A month later, Jake and I were boarding a plane to attend the wedding. It was a bittersweet journey for Jake. Although he didn't say so, I could tell that he was nervous. He hadn't been back to San Diego since his wife and children passed away. I knew it would be hard for him to be in the city that he had once called home, where he had once had a family, to see the place where so many memories were made.

I worried about Jake and how he would handle the journey. Being back in San Diego would be tough enough, but the fact that he was here for a wedding would guarantee that memories of his marriage with Elena would be at the forefront of his thoughts. I didn't want him to recoil back into the igloo of isolation where he ran from his feelings and closed me out.

But if Jake's mind was stuck in the past, he didn't make it apparent. He seemed genuinely excited to visit his parents again, and to see his baby sister and best friend get married. He put on a brave face, which I suspected was more for my benefit than his.

Even still, I had Jake's hand interlocked tightly with mine during the entirety of the two-hour flight. He never acknowledged the ache buried deep inside, but I knew him well enough to read between the lines. I never brought it up, though. I just held his hand, letting him know that I was there if and when he needed me. He squeezed my hand gently, silently thanking me for my unwavering support.

By the time our plane landed, we had to head straight to the venue to get ready.

I was in awe when we walked through the large wooden doors of the cathedral. The church was gorgeous, a grandiose and historic building that was big enough to fit at least a thousand people, and I knew Mariana would have every pew occupied for her big day. The southern California sunlight shone through the stain glass windows, filling the high arched apse with light and making the room luminous and lively.

I knew Mariana's wedding would be extraordinary- how could it not be when Mariana was involved? But this was beyond even my wildest imagination. She decided on a spring-themed wedding, arguing that just like her marriage, spring was a time of growth and renewal. After seeing the décor of the church, I couldn't imagine a better-suited theme.

The building was full of life and color, almost like a rainbow had exploded inside the church. Everywhere I looked there were splotches of neon blues, deep greens, and vibrant yellows- from the ribbons spiraling up the dozens of columns that led down to the pulpit, to the fresh flowers lining the ends of each pew.

As I spun around, taking in the beauty of the chapel, a small woman with graying hair and a stern face appeared before me. Her face was frantic, and her shoulders were so tensed with stress, I became concerned that she would form a hunchback if she stooped any further.

She gripped her pen and clipboard so tightly her pale knuckles turned even whiter.

"Who are you?" she barked, her deep voice full of authority. She stepped toward me until our faces were only inches away from one another. I fought the urge to back away.

"Erm," I mumbled, caught off guard. "I'm Catalina De la Rosa, and this is Jake Lucero."

The woman stared at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. I felt my face heat. I was beginning to wonder if Jake and I were in the right building after all because we certainly didn't seem welcome.

I turned to look at Jake, but he wasn't concerned like I was. In fact, his face was full of amusement.

"We're the best man and maid-of-honor," Jake rephrased. The woman nodded her head; this she understood. "Where do you need us?" he asked.

"The groomsmen are down the hallway on the left, and the bridal party on the right," she said, gesturing to a door off the side of the sanctuary.  She turned on me and abruptly pointed her pen in my face. "I would hurry. The wedding is only a few hours away, and this one is going to need every possible moment for hair and makeup."

My mouth fell open in shock as she scurried away. I knew I looked a little rough after spending the last few hours on a plane, but was I that bad? I began running my hand through my hair in a vain attempt to tame some of the loose curls and pinched my cheeks to try to add some color to my dulled skin.

I wanted to be offended by the wedding planner's words, but it was hard to do so when I could see the humor dancing in Jake's face as he tried- and failed- to stifle his amusement. Soon I found myself smiling too, laughing off the comment that would have caused my self-esteem to take a hit once upon a time.

"See you after?" Jake said, grabbing my hand and planting a gentle kiss on my knuckles.

I gave a small nod, still swooning as I walked through the door to the women's changing area. Would I ever get used to the way that Jake made me feel? I certainly hoped not.

"Cat!" I heard my name the moment I entered the ladies' dressing room.

I would have recognized Mariana's enthusiastic squeal anywhere. I smiled and walked through the fog of hairspray and perfume, searching for my best friend. I found her sitting on a lounge chair, her hair in rollers and her face covered in a blue facial mask. I embraced her immediately.

"I'm so excited for you, Mariana," I said genuinely. If any two people deserved to find their happily ever after, it was Mariana and Dwayne.

I barely had time to say hello to the other ladies before I was promptly placed in a chair to be worked on. My hairstylist muttered to himself about what bronzer would best match my complexion and how to style my hair so that it framed my face just right. I let the salon talk go in one ear and out the other, concentrating instead on Mariana's nervous babbling beside me.

