Rachel's POV
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It's not possible I think to myself as the female doing my dress up squeezes at the ribbons. I'm almost positive that my waistline feels different somehow, it's only as I look down at the dress that I realise. I'm thicker somehow since I bought this dress, and it's odd because it could just be food. Yet as I put together a whole load of circumstances and draw up conclusions, things like emotions and feeling more caring. Things like not wanting to smell cooked bacon in the morning, these are all conclusions I tell myself that mean no more drinking wine. I wipe my eyes and Taylor pats at her own watching me in my dress.
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After a whole morning at the spa having our hair done and our makeup set she is ready in her pink gown. Taylor looks wonderful and I've told her so. Her hair trailing down her back, half of it pinned up in a delicate up do and curls reaching to her ribs. A tiara and a few tiny flowers in her hair completed the look.
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I gaze into the mirror telling myself that I am walking up the aisle in around an hour to Christopher, I dab again at my eyes with a tissue and once the dress is finally secured, I take a look at the ivory satin and smile. No more tears, I tell myself, although that will be utterly impossible. I'm still yet to explain to my mother that Chris and I are moving to Italy more permanently, that will be a tear jerker for sure.
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"Rachel you look breathtaking" Taylor says slowly and we're a blubbering mess. My mother, Charlotte standing behind me and smiling. Much like myself her blonde hair is straight and reaches down to her sides. Adorned in a navy blue demure gown as my cousins, including Cleo the female Matthew bedded last night, I hadn't the heart to tell him we were related. My aunt, Cleo's mother, Cassidy stands proudly with a huge smile on her face. On her third glass of wine as she pulls at the straps of her red gown.
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Cleo has always been a thorn in my side, we've never seen eye to eye. Whether it was arguing about Barbie dolls as young children or actively avoiding one another as adolescents. Of course she's my opposite, with her ebony hair and pale skin, dressed in a black gown in spite of me. Who wears black to a wedding? It's devious to not mention to Matthew that she's related and indeed my cousin, but who am I to wrap myself up in her drama- on my wedding day. I cast her to the back of my mind and go back to ignoring her existence.
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"Are you ready my darling" Charlotte, my mother asks and I smile sweeping my blonde waves back over my shoulders.
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"I'm ready Jesus have you seen him he's head over the heels gorgeous!" I quip and everybody laughs, I enjoy making people laugh whether it's at my slightly childish behaviour or at my expense.
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"Rachel" Cleo begins and I stifle a groan. Taylor looks at me ready to get in between any arguments and I thank my lucky stars for having a best friend like her.
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"Yes Cleo" I say brusquely.
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"I just wanted to say you look nice" she says, Cleo trained as a lawyer and consequently she feels she is better than everybody else. A real sense of superiority. It gets under my skin and my mother looks between us as if to intervene.
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"You look nice, didn't have to jump into bed with one of the groomsmen though did you" I say laughing as she scowls. If there's one instance where I can say exactly what I feel, today is the day. It is my wedding day and I will put her into place. Taylor snickers slightly and I wink at her. Honestly it will be interesting seeing Matthew's face when Cleo is seated with the rest of my family at the ceremony.
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"Girls!" Cassidy intervenes sweeping her hair back and laughing.
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"No fighting" she explains looking at Cleo pointedly before we all assemble ourselves for the ceremony.
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My mother kisses me before leaving with the rest of my family as Ross ducks his head through the door and Taylor lingers behind still smiling to herself over me outing my cousin in front of everybody. The large wooden door clicks shut and it's silent apart from Ross' footsteps on the parquet flooring, approaching us. In many ways Ross has been an older brother to me time and time again throughout my life. He's looked out for me and he's every girls best friend.
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Taylor spins on her heels and faces me and I watch his expression change from the caring brotherly love that he feels for me to looking upon her with utter devotion and lust. It's unfortunate that the one girl he wanted wouldn't take him back, but that's love for you, difficult and hard to find. If anybody knows that, it's me. He shakes himself and reminds himself of the objective, walk me up the aisle.
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Taylor will be holding flowers behind us and Jay and Chris will be under the rotunda that looks out over the sea. It's a large renaissance structure, Chris had informed me. Stone pillars holding up the dome at the top and allowing whoever stands under it to look out at the 360 degree views of the sea. Trusting Jay Gilbert Scott with the wedding rings is a bargain and I told Christopher this when he announced that he wanted him to be his best man. Darling he had placated me. Jay’s the most dependable guy I've ever met he had laughed and I giggled remembering the version of Jay I knew before Taylor came along and changed his world.
