“Oh my God girl I cannot believe you are getting married today!” Kristina said to Ginger as she buttoned up the back to her classic white wedding dress. Ginger looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but smile. “Where did the time go?”
“I have no clue, but all I can say is I hope I don’t puke all over the altar,” Ginger said, smoothing out a few wrinkles as she studied herself. Her gown was sleek, low cut and to the floor with a long train in the back. It had sleeves just past her shoulders. It was everything she wanted in a wedding dress, and she knew her almost husband would love it.
She still had her cancer and all of her other problems, but the radiation treatments helped better than the chemo did this time around. She still had her hair. Now and then she'd puke without warning because of it and she lost weight because of it (not like she minded or anything). Dr. Andrews back in Tampa recommended Dr. Whyte in Chicago where she had been living since September when school started up again. College is great. Some of the professors knew her biological father so they often talk to her. Kristina’s having a blast, mostly because she’s only required to take a few classes a week. She wants to be an accountant so she takes mainly math courses. How boring. Ginger wanted to be a psychiatrist. She never planned on making a career out of it; she told Zac she wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom. He was fine with it.
Kris and Taylor started going out the night of the final concert. That night they drove to Oklahoma City and went to a few clubs. They didn’t get home until the next morning. Since then they’ve been inseparable. Zac admitted he had been wrong about being so concerned; it was just that Taylor had been such a womanizer and he wanted to make sure that didn't happen to Kris, but once Taylor met Kris all that changed. Zac and Ginger were closer than they ever were before. They'd spent most of their time together, Zac living in the house they were to move into after the wedding and Ginger staying at the dorm with Kris. She still hadn't seen the house (Zac had remolded it) and that was the way Zac wanted it to be. He wanted her to be surprised.
Ginger's three sisters knocked on the door and made their way in. They all reflected her in some way, but they were all shorter than she was. “Hey!” Ginger said, looking at them through the mirror. “You guys have to come over here cause Kris is still working on the buttons.”
The three walked over and each gave her a hug. “Oh my God, my little sister getting married to a rich man,” Dana said. “How lucky are you!”
“Please,” Ginger said, shaking her head. She knew they were just teasing her but it still felt weird to hear her say it anyway.
“You know what?” Darlene asked. Ginger looked to her. “You’re 18 and you’re getting married. You’re not pregnant and you’re not forced. Why are you doing this so young?”
“Cause I love him very much and I told him we can’t have sex until we’re married.” The three of them exploded into laughter. She stared at them until they stopped.
“The only reason we laugh,” Dana commented, “is cause you’re the only girl in the family who’s getting married and is still a virgin. And you’re the only Stevens who is getting married and isn’t forced into it because of pregnancy.”
“Kris is still a virgin,” Ginger said, looking at Kris through the mirror.
“Like hell I am,” she muttered. Ginger's eyes widened and her mouth dropped. “Oops, I didn’t say anything.”
“Kristina! You don’t even tell your own sister? When?” she asked. Kris shook her head and finished buttoning Ginger's gown.
“I didn’t say anything. I'm still a virgin,” she said, giving Ginger a smile and turning away. “I didn’t sleep with anyone.” Ginger turned around and looked her in the eyes, her hands on her hips. “Dammit I hate it when you do that! Your eyes are so violet, I hate you.” Ginger smiled. “I kind of slept with Taylor.”
“My God girl! Today is my third anniversary of being with Zac and we haven’t done anything! You’ve been with him five months!”
“Well you’re the smart one,” she said. “And we’ve been together eight months.” Ginger rolled her eyes and turned around again. The door opened and Taylor walked in.
“Speak of the devil,” she muttered. Kris gave her a warning glance, then turned to him. She gave him a kiss before he looked up at Ginger, standing on a pedestal.
“Woah,” he said, looking at Ginger. “Man I have one lucky brother.” Kristina hit him. “But I’m also very fortunate to have you Kristina.”
“You’re damn right you’re fortunate,” she said.
“What’s up Taylor?” she asked. He walked over and sat down in a chair. “You look rather suave.”
“Why thank you. Anyways, Zac sent me over to see how beautiful you looked and asked for a detailed report.” She shook her head.
“Don’t tell him anything. You got lost on the way and could only find your way back,” she said. “I have to surprise him otherwise what’s the point of all my trouble?”
“Well I have to tell him something. He won’t believe me if I said I got lost. This church isn’t that big.” Danielle pulled up a stepping stool and aligned Ginger's veil.
