Smoke

Thirteen

She took a deep breath as her mother fastened her necklace, she stood slowly, sweeping her hair from her shoulder, looking in the mirror her stomach flipped as a smile spread across her face,

“every inch a princess love”

Her mother gushed as she brushed down the delicate layers of tulle,

“Do you think Kevin will like it?”

“I don’t think he’s got much choice, but if he doesn’t I’ll deal with him”

Her mother winked as she fixed her daughters veil in to place, a small knock at the door, made the two women turn, Bayleaf poked his head round the door, stepping in to the room slowly, Scarlett stepped forward, slipping her hands in to his, he smiled, eyes glazed with tears, Scarlett’s mother stepped forward putting her hand on her daughters shoulder,

“Thank you” she smiled at him her eyes brimming “Thank you for everything”

Scarlett scoffed, choking back her own tears,

“God will you two stop you’re gonna get me going!”

The three of them laughed together,

“You ready then Dolly?”

He sat quietly on the roof of the boat, the past year had boiled down to one day, all of the animosity and uncertainty banished as they focused on what was ahead of them, he watched as the water moved below him, almost sparkling in the morning sun, he took a long pull from the cigarette in his hand, sighing he watched the smoke dance away, a deep voice caught his attention

“You alright mate?”
George asked climbing to the roof and shuffling over to his friend

Kevin nodded

“Yeah just nerves”

“You’ll be alright mate, believe me you see that woman walking down the aisle and you’ll forget everything! You’ll wonder what you were worried about! Honestly, it’ll be like everything just melts, ya know you just forget about all the bad and you notice things about her that you’ve never noticed before”

He smiled as a stout glass of whiskey was passed to him, George sat smirking to himself

“What times the ceremony?”

“One got to be at the church for half twelve”

“Best we start getting ready then!”

George jumped down off of the roof, Kevin following, as they slipped in to their formal dress uniforms, the boat became overwhelmed with activity, boots being polished, buttons being wiped over and arguments over caps, until the right ones were found,

“Do I look alright?”

Kevin asked, adjusting his tunic,

“You look smashing mate! Shall we make a move?”

He nodded, looking around him, in twelve hours time, this would be his marital home, he’d return here with his wife and his daughter, it was almost surreal

She stood outside the church, rolling her eyes as her mother fiddled with her dress and veil some more, she smiled at her daughter her eyes glazed with tears,

“Right” she said her voice crackling “I’ll see you inside!” she fiddled with Bayleaf’s tie “make sure she’s okay!”

“She’ll be fine Rita! Go and sit down!”

As her mother dashed off towards her seat, she slipped her arm through Bayleaf’s, her skin prickling with a cold sweat as nerves began to take hold,

“I feel sick!”

She whispered, he sniggered,

“Just nerves love, I’ve seen you run in to burning buildings before now, you can manage this”

she heard the organ start as they began to move towards the crowd.

He bit his lip before glancing at George, he smiled towards him,

“She looks incredible mate!” He whispered, his words making the grooms body tremble “Go on have a look”

He stole a glance over his shoulder, his heart seeming to stop as his looked at her, almost gliding down the aisle with her arm through Bayleafs’ she smiled warmly at the guests around her, he felt his cheeks flush and a smile stretch across his lips.

She stood next to Kevin, blushing as he clamped a hand over his mouth, he took one of her hands in his unable to find the words to say to her, she smiled unable to control a small giggle,

“Look at you”

He whispered, his eyes welling, as the vicar began to speak, in front of friends and family they exchanged vows, laughing as they stumbled on words, George was right, as she stood in front of him he couldn’t focus on anything else, from each delicate curl in her hair to the tiny stones glittering on her dress he was enamoured, only breaking his thoughts as the odd sniffle came from the crowd behind them,

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss your bride”

He took her gently in his arms placing his lips on hers, all of his worries melted away, all of the anger and animosity form the past seemed a million miles away, he had never felt such a sense of peace before this point, even the cheers and applause from their guests sounded as though they had been muffled, they turned to leave hand in hand with his daughter in his arm and her flowers down by her side, they both began to relax, posing for photos she felt as though her feet hadn’t quite touched the ground just yet, she looked at the ring on her finger, they sat at the top table,

“Mrs Medhurst”

Kevin said the words with pride, he watched her as she laughed and smiled with the rest of the wedding party unable to take his eyes off of her, she glanced over at him catching him off guard, he smiled warmly towards her, she felt her cheeks flush, as he placed his hand on top of hers.

The evening passed and she soon found herself in Kevins Tunic and cap, laughing as Bayleaf and George sashayed across the room together, with Kevin’s arm around her shoulders she felt an overwhelming sense of belonging, this was it, he was her happily ever after.

She paused mid thought, turning to face him, she planted a small kiss on his cheek, he stopped, turning slowly to look at her, he winked squeezing her a little tighter and nuzzling to her hair as they stood continuing to watch their friends dance together.