Chapter One Hundred Forty-Two: The Wedding
The wedding day arrived warm and clear.
Lina had been dreaming of this day for years. She had imagined it a thousand times—Lily in white, walking down the aisle, flowers in her hair, love in her eyes. She had imagined herself in the front row, crying happy tears, holding Ethan's hand.
But now that the day was here, she was not ready.
She stood in the doorway of Lily's childhood room, watching her daughter get ready. Lily sat in front of the mirror, her hair in curls, her makeup soft, her dress hanging on the closet door.
"You're beautiful," Lina said.
Lily turned around. Her eyes were bright, her smile wide.
"Mama," she said. "I'm so nervous."
Lina walked into the room and sat beside her.
"I know, sweetheart," she said. "But you're also brave. You've always been brave."
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
"What if I trip? What if I forget my vows? What if he changes his mind?"
Lina took her daughter's hands.
"He won't change his mind," she said. "He loves you. He's loved you since high school. He's not going anywhere."
Lily nodded slowly.
"Okay," she said. "Okay."
---
The ceremony was held in a garden, just as Lily had wanted.
Flowers everywhere. Fairy lights everywhere. A string quartet playing music that made everyone cry.
Lina sat in the front row, Ethan beside her, Victoria and Victor and Katherine behind her. David and his half-siblings were there too. Maya sat with her mother. Emily came with Hope, who was not a little girl anymore but a teenager with braces and a shy smile.
Lina's heart was pounding.
Her baby was getting married.
She thought about the first time Lily had brought Jake home. He was seventeen, tall and awkward, his hands shaking when he shook Ethan's hand. She thought about the first time Lily had said "I love him." She thought about the first time she had realized that her daughter was grown.
And now this.
She was not ready.
But she had to be.
---
The music changed.
Lily appeared at the end of the aisle, her arm hooked through Ethan's.
Her dress was white and flowing, with flowers in her hair and a veil that trailed behind her. She was smiling. She was crying. She was beautiful.
Lina watched her walk down the aisle and cried.
Ethan handed Lily to Jake, who was waiting at the altar, his own eyes wet with tears.
"Take care of her," Ethan said.
Jake nodded. "With my whole life, sir."
Ethan kissed Lily's cheek.
He walked back to his seat and took Lina's hand.
"She's beautiful," he whispered.
Lina leaned into him.
"She's ours," she said.
---
The ceremony was simple.
The officiant spoke. The couple exchanged vows. They exchanged rings. They kissed.
Lily and Jake were married.
Lina clapped until her hands hurt.
Ethan whistled.
The crowd cheered.
---
The reception was chaos.
Dancing and laughing and speeches that went on too long. Lily's maid of honor cried. Jake's best man told embarrassing stories. Leo gave a toast that was short and sweet and perfect.
"Lily," he said, "you've been annoying me since the day we were born. But you've also been my best friend. My protector. My champion. I couldn't have asked for a better sister."
Lily cried.
Leo hugged her.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," she replied.
---
Lina found Lily on the balcony, looking at the stars.
"Are you okay?" Lina asked, standing beside her.
Lily nodded. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About everything. About growing up. About leaving. About starting a new life."
Lina put her arm around her daughter.
"Are you scared?" she asked.
Lily was quiet for a moment. "Terrified."
Lina held her daughter.
"Me too," she said. "But you're going to be okay. You're going to be more than okay. You're going to be wonderful."
Lily leaned into her.
"I love you, Mama," she said.
Lina's eyes filled with tears.
"I love you too, sweetheart. More than anything."
---
The reception ended.
Lily and Jake drove away in a car covered in streamers and tin cans.
Lina stood in the parking lot, watching them go.
Ethan put his arm around her.
"She's married," he said.
"She's married," Lina agreed.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
Lina thought about the question.
"Empty," she said. "Not in a bad way. Just... empty. Like I've been carrying something for so long that I forgot what it felt like to put it down."
Ethan pulled her into his arms.
"That's called love," he said.
"Is that what this is?"
"I think so."
Lina leaned into him.
"She's gone," she said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"She is," he said. "But she'll come back. She'll always come back."
Lina closed her eyes.
She thought about all the years ahead. The visits. The phone calls. The moments she would hold her daughter and the moments she would have to let her go.
She was not ready.
But she was learning.
And learning, she was beginning to understand, was the most important part of love.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Forty-Two