CHAPTER NINE

 ❝ I think you don't really realize how long forever is until you find yourself trapped inside a room with six Bridesmaids freaking out because the "something old" has become a "something lost". ❞

Elle's journal: A Wedding in Strand, entry nº32

Bridesmaids are weird specimens. They are bubbly and wary and supper energetic all of the time. They have a tendency to exclaim something every two minutes, and freak out when they realize one of them doesn't fit in her dress, even if she tried it on two days ago and fit just well.

As Elle saw six of said creatures running desperately around the room, she was thankful she wasn't one of them.

"The something old!"

"The something old!"

"Oh My Gooosh, I can't believe we lost the something old!"

Elle wanted to say that there where dozens of something olds all around them in that small crammed room, but she was certain they wouldn't really listen to her. Feeling useless, she walked to the small table where she had left her phone to see if she had a new message.

Connor: Can I see you? I need to see you.

Elle smiled, shutting out the screaming bridesmaids completely as she focused on typing.

Elle: Nah. You know that's against the rules. I can't leave this room until the wedding begins.

He didn't take long to reply.

Connor: I could sneak in.

Elle: Even worse. You know no man shall see the bride until she is ready to be married.

Connor: But I believe the bride will be more than delighted to see me looking all handsome in my suit.

Elle: Nah. I don't think she wants to see you at all.

Connor: We'll see about that. When she walks down the aisle, I'll assure you she'll only have eyes for me.

Elle: Keep believing that. Now I shall go find a something old.

Connor: What happened to the pendant?

Elle: Got lost somewhere.

Connor: AND YOU ARE TEXTING WITH ME?! GO FIND IT!

Elle laughed as she left her phone back on the table. When she turned around, her eyes met with the eyes of the only other person in the room who seemed just as relaxed about the situation as she was.

"They lost it, huh?" Stelle said, a small smile taking over her lips.

"Doesn't surprise me," Elle replied, opening her hand and letting Stelle see the small, centuries old, pendant that lay there.

"You mean girl. I can't believe you would torture those poor souls like that," Stelle reprehended, but she was smirking evilly too. "Where did you find it?"

"Inside my shoes. Must have fallen there when Lisa moved the table."

Both women smiled at each other, and the small part of Elle that actually felt nervous, relaxed when the older woman took the pendant and their hands touched.

"I'll go get a glass of juice," Elle said. "You want anything?"

"Oh, no. Watching these poor girls freak out is enough for me."

Elle giggled and walked to the window. She poured herself some orange juice and then pulled the curtains apart just enough to look outside without anyone being able to notice her.

People where already pouring out into the garden, where the ceremony would be held. Guests were finding their seats and the Best Men walked down the aisle to take their places.

When Elle saw Connor picking up a little boy she recognized as Min-ho's son, her heart swelled. He had been right. He looked handsome. Very, very handsome.

Her heart picked up pace as she imagined herself, just a few minutes from then, walking towards him.

Connor put the kid down, ruffled his hair, and walked to join the other men who stood at the end of the aisle. Just before he could turn around and she could see his face clearly, she let the curtain drop.

Memories of the last few years fought against each other to secure a place on her thoughts.

She remembered saying goodbye to Connor that day at the Leeds and Bradford Airport in York.

She remembered all of the phone conversations they had had every week all through college.

She remembered the first time they had seen each other since saying goodbye and how certain she had been right there and then that he would always have a special place in her heart.

She remembered how they would meet every single time they could during breaks and how being together felt just right.

She remembered the first time they went to a concert together, the one of the band Connor had had as his phone's wallpaper the day they met.

She remembered the first time he told her he loved her, over the phone, his mouth saying the words before he could stop them.

She remembered how they had promised to go to graduate school together, but then he had gotten a scholarship to Oxford and she had gotten into Brown, and that just didn't seem like a possibility anymore.

She remembered all of the phone conversations during those years, how she could picture the exact expression his face had in that moment, or how she could tell when he was running a hand through his hair, tired because of the time difference, but still more than willing to talk to her for hours.

She remembered the day they finally got to move in together, and how perfect everything had been since then.

As she sneaked one last peek out the curtain, Elle was certain she would always remember how Connor looked that day, as the Best Man on Stelle's wedding to Elle's Maid of Honor.

❄ 

As it turned out, Elle and Connor had inspired Stelle to travel again. In one of her trips, she met a man called Antonio. After a few weeks together, they fell madly in love and Stelle finally found the one thing she had never really been searching for: love.

The couple invited Elle and Connor to stay with them in Antonio's house in Italy for a while, and the two of them quickly became friends with Stelle's beau.

After six months of being together, Antonio asked Stelle to marry him. Elle and Connor didn't even have time to exchange surprised looks before the woman had thrown herself into the arms of the man, both of them breaking into an intense make out session that the two young adults didn't stay long enough to witness.

And so then, three months later, the group and their friends had gathered to celebrate their union.

Throughout the ceremony, and even if she would never admit it, Elle's eyes stayed on Connor. He looked so handsome, so happy for their friends. Elle loved him and he loved her and he was a great man. She couldn't ask for more.

"Do you, Antonio Aligieri, take Stelle Bratton to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

The sweet, tender, and full of love smile that Antonio had in that moment made Elle want to tear up.

"Of course I do."

"And do you, Stelle Bratton, take Antonio Aligieri to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

If Antonio's smile had made Elle want to tear up, Stelle's certainly made her break down completely.

"Definitely."

"Well, then. I now pronounce you Husband and Wife."

After half a year of living in London, you'd think Elle was used to the sudden weather changes. She wasn't. So Elle shrieked loudly when, completely out of the blue, and just seconds before Stelle and Antonio's lips could touch and seal their union, it began downright pouring.

Thankfully, so did almost everyone else.

People began running under roofs or inside buildings, trying to cover themselves from the freezing river that was falling down on them. But not Stelle and Antonio. They both stayed there, under the rain, kissing as if they where teenagers instead of sixty-something years old.

And so Elle stayed too, remembering her Aunt Jenny and how she would always tell her that, someday, Elle would also find true love. And that's when she looked away from the couple and she saw Connor walking towards her. So, pushing her aunt's memory aside, knowing it would always be there for when she needed it, Elle run to meet Connor halfway and pulled him close.

"How do you like the weather?" he asked teasingly.

"It's wickedly awesome," Elle answered and Connor chuckled.

"Did you like the suit?"

"Oh, I love the suit," she said, and before he could say anything else, she pulled him closer and pressed her lips to his.