With Love; Now & Forever (20 page)

“It’s not that. I’m looking forward to marrying Ana, it’s just that I don’t want anything to happen, something to stop the wedding. What if Barry comes back, or she changes her mind, or…” he whispered, hoping the priest hadn’t heard him.

“Nothing is going to happen. Barry is gone, Austin took care of that, and Ana is not going to change her mind! She is so in love with you that you are not going to be out of her sight for a minute once you two say ‘I do’. Ah, here comes the beautiful bride now, told you so.” he grinned.

Ana started walking up the velvet path, wearing an exquisite Maggie Sottero gown. The white and pewter slim-line gown was soft and sultry, the gathered Gossamer Chiffon spilled from the empire waist, accenting Ana’s curved waistline, which was also highlighted by the beautiful beading. The deep V-neckline was complimented by the heavily ruched shoulder straps. Her hair was swept up into a princess bun, long wispy tendrils allowed to loosely hang along her cheekbones and neckline. The beaded comb placed in the front of her bun matched the beaded accent on her dress perfectly and sparkled in the afternoon fall sun.

She looked like an angel, her presence glowed and emanated a hazy white appearance that made her look as though the sun shone from her instead of behind her. She floated across the carpet as though she were a ghost, a whispering presence that wasn’t real but Rick prayed to God that she was, that he wasn’t dreaming. This beautiful soul was going to be his wife.

Whispered approvals and compliments swept through the audience as Ana made her way to her future husband. She felt herself blush, seeing Rick’s unabashed desire and awe as she walked towards him. She felt as beautiful as a goddess and tried to memorize every emotion with each step, wanting to hold on to the fairytale.

As she made her way to Rick’s side, she smiled at Jennifer and mouthed her thanks before turning and facing her love. He quietly cleared his throat and whispered how stunning she was. She smiled and winked before giving her attention to the priest.

The ceremony only lasted fifteen minutes, Rick and Ana both reciting their own vows. She couldn’t remember what the priest had spoken about, her eyes and thoughts focused on Rick as he was focused on her. Before she knew it, the priest was pronouncing them husband and wife, exclaiming that Rick could kiss his bride.

His bride! How she had longed to hear those words and had given up hope of ever hearing them before she had met Rick. It should have been odd to her, having her first love, Austin, helping her find her second true love but it wasn’t. She felt it was a gift that Austin had given her, along with his blessing that she be happy and have a wonderful life. How quickly a life could be changed. Circumstances that she never thought possible suddenly appeared in her life and made her become a believer. She had never been to a psychic, read anything about them or desired to, now she was married to one! What an interesting future she was going to have with him, what an adventure!

“Ana?” Rick spoke softly, bringing her back to the present.
“Yes?” she answered dreamily.
“May I kiss my bride?” he grinned.
“Yes, my love. Now and forever.”