Chapter 59: Zoey & Terry Get Married!

*AMY'S POV*

Early the next morning, Zoey and I head over to the venue to make sure everything is ready for the ceremony and the reception.  I can't believe this day is finally here.  I can't help but wonder if this is the beginning of something great or the end of our friendship as we have known it all these years.  Okay, I know I'm probably being melodramatic, and I know Z is always going to be here for me, but things are going to be different, ya' know?  Ugh.  I royally suck for thinking such selfish thoughts on my best friend's wedding day.

Either way, those thoughts are entirely too deep for a day that is supposed to be filled with happiness and joy, so I put them on the back burner and decide to "be present" as all the self-help books say.

"Okay, well, the caterers just set everything up, the bar is good to go...a limo was sent to pick up your mom, the guys are on their way, and your dress is ready and waiting for you to slip into." I tell her.

"Wow." Zoey takes a deep breath.

"You still have some time though, you don't have to change just yet." I tell her.

She smiles, "that's probably a good idea.  I know I will spill something on that dress if I put it on too early."

"I can promise to keep you away from all liquids until the ceremony starts if that makes you feel better..." I half joke.

Zoey laughs, "You're going to have to.  I almost want to walk around in a bubble with that dress on."

"So what's the verdict?" I ask, "Dress now?  Or wait?"

"Let's just take a minute," Zoey says as she takes a deep breath.

"Is everything okay?" I ask.

"Oh, yeah.  I'm fine...just...overwhelming." She is speaking in fragments right now.

"Are you wishing you eloped?" I ask.

"No...well, maybe...this all feels so surreal.  I never thought I would ever get married...and now I'm about to...what next?"

"I'm pretty sure a happily ever after of some sorts..." I tell her.

Zoey gives me a cut-the-crap look, "Come on, we know those don't exist..."

"But maybe they do, Z," I tell her, "Terry is a great guy.  You know if I didn't think so I would tell you..."

"You'd better!" Zoey starts, "You know that you and my mom are the only voices I listen to when making life decisions...it means a lot that you like him."

"He really is a great guy for you.  You know I will only accept perfection for you and he's as close as we're going to get I think." I tell her.

Emotion overwhelms me right then and I hug my best friend.  As whiny and selfish as I have been lately, I know that Terry is a great guy and that she will be so happy with him, which she deserves.  So I am not going to allow my inner bratty monologue get in the way today.

Besides, it's not like they're moving far away or anything.  It's going to be the same as it has been the past six months, they're just going to be married.

"Aww, am I interrupting a Hallmark moment?" I hear Mac's voice coming from the parking lot area where he is getting out of his car with Terry close behind him.

"I hope there's not a rule about the bride seeing the groom before the wedding," T says.
Mac looks great in an all black tux.  He is freshly showered and shaved and his dreadlocks are...well, as neat as dreadlocks can be.
Terry looks even better with his tux.  He and Zoey decided that he would wear a white jacket while his groomsmen wore black jackets.
"Vi, you already look beautiful, we can just get married now.  You don't need to change," Terry says, trying to kiss his bride.
I push him away, "Hold it there, hot lips.  No kissy til the minister says kiss the bride..got it?"
He laughs, "Dayum!  Is that the final ruling from the wedding czar?"
"Yes, it is, it'll be more special if you wait," I tell him.
"That's an awfully romantic notion coming form a cynic like you," Mac says.
I shrug, "Yeah, well, don't spread it around."

I quickly change the subject, "Are you all set then?"
"Yup...good to go..." Terry says.
"Wait...where's AJ?" Zoey notices that he's not here.
"Ugh, I should have noticed my lack of headache...where is he?" I ask, irritated at just the thought of him.
"He said he had an errand and he would catch up with us later." Terry says, "Don't worry, he'll be here."
I roll my eyes, "Oh yeah, I'm sure, I swear, if he's late for your wedding, I'm going to kick his ass.  He's probably off banging some gullible girl that amazingly fell for his bullshit."
Terry laughs, "Okay, as funny as your little quips are, can y'all not fight today?  I don't want y'all throwing wedding cake at each other."

In the spirit of making their wedding day perfect, I agree to leave AJ alone.  Since the boys are ready, I send Zoey into the bathroom to get dressed while I finish up with a few instructions to the bartender.

*ZOEY'S POV*

Amy sends me in to get started on getting dressed and I'm fine.  I pull my dress out of the plastic garment bag and hang it up, staring at how beautiful it is.  And I swear I'm fine.

I reach up for the dress and I begin to take the dress off the hanger...and stop.

Suddenly panic takes over and I start freaking out.  What am I doing?  Am I really ready to get married?  Terry's a great guy, true, but do I really want to spend the rest of my life with him? Am I sure I can stay married to him forever?  I don't want to be one of those serial brides...if this marriage doesn't work out, that's it for me.  I don't want to have second and third husbands.  No, this has to be it.  It has to be right.  

