Chapter 30

Okay, this is the last chapter for this story. I've already written a bunch of my next one and after a bit of proofreading will put it up in a couple days. I'll link it up in this blog, so check back if you're interested.





I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. Life often moves in ways you least expect it to, and that’s half the fun of living it. If you had told me three years ago that I would be marrying Sidney Crosby I would have laughed in your face and told you to seek out some help. Now it felt like it was all I was ever destined to do.

After the first night I met Sidney at Sharky’s, fate seemed to be pushing us together. It was something I’d often thought about over the past year and it still didn’t make much sense to me. How was it possible to have all those coincidental meetings at the bar, in the office, at my house when his car blew a tire? I guess it was just one of those things I’d never know the answer to.

Ever since Sidney’s proposal I’d been in full on wedding mode. I’d been dreaming of my wedding day my whole life, and I was going to make sure that it was perfect, no matter what. I can admit I was probably a bit of a bridezilla at times, but you can’t really help it when you know exactly what you want, and you have since you were 7 years old.

Thankfully Sidney was a willing participant in the wedding planning. I was also thankful that he agreed with everything I wanted. I don’t know what I would have done if we’d disagreed about anything. He didn’t even complain when I was dragging him around to register for gifts. That was just another reason I loved him. In fact when I thought about it, that list just kept getting longer.

Obviously the first thing I did was find a dress. Like most people I already had an idea in my head about what I wanted it to look like and I wasn’t about to stop until I found it. I tried on way too many dresses before finding the perfect one. It was a strapless satin corset dress done ball gown style. There was very intricate beading on the bodice and along the lacing in the back. It was perfect.

I made Phoebe, Reagan, Sheila, and Taylor my bridesmaids. I put them all in lavender satin strapless tea length dresses with a simple belt around the waist. Light pinks and purples were the colors I chose since it was an early summer wedding. I’d also always dreamed of an outdoor wedding with a lake as the backdrop so I decided on the lake in Cole Harbour for the location.

“A toast before the wedding,” Sheila said handing me a flute of champagne. I gladly took it hoping it would calm my nerves. No matter how much you loved someone, or how perfect everything had worked out, you were still nervous on your wedding day.

“To Rory, our best friend who, despite numerous protests, finally listened to all of us and gave Sidney a chance,” Phoebe started.

“To Rory, for being the first one of us to fall,” Reagan continued.

“To Rory, for breaking tradition and letting us wear beautiful bridesmaid dresses instead of hideous ones,” Sheila said.

“To Lor, for becoming the sister I always wanted,” Taylor mimicked holding up a flute of what looked to be sparkling water.

“To Loralei, for making a mother jealous that she wasn’t half as beautiful on her wedding day,” my mother finished. Tears started to fall as I laughed at each of them and clinked my glasses to theirs. I wiped the tears away and made sure I hadn’t ruined my makeup.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without the help of all of you. Thank you all so much for sharing this with me today. I know I was a giant pain to deal with, and I’m glad I still have you here to celebrate this with me today,” I told them before finishing off the champagne. There was a knock on the door.

“Is everyone ready?” I heard my father ask as he opened the door. Phoebe handed me my bouquet and everyone filed out ahead of me. I smiled as I met my father’s eyes. “You look beautiful, pumpkin.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” I choked out when I saw the tears in his eyes.

I took a deep breath hoping to calm myself and hold back the tears that were already coming even before I’d stepped foot outside. When it was time I laced my arm with my father’s. My eyes locked on Sidney’s as soon as I saw him and I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face when I saw his expression change when he saw me. He smiled right back as I walked up the aisle towards him. I didn’t notice anyone else the entire walk.

The tears started coming as soon as I was standing opposite Sidney, looking into his eyes. Somehow I managed to hold them back pretty well and keep myself pulled together through most of the ceremony. That all ended the minute Sidney said his vows. We’d written our own like most people do. I honestly don’t think I’d ever heard anything so sweet and special in my life, and I doubted I’d ever hear anything like those words again.

It hadn’t quite felt like it was really happening the entire ceremony. It’s something you think you’ve prepared yourself for, but you’re never ready to experience something like that. I felt like I was watching myself from the outside until the moment Sid’s lips touched mine after those famous words, “You may kiss the bride.” He pressed his forehead to mine and smiled at me. It wasn’t until we were walking back down the aisle hand in hand as Mr. and Mrs. Crosby that faces went from being blurs to people I knew.

The reception was wonderful and full of family and friends. The only tables with assigned seating were for the wedding party and immediate family. Everyone else was free to sit where they wanted and mingle with whomever they felt like mingling with. They all had the option of a meat, seafood, or vegetarian dish and all the food was delicious.

The sound of silverware clanking against glasses was prevalent throughout the ceremony with everyone finding it funny to make Sidney and I kiss at the most inconvenient moments. I also found it highly amusing to watch tables of hockey players think they were being shoe checked the first few times it happened, since the clanking is the sign that someone got it. It’s priceless to watch that many guys check their shoes to see if someone had smeared butter on them from under the table. To my knowledge it only happened once, to Colby.

Tears were brought to my eyes again in both happiness and laughter as we listened to the speeches after dinner. We were even subjected to an impromptu speech from an obviously intoxicated Geno who probably only said half a dozen words in English. That may have been the funniest part of the night. I was honored at being welcomed to the family by Sidney’s parents and was glad that I would have them as in-laws.

When it was time Sidney and I shared our first dance. Soon after the dance floor quickly became the best place to hang out. Trust me, nothing is funnier than watching Colby and Max in a dance competition to Wreckx-N-Effect’s “Rumpshaker.”

All in all it was an amazing day, but I was glad when Sidney and I retreated to our suite for the night. I smiled when I saw the rose petals, candles, and bottle of champagne on ice when we walked into the room. I collapsed down onto the bed and took my shoes off.

“Was it everything you hoped it would be?” Sid asked me as he sat down next to me.

“It was more than I could have hoped for,” I replied and leaned in to kiss him.

“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” he told me as he gazed into my eyes.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I joked. He gave me a light shove and pretended to be offended.

“As amazing as today has been, I’m glad it’s over.” I shook my head at him.

“Oh, it’s not over yet,” I told him before pulling him into another kiss. He smiled and then groaned when he remembered the back of my dress and how he’d have to unlace it to get it off.

“You would make it this difficult to undress you,” he huffed as he got to work, leaving a trail of kisses along my back.

“It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t make you work for it,” I told him laughing. He rolled his eyes and laughed too.

“I love you, Sidney Crosby,” I said to him as I snuggled into his chest later that night, barely able to keep my eyes open.

“I love you too, Loralei Crosby,” he repeated causing me to smile for the millionth time that day. He kissed my cheeks, my forehead, and then my lips before we fell asleep in each others arms. I doubted there would ever be a more perfect day for the rest of my life.