It was early in the day still. Laura was out with Lisa, their mother Julie and sister-in-law Tina, Heather, and Leighanne, as well as Patti and Whitney, whom Laura had asked to stand up in the wedding as her bridesmaids, since AJ and Nick were standing up as Kevin's groomsmen with Brian and Howie. Bill, Heather's boyfriend, and of course Laura's brother Ben also were standing up. Kevin's brothers, Tim and Gerald, would be arriving later in the day with Tracy (Tim's wife), their kids, and Brenda, Gerald's girlfriend. The guys were getting their last-minute adjustments to their tuxedos, and the girls were just about to have the same done with their dresses. Plus, Laura was going to model her dress for the girls as well, since Lisa was the only one that had seen it before.
"Ohh, Laura!" Leighanne said as Laura walked out of the dressing room. "Laura, you look absolutely stunning! Kevin's gonna start drooling when he sees you, girl!"
"Well, if he likes this, just wait 'til he sees what I got for the wedding NIGHT!" Laura said, with an almost evil grin on her face. The other girls giggled and winked knowingly. "Seriously, y'all, do you really like it? I mean, I know it's kinda simple, considering what I could have gotten."
"I for one think that less is more. I think he'll love it, Laura. I can speak for everyone when I say that we love it," said Heather, smiling at her best friend. They've been friends for so long, almost 15 years. So many years to be brought to this point, one day before Laura's wedding. Laura smiled as she reflected on their friendship. She knew she could always count on Heather, no matter what.
"Aww, thanks Heather... thanks, girls! Well I'm gonna go change so we can go catch a bite to eat before we go get the flowers," Laura said, walking back to the dressing room. "We still have much to do before the reheasal and dinner tonight!"
"So, Kevin, you nervous?" AJ asked as they had their last minute adjustments made to their tuxes.
"Nah, just excited. I just want to get to that altar and say 'I do!' I can't wait much longer!" Kevin said, his thoughts drifting to Laura once again. She was never far from his mind. AJ smiled. "Well, just calm down there, buddy. Twenty-four hours from now, that's exactly what you'll be doing," he replied, as he pointed at the clock. It was now 1 PM, the time the wedding was going to start tomorrow! Kevin and Laura had talked and planned for so long and now it was one day away. This one day was going to seem like an eternity to him, and Laura as well.
"One more day," Kevin said, taking a deep breath in as Brian, Nick, Bill, and Laura's dad Bob came back in the room, finished with their adjustments.
"That's right, one more day!" Bob said, smiling at Kevin. "And I can say that I'll be incredibly happy and proud to call you my son, Kevin." Kevin smiled at Bob, saying, "Thanks a lot, Bob, that means so much. I just wish my own father was here to see this too, but I know he'll be with me tomorrow, like he always is."
Bob nodded sympathetically, as he remembered Laura talking about how Kevin had lost his father to cancer 9 years ago. "I'm sure he will be right at your side, Kevin." Not wanting to start crying in front of everyone on such a happy occasion, Kevin changed the subject.
"Well, if we're all done, I think AJ and I should go change, then we all should get outta here, because I have to go pick up Gerald, Brenda, Tim, Trace, and the kids from the airport before getting ready for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner." Everyone agreed, and Kevin went to change. He was still thinking of his father. Dad, I miss you, I love you, and I know you'll be standing beside me when I say my vows. You'll always be my "best man," Kevin thought to himself as he left the changing room.
Laura was spending the day and night at Brian and Leighanne's place, since she wanted to keep the tradition of not seeing her husband-to-be the day of the wedding until the wedding itself was taking place. Kevin, although he knew he would miss her tremendously, agreed. He thought it was an incredibly romantic notion, and that it would make their reunion that much sweeter. The only time they would see each other today would be at the rehearsal, and the dinner after, so needless to say, they both were missing each other terribly. Kevin had called Laura about an hour before the rehearsal was supposed to begin.
"Awww, I miss you too, love," Laura said, making kissing sounds into the phone. Leighanne walked by, rolling her eyes sarcastically. Laura chuckled as she continued.
"How are your brothers? And Tracy and the kids? And Brenda? How was their trip?" Laura's mouth was going about a mile a minute, and Kevin laughed. "Whoa, slow down, beautiful. Now, I'll answer your questions... Fine, fine too, fine as well, and pretty good!" he said. "I know I talk fast, love, but I'm just so excited, and in about 55 minutes we are due at rehearsal and I gotta finish getting ready so I'm afraid I gotta go," Laura said, as Kevin reluctantly agreed. "Oh, ok. I guess after tomorrow we'll have plenty of time to talk, or whatever," he said, with a hint of mischief in his voice. Laura laughed a sexy laugh as she said goodbye and hung up the phone.
"...And then I'll say, 'I now pronounce you, man and wife,'" the minister said, as Laura and Kevin just looked into each other's eyes, almost not hearing him. This was it, the rehearsal for their wedding! It almost didn't seem real, but it was very real, and in less than 24 hours, they'd really be getting married! The minister sensed that they were "distracted" by each other so he let out a cough, getting them to look his way, then continued. "Then you will kiss, and then you will turn, and I will formally introduce you. Cue the music, and then the bridal party, then the two of you last," he said, as he motioned for them to practice this. Both Kevin's mother and Laura's parents smiled, crying as Laura and Kevin walked by. Laura tried to hold her chuckle in as she leaned in to whisper to Kevin as they walked past them. "Geez, if they're this bad at the rehearsal, just imagine the display they're gonna give everyone tomorrow!" she said, giggling. Kevin kissed her forehead as he laughed with her. "I was just thinking the same thing, beautiful," he said, as they their way to the back of the church. Jill, the wedding coordinator that took over for Misty, met them there, smiling.
"I'm so glad to see this all put together finally! It's just going to be beautiful," Jill said, glancing down at her watch. "Ohh, I wish I could join you this evening but I got plans with my own family tonight, but thank you so much for the invite. I gotta get going, I'll see you tomorrow!" Laura smiled. "That's OK, Jill. I wouldn't expect you to choose us over your family. Go. We'll see you tomorrow, and thanks for everything you've done to make our wedding possible," she said, hugging her. Kevin shook her hand. "We mean it, Jill... anything we can ever do for you, just name it."
"Just seeing you two get married tomorrow afternoon will be thanks enough," Jill said, smiling. "See you tomorrow," she said, as she turned to walk out. Kevin and Laura turned to see their friends and family making their way out of the church and to their cars. Kevin and Laura also head out to his car, making their way to the rehearsal dinner.
It was nearing the end of the rehearsal dinner. Many of Kevin and Laura's family and friends had already left. Brian and Leighanne were waiting for Laura, since she was going back to their place to spend the night. "We'll go wait in the car, Laura. See you tomorrow, Kevin," Brian said, hugging his cousin. Kevin smiled at him as he and Leighanne walked out to their car.
"Good night, Mr. Richardson," Laura said, standing up on her toes to kiss Kevin goodnight. Kevin wrapped his arms around her. It was definitely going to be strange not waking up next to Laura in the morning, but this would be the one and only time they would be separated. After tomorrow, nothing would separate them.
"Good night, Mrs.--uhh, I mean, Miss Mitchell," Kevin said, kissing Laura one more time before letting her go. "I'll miss you," he added as she walked to Brian's car.
"Same here, my love... until tomorrow," Laura said, getting into Brian's car. Kevin stood there, watching the car disappear into the night...
