“Bathroom’s full,” she answered shaking at the thought of what her sister was going to do to her for not obeying orders.
Cally watched as Savannah ordered to an excited Kaylee, “Stay put so I can put some makeup on you.”
Cally watched as Savannah disappeared down the hall ordering, “I need her toothbrush and toothpaste.”
A moment later, Savannah was sliding them across the counter, issuing more orders. “Brush now.”
Her mom walked out, and Savannah was adding a little color to Kaylee. “We have to leave in ten minutes,” Savannah ordered.
Her mom answered, “Your father’s putting his shoes on, and then we’ll be ready to leave.”
It was clear Savannah was in charge of this day. It wasn’t Cally’s wedding at this moment, it was Savannah’s wedding by the way her sister was acting and issuing orders and in complete control of everything happening down to the time it was to happen. Savannah knew what had to be done and what every moment was going to hold. Who cared if her sister was only seventeen? She was in complete control with all the confidence in the world. What Cally would give to be her sister right now.
Cally looked up from the sink to a waiting Savannah, makeup in hand. She wasn’t even out of the kitchen when Savannah started “fixing” her makeup and added lip liner and lipstick. After that, Savannah was nice enough to remove the heavy towels, but said, “That stays on until we get here.” Then she turned to say, “It’s time to go!”
Cally stumbled to the car and held her breath as they drove in silence for the half-hour drive to the court house. She peered around the seat as they neared their destination to see it was nine thirty seven. She was forbidden to wear her watch because it didn’t match her wedding dress. As she sat back, she saw Dakota’s unmistakable car in front of the building where they were going to be married.
She saw his mother first, and then his sister, and her heart was racing—she couldn’t move. She was really doing this! She was getting married! She didn’t need anyone to say it and wasn’t sure who did. “Stay in the car.” No way, was she getting out right now.
The world was moving in slow motion as she saw Savannah, her mom, and her dad getting out to talk to the group standing at the base of the steps that seemed to go on forever.
There was no way she was ready for this! She was fifteen and still a kid. She couldn’t do this! What was she thinking? No sane person got married at fifteen! She had to run. She had to leave here now. She heard Kaylee next to her, and she looked at her, begging, “Help me.”
In her little baby way, she pointed at her. “Petty,” she said, and then her sister looked excited. “Marry.”
Yeah, just her luck. The little kid knew she was getting married and even thought Cally was pretty. But Kaylee had no idea what any of that meant. Her baby sister had no idea that this meant that she was leaving forever. She was going to lose everything she ever knew in a few minutes, and no one seemed to care.
Cally jumped when the door next to her opened. She looked over to see Hannah, her mom, and Savannah looking down at her. She jumped again when the door behind her opened and she saw her own mom getting Kaylee out of her seat. This wasn’t happening; it was all a dream, and she was going to wake up any minute. No, she was only fifteen; no one would let her get married.
“Did you pick a song to use?” Cally turned back to her—no, his mom—looking at her. His mother was smiling and so happy. But she could see that Dakota’s mother knew what she was thinking. The woman knew she was terrified.
Dakota’s mother looked around her and said, “Why don’t you wait for us up there?”
Cally watched as everyone walked back to where her father was waiting, alone. She looked back to her soon-to-be mother-in-law as the woman knelt down next to her calmly assuring her with motherly wisdom.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. No one would think badly of you. But before you change your mind, think about who is in there waiting for you. Who wants to be with you more than anything in this world? He’ll give his life for you and do everything in this world to see you happy. He loves you, and somewhere deep inside, you love him. If you didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. It’s all right to be afraid of something so new and unknown, but everything will calm down in a few days, and when it does, you need to decide where you want to be—married to the man you love or not. But whatever you decide, don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Cally was shaking and afraid, but when she closed her eyes, she could imagine him standing there, his golden energy radiating off of him. His deep knowing eyes penetrating down to her soul, and his warm loving smile drawing her in. She took a long slow deep breath as she let her mind focus on Dakota and only Dakota.
He was perfect in every way, and his mother was right; he would do anything to see Cally happy and safe. He would love her as much as she would love him, and she did love him with all her heart. She knew deep down that she would regret this if she walked away right now. And she never did anything she would regret. She loved him and needed to do this—for herself, for Dakota, and for both of their futures.
When she opened her eyes, her heart seemed to disappear, and the twisting deep inside her started to ease up. She was still having trouble breathing, but it was okay. She could do this. “I can do this.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it came out that way.
Dakota’s mother smiled at her and nodded. “It’s just wedding jitters. It will be over soon.” His mother put her hand on her knee and asked, “Where is this song you’ve chosen?”
Cally reached down to her bag and pulled it out. Dakota’s mother took it, and Cally managed weakly, “Track four.”
His mother looked down at the C.D. ““I Swear.” Okay, now I’m going to go in, but you will have them to walk you in. Are you going to be okay?”
No, she was going to die from all these nerves. This was insane, and in less than a second, the fear was rushing back. His mother took her shoulders and said firmly, “Just focus on Dakota and nothing else.” There was a pause while she envisioned him. “Now don’t think of anything but him. Nothing matters but him. It’s going to be okay.”
She just nodded as she stood up. She had forgotten about the sheet she was wrapped in, and his mother unfastened it. “Now you’re ready. You look absolutely beautiful!” She gave Cally an encouraging hug and walked with her to where her own family was waiting and said, “She’s a little nervous.”
She knew that if she listened to them or said or did anything but focus on Dakota, she would turn and run. So that’s what she did; she held onto Savannah’s arm as she focused on Dakota, at least until she walked in that office. She saw the woman at the desk, the one who had tried to convince her that she didn’t have to do this.
All of a sudden, a new overwhelming feeling took hold of her. That woman was wrong; she did have to do this. She had to do this, because she loved Dakota and wanted to be with him forever; and there was a happy ever after, because she was going to make it happen.
When she looked back, everything and everyone started falling in place. This was what she had to do; what she wanted to do. Nothing else mattered; no, this was who she wanted to be. She let go and walked over to the woman who was watching her and slammed both hands on her desk as she nearly yelled, “You’re right, I don’t have to do this, but by the gods above, I want to, and I’m going to. And there is a happily ever after, because I’m going to live it to spite what you think!”
The woman gave her a questioning look and nodded. “You’re still too young for this.”
“No, I am not! I haven’t been young and naïve for years. I have all the power in the world, and there is nothing you or that cop behind you can do to stop me!” Cally looked at him and back to the woman in front of her. “All we’ve done is fall in love.