Alex felt Jayden’s hand over hers. She glanced up and saw him wink at her. Her heart missed a beat. Oh dear! As she turned back to watch Sam and Kelly, she couldn’t stop grinning.
“Will you,” the priest said, “Sam Hunter, have Kelly McCartney to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and, forsaking all others, remain true to her as long as you both shall live?”
Sam cleared his throat, and with a smile, he said, “I will.”
The priest turned to Kelly, who was grinning behind her white veil. “Will you, Kelly McCartney, have Sam Hunter to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, and, forsaking all others, remain true to him as long as you both shall live?”
Kelly nodded as she said, “I will.”
The priest turned to Sam. “Will you please repeat after me…”
Once both Sam and Kelly had repeated after the priest, Sam put the ring on Kelly’s finger, and Kelly did the same to him. Sam said, “With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, ‘til death do us part.”
Gracie sniffed and padded her hanky about her cheeks. Beth was doing the same thing.
The priest said, “You are now husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”
A loud cheer erupted then, and Sam lifted Kelly’s veil and then kissed her. A loud applause followed, and then they signed their wedding certificates.
“That was a wonderful wedding ceremony, Jayden,” Alex said.
“Yeah, it was.” He agreed. “Time for some photos.” He winked at her.
“Oh no. Must I be in them?”
“Yes.” He stood. “Come on.”
Alex groaned as he led her to the newlywed couple where they were surrounded by well-wishers, journalists, and paparazzi.
“I didn’t know this would be so big,” Alex said, glancing up at Jayden, trying to slow their pace. She dreaded the thought of facing those people and the continuous flashing of the cameras.
“Yes,” Jayden replied.
Alex saw Kelly waved at her to come over.
“Let’s have some family photos,” one of the cameramen shouted into the buzzing crowd.
“Family photos,” Jayden said. “Come on.”
“But I’m not family,” Alex whispered. “You go.”
“No. You’re coming,” Jayden said.
“Alex, come on,” Kelly shouted.
“Alex, come stand by me,” Gracie called out, pulling her forward.
And so Alex found herself wedged between Jayden, who had his hand around her waist, and Gracie. She smiled and laughed as the cameramen made jokes and demanded they repeat what they said. She suddenly forgot about the people and the rapid, continuous flashing lights from the cameras.
Once the family and friend photos were done, and the well wishes died down, everyone started leaving the church. Jayden was just leading Alex toward the door when a middle-aged journalist and her cameraman appeared before them.
“Hello, Mr. McCartney,” she said pleasantly. “My name is Janet Tallmark. I’m a journalist from Your Wedding Magazine.”
“Yes?” Jayden said.
“As you know, your sister’s wedding will be a feature article in our magazine. As part of it, I would like to ask you a few questions, if that’s all right with you and your girlfriend,” Janet said, smiling at Alex.
Jayden glanced at Alex, who smiled up at him. He said, “Of course.”
“Thank you. Much appreciated,” Janet said as she took out her recording device. She cleared her throat and began. “So you are one of the top ten youngest billionaires here in the States. How do you feel about that?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Jayden replied, shrugging his shoulders.
She asked him more questions about his business. The picture that the journalist got on him was of a hard-working, down-to-earth man who enjoyed life to the fullest, which was exactly what Jayden was. Then Janet started asking him about his personal life.
“How did you two meet?” she asked, glancing from Jayden to Alex.
“In New Zealand,” Jayden said. “I kind of bumped into her.”
Alex nodded in agreement.
“And things got flying from there.” He continued.
“When is the date for the wedding?”
“Excuse me?” Alex asked, her brows rising, confused.
“No, we’re not that far yet,” Jayden commented. “It’s going to be some time away.”
“You two look great together,” Janet said. “Would you mind if we take some photos of the two of you?”
Alex shook her head. At the same time, Jayden said, “Go for it.”
Jayden pulled Alex closer to him and wrapped his arm around her waist. They smiled as the camera flashed continuously.
Janet said, “Thank you both for the interview. It’s been a pleasure.”
* * * * *
Alex glanced up at the chandeliers and the ornate ceiling above her as she sipped her red wine. The wedding reception, being held in one of the main halls at the McCartney’s Hotel, of which Jayden proudly told her he owned half the shares, was truly beautiful and elegant. She couldn’t believe she was there, attending one of the biggest weddings in New York, sitting in a five-star hotel, and enjoying a high-class meal. She was stoked and thoroughly enjoying herself.
She glanced at the man beside her, the man who made it all possible for her.
Jayden leaned to her and whispered, “Aren’t you going to go up?”
Alex was confused. “Why?”
“Don’t you want the bouquet?”
“Is Kelly going to throw it now?”
Jayden nodded. “Go on.”
“I don’t think—”
She was interrupted by Stephanie, who was pulling her by the arm to her feet and then dragging her toward the area near the stage. “This is exciting.”
“Yeah,” Alex responded, trying to keep up with Stephanie’s fast pace.
They begged their way through the girls and stopped right in the middle of the crowd. The girls shoved and pushed in excitement, shouting, “Give it to me! Give it to me!”
Kelly, who was on the stage, laughed and then turned around so her back was to them. The men cheered and urged Kelly to get it going.
Kelly said, “All right. Here we go.” She threw the bouquet up high. The girls screamed and shoved, their hands in the air as they tried to catch the beautiful bunch of flowers. Alex got shoved back in the process. She was laughing and thought she’d better get out of the way before she got stampeded by excited young women competing for a bouquet. Before she knew what was happening, however, the flower bouquet flew straight at her and landed in her arms.
Stephanie shrieked, “Alex got it! Alex got it!”
Another cheer went up. Alex rushed back to her seat, her heart pumping loud and fast.
“Well done,” Jayden chuckled, clapping loudly. “So who’s the lucky guy? When’s the wedding?”
Alex slapped his arm in annoyance. He only laughed back in response. Then the music started, and Sam and Kelly walked to the center of the dance floor. It was the song “Oh, My Love.” All eyes were on the newlyweds, who were slowly dancing and swirling around the floor. Suddenly, Tom and Gracie joined in and then Sam’s parents.