“He’s going to have to wait, Taylor. I don’t want him knowing until he meets me in the aisle.” She smiled to herself as she thought about his reaction. “And it’s not that long. It starts at three and it’s…” She glanced at the clock. “Two forty-five! Woah! Speed it up people. He’ll torment me for the rest of my life if I’m late.” Quickly she checked to see if she had her old, new, borrowed, and blue things. She stepped off the pedestal and heard a rip. “Oh no!!” she yelled, checking out the dress and finding a small tear near the bottom. “No!!!”
“What?” Kris asked. She showed her the rip. “It’s just a small rip, no one will notice it.”
“I don’t care if any notices! It’s bad luck if you rip your wedding dress!” She screamed and sat down in a chair, putting her face in her hands. It was fifteen minutes before the wedding began, she couldn’t cry. Kris immediately was by her side.
“Hun, don’t cry. You’ll ruin your make-up. It'll be okay, it's just a silly superstition.” She shook her head. “Taylor, go back over there and tell them to rub some horseshoes or something.”
“Um…all right.” He gave her a strange look and left, still slightly confused by her response. Darlene pulled Ginger up.
“We are not done yet. Roni is out somewhere with your bouquet. If only she would get here.” Suddenly the door opened and in barged Roni, carrying the bouquet.
“There you are!” she said. “Where the hell have you been?” Roni shook her head and sat down to catch her breath.
“Long story. I’ll tell you later. People are piling in and everyone else is ready so you better hurry it all up.” Ginger stood up and took a deep breath, looking at her profile in the mirror. The years of cancer and the anorexia that she never quite got over took its toll on her. She was extremely thin, to the point where she worried many people, and her breasts were exceptionally smaller. She was happy that they still somewhat big, even though it made her look unbalanced. She looked sickly. Kristina then stood beside her. Ginger glanced at her. She was thin, very thin, but it was because she worked out often. She was healthy. She ate well and to balance herself she worked out. Ginger didn’t eat well and worked herself weary. And to top it all off she took radiation treatments and they made her look sick anyway.
Roni handed Ginger her bouquet. She held it at her waist with both hands and smiled. She didn’t have time to nit pick at herself; she was about to get married. That’s all that mattered at that point. She turned around to face the people in the room.
“Guys,” Ginger said, her smile trying hard to keep itself. Her four sisters and her best friend looked in her direction. “I’m going to get married.” She was going to be leaving them behind. She wasn't going to be living with Kristina anymore. A hand went to her lips, then fell to her chest. Her eyes welled up and she had to blink a few times to keep her tears inside. She pulled Kristina to her and hugged her tight. “I’m not going to be with you anymore.” Kris nodded and let her go.
“You look so beautiful,” she whispered. Ginger smiled.
“Thank you.” Kris took Ginger's hand and led her away from the mirror towards the door.
“Come on my Ginger,” Kristina said, “Let’s give you away.” The girls left the room and stood outside, waiting to walk down the aisle. Music started from a signal given by the person at the front. Ginger was to walk midway down the aisle and have Zac meet her in the middle and walk her to the front. She wasn’t going to have her father lead her because this was the church where her real parents were married; this was her memory of her real parents.
Ginger watched from the door until Taylor and Kristina walked down. Taking a deep breath, she slowly walked to the hall and stayed behind the corner until the wedding chant began. Her heart raced as the familiar music entered her and she began to walk. People turned towards the hallway with cameras in their hands. Family distant and close to both sides turned to her with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. She had met few of the people from Zac’s family, so almost all of them had turned to see who their little boy had his eye for. She kept her composure as she walked by family and friends.
Zac appeared at the midway point and his eyes sparkled. His jaw dropped slightly but he realized where he was and just smiled. She met with him and took his offered arm and continued walking, slowly.
“You’re more beautiful than I could ever imagine,” he said. Her smile grew.
“Well you’re not so bad yourself.” He had to stop himself from shaking his head. Cameras flashed from all sides. Ginger kept her eyes set on the altar and the amazed priest. She somewhat remember him, her father’s favorite priest and dear friend. As they approached him, his eyes widened and his smile grew.
“You look just like your mother,” he quietly said. She blushed and looked to Zac. The priest turned to him. “And you look a lot like that guy from that band that I see so much of.” Ginger held back her laughter. “You are aren’t you?” Zac nodded. “I thought so.”
“Please, just start,” she said, still holding back her laughter.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here under a roof that needs a lot of help,” the priest began and paused for the laughter. Ginger realized why her father liked him so much. “To join Ginger Ann Stevens and Zachary Walker Hanson in holy matrimony.” From there, it went well, until they got to the vows. Ginger knew from the beginning there had to be something Zac was going to do and screw it all up, but she didn’t know what.
