chapter twenty six

I’m so nervous it’s unbelievable. Summer Grace Timberlake. That’s her new name after today. I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to marry her. After tonight, I will be married.

I pace nervously in the house, hoping everything goes as planned. My Dad and Trace come into the room, “Son, settle down. Everything will be fine.”

“I know, I know. I’m just nervous. Were you nervous the first time you got married?”

“I was nervous both times I got married. Hopefully you’ll only have to go through this once.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that. The two of them are perfect for each other.” Trace quips.

I smile as by suit tries to choke me. I breathe out and pace a little more as my mom comes in the room with John, “Okay guys, why don’t you let me take care of this.”

Trace smiles and hugs my mom hello as he and my dad leave the room, “Hey mom.”

She comes over and hugs me, looking me over, “Honey, your going to do fine. I’m so happy for you.”

“Me too, I now this is right. Being nervous is just part of the journey.”

“It’s the beginning of a long journey and I couldn’t have hand picked a better girl to spend the rest of your life with.”

I sigh with relief from the speech, “Thanks mom.”

“No problem. You are my only son you know.”

“Alright, let’s go so I can get married.”

Trace comes back into the room, “Limo’s here and the diversion is ready to go, are you?”

“More than ever.”

________________________________________________________________________

The decoy left about ten minutes ago and all the paparazzi followed the car. John, Trace and my dad are in the car with me. My mom is riding in the car behind me with Summer, Jenna, Elizabeth and my step-mom Tina. I watch the car intently make every turn with our car, just to make sure Summer is going to be there, which I know she is, but I feel better doing so.

We pull up to the place and Summer’s car pulls around the other side so I can’t see her until the big moment. The whole place is covered in roses and lilies as I go out to the alter. Trace stands next to me and smiles, patting my back. My mom sits in the chairs before the alter with a look of peace on her face. Candles surround the area where were getting married and there is no wind, keeping them flickering during the sunset.

The preacher comes over and shakes my hand and Trace’s as we wait for the girls to start. “Here comes the bride” begins to play and Jenna walks down the aisle, smiling through her tears. Elizabeth is next and walks down the aisle and I wait anxiously for the most important person of the night to walk towards me.

I see a flash of white and my baby stands at the end of the aisle and slowly walks towards me with Craig escorting her. I feel my heart leap into my throat. She looks like something out of a dream. She has this beautiful dress that is fitted on top, just where it should be in my opinion, and then drapes over her. Summer’s brown hair flows freely with the veil down her back. She’s a classic beauty.

She looks at me and holds back tears as she gets to me. Craig gives me her hand and she passes her bouquet to Elizabeth, turning to the minister. He says a few prayers, but I’m really focused on the person holding my hand. I wake up when she starts to speak, “I, Summer Grace McKenzie take thee Justin Randall Timberlake as my lawful wedded husband, to have and told hold in sickness and in health from this day forward.”

She slides the wedding band around my finger and the coolness of it against my skin feels good.

“I, Justin Randall Timberlake, take thee Summer Grace McKenzie as my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health from this day forward.”

I take the wedding ring from John and slide it on her finger. It is the match to her engagement ring and she smiles at me softly. I squeeze her hand and turn back to the minister, “In the presence of God, I know pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride”

I lean over and kiss her red lips softly for a minute before pulling away as the clapping starts. I turn around with Summer and we walk back down the aisle as everyone follows behind us. I reach over and scoop her up in my arms as we get to our own car and get in.

Summer leans over and kisses me hard, “We did it.”

“We sure did, and it went flawlessly. There weren’t even any paparazzi.”

“Were all going to get changed before sitting down to eat, so they set a separate room off at the hotel near the restaurant so we can change. You feel like telling me where were going for our honeymoon?”

“No, but I will tell you what were going to do there in great detail if you want.”

“I think I know.”

I play with the necklace I gave her, “If you need an explanation, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Summer shakes her head and I lean her against me as we pull up to the hotel. Tony opens the door and we sneak in. Were escorted to a room and Rob leaves us as Summer opens the door, “Oh my gosh!” she squeals.

