CHAPTER 14: THE WEDDING PLANNING
1056 Words
83 days left.
Except we're not counting down anymore.
We're counting up. To forever.
---
The ring felt heavy on my finger.
Not because of the gold.
Because of the promise.
Damian proposed at 9 PM.
By 9:05 AM, the internet knew.
*BREAKING: DAMIAN VOSS PROPOSES TO CONTRACT BRIDE. RING HAS STRAWBERRY ENGRAVING.*
Aira took 200 photos. Posted 50.
Caption: *My sister said yes!!! #DamayaWedding*
---
Breakfast was chaos.
Rina: "We need venues. Dates. Guest lists. Catering--"
Aira: "I WANT A UNICORN CAKE!"
Damian: "We need privacy."
Me: "I need coffee."
Damian looked at me. Tired but smiling. "Morning, fiancée."
I almost dropped my mug. "Morning, husband-to-be."
We both turned red.
---
First meeting: Voss Estate.
Eleanor was there. With a planner. And 3 assistants.
"Darling," she said, hugging me. "Congratulations. I'm so happy."
She meant it. For once.
"Now," she clapped. "We have 3 months. Let's make this the wedding of the century."
Aira raised her hand. "Can we have a bouncy castle?"
"No," Damian and Eleanor said at the same time.
Aira pouted. "Worth a shot."
We spent 4 hours looking at flowers.
Lilies. Roses. Peonies.
"Strawberries," I said finally. "Can we have strawberries?"
Damian squeezed my hand. "Yes. Everywhere."
---
Second meeting: The Dress.
Eleanor dragged me to 5 boutiques.
Dress #1: Too poofy.
Dress #2: Too expensive.
Dress #3: Too Victoria.
Dress #4:
White. Simple. Long sleeves.
And on the back, tiny strawberry embroidery near the hem.
I cried.
Damian saw me in it during the fitting. He was waiting outside.
When I walked out, he forgot how to speak.
"You look..." He cleared his throat. "You look like mine."
"I am," I whispered.
Aira was bawling. "This is too beautiful. I'm not ready."
---
Third meeting: The Guest List.
Damian: "Just us. And Aira. And maybe Rina."
Eleanor: "Absolutely not. We need 300 people minimum."
Me: "Can we compromise? 100?"
Damian sighed. "Fine. 100. But no press."
"Deal."
The list took 2 days.
Family. Board members. Hospital staff.
Daniel was NOT invited.
---
Wednesday.
Paparazzi found out about the dress.
*MAYA VOSS'S WEDDING DRESS LEAKED. STRAWBERRY DETAIL CONFIRMED.*
Comments:
"She's really doing it"
"For love this time"
"Protect this woman"
Damian was furious. "How did they--"
"Doesn't matter," I said. "Let them talk. We're getting married."
He kissed me. "Yes. We are."
---
Thursday.
Venue problem.
Voss Estate: Too big.
Hotel: Too public.
Beach: Too windy.
At 11 PM, Damian said, "Lily's field."
I blinked. "What?"
"The strawberry field. Where Lily is buried. Where you said yes." He looked at me. "It's small. It's private. It's us."
I started crying. "Yes. Yes to that."
Aira hugged both of us. "This is perfect."
---
Friday.
Catering tasting.
10 cakes. 20 dishes.
Aira ate 6 slices of cake. "This one. Chocolate with strawberry filling."
Damian tried the wine. Spit it out. "No. The other one."
I just watched them. Arguing about frosting.
This was my family.
---
Saturday.
Bachelorette party.
Aira planned it. Against my will.
"Girls night!" She dragged me to a spa.
Just me, Aira, Rina, and Eleanor.
No phones. No cameras.
We did facials. Ate pizza. Drank mocktails.
Eleanor told stories about young Damian. "He was so serious. Even at 5."
Rina showed baby photos of Aira.
Aira made me cry laughing. "Remember when you tried to cook and set off the fire alarm?"
"That was one time!"
At the end, Eleanor took my hand. "I'm glad it's you. For him."
I hugged her. "Thank you."
---
Sunday.
Bachelor party.
Damian refused to go. "I don't need one. I have my wife."
So we had a "family day" instead.
Beach. Ice cream. Building sandcastles again.
At sunset, Damian pulled me away from Aira.
"Are you nervous?" he asked.
"About the wedding?"
"About forever."
I thought about it. The contract. The leaks. The proposal.
"No," I said. "I'm not nervous. I'm ready."
Damian kissed me. "Me too."
---
Monday.
Final fitting.
The dress fit perfectly.
The ring fit perfectly.
We fit perfectly.
83 days left on the contract.
But the wedding was in 30 days.
After that, there was no end date.
---
Tuesday.
Invitation cards arrived.
Cream. Gold lettering.
*Damian Voss & Maya Voss
Request the honor of your presence
As we begin forever
Lily's Strawberry Field
October 14th, 11 AM*
Aira made Damian sign 100 of them.
His handwriting was terrible.
---
Wednesday.
Rehearsal dinner.
Small. 20 people.
Eleanor gave a speech. She cried.
"To my son. Who found love twice. And to Maya. Who taught him how to live again."
Damian stood up. "To my wife. Who chose me when she didn't have to."
Everyone cried.
Aira gave a speech too. "To my sister. Who saved me. And to the guy who saved her back."
More crying.
---
Thursday.
The night before.
We couldn't sleep.
Damian came to my room.
"Can I?" he asked.
I nodded.
We lay in bed. Talking.
About the wedding. About Aira. About the future.
About not having a contract anymore.
"Scary?" I asked.
"The best kind," he said. And kissed me.
We fell asleep holding hands.
---
Friday.
Wedding day.
83 days left on paper.
0 days left in my heart.
The field was beautiful.
White chairs. Fairy lights. Strawberries in every vase.
100 people. All smiling.
Aira walked me down the aisle. In a purple dress. Holding strawberries.
Damian was waiting. In a suit. No tie.
Crying.
When I got to him, he whispered, "You look like a dream."
"You look like home," I whispered back.
The ceremony was short.
No contract. No clauses.
Just vows.
Damian: "I vow to choose you. Every day. For as long as I live."
Me: "I vow to stay. Not because of paper. Because of love."
We kissed.
The crowd cheered.
Aira screamed the loudest.
---
Reception.
Dancing. Food. Cake.
Damian and I had our first dance under the lights.
No cameras. Just us.
"Happy?" he asked.
"The happiest," I said.
"Good. Because this is forever now."
---
Night.
We were back at the penthouse.
Husband and wife. For real.
No contract on the table.
Just us.
Damian carried me to bed.
"83 days left," he whispered.
"Of what?"
"Of me getting used to calling you mine."
I smiled. "Take your time."
---
We didn't sleep much.
83 days left.
But we had forever to go.
- Writer
