Worthington Wives

Chapter Twenty Three

The day of the wedding had finally come. Reyanna’s mother fastened her veil upon her head. Melissa had tears of joy mixed with sadness in her eyes. “You look so beautiful, my sweet girl. Your Daddy would be so proud of you,” she said. “I’m sure he’s watching you today, Sis. He wouldn’t miss seeing his ‘Shortcake’ walk down the isle,” Liam said, hugging her. “Thank you for standing in for him, Baby Brother,” she said, giving him an air kiss so not to mess up her lipstick.

“Are you ready to become Mrs. Worthington?” Agnes asked. “I’m so ready, Mom,” she assured her, giving her a hug. “Thank you for everything you did to make this day so wonderful, and thank you for getting me ready to be a Worthington wife,” Reyanna said.

“And Mommy, I am the woman I am today because you raised me well, you took me to church and you lived the Word in front of us every day of our lives. If I’m even half the mother you are, then I’ll be great. I love you, Mommy,” she said to her own mother and hugged her.

“They’re playing music, Rey,” Liam alerted her. Reyanna took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Okay, let’s do this,” she said, standing tall and regal as Agnes had taught her. Daniel pushed Avery Sr in a wheelchair beside Agnes as they walked down the isle, followed by Melissa and her brother Keenan. Next came Phillip and Cecelia followed by Reyanna’s friend Holly and her husband Mike.

Then the unmistakable tones announcing the bride sounded on the piano. Ben stood waiting for his bride with anticipation. Once he could see her face, he started smiling, but tears gathered in his eyes because he was just so overcome with emotion. He knew he loved Reyanna, but at this moment he realized that she was everything to him. Finally, she was his bride, he thought as he took her hand. “Break her heart and I’ll break your legs,” Liam whispered. Ben nodded in understanding and shook his hand.

“I present to you Mr and Mrs Avery Benjamin Worthington,” the minister said as they turned to face the crowd. They received a loud applause and Reyanna smiled up at her husband proudly. He gave her an adoring gaze. “Are you ready for the public, wife?” He asked. “Do I have a choice?” She asked. “Not a chance,” he said. “Then, let’s do this,” she told him, taking his arm.

After they greeted their family, their guests and then the public and paparazzi, and then got their pictures taken, they finally made it to their reception. The band announced the wedding party and then the bride and groom.

Their first dance was a simple waltz. Their suprise dance would be later. Reyanna put her hands around Ben’s neck and he held her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “I can’t wait to get you alone tonight,” he whispered. “I’m not gonna let you wear those flannel pjs tonight,” he said, grinning and raising up to look at her face. “What if I get cold?” She teased. “I promise I’ll heat you up,” he said, teasing her.

Reyanna danced the father daughter dance with her brother and Ben danced with Agnes. “I think you chose a good wife, Son. I think she will make a perfect Worthington wife. And she certainly is a beautiful bride,” Agnes told Ben. “I agree, Mom. Thank you for everything,” he said.

Later in the evening, Ben and Reyanna surprised their guests with their rendition of the Bachata. They danced the ‘church version’ as Ryan had called it, and they performed it perfectly. Ryan and Antonio watched their performance proudly and Ryan wiped tears from his eyes, being overcome with emotion. “Bravo! Bravo!” Antonio called out.

Once the reception was nearing completion and the bouquet had been thrown, the happy couple got in a white limo and started on their trip to Roanoke. Reyanna decided rather than a big trip for their honeymoon, she would rather just spend two weeks in their Roanoke apartment where they first got to know each other.

Ben couldn’t wait to start kissing his bride. They wanted to wait until they got to their apartment to do anything, but Ben wanted to feel her beautiful feet. He gently slipped off her hose and rubbed her feet, kissing them, and rubbed her silky legs, adoring his beautiful bride.

Meanwhile, Phillip sat alone in the parlor with Cecelia in front of a roaring fire. “Did I tell you how gorgeous you are tonight?” He asked, caressing her soft face and placing a tendril of red hair behind her ear. Her diamond earrings that he had bought her sparkled in the lamp light. He admired the way her blue eyes shined when she looked at him with such love. “Yes, several times, I believe,” Cecelia said, smiling at him.

“You didn’t have a panic attack tonight,” Phillip acknowledged. “I took my new anxiety med, and I guess it must be working,” she said happily. “Are you sorry we didn’t do a double wedding with Ben and Reyanna?” Phillip asked.

“No, honey, I don’t want anything this grandiose. I told Mom I just want a small ceremony with just family here at the mansion. So she’s going to help me plan ours next month the second Saturday in December. Is that okay with you?” she asked.

“I’m happy to run to Vegas and get married in a wedding chapel,” Phillip joked. “As long as the end result is you are my wife, I don’t care how we get there,” he told her, kissing her softly.

“I would say Mom’s head would pop off if we did that,” Cecelia told him, and they both laughed.