The moon was full, the stars brilliant in their light, and a thousand candles scattered around the area lit up the spot where I was going to promise Nick my life forever in twenty minutes.
The light knock on the door drew my attention from the view outside.
“Who is it?” I called out.
“A.J.,” came the raspy response.
“Come in, tattooed wonder,” I answered, smiling as he stuck his head in.
He looked incredibly handsome as he walked into the room. I noted that he had ignored his wild streak for a traditional tuxedo and even his hair was his natural color.
“A.J., you look wonderful,” I said, hugging him.
“And you look like an angel, Riley. Nick is one lucky man,” he said, kissing my cheek as he admired me in my wedding gown.
“Thank you for doing this for me, A.J.”
“My pleasure. I came up for a reason beautiful. I think we forgot something.”
“Oh don’t say that. What?” I asked suddenly worried as I went through everything in my mind.
“Come in guys,” he called.
I smiled when Kevin, Howie, and Brian walked in. They each looked so handsome. I was so lucky to have them as my friends as they smiled at me, boxes in each of their hands.
“What’s going on?”
“Tradition. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue,” Brian answered. “Something old,” he said, handing me his box.
Gently I opened it and felt the tears burn my eyes at what I saw. The earrings no longer shined as if new but were dull and well loved diamonds that I held in my hand.
“Oh Brian, they are beautiful,” I whispered.
“They were my mother’s. She told me to give them to a woman I would love like no other,” he said, taking them and helping me put them on. I hugged him tightly.
“Thank you.”
“Something new,” A.J. said, pulling a box out of his pocket and handing it to me.
The gold star shine up at me from the chain where he lay in the box. A.J. lifted it and clasped it around my neck.
“Because you will always be our star,” he said, kissing me.
“Thank you,” I said, as the first tear slipped down my cheek.
“My turn. Something borrowed” Howie said, stepping forward to hand me his box.
I opened it and smiled at the beautiful brooch. “It’s gorgeous, Howie,” I said, lifting it from the box.
“It was Caroline’s. I’m sure she would be proud to lend it to you on your wedding day,” he said, pinning it on me.
“Thank you,” I said, kissing his cheek and hugging him.
“And something blue,” Kevin said, handing me his box.
I laughed at the garter when I saw it. How appropriate that Kevin had given it to me. I kissed his cheek and smiled.
“Thank you. Thank you all of you. I love you guys so much,” I said, wiping away my tears. “My life is so much richer and so much fuller having known the four of you. You are my gift, a little more magic in the life I live.”
I walked to the dresser and picked up four tiny boxes before walking back towards them.
“My turn,” I said, handing them each a box.
I waited in silence as they opened them then smiled at their reactions.
“Riley, they are incredible,” A.J. said first.
I had given them each star shaped cuff links as gifts.
“Thank you so much, Riley,” Howie said, hugging me.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Kevin said, taking me in his arms as well.
“They are beautiful, darlin’,” Brian said, kissing my cheek.
“Great mind think alike,” A.J. said, looking down at me.
“I will always be your star but you guys will always be mine too,” I said, smiling.
A light knock on the door drew our attention and Jane stuck her head in.
“Riley, it’s time,” she said, smiling.
“Well you guys should go,” I said to Brian, Howie, and Kevin. “Ready, A.J.?”
Not only would A.J. stand next to me through the ceremony but because my father refused to come he would always be walking me down the aisle.
“The question is are you ready, beautiful?” A.J. countered as the others left.
“I’ve never been so ready in my life,” I answered, smiling.
“Then let’s get this show on the road,” he said, offering me his arm.
He led me downstairs and outside and we waited for the music to begin.
The next time Nick and I stood face to face he would lift my veil and we would be husband and wife.
Slowly, the music began and I watched Nick’s sisters and Aaron make their way down the aisle in the twilight and candles. A.J. squeezed my hand and smiled at me.
“Ready for forever?” he asked.
“Ready for forever,” I answered, smiling as I took my first step toward the man I loved with all my heart, the man that would hold me and love me till time ended in life and death.
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