Searching for Tomorrow (Tomorrows) (16 page)

Mom came over to me and pulled me into a hug. “Good. Nana, we got here just in time.”

Ms. Linda asked my mom to lock the door, and then she headed back into the storeroom. By this time, Jenn, Wendy, and I were completely lost in our confusion. And then… Ms. Linda walked back into the storefront.

Oooohhh.
Perfect. It was exactly what I had dreamed of as a little girl. It spoke to me, whispered, and called me by name, “Wrynn, I was made for you.” There in front of me was the wedding dress that I had searched so hard for and traveled so far to find, and I never even had to leave my hometown because it came to me.

The simple
beauty and elegance of the dress stunned me to such a point that I couldn’t move, feet stuck and eyes frozen on the splendor in front of me. Hands were on me, guiding me toward the dressing area of the store. Someone lifted my feet one by one and hurriedly removed my shoes and socks. Someone else started tugging my sweatshirt over my head. Only when I felt hands at the button of my jeans did I snap out of my trance. I hurried to assist in undressing, and couldn’t wait to see how this frothy vision looked on me.

Before I knew it, one hand helped me balance while another lifted a foot and
a third lifted the delicate dream up my body into its proper place. My mom had the honor of buttoning the tiny row of seed pearls that ran up the back, and as she finished, she turned me to face the mirror for my first glimpse.

Heaven, pure Heaven. This was it. The perfect dress
in which to marry the perfect man. Tears gathered in my eyes as I twisted and turned, wanting desperately to see it from all angles. A simple floor-length gown, the strapless bodice was fitted and overlaid with a delicate embroidered lace. A delicate Swarovski crystal buckle enhanced the ruched waistline, which then flowed into a full poufy skirt draped in organza.

“Now
, honey, I know it’s not a pure white, and Lord knows, I know you’ve earned that, but you’re having an outdoor wedding.” Ms. Linda’s voice brought me back from the lovely spell cast over me by this perfection. “This creamy pearl will be beautiful in the sunlight and will soften any of the harshness that a pure white would throw off in the direct sun. Oh honey, it’s perfect, just perfect. You have that new bride glow.”

I stood
there in front of that three-way mirror, gaze roaming from top to bottom, side-to-side, and front to back. All eyes turned to me as my friends and family waited for my reaction. As tears of joy streamed down my cheeks, all I could manage was a soft whisper. “It’s perfect.”

I woke up this morning and realized that somewhere in all my busyness, six months had passed by in just a second’s time. Between wedding plans, prom
dances, and final exams, I hadn’t had time to dwell over the fact that Tripp would be leaving for Basic Training in just a couple of weeks. I was thankful that we still had some amazing memories to make together to carry me through our separation.

Last night had held a flurry of activity.
Liam, Tripp, and I had finally graduated high school late in the afternoon. The ceremony was short but bittersweet as we said farewell to our childhood friends, and turning the tassels on our caps, we planted our feet firmly on the path towards our futures. That adolescent part of our lives was ending, and with fingers intertwined, Tripp and I made the trip to Inn at Half Mile Farm, where friends and family were waiting for our wedding rehearsal to begin.

Having spent most of our lives together, the discussion over the size and style of the wedding was very short.
Both inherently shy in nature, we knew that a small intimate gathering of our closest friends and family would more than suffice. As bridesmaids, I had chosen Jenn, Wendy, and Lara who was now steadily entrenched as Liam’s girlfriend. Tripp had chosen his papa, Liam, and my dad to stand in for him as his groomsmen. Because of our love of nature, we also knew that we wanted our wedding and reception to be outdoors. The Inn at Half Mile Farm provided the perfect venue with a beautiful backdrop of the mountains, fourteen flat acres covered with a vibrant green lawn, and several streams and waterfalls to provide a soothing lullaby in the background.

After much joking around
and horseplay, Daddy walked me down the aisle, and then he and Mom stepped in for Tripp and me to practice the reciting of the vows. Amid laughter, Pastor Paul pronounced them husband and wife, and Daddy swooped her down into an exaggerated dip and laid a big kiss on her. He came up grinning, and with a deep blush staining her cheeks, Momma smacked him in the back of the head. As we traded places for the walk back down the aisle, Dad gave Tripp a wink and said, “That’s how you do it, Son.” Tripp and I laughed the whole walk back.

The rehearsal dinner was a casual buffet of barbeque
with all the fixings. When planning the evening, our goal was to make it laid back and relaxing so that we would have plenty of time to unwind from the hectic pace we’d set earlier in the day. When everyone settled down at the tables to eat, Tripp and I snuck off to walk down by the pond, where we cuddled together on the grass and watched the sun move slowly behind the mountains. Both of us were close to exhaustion from graduation week festivities, wedding preparations, and packing for our honeymoon at the beach, and we were quite content to rest quietly while watching the moon pass over the water. We lay there with our arms wrapped around each other and our legs intertwined, and let the peaceful setting wash over us and soothe the stresses away. My face rested in its favorite spot in the crook of his neck, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to place a kiss there.

The time finally came to leave our quiet haven and head back to the inn.
Tripp pulled me to my feet and as we walked back, we met Nana and Papa on the path.