I have to be sure...am I?

Interrupting my freak-out, Amy walks in.

"Hey, why aren't you getting dressed?" she asks, but before I can answer, she continues, "Oh, I guess you probably need help getting in your dress...okay, let's get this bad boy on."

She thinks nothing is wrong, but I know I won't be able to keep this from her.

As she walks around to try to get the dress off the hanger, I stop her.

"Wait...can we just...wait a second?" I'm panting a little bit now and she can tell something is up.

"What's wrong?" She looks concerned and I debate not telling her because she'll think I'm crazy.

"Nothing, um...I just want to relax for a second." I say.  Play it off, yeah, let's see if these feelings subside.

"Why don't you get dressed first?" I tell her.  Maybe that will give me enough time to calm down.

She looks at me suspiciously, damn her.  She knows.

"Okay, out with it," She tells me, but I'm not ready to talk about it.

"It's nothing..." I insist weakly.

"Okay, then let's get your dress on and get ready..." She coaxes, but I think if I put that dress on I'm going to suffocate.

"I can't," I confess.

"Why?" 

"I don't think I can get married," I tell her quickly.

She takes a deep breath.

"Okay, what brought this on?" She asks, "You were fine just a few minutes ago out there."

"I don't think I can do this...be married...I can't be a wife...I don't even know what it means to be a wife...I'm probably not going to be good at it...I don't cook...I barely clean...I'm moody...I like to be alone...I'm never going to be alone again if I get married..." I'm rambling and I know it, but I can't help it.  All of my concerns just keep spewing out.  The more I talk, the more I am convinced this can't happen.

Amy takes a deep breath before she starts talking, "Z, all of those things you just mentioned have already been resolved.  I have watched you and Terry over this last year.  The two of you are very similar, he gives you your space when you need it, he doesn't care that you can't cook, none of that stuff matters to him."

"Yeah, but he can do so much..." I start, but Amy interrupts me.

"If you are about to say what I think you are about to say, I might have to slap you.  I have seen the way Terry looks at you...it is so clear how much he loves you.  The two of you have that...undefinable something special that binds people together forever.  You all are in love, but it's not fake...let me ask you a question...are you happy with him?"

I don't have to think, "Of course."

"Then what is the problem?" She asks.

"I just don't know what to expect...I don't want marriage to ruin the way things are." I tell her.

"Z, no one knows what's going to happen tomorrow, you're going to have the unknown in front of you whether you get married today or not, but think about how happy you have been since you and Terry got together...you guys make a great team.  Can you imagine finding anyone else you would want to build a life with?"
"Other then the two of us living in a house raising your dozen illegitimate children and my one?  No..." I say.
"Well there ya' go," she says.
"But what about you?" I ask.  Now I'm thinking about what this must be doing to her.  Her sisters are married, I'm with Terry...
"I will be fine.  I told you, if I need to get a sperm donor and have a baby by myself, I'll do it.  I don't really care if I ever find a husband, I just want kids..." she says, "...and if you use me as an excuse not to go on with your life, I will never forgive you."

All this talk has really helped my nerves...I don't know if I just needed to purge or what, but I feel a lot better.  I think I'm ready now.
"Okay," I say.
"Okay what?" Amy asks.
""Let's get this show on the road," I tell her.
"Woo-hoo!" She exclaims, "Ok, dress...hair, makeup..."
"Please don't poke my eye out this time..." I ask her.
"Shoo...one time...one time and you never forget it," she laughs.

About an hour later, she and I are both dressed, made up, hair done, and ready to go.  

"Okay, hang out here for a minute, I'm going to send Terry into the church, then you can come out.  The windows are barred, so don't try to escape...and I'm going to send your mom in as soon as she gets here." She tells me.

Good, I definitely need my mom right now, "Awesome...I'm good to go."

*AMY'S POV*

With Wedding Crisis #1 successfully averted, I head out just in time to witness Bro time.  Terry and Mac are apparently having a moment, so I let them be.  We still have plenty of time and people should start arriving shortly.

I take one final look at everything to make sure it's all in place when I hear a distinctive wolf whistle and I know exactly who it is.  Before I turn around I start talking, "I could kill you for being late..."

...But I turn around and am shocked.

"Wha-wha-..." Is about all I can get out.

For a second, I can barely recognize AJ.  His hair is void of the piss-yellow tips and he has apparently invested in a razor, because he is clean shaven.

"A fine way to greet someone," he says with his usual joking nature, "especially someone that decided to take your advice..."

My throat is a little dry - I guess from all the running around and lack of hydration - so I swallow hard before answering him, "Well, uh, you can't argue with the results...you look a lot better than you did."

