Chapter 64
Howie smiled realizing that she was probably thinking he was breaking up. He took her hand in his and placed the ring on her finger as she looked on in surprise. They had discussed their future but it had never included marriage.
"Kryss, will you marry me?"
Kryss began to cry but she managed to say ‘yes’ and Howie hugged her.
Tyler strolled out with a drink in her hand. She had seen the two hugging and said, "I hope she said ‘yes’ and you aren’t breaking up on my wedding day."
Howie let go of Kryss and asked, "Did you really expect her to say ‘no’?"
"Well, Kryss is fairly intelligent. I thought maybe she’d realize what a huge mistake it was to marry you," teased Tyler.
Tyler gave Howie a hug and then Kryss. She really was happy for them. She only wanted the best for Howie and ever since she’d introduced the two, Howie had been extremely happy.
"I hate to break this up, but I need Kryss to help me with my dress."
Howie gave Kryss a kiss and the two ladies headed to Tyler’s room. The five girls spent the next hour and a half getting Tyler ready for the wedding. As soon as she was decent, the guys’ photographer came in to snap pictures of everything that was going on.
Tyler’s hands were shaking so bad that Fiona had to braid her hair and Lex did her make-up for her. Tyler mumbled, "I don’t know why I’m wearing make-up in the first place. I’m just going to wipe it all off when I cry."
"Oh, stop.... You aren’t going to cry that much," said Sonja. "This is Kevin you’re marrying, not Joey."
Sonja helped Tyler put her pearls on and then Kryss helped get her into her dress. When she was ready, they looked on as Tyler looked at herself in the mirror.
"Kevin is going to flip when he sees you," said Sonja.
"Guys, thank you for everything," said Tyler softly.
They all chorused, "You’re welcome."
There was a knock at the door and Tyler said, "Come in."
Howie stuck his head in, "Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breathe, Tyler said, "Yeah, more than ready."
"Hold on," said Lex. "Do you have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?"
"New...my necklace Kevin gave me today. Old...my engagement ring...rings. Shit...where’s Kevin’s wedding band?"
Sonja said calmly, "I have it, Tyler."
"Good. Okay, blue, my garter," laughed Tyler. "Actually, it’s black and blue, from the tour. Fatima got it for me."
"What about borrowed?" asked Fiona.
"My shoes. I borrowed them from Pollyanna."
"You’re covered," said Lex.
"You’re carriage awaits you, Princess," said Howie.
Tyler looked at him funny. "What do you mean my carriage?"
"Kevin has a horse-drawn carriage for you, like the ones in ‘Gone With the Wind’."
Tyler teared up and Kryss fussed, "Don’t cry! You’ll mess up your make-up."
"Kevin has gone all out," said Fiona. "Nick needs to take lessons from him."
The others laughed and then headed downstairs.
At the bottom of the steps, Mami handed Tyler her bouquet. Kevin had ordered her a bouquet of white roses and ivy, which she didn’t know he had done.
Tyler said, "That man is ruining me."
Billy, Carlos, Tommy, and ‘Bull’ were waiting for Tyler along with Pops and Pollyanna. Tyler gave them all a hug as the photographer snapped pictures of the group.
Pops looked at his watch. "It’s time to get going, ‘Tadpole’. We’ll see you at the chapel."
Tyler gave him a kiss and Mami took her hand. "You’ve got yourself a very good man, Tyler. Your parents would be very proud."
"Thank you, Mami."
Everyone headed to the chapel except for security, Howie, and Sonja. They went out the front only to see a car pull up in the driveway. No one recognized the car until Joey got out and they all moaned softly.
Billy stepped between Joey and Tyler and said, "You need to leave."
"I just want to speak to Tyler for a second."
"I don’t think so."
Joey looked past Billy to Tyler. "Please," he begged.
Tyler said, "It’s okay, Billy."
Billy looked back at Tyler. "Kevin gave us strict instructions to keep him away from you, Tyler."
"I know but I don’t think he’s going to do anything. Just don’t go anywhere," said Tyler. "Joey, come with me."
Howie looked at his watch, "Tyler, you’re going to be late."
"I won’t be long."
Billy followed the two into the front hall and stood close by.
"You look amazing," said Joey.
"Thank you. What did you want to see me for?"
"I had to see you before you went through with this. Tyler, I love you and I want us to be together, to raise our child together. Please give us a chance."
"Joey, I tried to give us a chance, for the baby’s sake, but you didn’t trust me and I just wasn’t in love with you. You treated me like crap every chance you got and the press wasn’t watching."
