Chapter 100

Wedding Day - 2 weeks later

Both Kevin and I agreed that we would marry in Lexington. It was the only place that would feel right. And Kevin suggested that we escape to the woods, where no one could find us and we could have a small private wedding.

I loved the idea of getting married in the woods. So then Kevin reserved about half of the cabins at the Cave Creek Resort. And two of them were separate from everything, one was for the ceremony and the other was for Kevin and I.

It was a few hours before the wedding, and Kevin and I were lying on top of the all ready-made bed with Kristopher and Brianna. If you walked outside our room there were people racing around everywhere, getting things set up. But Kevin and I were just relaxing.

We had put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on our door as soon as we got up. We trusted that everything would be set up properly. And if it wasn't perfect, it'd be all right. Because the only thing that really mattered was that Kevin and I would be married. As long as Father Carr and our family was there; then we'd be happy.

I stared at Kevin as he quietly sang to Kristopher while I rubbed Brianna's back.

Once he finished he turned and looked at me.

"What are you thinking about?" Kevin asked softly.

"Nothing really," I replied.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

I smiled. "No, I'm anything but nervous. I'm happy, excited, ecstatic, content…not nervous. Are you?"

"Nope," he replied as he picked up my hand and kissed it.

"Good," I said, smiling lovingly at him.

Lobby

"Have you seen Janel?" Lauren asked Howie.

"No, I haven't seen her," he answered. "In fact, I haven't even seen Kevin."

"He's with Brian," Ashley replied.

"No, he's not," Brian said as he came up behind Ashley.

"What?" Ashley asked.

"They're both missing?" Stacey asked.

"Yeah, it looks like it," Lauren said.

"Well, we have to find them soon. They have to get ready," Ashley said.

"Yeah," agreed Nick. "I say we split up and go search for them."

"Calm down," Ann said as she approached the group. "They're fine. They're just enjoying some quiet time as a family."

"Where?" asked A.J.

"Sorry, can't tell you," Ann said. "They don't want to be bothered."

"But its bad luck to see each other before the wedding," Nick said.

Ann smiled. "They're not worried about superstitions. All they care about is being together and with their children."

"But they have to be getting ready soon," Tina said.

"They'll be here in the lobby shortly," Ann said. "So just relax. There's no need to stress out."

"Yeah, you're right," agreed A.J.

"Thanks Aunt Ann," Brian said as he hugged her.

"No problem," she said. "I'll see you in a while."

Then she hurried off, making sure that everything would be ready for her youngest son's wedding.

Cabin

"Kev, are you sure that your mom wants to watch the twins tonight?" I asked.

"Yes, of course," Kevin said. "In fact, she offered to baby-sit before I could even ask."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. She hasn't been able to spoil them yet, so she said she'll take them for the day and love them up," Kevin said.

I smiled. "Well I'm glad that she's going to take care of them. I'll feel more at ease knowing that they're with her," I said. "I won't have to worry about them."

"Yeah, I know," Kevin said.

We lay there a little longer, listening to Brianna and Kristopher's soft breathing.

Then we heard a knock on the door. Neither Kevin nor I made a move or sound.

"It's me sweethearts," Ann said.

Kevin and I smiled. Then I sat up, kissed him on the nose, and got up.

I opened the door, letting Mama Ann in.

"Hey you two," she said.

I hugged her. "Hi Mama."

"How are you guys doing?" she asked as she let go of me.

"Fine," Kevin said.

"Well I hate to interrupt, but your friends are beginning to panic," Ann said, smiling.

"Can't find us?" I questioned.

"Yep, and they're worried that you're not going to make it to your own wedding," Ann said.

Kevin and I laughed.

"Leave it to them to worry for us," I said.

"Yep," agreed Kevin.

"But it is about time you two get ready. Its getting close," Ann said.

"Yeah," I said as I walked over to Kevin.

I lifted Kristopher up and placed him in his crib. Then I picked up Brianna and put her into her crib.

"Thank you so much for watching them," I said.

"It's nothing sweetheart," Ann said. "Any time that I can spend with my grandchildren is fine with me."

"Well Pumpkin, are you ready?" Kevin asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

I looked up at him, smile, and then kissed his chin. "Yes, let's go."

He kissed the top of my head and then took my hand.

"We'll see you in a while Mom," Kevin said.

"Okay Son," Ann said.

Then we left, heading towards the lobby. Once we walked into the lobby, we looked at how beautifully it was set up. Since our wedding colors were royal blue and dark green, they had beautiful flower arrangements with blue and green bows. There were also royal blue and dark green candles set up.

As soon as AJ noticed us, all of our friends were around us asking all sorts of questions.

Kevin and I just smiled as we listened to them.

Then Nick waved his hand in front of us. "Are you two even listening?"

"Yes, of course we are," I said.

"Then what'd we say?" asked Howie.

"Something about the wedding, right Kev?" I asked unsurely.

"Yeah, something like that," Kevin said nonchalantly.

Everyone sighed.

"Never mind," they said.

"You two were lost in your own little world," Stacey said.

"Yeah, well it's time to come back to reality," Nick said. "You have a wedding to get ready for."

"Yeah," said Lauren. "So tell each other goodbye for now, so we can get ready."

"Fine," Kevin said, reluctantly.

Then Kevin pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as we began to kiss.

Everyone stood there, waiting for us to finish.

"Okay, enough you two," AJ said. "There's plenty of time for that after the wedding."

Then he grabbed Kevin's arm and began pulling him away, with Nick helping him.

"Hey wait!" Kevin exclaimed.

I quickly kissed him one last time and then I said, "I love you."

"I love you too…always and forever," Kevin said as he began walking away.

