled around the room, and I raised my glass to my friends at one side of the table, then the other, then to Josh and Chrissie.
“Next,” Radleigh went on, “I want to thank Leah’s family. There have been a lot of changes over the last couple of years, but throughout it, even when I haven’t deserved it, you’ve still supported our decisions. We wouldn’t be where we are without you.”
My parents beamed at him, and he leaned down to kiss my mum on the cheek then reached over the shake my dad’s hand.
“To my parents,” Radleigh said, and his voice wavered for the briefest moment. Nobody but me, and probably Deanna, would have noticed, and when I glanced at her, she winked at me, making me laugh. “My mom and dad, for those of you who don’t know, have the patience of saints.”
“They’d have to be to put up with you!” Cody heckled, and everyone laughed.
“Yeah, yeah,” Radleigh said, laughing too. “He’s not wrong. Seriously, though, they have had to deal with a lot over the years, but it’s been their example of how a husband and wife should be that let me know what I was looking for. Mom, Dad.” Radleigh looked at them in turn. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. Not just for me, but for Leah, Jessica, and Jayden, too.”
Once again, he stopped to hug Deanna and Mitch, and I had to swallow back the lump in my throat. That thing he’d said about the example they’d set him? Even though they weren’t my parents, I felt the same way. My own parents’ marriage was solid, and certainly something to aspire to, but they hadn’t really had any bumps in the road, aside from dealing with me. Mitch and Deanna had endured a lot of things – things Radleigh and I would have to go through. Things we were still getting used to in some ways. I hoped we would battle through any difficulties the way they did, and come out stronger than ever.
“I have two more extremely important thank yous,” Radleigh said, and his face turned serious. “But before I do, there is one person who isn’t here who Leah and I wanted to talk about.” The air stilled around us, because this was the only part of his speech where I knew what was coming. We’d discussed it because it was important to me that we honoured everyone who was important to us. He reached down and took my hand because he must have felt the waves of emotion radiating from me already. He glanced down the table to Freya then back out at our guests. “When Leah first moved here, right away, she made two friends. Firstly, Freya, and then Will Carter.”
The stillness rippled out from us around the rest of the room, and the air felt heavy with the reminder of the loss we’d shared.
“Freya and Will took care of my girl before she was mine. Leah always talks about Will as someone who told things how they were. Someone who would always look out for the people he cared about. Someone who was highly respected, not just on our team, but on teams all across the country too.” He smiled then added. “And many of you will remember him as the guy who wouldn’t have dreamt of showing up at work without ironing every item of clothing he wore, even though it would get creased within seconds of being on the field.”
I giggled, as did many of those who knew him best. I caught Freya’s eye, and although I could see she was fighting tears, she smiled too.
“It wouldn’t be right to celebrate our wedding without mentioning someone who means so much to so many people here. So,” Radleigh paused and picked up his glass of champagne. “I’d like to make a toast. To Will.”
Everyone in the room followed suit, and had a drink to our friend.
When the moment of melancholy had passed, Radleigh looked down the table at Bryce. Bryce looked ridiculously handsome in his suit; and to everyone’s surprise, he had a date joining him for the party later. Being my wedding day and all, I should have had other things on my mind, but I couldn’t wait to meet this mystery woman. All I knew about her was that her name was Clare and she worked at the coffee shop Bryce sometimes visited on his way to work.
“Bryce,” Radleigh said, with a smirk that made me want to jump him. “I don’t need to do the serious, sentimental crap with you.” Again, everyone laughed, but then Radleigh tilted his head to the side and shrugged. “But I will, just for today. You have been with me through… pretty much everything over the last seven, eight years. I’ve lost count. I do know that I couldn’t have asked for a better team mate, wingman, and best buddy. Nobody has been better at telling me when I’m being an idiot, or helping me to figure out how to sort my life out. Leah and I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us. I know Leah couldn’t imagine life without you showing up unannounced for dinner now and again.” Laughter echoed around the room and Bryce threw his head back, chuckling. “Seriously. You’re like a brother to me, man. Thank you for everything.” Radleigh and Bryce exchanged grins that symbolised a true bromance. Radleigh was absolutely right. It was impossible to imagine a life without Bryce in it.