"I’m sorry, Tyler."
"If you really loved me, why didn’t you stop Lou?"
"I didn’t know what he was doing."
"Bull, I told you exactly what he was doing and you called me a liar. I never meant to hurt you, Joey, but I’ve been in love with Kevin for as long as I can remember and I’m going to marry him."
"You slut!" said Joey angrily.
Tyler looked at Billy, "Get him out of here."
At the chapel, Kevin was standing with Brian behind the chapel watching the road for the carriage. He glanced at his watch; three minutes to seven. He mumbled, "Where is she?"
Brian said, "Don’t worry, Kevin. Tyler’s not going to back out."
AJ and Nick came out and Nick said, "Everyone’s seated."
Brian said, "We’re waiting for Tyler."
"You don’t think she’s backed out, do you?" asked Nick.
Kevin hadn’t taken his eyes off the road the whole time but this caused him to look at Nick. Angrily, he said, "You can be such a butthead sometimes and this is one of those times."
Tim came to the door. "Kevin, what’s the hold up?"
"We’re waiting for Tyler," said Brian.
About that time, a car came into view and Kevin said, "That’s Tommy. Something has happened."
Kevin started for his jeep and missed the carriage as it came into sight. AJ said, "Kevin, here she comes."
Kevin turned to see the carriage and his heart stopped. The first thing he heard was Tyler’s voice and she was laughing. Then he saw her and the smile on her face. Tears welled up in his eyes and Tim saw them.
Gently, Tim said, "Let’s take our places, Kev."
Howie spotted Kevin and he said, "Looks like he was getting ready to come after you. He looks like he was worried."
Tyler saw him too and she said, "He’ll understand when I tell him. He’s not going to like it."
"Why DID you agree to talk to Joey anyway?"
"Pity I guess."
The carriage pulled up in front of the chapel and AJ and Nick met them to help Tyler and Sonja out. Kryss and Lex helped Tyler get her dress straightened out while Fiona helped Sonja.
AJ said, "Tyler, you look like an angel. Forget Kevin! Let’s take off together."
Tyler laughed, "Nice offer, ‘Bone’ and if you had made that offer when we were in high school, I might have taken you up on it."
Denise came out. "Tyler, are you ready?"
"More than ready."
"Okay, boys. Take your places," directed Denise as she gave them both a kiss.
AJ and Nick gave Tyler one last kiss on the cheek and then they went in with Kryss, Fiona, and Lex. Denise got Sonja in place and signaled the violinists.
Outside, Howie and Tyler waited. Howie said, "You’re getting a good man, Tyler."
"Thanks, ‘D’. You’ve known all along that Kevin and I were meant to be together. Thank you for believing in us and not letting me give up."
"Anytime, ‘Sunshine’."
"It’s been a long time since you’ve called me that."
"I know but no matter what, you’ll always be MY ‘Sunshine’."
Denise came to the door. "Okay, you two. It’s time."
Howie gave Tyler a kiss and then she took his arm. As the music started, Howie and Tyler stepped into the door and all eyes turned to them.
Tyler scanned the chapel to see all the family that was there and then her eyes met Kevin’s. He smiled as Tyler and Howie made their way down the aisle.
Brian whispered, "She’s beautiful."
Kevin just nodded his head in agreement without taking his eyes off Tyler.
When the two reached the front, Tim began the ceremony but Tyler and Kevin were on auto-pilot. Neither one heard what Tim was saying but were focused completely on each other.
"Kevin," whispered Tim to get him out of his trance. "Kevin, wilt thou have Tyler to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?"
Without hesitation or taking his eyes off Tyler, Kevin said, "Yes, I will."
"And Tyler, wilt thou have Kevin to be thy wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?"
"Yes, I will."
"Who presents Tyler to be married to Kevin?"
"I do," said Howie proudly as he looked into Tyler’s eyes.
A tear rolled down Tyler’s cheek as she whispered, "Thank you."
Howie took Tyler’s hand and placed it in Kevin’s then wrapped his hands around theirs. "A match made in heaven. I love you both."
Kevin said, "Thanks, ‘D’."
With that, Howie moved off to the side and AJ turned on the music. As Howie sang ‘I Do’, Kevin and Tyler looked into each other’s eyes singing quietly with Howie. Tears were rolling down Tyler’s cheeks now and Kevin reached into his pocket for his handkerchief so Tyler could wipe the tears. She held on to it as Howie finished the song.
When the song was done, the door to the chapel opened causing Kevin and Tyler to look back. The looks on their faces made everyone else look back too and Kevin looked to Howie.