“Kiss your sweet bride goodnight
, dear, and know that the next time you see her, she’ll be walking towards you, ready to become your wife.” Nana’s quiet voice carried through the night.

Tripp pulled me
close, and with his arms folded around me, he gently kissed my lips. “Goodnight, my sweet Wrynn. I love you and can’t wait to claim you as mine.” He then put my hand in Nana’s and she led me to my room where, surprisingly enough, I slept like a rock.

As the warm sun shone on my face, I stretched the kinks from heavy sleep away and opened my eyes to greet the glorious day. At last,
the moment had arrived. Today, I would marry the man of my dreams, my soul mate. Tripp completed the part of me that was missing and in just a few short hours, I would share his name. Unspeakable joy bubbled up from deep inside.

As I threw the covers back, a quick knock sounded at the door. I opened my mouth
to call out, but the door opened and my mom came in before I could speak a word. She stepped to the side and called back, “She’s awake. You can come on in.”

Dad and
Liam followed her in, each carrying a tray of food, which they placed on the foot of the bed. With an exaggerated flourish, Liam said, “Your breakfast awaits.”

I remembered hearing tales about brides who were nervous and couldn’t eat, but after a moment
of thought, I realized I was famished. Tripp and I hadn’t eaten but a few bites last night, and now, my stomach complained about it. I looked at the tray, but before I could decide what I wanted, Liam began filling a plate with a small bite of everything.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, thanking
Liam and taking the plate that he offered me. As I looked at what he’d fixed for me, he sat down, put his arm around me, and drew my head to rest on his shoulder. “I’m so happy for you, Sis. You couldn’t ask for a better guy. Just so you know, though, I’m not going to miss you.”

I was glad I hadn’t put any food in my mouth because
I snorted so hard that I’m sure it would have flown out my nose. “What do you mean you’re not going to miss me? I’ll still be living in the same house as you, at least until Tripp gets back from Basic Training.”

“
Liam, shush up.” Momma smacked him on the back of his head. “Don’t listen to him, honey. He’s just running his mouth. Now, you need to eat. Everyone will be here within the hour to get ready, and you still have to shower.”

I nibbled on the fresh fruit and cheese, and
Liam snatched the donut holes, stuffing them in his mouth with a grin. Mom and Dad quietly discussed how Mother Nature seemed to have smiled upon us today. I looked out the window and noticed the Inn staff setting up chairs, the string ensemble tuning their instruments, and there he was. My heart fluttered in my chest as I gazed at the dream that would soon become my reality. The very sight of him left me breathless.

As a deep, contented sigh escaped, I noticed that all eyes were on me.
This was it, the moment I had waited for. Time slowed to a crawl, and as all the special memories played out before me, I saw how each one led me to this day. Content did not come close to describing the feelings that churned throughout my body, heart, and soul. Loved. Cherished. Respected. Protected. Blessed. And the one emotion that topped them all was an excitement that begged to be set free.

“Dad,
Liam, out. It’s time to get this show on the road. Mom, call the girls. I’m tired of waiting.”

Liam
headed for the door after squeezing me tight, but Dad came and sat beside me on the bed. “Baby girl, I have a couple of things to give you before I go. Your mom and I have been planning for this since the day you were born. When the doctor came and told me I had a son and a daughter, I knew the day would come when I would have to give you away.” Dad stopped for a moment, sentiment rendering him speechless. He reached into his shirt pocket and took out what appeared to be a piece of lace. Unfolding the lace, he placed a single penny and a silver bracelet on the bed.

Clearing his throat, he took my left hand in his. “This penny goes in the bottom of your boot.
It’s the same one that was in your mother’s shoe when she walked down the aisle to marry me. This takes care of your something old, but since I expect you to pass it down to your daughter, it’s also your something borrowed.” Mom handed Daddy my left boot, and he dropped the penny inside.

“
For your something new, we wanted you to have something that you could look at for years down the road and remember how much you mean to us. We are so blessed to have you as our daughter, and we know that your hus—” He paused, fighting tears to finish his sentence. “Your husband and children will be just as blessed.” He handed me the simple bangle, and I held it closer so that I could read the words that were delicately etched into the silver. ‘
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Prov. 31:28
’.

“Daddy.” A broken whisper left me as I fell into my daddy’
s arms, holding tight to the man who had spent my lifetime loving, protecting, and cherishing me. This bracelet was his way of telling me what his words couldn’t. He would always love me, but now, it was time for him step back and let another man take his place.

“Now, honey. Look what you did. You’ve made her cry. Now
, give her the something blue and then scram. We’ve got things to do.” Mom wiped the tears from her eyes, and then gently pushed Dad’s shoulder. “Come on, honey. You can just give it to her, and I’ll tell her about it while we’re getting ready.”

Dad squeezed me tight one last time, placed the scrap of faded blue lace in my hand, and with one last look at me, he turned and walked out the door.

The second the door closed, I was on my feet and in my mother’s arms. We had a minute or two of quiet crying, each of us holding on tightly, and attempting to soothe the other. The door flew open once more and our peaceful moment vanished. The girls were here, and it was time to get down to business.