Part 40: Mr. and Mrs. Quinton Griggs

                                    

                                          
-one week later, wedding day!-
                          
I woke up in a hotel room, and the nerves effectively settled in. "Addison! Addison!" I whispered, shaking her awake in the bed next to me. 
"What's up?" she asked, sitting up in the bed. 
"It's my wedding day, and I am absolutely terrified. What am I supposed to do?"
"Girl, you need to take a deep breath. This is the day that you've been waiting for. Stop stressing. Let's get up and get ready. How does that sound?" Her tone was reassuring, and it put me at ease. 
                          
I sat in front of Addison in the room's bathroom, and I looked at her expectantly. "What are we doing here?"
"I was thinking that we would keep your eyes simple and smoky, and maybe we would do a red lip? What do you think?" she asked, peering at my face as if she didn't know where to start. 
I nodded, and she got to work. As she finished applying my lipstick, Rafy appeared in the doorway. "Oh, whoa. You look really, really good," she sighed, admiring Addison's work. 
"Addison always has been a miracle worker," I agreed, looking at myself in the mirror. 
"Alright, well, I'll go wake Mads up, and then we'll get started on your hair. Sound good?" Rafy asked, leaving the bathroom without an answer. 
                          
Mads walked in, and her reaction was very similar to Rafy's. "You were already a beautiful woman, but wow, you look amazing."
"Thank you," I chuckled. 
Addison moved on to Mads' makeup as Rafy stood behind me, pulling the brush through my hair. "We're doing the loose waves, right?" she confirmed, picking up her curling wand from the counter. As always, the speed and accuracy that she managed to do my hair shocked me, and I admired it in the mirror. 
Addison was sitting on the counter, doing her own makeup in the mirror as Rafy moved on to Mads' hair. Her hair flowed loosely behind her, and it accentuated her dress perfectly. 
I took Addison's seat on the counter as Rafy did her hair while Addison did her makeup. Rafy accessorized her ponytail with a beautiful headband, and I relaxed against the mirror, my leg resting against Mads' leg. 
                          
"Thank you, guys," I whispered.
"Thank you for what?" Addison asked, turning away from Rafy to look at me. 
I sighed. "For being here for me. I appreciate it more than you could ever know."
Addison and Rafy switched seats as Rafy began Addison's hair. "We wouldn't have it any other way, and you know that, Izzie. You don't have to thank us," Rafy assured me. 
Addison's loose pony was perfect, and the four of us looked at each other in silence. Mads eventually broke it, squealing excitedly. "Let's go get you married, boo!"
                          
All four of us changed into our dresses, shoes, and accessories, and I looked at us all again. "God, we look so good," I sighed. 
"Are you ready?" Addison asked, grabbing my hand. 
I nodded. "I couldn't be more ready."
I had thought that the walk down the hallway to the elevator would be a stressful one, but I hadn't ever been so calm. I was ready to marry the love of my life.
                          
Addison opened the door to the chapel, peeking inside. "Looks like everyone is here. Ready when you are."
Josh and Griffin were waiting in the hallway, and they took Mads' and Rafy's arms. Addison stood next to me, waiting for her turn to walk down the aisle, and she squeezed my hand tightly. "This is exactly what was meant to happen. Don't stress."
                          
Addison walked down the aisle, and when she turned to face me, I began my trek toward Quinton. I could see his eyes glistening, and I choked back my own tears. 
"You look amazing," Quinton whispered, taking my hands in his. 
"Thank you, my love," I whispered back. 
The justice of peace began, greeting our friends and family. Every word he said seemed to fly in one ear and out the other. I could barely make out the things that he was saying as my heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest. 
                          
He asked Quinton to repeat after him, and Quinton cleared his throat before he began. "I, Quinton, take you, Isabella, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family, and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh and to cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
                          
I tearfully cleared my own throat before speaking. "I, Isabella, take you, Quinton, to be my lawfully wedded husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family, and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh and to cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
                          
I looked back at Addison, and she reached forward to squeeze my hand. My whole life was changing at this very moment, and I wasn't scared anymore. I was envisioning a lifetime of happiness with the man that I loved more than anything in this world, and I couldn't wait for it all to begin. 
"If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." When the silence wasn't broken, the justice looked back and forth between us. "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."