“I take thee Zachary, to be my lawful husband,” she said, slipping the ring on his finger. “To have and to keep, from now until death do us part.” Zac took the ring, and dropped it, then couldn’t get it on Ginger's finger. “Wrong finger, idiot,” she said, shaking her head.
“Whoops!” he said, and laughed. “Okay…I take thee Ginger, to be my awful wife…” Her mouth dropped and she started laughing. Only Zac would do this.
“I’m not awful, Zac.” He put an innocent look on his face then started over.
“Yes you are. I take thee Ginger, to be my LAWFUL wife. To have and to keep, forever and ever, until death do us part,” he quickly recited.
“You said it wrong.”
“Well I had my own twist, I’m not perfect,” he said. She'd forgotten there were other people in the place, but they didn’t seem to mind.
“That’s for damn sure.” Zac’s mouth dropped, and the priest was cracking up.
“You said a bad word in church!!” She gave him a look, basically telling him she didn’t care. “And you don’t resent that! I think we should have a confession after the ceremony,” he said, grinning.
“Uh, let’s continue here,” the priest said. “Go over to the unity candle.” They walked over to the side of the altar and both took a lighted white candle.
“With this candle, we seal our unity and something along those lines because I completely forgot what we’re supposed to say,” Ginger commented. Zac shook his head. “Yeah, what you said,” he added, and they lit the one in the middle with our candles. The priest shook his head.
“You’re supposed to memorize the lines. It’s three sentences that you say, and you can’t even remember that. I hope neither of you want to become an actor.”
“Don’t worry,” Zac said. “That’s out of the question now.” They both quickly walked back to the center to finish the ceremony. “Isn’t the only reason you know it all is because you have a book?”
“That and I’ve done this a million times. But let’s finish up here! You did everything you’re supposed to do. I wish you the best of luck, and pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” They did what the good man said and kissed. Everyone clapped, cameras snapped and Ginger's sisters cried.
“Now leave!” The priest said. “You’re too much for me.” Hand in hand, Zac and Ginger walked down the aisle again. The organist played the recessional song and they walked out and into a limo.
“I cannot believe you forgot the words,” Zac said, shaking his head, then letting it fall on her lap. “And you said a bad word.”
“I cannot believe you called my awful.” He smiled and threw a piece of bread at her. “Where the hell did you get bread?” she asked. He only smiled and didn’t answer. “Now that we’re married doesn’t mean you can be a smartass.”
“I had it in my pocket. Don’t ask why, you know I’m weird.” She nodded. “I bet your entire family thinks I’m insane,” he said.
“I bet your entire family think I’m insane,” Ginger retorted.
“No, they already knew that.” Ginger rolled her eyes. “And now that we’re married I want you to stop rolling your eyes so much.”
“No.”
“Dammit.” She gazed lovingly down at her new husband. It didn’t feel any different than when they weren’t, but that would change once they started living together without anyone else. He gazed back up at Ginger, a sudden silence entering the back of the limo. Even though it didn’t feel any different, it was crazy that they were actually married. Five years ago she wanted nothing to do with him, and five years ago he told her that when they were eighteen they would be getting married. And she waved him off.
“You were so right,” Ginger said.
“I know…” he said. “About what?”
“You were right about everything. You were right about us getting together before you could legally drive, you were right about us getting engaged, and you were right about us getting married at eighteen. I cannot believe you were so right.”
“Hey! I’m telling you I am psychic. To a certain degree, of course. I’m just as psychic as you are.” She smiled. “I barely got to tell you how marvelous you look. Why are you so beautiful?”
“Just lucky I guess.”
“Well you are my lucky charm. Without you I’d be pretty lonely right about now. I’m not completely psychic. I had a gut instinct that we were destined to be together. I only hoped it inside that you would react. You have half of this relationship, Ginger. I only asked; you agreed.”
“I’m glad you asked.”
“I’m glad you agreed.”
He sat up and kissed her again just as the ride stopped. “Hey you two!” The driver said. “It ain’t quite the wedding night yet. We’re here, now get out and get in, there’s people expecting you.”
“All right, all right. You just won’t let us have any fun, now will you?” she asked, smiling.
“Nope. Now get out, and the next time you two get in here I don’t want to see any of that because nothing’s worse than the back of a limo,” he said. Zac opened the door and stepped out. He took her hand and helped her out.
“You ready to face the music?” he asked. She nodded.
“Yeah? How bout you?” He nodded. “Good, come on.” Just then they heard from the lovely driver again.
“Hey!! Close the door! Were you people born in a barn or what?” he yelled. Ginger laughed as Zac closed the door. The limo drove off and Ginger saluted it. Then she turned back to Zac, smiled, and they went in.