"Hmm...is that your weak attempt at a compliment?" He asks.

"Yeah, well..." I really don't know what to say because he is looking at me so seriously, it's making me uncomfortable.

"I have to say...you look absolutely stunning." He tells me.  No one-liners, no jokes.  Just his big blue eyes that crease down and look like they're laughing all the time looking at me...and he has...I never noticed, but...

"Hey, do you have freckles?" I ask.

He groans, "See, this is why I didn't want to shave, I look like a little boy..."

"No, they look...cute..."

"Why Ms. Keagan, did you just tell me I look cute?" He jokingly asks.  And there it is.  His obnoxious personality disorder rears it's ugly head and erases any idea that he could be a person I can actually tolerate for a few hours.

I roll my eyes, "Don't get it twisted, Reed.  You look appropriate for a wedding.  Good job...now go get Terry and head inside.  People are starting to arrive."

"Yes ma'am," He jests.  Ugh.

As I walk away from him, he has a smug expression on his face.  Ugh times two.

Everyone begins showing up:  First, the wedding party.  Rebecca and Kelsey are the other two bridesmaids while Robbie agreed to be a groomsmen with AJ and Mac to even it out. 

Rena shows up in the limo we sent for her just in time.  Zoey opted for walking down the aisle herself and then having her mother stand up for her at the whole "Who gives this woman to this man" part.

We all line up behind Terry and as he goes inside, Rena gets Zoey and we get this show on the road.

*ZOEY'S POV*

As I walk in, my heart is pounding so hard I think it can be heard above the music that I am walking in to, but I look ahead and catch Terry's eye and feel completely at ease.  Even though he is across the room, I feel like he is right beside me.  His expression is encouraging, coaxing me to walk down the aisle toward my future with him.

I finally make it to the front of the church and am standing in front of him.  He takes a deep breath and greets me, "You are so beautiful."

I smile at him as my mother stands up and the minister asks, "Who gives this woman to this man?"

My mother answers, "She gives herself freely with my blessing."

I can't help but get misty already, and it continues with the ministers words.

"Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Taurrence Pope and Zoey Irvin in marriage. Through their time together, they have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through the combined effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment, and family; and so they have decided to live together, as a partnership and witnesses to each others lives, as husband and wife.”

I look down and over to see my loved ones watching as the minister continues with the reading.

"May you always need one another, not to fill an emptiness, but to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another."

"Taurrence and Zoey have chosen to write their own vows and exchanging of rings that they will share with us at this time."

That's my cue to look up at Terry because he is starting.  He takes my hands in his and starts.  Whew, I just need to remember to breathe.



"Zoey, in the year that I have known you, I have watched you in awe and with a love that has only grown since the day I met you.  You teach me things without making me feel like an idiot, you make me laugh without even trying, and you give every ounce of yourself to everything you try.  What I love the most about you is that even though you are all these things and so much more, you do not accept your greatness, but only strive for more.
I can't promise a life free of pain and hardships, but I can promise to stand by your side and embrace all that life holds for us together.  I will provide shield and shelter from things that might harm you and be your partner in this life until my last breath.  I will laugh with you, cry with you, respect and inspire you.  I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and the unity that we are committing to today.  Will you accept it and my continuing love?

Although my mouth is dry, I answer, "I will."
Terry puts the ring on my finger.

Now it's my turn.  Whew, deep breaths.

"Terry, when I was growing up, I never had dreams of my wedding day, the flowers, the dress, the bridesmaids, or the groom, but as my love has grown for you, you have taught me to dream for the love we have together - a love that I never thought possible.  Though I didn't dream of a wedding as a child, I had dreams of a home, a place of my own, where I felt comfortable, safe, happy, and secure.  This past year I have learned to realize that while I was looking for a structure, all the things I wanted in a home came into my life when I met you.  You are my dream, my safety, my security, my happiness.  You are my home.  You are gentle, patient, kind, and giving.  You have taught me to love and to trust.

Today I vow to love you, care for you, cherish you, and support you in our life together.  

I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and the unity that we are committing to today.  Will you accept it and my continuing love?

He answers, "I will." as I slip the ring on his finger.

Then the minister speaks up again, "Please join hands."

Terry and I chose to have a hands ceremony, so the minister begins reading:

Taurrence and Zoey, 

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future

.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your child.

These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Well, that's it for my makeup.

"By the power vested in me by the state of New Jersey, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  You may conclude your ceremony with a kiss."

That was all we needed to hear!

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, for the first time: Taurrence and Zoey Pope!"

Everyone is clapping for us and there are several people screaming at the top of their lungs.  

I can't believe after everything, we are married.  As overwhelming as today was, it was absolutely perfect.

*THE GUESTS!*

REFERENCES:

I used this website for the wedding ceremony ideas.

Hands Ceremony