Radleigh started to turn away from Bryce, then turned back and said, “Oh yeah, and since I’ve been so nice about you, you can take it easy on me during the best man’s speech!”
Laughing
, Bryce shook his head. “Not a chance, buddy. I have a script, and I’m sticking to it!”
Radleigh shot him a mock glare then laughed before turning his attention to me.
The atmosphere in the room changed, and the laughter in the room died down.
Radleigh took another long breath and blew it out slowly then reached for my hand again. A shiver rippled down my spine as he looked deep into my eyes, and all of a sudden, just like when we got married, it was as if everyone else disappeared.
“Finally, and most importantly, I have some things I need to say to my wife.” The smile on my face as he called me his wife made my cheeks hurt, and he grinned back at me. “I’m never gonna get sick of saying that. See, there was a time not so long ago when I didn’t think I’d call anyone my wife. I didn’t want that. Didn’t think it was for me. And then, one day, this petite British woman waltzed into my life. Too bad she hated me on first sight.”
As everyone laughed, I said, “You weren’t so crazy about me, from what I remember!”
He nodded. “True story! But, I did know right away that there was something special about you. I might not have liked you, but I had a real hard time getting you out of my head.”
Sounds familiar. Radleigh had taken over my thoughts from the second I met him. Not always in a good way, but he’d very rarely left my mind.
“The truth is, Leah, nobody has ever gotten me the way you do. Nobody has ever made me as crazy as you did, and nobody has ever inspired me to buy a plane ticket to a place I’d never heard of, when I had no idea where I was going, in the hopes that I might find you, and you might give me a chance to fix some of the mistakes I made.” I squeezed his hand, tears pricking my eyes. “As it turned out, you kinda found me.” The fingers of my free hand reached up and curled around the locket he’d given me earlier; the locket that held a photo from that particular time in our lives. He smiled at my gesture, but it slowly faded from his face as he stared into my eyes again. “We’ve been through so much. I’ve put you through so much, and throughout it all, you’ve never given up on me, even though I didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve you. I need you to know that, even though I didn’t always act like it, I loved you.” Radleigh swallowed hard as he tried to regain his composure, and a tear slipped down my cheek. He didn’t need to tell me this. I knew it. Even when I doubted it, deep down, I knew the truth.
“So,” he went on, his voice wobbling a little, “I guess this is a thank you. For agreeing to be my wife. For giving me the most beautiful daughter. And for…” He seemed to choke on his final words as the tears in his eyes began to fall. Shaking his head, he turned away from everyone and hung his head as the emotion overtook him.
My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest – it wanted to go to him, and I stood and followed where it led me – right into his arms. We held each other tight, and even though I knew all eyes were on us, I didn’t care.
“Sorry,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?” I asked, looking up at him and wiping a tear from his cheek with my thumb.
“I wanted to give you the speech you deserve but… I couldn’t…”
I hadn’t seen him like this since he was in the hospital, and I knew that was what was on his mind. That we’d been through so much, and after all that, it could have ended if Jen had just stuck the knife in a little deeper. We wouldn’t have ever got married, and she’d have won.
But this day wasn’t about her. She had no place at our wedding, and I was damn sure the ghosts of the things she’d done weren’t going to haunt us anymore.
“Radleigh, baby, we’re okay. Everything’s okay.” He nodded, and I looked up at his beautiful face, my thumbs still catching his falling tears. “We’re okay.”
“I know.” He gave me a soft smile. “I know.”
I reached up and pressed a kiss on his lips. “Come on. Let’s go finish that speech. Then we can drink more champagne while Bryce tells embarrassing stories about you.”
Radleigh laughed. “Sure. But, Leah?”
“Yes?”
“You know I’m only letting the emotional stuff get to me because it’s our wedding day. You know tomorrow I’ll go back to being the emotionally stunted, arrogant douchebag you fell in love with, right?”
Keeping a straight face, I nodded. “Of course. But… I was kinda hoping Mr Arrogant might show up a little earlier than tomorrow. It’s just… it’s our wedding night, and he’s really good in bed.”
Radleigh’s lips curved back into that smirk I’d once hated, and he leaned in close to me, his lips just a fraction from mine. “That can be arranged.”