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"Oh" I say looking back at Taylor as she smiles dabbing at her eyes. Ross hugs her and I stand back watching his eyes close as he holds her close to his chest. I feel every part of his longing for her, I recognise the ways in which he needs her but cannot have her.
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"Weddings are emotional" she giggles and I smile down at her as she sweeps a stray blonde curl back and straightens out his dapper suit. Clad in a light grey suit jacket and matching suit trousers. Freshly shaven and spritzed in aftershave, his blonde hair tucked back and a white shirt on he looks like a model you would find on the front of a romance novel. He gazes upon her and she grabs the lilies and daisies that she's supposed to be holding.
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"I'm ready" she announces laughing slightly.
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“I am so happy you chose me to be your maid of honour and everything” she says slowly as we leave the grande dressing room and Ross takes me on his arm.
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“Taylor I couldn’t pick a better maid of honour” I tell her as I look around at the full chairs facing the rotunda. All of them occupied by a friend or family member. The procession is outdoors, thankfully as if the Lord knew I was getting married today he made the weather warm and sunny. Blazing hot sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Highly pruned and kept grass and gardens frame the white runway that leads up to the main event. White chairs all professionally decorated with white silk ribbons line the sides facing the large rotunda where the love of my life is standing waiting with a ring ready to be mine for the rest of eternity.
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Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by some old composer named Handel is being played by a small orchestra set up to my left. Violins, violas and a large harp that rings out into the warm air.
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"Rachel" Ross says holding onto my arm as I smile up at him and we begin walking down the aisle together.
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"Ross" I say slowly and he smiles reassuringly sensing my nerves.
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"You will be fine, you've waited for this moment. You deserve every inch of happiness, every moment of love" he says and I smile at him, he always has a way with words.
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"Thank you so do you" I tell him, meaning every single word.
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“I would never let you fall. You’ve got this. It’s the beginning of the happiest days of your life” he smiles as the sun shines over him like a halo.
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The rotunda is decorated, from each pillar drapes large pink curtains. White and pink roses line the sides of the aisle and honestly I couldn’t have a better man waiting for me at the other end of aisle. He stands, with his golden brown hair swished back, a relaxed smile upon his face. Pure eyes and tan skin in his beautiful suit. He turns his eyes on me and the expression of awe that sits upon his face is one I will hold onto dearly for the rest of eternity.
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I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t gaze upon Matthew, it’s true that he had been the first love of my life. However those days have truly passed and now I am curious as to whether he has realised that Cleo is indeed my cousin. However as he stands upon the platform in a dark suit, brunette waves slicked back I am utterly taken aback by his expression, it’s only when I look just past his eye-line, I realise he is of course staring adoringly at Taylor and not myself. I laugh under my breath and realise that it’s typical for him to be cradling the baby and looking upon Taylor as if she belongs to him.
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Jay Gilbert Scott my second love, standing beside my Mr forever. It would be untrue to deny that he once held a place in my life and to an extent in my heart. Although our love was never reciprocated on Jay’s behalf, in my mind it was real. I glance at him holding the rings to my future and cannot help but to laugh at the irony. He whispers something to Taylor, I catch the end of it just in time. I love you he mouths, words that I never thought he would be capable of divulging to any girl.
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Ross hands me, quite literally, over to Christopher my final love. The one that completes me and as Taylor stands behind me I take my place on the platform before the eyes of the man I love.
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“You look incredible darling” Christopher whispers as the service begins. The violins cease and surprisingly Henry remains quiet and subdued in Matthew’s arms.
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“We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Christopher and Rachel” the minister says as I gaze into Chris’ eyes.
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Taylor clears her throat behind me and I giggle realising that it’s my turn to say my vows. I smile fondly at Chris and he watches me captivated.
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“I, Rachel, take you, Christopher, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part” I say clearly as he wipes his eyes of tears before raising his thumbs to my cheek and wiping a tear away. The gathering of both our families awes and I smile sweetly at him.
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Christopher says his vows earnestly and when he’s finished I am left breathless.
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“The rings” the minister suggests as Jay, dependable guy that he is, shows us the wedding bands and Christopher takes mine out.
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“I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage” he says setting the gold band upon my wedding finger.
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“All that I am I give to you. All that I have I share with you. I promise to be faithful and loyal, to respect and cherish you throughout our lives together” he finishes as I cry, faintly hearing Taylor sob behind me. Jay swoops around to Taylor’s side as I say my vows and place Christopher’s wedding band on.
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“You are now husband and wife” the minister smiles down upon us in the Californian sun, the waves crash in the distance and I couldn’t have imagined that I would ever be a married woman.
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“You may kiss the bride” he smiles as Christopher seizes me in his arms, a kiss which he plants upon my lips that is passionate and lasts forever.
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