"Okay, come on," Lauren said.

"All right," I said as we began walking down the hall.

"They have this really cool salon," Ashley said.

"Yeah, and it's all ours," Tina said.

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

"Yep," Stacey said, excitedly.

Cabin

All the guys had all ready put on their tuxedos. Now they were just fixing the little things, like the tie.

"Come here Old Man. Let me fix your tie," Nick said.

Kevin rolled his eyes at Nick.

"Yeah, yeah I know. Don't call you Old Man," Nick said as he began fixing Kevin's tie.

Kevin just smiled.

Once the guys were looking their best, they sat down.

"Guys, before I forget I just want to thank you for being here today," Kevin said.

"Where else would we be?" AJ asked.

"Yeah, I wouldn't miss this for anything," Howie said.

"Same here," said Nick.

"And you know I wouldn't be anywhere else, than here with you and Janel," Brian said.

"Thanks guys," Kevin said. "You don't know how much your friendship means to me. Especially with everything you've done for Janel and me, I really appreciate it. Thanks for taking care of her when I couldn't; and for being my friends, who told me the truth when I needed to hear it."

The guys all smiled at Kevin as they replied, "We love you bro."

Then all of them got up, hugging Kevin.

Salon

I changed into my wedding dress and then walked out from the dressing room and into the salon.

"What do you think?" I asked as I twirled around. "Does it look okay?"

"Okay?! It looks gorgeous!" exclaimed Stacey.

"You look beautiful," Lauren said.

"Thanks," I said.

"Now come here so we can put the final touches on," Stacey said.

"Yes, I have to do your hair," Tina said.

"And I'm going to do your make-up," Ashley said.

I sat down in the chair staring into the mirror, while Tina curled my hair and put it up into a bun with the little curls perfectly placed. Then I sat there with my eyes closed as Ashley applied my make-up.

"Okay, open your eyes now," Ashley said as she finished.

I slowly opened them. I smiled as soon as I saw my reflection in the mirror.

"Do you like it?" Tina and Ashley asked.

"Yes, very much," I replied. I got up and hugged both of them, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," they said.

I looked at four of my best friends and tears began to fill my eyes.

"What is it?" Lauren asked.

"Nothing," I said as I carefully wiped my eyes, trying not to ruin my make-up. "I'm just so grateful to have you guys as my friends."

They smiled at me.

"I just have to thank you for being true friends; and for supporting me through everything. This past year has been very difficult, but all of you have been there helping me. Thank you for just being my friends," I said as I tried not to cry.

I looked at all the girls and they all had tears in their eyes.

I went over to them and all of us hugged each other.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"I love you baby sis," Lauren said.

"You're welcome," Tina said. "And I'm thankful for your friendship."

"I'll always be here," Ashley said.

"Yeah," agreed Stacey. "Any time you need me."

After we let go, we all wiped our tears.

"Thank goodness for waterproof mascara," Stacey said.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Cause I don't think I'm through crying for the night."

"Probably not," Ashley said, smiling.

"I don't think any of us are through," Lauren said.

"Nope," Tina said. "Many more happy tears to come."

Cabin

Kevin looked up at the clock…for the 10th time.

"Kev, time is not going to magically speed up if you keep looking at that clock," AJ said.

"Sorry, but I can't help it," Kevin said. "I'm anxious for my wedding to begin."

Brian laughed. "I know how that feeling goes."

Then Nick and Howie walked back into the room.

"All of your family is here Kev," said Howie.

"Yeah, and most everyone else," Nick said.

"I'm going to check on the twins and help Mom get them ready," Kevin said. "By then it'll probably be time for my wedding to start."

"I'm going with you," Nick said.

"Yeah, me too," AJ said excitedly. "I want to see the twins."

Kevin looked at Brian and Howie. "You want to come also?"

The guys smiled and shook their heads yes.

"All right then. Let's go see my babies," Kevin said as they walked out.

Just before they entered the room, Kevin said, "We have to be quiet. They should be still sleeping."

Kevin knocked softly on the door and then entered.

All the guys laughed as they watched Ann.

She was in the midst of changing Kristopher's clothes. But while she was pulling of Kristopher's pajamas, she would blow on his fat little tummy, causing him to laugh. Brianna was also on the bed with her brother. She too was laughing, as grandma would do the same to her.

"Hi guys," Ann said as she finished changing the twins' clothes.

"Hi," they said.

"I see that everything is fine," Kevin said, smiling.

"Yep," Ann said. "Do you guys want to hold them?"

"I get to hold Kristopher!" exclaimed Nick.

"I got Brianna," AJ said happily.

Then both of them dashed over to the bed, picking up the twins.

"Did they just wake up?" Kevin asked.

"A little while ago," Ann answered. "I all ready gave them a bottle and changed them, so they should be perfect little angel's for their mommy and daddy's wedding."

"Thanks Mom," Kevin said.

The two guys sat there playing with the twins until it was time to go. Then they set them in their stroller and strapped them in.

"All right Daddy-O, let's go!" AJ said as he stood behind the stroller.

"No, I want to push!" whined Nick.

Kevin hugged his mom one last time.

"I'm going to go check on my daughter to make sure she's ready," Ann said.

"Okay, tell Janel that I love her," Kevin said.

"Will do," Ann said as she walked out.

"Nope, I got here first," AJ said as he stuck his tongue out at Nick.

Nick was about to say something when Kevin covered his mouth.

"I'll settle this for you two," Kevin said. "I'm the Dad, so I'm pushing."

Then he pushed AJ aside.

AJ pouted as Nick laughed at him. Then all of them walked out, heading to the cabin where the wedding ceremony would be held.