chapter twenty five

I’m getting married! Justin actually asked me to marry him. Now I just have to pull this thing together in one month. Justin and I decided to have a very small wedding. Were going to have only his family and our very close friends, get married in a field overlooking the ocean at sunset and then were taking everyone out to dinner. Justin refuses to tell me where were going for our honeymoon.

Lynn was thrilled she actually screamed over the phone. Trace is going to be Justin’s best man and Elizabeth will be my maid of honor, with Jenna as my bridesmaid. John volunteered to be the ring bearer, so we were thrilled.

Now that I’ve got all that figured out, I have to pick out my dress, colors for the wedding, flowers, music … You get the gist. I’m meeting with the wedding planner Kelly to sort everything out with Jenna helping me. Elizabeth doesn’t fly in until two days before the big day because of work commitments.

Jenna is ecstatic over everything and is pouring through bride magazines as we speak. All I can focus on is trying not to lose my mind in such a short amount of time. I hear the doorbell ring and I go to the door. A woman in her early thirties greets me, “Hi, I’m Kelly.”

“Hi, I’m Summer. Come on in.”

Kelly sits down in the living room and I sit next to Jenna, who has now put down her magazine and looks wide eyed and bushy tailed.

“Okay ladies, I’m here to try and make this as beautiful and stress free as possible. First, we don’t have to worry about the food, since you’re renting out the restaurant for your reception. It will be beautifully decorated with candles and flowers of your choice. What colors were you thinking of for your wedding?”

“I really wanted red roses with white calla lilies. The color of the bridesmaid dresses will be red as well.”

“That would be beautiful. I’ll arrange for the candles to color coordinate with the table clothes as well. The cake will have the flowers you want cascading around it. Second, have you picked out your dress?”

“No, not yet.”

Kelly pulls out her cell phone, “No problem, I’ll call one of the boutiques that carries all the big names in fashion and tell them to shut down the store so you can go through it.”

Kelly starts talking to someone arranging a time and Jen grins from ear to ear, “This is so exciting. Thanks for inviting me to come with you to pick out your dress.”

“You’re a comfort to have around right now. Besides, I could use a second opinion from someone whose salary I’m not paying.”

Jenna folds her legs up underneath her as Kelly turns to us, “Is two o’clock today good for you?

” “Yeah, that would be great.” I answer.

Kelly makes the appointment and puts her phone back in her purse, “Okay, now for the music.”

I hold up my hand, “Let me stop you right there. My fiancée, the musician, has decided that’s his area of expertise and is picking out the music and our wedding song.”

“That’s so sweet. Then were done here except to go pick out that beautiful dress.”

“You ready to do this?” Jenna asks.

“More than ready.” I respond.

We all get into the car and drive down strips of stores as Kelly tells Jenna and me about the boutique. Cars follow us a Tony drives and I see cameras come out of car windows when we stop at traffic lights. I hate this part of being Justin’s girlfriend, now fiancée.

Three cars swarm us and Jenna stops talking to Kelly as we watch the drivers swerve to get just the right picture.

“There is a back entrance to the shop,” Kelly says, “It’s gated so only we will be allowed through. I’ll call and tell them to be ready for us.”

I nod as Tony turns on to the street the shop is located. I see several guards standing in front of the store and we pull in as the gate is opened. We drive through it and the guards quickly shut it as the paparazzi wait in front. I hear my name being called and cries for our wedding date and location.

Yeah, right.

A woman greets us at the back door, “I’m Amber, come on in. Nice to see you again Kelly.”

Jenna puts her arm around my shoulder and we walk in, looking at all the dresses, “Amber, this is Summer McKenzie, soon to be Timberlake. She’s looking for a wedding dress for next week.”

Amber hangs up the dress in her hands on the rack, “Well that’s fine, we can make it happen. It will be easier if you can find something you love in your size, but if you can’t we’ll special order it in time for next week.”

“I appreciate it. I know it’s incredibly soon, but we wanted to get married soon”

“I understand completely. Is there a style you favor that I could show you?”

“Um, I like something romantic, “A” line maybe with straps off to the shoulder. I don’t care for a lot of things strapless, it’s too common now.”

“Hang on one minute.” Amber says.

Jenna is holding a dress up to herself and twirling, “You’re going to look beautiful Sum.”

I suck in as Amber brings out a dress, “I think this one is perfect for that description.”

The dress is stunning. The material falls everywhere with a lace up back and beading at the bottom of the dress leading all the way down the train.

“I guessed a size six for you dear.” Amber says.

I take the dress from her hand slowly as Jenna pulls me to the dressing room to try it on. I take off my clothes and pull on the beautiful material over my body.

Jenna breaths, “Oh Sum.”

I look in the mirror as she laces up the back and I cover my mouth with my hands. A few tears fall and I wipe them quickly to keep the salty water from hitting the dress.

“It’s the one Jen.” I say, my voice hushed.

“Yeah, it is.” She says.

I twirl in front of the mirror and Amber comes over and takes out my hair clip, letting my hair tumble abound my shoulders, “You look like a more natural girl.”

I look at her, “How did you know that?”

“It’s my job.” She says, smiling at me in the mirror.

Kelly comes up behind us, “You look amazing. Is that the one you want?”

