Ready?

"Are we really getting married tomorrow?" Abby asked, nervously tapping her fingers on the bench. They were by the river, sitting on the bench, looking out on the city.
"I think so. Unless you change your mind." Carter replied, looking quite relaxed.
"You’re not nervous?" Abby questioned.
"Not really."
"That makes me even more nervous, because I’m the only who IS nervous. I have so many things to do and..." Abby babbled.
Carter cut her off. "Abby, take it easy, it’s all going to fall into place. Tomorrow we’ll be married, and it’ll go off without a hitch. You’ll see."
Abby tried to unwind. "Hmm, I worry too much. I mean, I’ve already done this three times. I actually did go through with it the first time. But this time is different, believe me. Your mother got some of those classy, rich people I’ve never heard of on the guest list."
"What? I can’t believe you let her do that! I gave you specific instructions to not let her do things her way." Carter said, disapprovingly.
"I know, but it’s easy for you to say. I didn’t want to get on her bad side. It’s not a big deal."
"I guess not."
"Besides, I’m glad your mom isn’t opposed to us marrying. No offence, but I was surprised." Abby confided. "She was really nice, actually. Not that I knew her or anything before, but she’s definitely changed since the first time I met her."
Carter nodded. "Yeah, she’s been different since her and dad got the divorce. Insecurity."
"I guess that’s for the better? I mean, the different part."
"I’m still figuring that out."
"Oh."
"It’s just, she was never there for me before, now she wants to be my mother again."
"Isn’t that what you want?"
Carter contemplated her words. "Well, yeah, but...it’s sudden."
Abby linked her arm in his. "I know how you feel."
"Right. Sorry, I forgot."
"It’s fine. Just promise me that when we have children that our parenting skills will turn out nothing like our parents’." Abby said, smiling up at him.
"Don’t worry. You’d make a great mom."
Abby laughed. "Yeah, right!" She said sarcastically.
"I’m serious!"
"Well, just for the record, you’d make a great dad."
"I hope so."
"You shouldn’t worry."
"Neither should you."
"That’s all I do." Abby said, looking at the river flowing by. A sad look came over her face.
"Hey, c’mon, let’s go make sure we’ve got everything together. We don’t want you walking down the aisle without your bouquet..." Carter said, attempting to lighten the mood. He stood and reached down for Abby’s hand.
A hint of a smile came over her face again, but Carter could see her try to hide it.
"Don’t even joke about that!" she said seriously, grabbing his hand and letting him pull her up. Carter smirked and let out a chuckle. "Don’t laugh!" She said, smiles forming on the corners of her lips. "I swear, that couch is calling your name..."

Abby took one last twirl in the mirror, checking the back of her dress. If she had thought that she was nervous when she was about to marry Luka, this was a hundred times worse. She applied her lipstick yet again, and smoothed her hair. She sat. She couldn’t sit, her stomach hurt. Abby heard a soft knock on the door.
"Abby?" She heard Carter yell.
She didn’t leave her spot from the middle of the room. "Yes?"
"Come over here, by the door, so I don’t have to yell." He yelled to her.
"Ok." Abby walked over to the door and leaned against it. His voice made her the butterflies in her stomach worse.
"I know you’re tense-"
Abby cut him off. "I think panicky is the more proper term for how I am."
"Fine, panicky. Anyway, I just don’t want you to be scared. Trust me. It’s going to be great."
Abby smiled a little. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."
There was a pause. "Ok. Just checking up on you."
"Thanks." Abby heard his footsteps down the hall, and she walked back over to the mirror. She didn’t understand why she was so nervous, knowing how the whole wedding thing worked. Maybe it was just because this seemed so much more....permanent. All the things she was scared of seemed to seep back to her. What if something happened to John? She didn’t know if she could take it. But she remembered all the people telling her she couldn’t miss out on all the great things just because she was scared...her mom, John, they all told her to embrace the things she loved.
"Then I’ll do that." Abby said to herself quietly, and looked back at her determined reflection in the mirror, ready to get married.