After three hours of primping, I was being squeezed into my bridesmaid's dress and shiny gold heels. For the first time since the process began, I was able to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My stylist had done a great job because I hardly recognized myself. Despite the hours of waiting and fighting the urge to sigh as my skin was scrubbed and painted, I looked transformed.

My dark, smoky eyes stared back from the mirror in surprise. My face was contoured in just the right places, making me look like a model. My lips were painted with a dark brown lipstick that, astonishing, looked good on me for such an opaque color. 

My long locks of dark hair were braided to the side, ending in large spiral curls that were draped over my right shoulder, with small white flowers woven throughout the plait. My pearl, teardrop earrings accentuated the style perfectly.

My outfit was beautiful, but that was to be expected for any ensemble chosen by Mariana. The form-fitting lilac dress was modestly cut and was sleeveless to accommodate for the warming San Diego weather. The soft material gathered flatteringly at my waist, before flowing in soft pleats down to my ankles. The bouquet of fresh flowers that I held matched the dress perfectly, the bunch filled with fresh yellow lilies and plum irises.

The bridal party started to line up outside of the sanctuary doors. I could hear a large, boisterous crowd inside. I started to get nervous that my clumsy self would do something embarrassing. I couldn't walk straight on a normal day, let alone when Mariana had me wearing four-inch heels. Nervous perspiration started to form on the small of my back. 

I saw a door to my left open and the groomsmen began filing out. Through the haze of panic, Jake's dark brown eyes met mine. I felt all of my worries fading away at his gaze.

Just when I thought that Jake couldn't get any more handsome, he always found a way to prove me wrong. He looked sexy in his khaki-colored tuxedo, sporting a tie the same shade of lilac as my dress. The hue made his chocolate eyes pop with color.

I felt my heart beat a little faster, realizing that the contour of the jacket showed off his burly physique. Jake's normally messy hair was slicked back in a neat comb-over, and he had shaved all of the facial hair from his square jaw, save for a small bit that darkened his upper lip.

Jake's mouth turned up in the handsome half-smile that I'd grown to love, as his eyes lingered on my body. He pretended that I looked so hot, he had to fan himself with his hand. The gesture made me laugh and blush at the same time.

He joined me in the procession line, and I tucked my arm through his outstretched elbow, as the wedding planner had instructed.

"You look stunning, Cat. You've truly outdone yourself this time," Jake murmured in my ear, completely ignoring the directions being given by the event organizer.

"You mean that Mariana's stylist has outdone himself," I laughed. "But thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." I winked at him.

He looked so debonair, it was a wonder that I didn't drag him to the back room and have my way with him right then and there. But today was not about me and my desire to be alone with Jake. It was about Mariana and Dwayne and celebrating the love they had for one another. With much effort, I forced my eyes away from Jake's handsome face, and my mind back to the seriousness of the moment.

As the gentle tempos of music began playing, the doors to the cathedral opened. One by one, the couples of the wedding party made their way down the aisle. Jake and I were at the end of the procession, which gave me ample time to worry. Jake sensed my anxiety and rubbed my hand consolingly.

After several seconds had passed, the wedding planner gave us a gentle push forward. We stepped into the sanctuary, and I tightened my grip on Jake's arm, my fear of tripping resurfacing. But I knew deep down that Jake wouldn't let that happen. He was my rock, my fortitude of safety, my solid support in the good times, and the bad. Just like in our daily life, Jake wouldn't let me fall.

As we made our way down the aisle, every face turned to watch us, but I was no longer worried about our audience. My mind was focused on Jake, and comprehending how lucky I was to be able to call him mine.

At the end of the walkway, I gave Dwayne a brief smile before taking my place in the line opposite of Jake. The music changed to the traditional bridal chorus, and the crowd rose to their feet. Mariana appeared at the end of the church, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. She was covered head to toe in lace, the mermaid-style dress, no doubt, a designer. Her veil and train were so long, she needed someone to walk behind her just to carry them.

I could see the adoration in her eyes as she stared at Dwayne and Dwayne alone. I found my heart singing a song of joy for her, and my eyes filled with elated tears. As she neared the pulpit, she handed me her giant bouquet with a nervous smile, and I gave her a nod of reassurance.

As Mariana and Dwayne recited their vows and relayed their love for one another in front of their friends and family, my gaze turned toward Jake. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, as his baby sister and best friend were united into one.

I couldn't help but wonder if one day, in the faraway future, it could be my turn to walk down the aisle toward my future husband. I could picture myself gliding through the church to meet Jake at the other end, the two of us joining hands as we eagerly said our vows before the people we loved the most. The idea made my heart flutter.

Jake's eyes met mine,and he smiled. I saw my own love reflected in his beautiful features. The rest of the ceremony was a blur because all I could focus on was the man standing across from me, who I loved more than anything in the world.

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© Dawn Norwell