I nod, “It’s everything I wanted and more.”

“Well, you’re one of the easiest customers I’ve had in a while. I’ll put it in a box with the matching veil and you’re all set.”

Amber and Kelly leave and I change back into my clothes as the dress is whisked away to be wrapped carefully. I look at Jenna and she hugs me, “Everything’s going to be perfect.”

I smile, “Thanks.”

Jenna looks back at the dress, “It looks gorgeous on you. I’m going to be sobbing at the wedding.”

“You are? How about me? I’ll have mascara running down my face, ruining my makeup as I walk down the isle.”

“That’s what water proof mascara’s for.” She reminds me.

I laugh, taking her hand and paying for the dress. I walk out to the car with Jenna as Kelly takes a cab to her next appointment. Tony carries the dress for me and puts it in the back of the car. The paparazzi swarm us again as we pull out of the store and it takes us twice as long to get to Jenna’s house to drop her off.

“Bye, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She says, hopping out of the car.

“I’ll see you Jen, nine am bright and early.”

“Agh! She says, running to the house as we pull out of her driveway and head home.

________________________________________________________________________

I come in the door two and a half hours later to a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen, which is perfect right now because I’m starving and exhausted. I walk into the kitchen and find Justin stirring something on the stove.

“Hey handsome, long time no see.”

He turns around and smiles, “How was dress shopping?”

“It was long, but turned out to be perfect when I found the right one.”

“Are you going to be my princess?”

“I thought I was your princess?” I tease.

“You are. I just mean you’ll have the whole look down.” He says, coming over to me and wraps his arms around my torso.

“I’m just playing with you. What are you making?”

“Spaghetti with a meat sauce and garlic bread.”

“Mmmm, sounds like someone’s getting romantic.”

“I just thought we could have a nice evening together.”

He hands me a glass of Merlot and I take a sip, “While I was out the media swarmed the car. Tony had to take us around the back through the gated area. They know about the engagement.”

Justin sighs, “I know. Craig brought me a copy of a couple of magazines and apparently they got a shot of your finger as we were leaving to go somewhere.”

“Do we need to worry?”

“Nope. Craig booked a date for six months from now at some villa in France.”

I smile, “Craig’s always thinking.”

“He went out of his way for you. He’s thrilled that I finally got the balls and asked you to marry me.”

“Craig and I have a special relationship. When I was sick, he called me every night to see how I was because he couldn’t fly in and see me.”

“I know. I try to know everything I can about you from your favorite color to where each freckle is located on your body to when you need to be held.”

I put my head against his chest, “If you had told me a year ago that we would be getting married, I would have laughed. Hard.”

“Because I’m so charming and you could never imagine hooking up with me?” he kids.

“Because you were and egotistical bastard.”

“Ouch, don’t hold anything back babe.”

I raise my eyebrows, “You thought you were a good guy?”

“You made me a good guy.” He says, kissing me before turning off the burners underneath the stove.

“Dinner is served.”

Justin puts some food on two plates and we walk out the backyard and sit at the table. I sit down across from him and twirl a piece of pasta around my fork, “Your mom is flying in Tuesday with your dad, step-mom and John.”

“Good. They can stay here overnight and we’ll all go over to the wedding area the next day. When does Elizabeth get here?”

“The day of. Since the wedding isn’t until sunset, she’ll get here at about eight and then we’ll go off to Jenna’s to get ready.”

“And then we’ll be married.” He grins.

“Yep, unless someone objects.”

“Rob and Tony would take care of that if anyone of our guests was ever to be stupid enough to tell you not to marry me. If you don’t know by now, no sense in telling you at the alter. I finally get you legally for the rest of my life and no objection is going to change that.”

“So what you’re saying is that I need to run now because Wednesday is the cut off?”

Justin gives me an annoyed look, “Yeah, that’s exactly what I meant.”

“You know I love you.” I touch his foot under the table with mine.

“I just don’t feel appreciated all the time, y’know?”

I look at him startled, “What do you mean?”

He bites his lip, “Sometimes I think you don’t appreciate me. I’m there to sleep next to you and that’s it.”

I hold back a smile as I see the direction that this conversation is going, “Okay J.”

“No, no. Now I’m getting everything out in the open. I think we should make love at least twice a day.”

“Pssh, you get so much attention from me it’s incredible.”

“We have to practice now before we start a family. That way when we have kids, we already have the routine down.”

“Or, we could do the fifties thing and have two single beds.”

Now he’s pissed, “Oh fuck no.”

He grabs my hand and I walk over to him, sitting in his lap, “You don’t like that idea?” I ask innocently.

“I’ll have my way with you on the lawn soon if you keep that shit up.” Justin says, his hand going under my shirt.

“Kids huh?” I ask.

“Yep. I may have to populate the world, you never know.”

I snort, “I feel bad for the world.”

I receive a soft smack on the ass for that remark. He nuzzles my head with his own and closes his eyes, “Were going to have a lot of kids.” He says seriously.

“Good.” I answer, wrapping his hands around me.

“Love you.”

“Love you back. You can stop feeling up my breast now.”

“Y’know, I was thinking now was a good time to start trying for a baby…”

Here we go again.

26