Chapter 21: Wedding Day

I don't think that I have ever been this nervous in my entire life. I was standing here with my three best friends all dressed in tuxedos. Jenny and I were finally tying the knot. We have been living together for 3 years and we finally can make this legitimate. Jenny turned 18 three days ago. It was funny the day I proposed.

It was this past Christmas. Jenny had been asking what I wanted for Christmas and I had not told her a straight answer yet. I kept telling her, "I just want some information." This kept her in the dark. I asked Mom to help me out. When Christmas morning arrived and we were handing out gifts, I totally surprised her. All of our family was there; Jim and Cindy as well as Donna and Frank.

It came time to give my gift to her. I walked over and gave it to her.

"Merry Christmas my love." I also gave her a kiss.

She opened the wrapping paper and knew that it was some jewelry. When she opened it and saw the ring, I first noticed the tears in her eyes. When she looked up, I was already on my knee.

"Jenny, would you marry me?"

"Oh Mark," she launched herself at me knocking me over. She was kissing me with every ounce of energy that she had. When she stopped to take a breath, I asked her, "So, is that a yes?"

"Oh God Yes!"

Here we are just over 6 months later. To my left is my best friend and best man Dale Simpson. He moved into the neighborhood 2 years ago. We became the best of friends. It was just after school started the he told me about his now ex-girlfriend.

They tried to keep the long distance relationship alive. Apparently, she couldn't hang on to the hope that he would come back after graduation. This had him pretty down. I decided to help two of my friends.

I told him about Debbie and introduced them. They seemed to hit it off pretty well. You couldn't separate them with a crowbar for their entire senior year. They graduated last year and headed off to college together. They are planning to get married after they graduate.

Next to him is another good friend of mine, Frank Stevens. After Donna graduated from high school 2 years ago, Dad helped her get a job with his company as a secretary. He told her that he could get her in the door. It was up to her to keep herself in. Three months after she started, she met Frank. They started dating and it was just after Sarah's 6th birthday that they moved in together. They are planning to be married next summer.

The last of my friends was Dave Simpson. He is Dale's 16 year-old little brother. He has been seeing my sister Erin for the past few months. I warned him that if he hurts her, I will kill him.

Jenny asked her best friends to be bridesmaids. Donna was serving as her Maid-Of-Honor. Jenny was going to reciprocate for her wedding next year.

Diane was back from college. After helping deal with Jenna and Rachel over that little mess, they have been very close. Jenny originally wanted Diane for the Maid-Of-Honor post, but Diane could not handle the extra work involved. She was taking extra classes for the summer session and didn't get home until a few days ago. So far she is not going steady.

Erin and Jan are the remaining bridesmaids.

Coming down the aisle now was the ring-bearer. Jenny's little brother Jacob was serving in this capacity. We were wondering why Jim and Cindy had moved their wedding up from their spring plans. We found out about a month later when Cindy started showing. Jim told me they had two very good reasons. The first was that Cindy was unemployed and was going to need medical insurance. She could not get on Jim's plan through his job unless they were married. The second was because she didn't want to be showing much during the wedding. Seven months after they were married, Jacob was born.

Jenny adored her little brother. Jan on the other hand, would not acknowledge him as her brother. She treated him nicely enough, but she literally told her father that he was never to know that she was his or Jenny's sister. Jim and Jan's relationship was frosty at best. She wouldn't even baby sit when Jenny was not available. Erin didn't mind taking that job.

Behind him was our flower girl, Sarah. She turned seven just a few months ago. She still calls me 'Daddy', much to Donna's chagrin. Now that Donna has Frank, she had hoped that Sarah would call him her daddy. Sarah has refused. She likes him and they get along great, but she still thinks of me as her Daddy.

Just as Sarah reached the front of the church, the music changed to the traditional wedding march. Once that started, Jenny and her father appeared from the back of the church. Jenny looked absolutely stunning. Dale actually had to poke me once or twice, just to make certain that I was still breathing.

"Damn, Mark, you are one lucky bastard."

"I know Dale. I have been for some time."

Once they had finally gotten up to the front, the minister asked that familiar question,

"Who gives this woman away?"

"Her father."

Jim gave her a hug before finding his seat. Jenny and I held hands as he started the ceremony.

"Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today..."

I barely was able to hear enough to be able to answer 'I do' when I was supposed to. I knew that I wasn't the only one who was nervous. Jenny's hands were just as sweaty as mine were. When he had finally stated, "You may kiss the bride," I didn't think we were ever going to stop. Once we did, Jenny heard those words that she has been dreaming of since that October day, over two and a half years ago.

"It is now my privilege to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Andrews."