“What’s the matter?” I move to the front of the door to see what the matter is. Trace is on top of Jenna making out.

“Trace?” I say in shock.

“The two of them look up at us in embarrassment, “We must have gone to the wrong room.” Jenna mutters.

“I… we thought. Aaww, never mind. Come on Jen.” Trace says.

Summer looks at me in amusement as they grab their stuff and slip past us right out the door, running down the hall laughing.

“Okay then.” I say, looking down the hall in the direction they ran.

“Yeah.” Summer says laughing.

We go inside and I throw on a suit instead of a tux and Summer puts on a purple spaghetti strap dress with black heels.

“Okay, lets go.” She says, taking my hand to meet everyone in the lobby.

We walk out and are immediately greeted by everyone. My mom comes up and hugs Sum hard, “I thought he’d never settle down. I’m so glad it was you.”

Summer hugs her back and Trace congratulates me as Elizabeth and Jenna starts hugging and crying.

Trace stands watching everything and I move over to him, “Jenna?”

He blushes a little, “She’s more attracted to me than you. What can I say? I’ve got the whole package.”

I smack his head playfully and give him a hug, “Congratulations man, Summer’s perfect for you.”

After everyone congratulates us, we make it over to the restaurant and have dinner. Everyone seems to be enjoying their dinner I turn to one of the waiters and whisper something in his ear. He nods and leaves the room as I get up from my chair and hold my hand out to Summer, “Mrs. Timberlake?”

Summer takes my hand and I escort her out to the dance floor as the music starts to flow.

The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated
I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

Summer puts her head to mine and I twirl her around the floor, savoring every moment.

“You like the song?” I whisper.

“I love it. You did a wonderful job.” Summer says, putting her hands on either side of my face.

I'll be your crying shoulder
I'll be your love suicide
and I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

Forever. That’s how long were going to be together.

“Could we be any more sappy?” Summer says with a small laugh.

“I think that after all the hurt and pain, sappy is exactly what we need.”

“Well that’s the problem. Every time I’m with you, I become the people I used to pity. And it feels good.”

Rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
You're my survival, you're my living proof
My love is alive not dead
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache, that hang from above

I've been dropped out, burned up, fought my way back from the dead
Tuned in, turned on, Remembered the things that you said
The song stops and we make our way back to the table. Trace stands up and clinks his glass, “Okay everybody. When I was asked to be Justin’s best man, all I could thing of was a year ago and how he would never be the person standing before you without Summer. They complete each other and I have never seen Justin happier than when he’s with her. And after having spent a great deal of time with Summer, I came to fall in love with her caring and sweet nature. Nobody deserves happiness like the two of them do. I wish you guys all the luck in world, although I know you won’t need it. Cheers.”

Summer and I clink our glasses and cut the cake when I see Tony appear at and signal me.

“Thank you everyone for coming, but Summer and I have to catch a plane now.”

I see Summer look at me trying to figure out where were going, but I just smile at her. We say goodbye to everyone and follow Tony to the car which takes us to the airport and flew for a few hours before landing. I put a blindfold around Summer’s eyes as Tony drops us off at the spot.

“I’ll be staying in the hotel in town if you need me. Have a good honeymoon you two.”

“Bye Tony.”

“Yeah, bye Tony.” Summer calls out.

I walk her up the path to the house and open the door. I remove the cloth from around her eyes and she looks around at the homey house. If you can call it a house, more like a mansion.

“Okay, I assume were still in the U.S. so where are we?” she says, looking out the window.

“We are in Memphis.”

Summer looks around, “But this isn’t your house we were at during Christmas. That one was smaller.”

“I redid it. I figured we could call it home. Elizabeth is close enough to visit and now there’s enough room to start a family. The kitchen was expanded, a family room was added and a play room. There’s a pool in the backyard now and the house has been feminized. I even turned one room into a nursery.”

“Justin…” she says, looking around at everything, “It’s perfect.”

I hug her and she smiles, intertwining our fingers, “So you want to go christen the bed?”

I smile and drag her up the stairs.

27