I grinned back at him, and moved forward to kiss him, but he leaned back slightly, shaking his head. “Uh-uh. You think you can tease me? I’m in control here. You’ll just have to wait now.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “I should be careful what I wish for, huh?”
He nodded, but then laughed and captured my lips with his.
Chapter Fifteen - Always
The speeches were way more emotional than I’d expected; even Bryce’s had its moments of poignancy. Listening to his sweet, well thought out words was the perfect end to the reception, but it had been a long day, and a long time spent sitting down and listening. With everyone fed and champagne’d up, we were all ready to spend some time partying.
We moved from one side of the marquee to the other; it was closed off through the middle. The area where our wedding ceremony had taken place had been emptied and redecorated while we were eating, and as we all wandered back through, a collective gasp was heard.
Tables were laid out with pristine white tablecloths, and the chairs used for the wedding had been placed around them. The tables were adorned with balloons matching the colour scheme, and the tablecloths has been scattered with silver glitter, and those little bottles of bubbles shaped like champagne bottles. A huge dance floor had been set up, plus a stage for the live band we’d hired, but the most stunning part of the design was the tasteful, beautiful fairy lights that covered the ceiling. They twinkled like stars, creating a magical atmosphere.
It was breath-taking.
Radleigh and I held hands as we took to the dancefloor, ready for our first dance as husband and wife.
Husband and wife. Radleigh is my husband. I felt giddy every time that thought flitted through my mind.
Our guests slowly found seats, and those who had only been invited to the evening part of the wedding were already inside, drinking and listening to the soft music that played in the background.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!”
Radleigh and I turned towards the stage, where the band was in position, ready to play our song. It was the lead singer who had spoken, and he continued, “Congratulations to the newly married Mr and Mrs McCoy!”
A cheer erupted, and I glanced up at Radleigh, smiling.
“I’m sure you’re all ready to get this party started, but there is one thing we have to do first, and that is allow the bride and groom to have their first dance as a married couple. So… without further ado…” he paused and turned to his bandmates. “Take it away!”
The opening bars to I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz began to play, and Radleigh pulled me close to him. I slipped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his chest as we began to move to the music.
“Mrs McCoy,” he said gently, and I could hear the smile in his voice. I wanted to look up at him, but I was so comfortable right where I was, listening to his heartbeat and breathing in his scent. This was the most real alone time we’d had all day. Not alone alone, because people were, of course, still around, still watching us as we shared this moment, but it was a moment when we knew nobody would interrupt us. We were wrapped up in our own private bubble for the duration of our song, and I wanted to relish every second.
“That sounds really good,” I said softly.
“It sure does. Baby?”
As much as I didn’t want to move
from that spot, snuggled against his chest, his tone had grown serious, and I moved back slightly to look up at him.
His lips curved into the most gorgeous smile, and those stunning ice blue eyes sparkled as they looked into mine.
God dammit… I was lucky.
“There’s something I didn’t get to say during my speech,” he said, and I tilted my head slightly, waiting for him to continue. “I was thanking you for marrying me, and for Jessica, but… I didn’t get to tell you how incredible you are for taking on Jayden too.”
“Radleigh…”
“No. Please. Let me say this. You didn’t just accept him. You don’t just tolerate him because he’s my son. You made him a part of our family from the day you met him, when you just took him out to the garden and played with him in the sandpit, like he’d always been around. Like it was just another day. And when I was sorting out things with James, you took Jayden away so he wouldn’t have to hear us fighting over him. And… that day when Jen wrecked your wedding dress. You should have been screaming at her, but still, your first concern was getting the children – all of them, even Harley - out of the way before you said anything. It’s those things I love about you. That even when you’re mad, or upset, or hurting, you still see the bigger picture. You see it better than I do. You always have.” He paused and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’m not really sure how I got so lucky, but I’m gonna make sure I never make you question how much I love you again.”
I gave him a soft smile, my heart melting at his words. I tightened my arms around him. “I’m the lucky one. I haven’t exactly been a walk in the park the whole time I’ve known you. But you still chose me.”
He leaned down, pressing the tip of his nose to mine. “I’ll always choose you, Leah.”
