65
1 year later;
"It looks beautiful," Odran said next to me and walked barefoot with me across the warm sand of the beach.
"She deserves more than that," I retorted, looking at the beautiful arch that stood in front and was adorned with white roses. In front of him we had arranged several rows of chairs, between which a red carpet led directly to the arch.
"Are you nervous?"
I glanced at Odran and he immediately adjusted my black bow tie to look at him with a satisfied expression.
"No. I'm just happy," I answered truthfully, enjoying the light sun on my face.
It was late afternoon, but that's exactly how we wanted our wedding to be... during the sunset.
I continued walking between the rows of chairs with Odran and then stopped right at the arch to run my fingers through my hair.
"So. Now we'll just wait," he said calmly, and that's exactly what we did.
Of course, I didn't have many friends or acquaintances. Neither did Mandy, but nevertheless some of our guests trundled in and sat down in the chairs assigned to them.
There were Padraig and Tina, among others, who wore a really beautiful red dress, while the gypsy, for once, wore a shirt and suit trousers.
Then came some of Mandy's colleagues, Chiara, Jake and Jule and also Keeva, who had Esme by the hand and Milo on her arm.
She took a seat in the front row, smiled at me and winked encouragingly.
At some point, Rian also came down the stairs to the beach with some business partners and sat down with Keeva, while the others also sat down and now everyone seemed to be there.
Odran had taken some online course to be able to marry us and stood behind me right in the middle of the arch while I was getting a little nervous.
The sun was slowly setting, but it still didn't get dark here. Jake made sure of that, lighting the big torches on the rim which gave off an absolutely beautiful light...and then it was done...
Jake played a beautiful tune on his guitar and seeing Mandy walking onto the beach in this beautiful white dress took my breath away.
The guests all stood and watched Mandy, and I knew immediately how uncomfortable she must have been.
But she didn't have to... She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and even though I was embarrassed, I couldn't help but cover my face with my hand and shed a few tears at the sight of her.
Shit I had become a wimp!
She stopped in the aisle and nervously searched my gaze, which I immediately returned. I wiped my tears away, smiled at her overjoyed, but she still seemed slightly overwhelmed there all alone between the guests.
I immediately wanted to approach her, but it was Rian who suddenly got up and walked down the carpet to stand right next to her. He gave her his arm, which she took a deep breath and then she really only had eyes for me.
The closer she got, the more I recognized her tears and I got goosebumps all over my body when I thought about how lucky I was.
This atmosphere and this woman... This family... My friends and this beach...
It was incredible and I couldn't wait to finally have her with me.
Arriving in front of me, Rian gave her another kiss on her cheek and nodded at me with a smile to sit down again immediately next to his wife, who carefully handed Milo to him to take Esme on her lap.
Looking deep into Mandy's beautiful eyes, I took her hand in mine and lost myself in her gaze as she stood in front of me, crying with happiness and beginning to tremble slightly.
"It's fine," I whispered to calm her down, and when Odran started his speech, I didn't really hear him anymore.
I was just looking at my wife who was also looking at me and it was like it was just the two of us until Odran lightly kicked my shin.
"Yes, I do," I blurted out immediately and finally Mandy began to loosen up a bit and started giggling, which the guests did the same.
"And you, Mandy? Would you like that weirdo with your-"
"Are you serious," I grinned stupidly at Odran, who arched a brow provocatively.
"Yes! I want!", Mandy interrupted our gaze duel and I could hardly believe it, but my whole body seemed to tremble from her tender words.
"Then I hereby declare you husband and wife," Odran said loudly and nodded to me. "You may kiss your bride now."
Stunned and just blessed with luck, I pulled Mandy close to me and gave her a loving kiss on her lips that tasted so good that everything but us seemed to dissolve.
"I love you," I breathed against her lips and looked deep into her blue eyes.
"And I love you."
The guests applauded, Esme came running towards me and together with her and Mandy I ran along the narrow aisle to finally lift Emse onto my arms. Jake was the first to come over to me and hug me tightly.
"All the luck in the world, brother!" he wished me and I was shocked when even he had tears in his eyes.
____
The celebration was more than just relaxed and I was very happy that this time there was only a small buffet in our living room. Can't imagine what would have happened if Keeva had made muffins again.
"So, now it's the turn of the bridal bouquet," Tina called out from the kitchen island, which immediately got into position.
"Yes, Mandy. You have to throw it," Keeva also brought in and raised her champagne glass, but Rian took it from her and gave her a warning look. She had really tanked up that evening.
Then I watched with amusement as Chiara and Jule joined them and smiled at Mandy, who looked at me and had her back to the girls.
"Are you ready?" she called over her shoulder and after all three had shouted yes, she threw the bouquet up and we were all amazed when Chiara stood there with wide eyes and looked at the bouquet in her hand.
"You know what that means?!" I shouted at Odran, who was standing at the buffet and hadn't heard anything.
This gobball... Some things really never changed, I thought, and shook my head, laughing.
"What is it?" he wanted to know and looked over at Chiara, whom he then looked at with wide eyes.
"You're better off than us. It took us both two attempts," Rian laughed and raised his glass to Odran, which the rest of us did the same.
"To the family!"
END
