THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE  

 

 

 

Jim wasn’t conscious of anything but the vision that was moving slowly toward him.

 

Breathtaking! was all he could think.

 

There was no other word to describe his very soon-to-be wife, Trixie, as she glided down the aisle on her father’s arm.

 

Trixie, meanwhile, was distracted momentarily by something her father had said to her.  But as she felt her groom’s eyes on her, she looked up and smiled brilliantly.

 

Jim’s breath caught in his throat. She’s absolutely beautiful!

 

She seemed to walk on air as she floated toward her groom. Murmurs of appreciation were heard from the guests.

 

Peter wanted to hold Trixie back; he wanted to keep his girl to himself for just a little longer. Glancing down at his daughter briefly before looking ahead to the man that she loved, Peter knew he could not want or wish for anyone better for his girl. Jim was indeed the ‘most wonderful boy’, now grown into the most wonderful man. He knew Trixie would be loved and cherished for the rest of her life. She’d never want for anything that couldn’t, or wouldn’t, be instantly provided.

 

Knowing that Jim loved Trixie as much as she obviously loved him helped ease the ache in his heart. Peter quickly tried to quell the feelings trying to make their way to the forefront. He still couldn’t help but feel the loss of his little girl.

 

The consolation was she would forever be his daughter. But more importantly, from this day forward, she’d also be Jim Frayne’s wife. She was so incredibly happy he couldn’t help but be happy for her, too.

 

Trixie was oblivious to her father’s turmoil. Once her eyes fell on Jim, she saw nothing else. Nothing but her handsome groom, and what promised to be a fabulous future.

 

She knew Honey, Di, and Hallie were waiting for her at the altar also. She knew her brothers and Dan were standing beside Jim. All were pieces of a perfect picture. This was the day she had wished and planned for since she was a child. Some thought she’d only had mysteries on her mind as a teen, but she’d had the same hopes and dreams as other girls.

She knew Jim was special the first moment she met him. Well, after I realized he wasn’t a thief, she mentally corrected herself with a grin.

Jim watched the grin form on her sweet lips and couldn’t help his own.

 

Neither was aware of the flashes of light from the camera capturing the happy moment. Photographer, Zack smiled himself, in awe of the happiness of this group of people.

 

Trixie reached Jim’s side. Peter held her hand to his arm for just a moment longer, bringing her eyes to his. Smiling, he bent and kissed her cheek. He whispered that he loved her and reached to place her hand into Jim’s. Peter’s eyes met Jim’s. He nodded to his future son-in-law. Smiling one last time at the couple, he slowly left his daughter at the altar with Jim. He felt Helen’s soft hand clasp his when he took his seat beside her.

 

Pastor Miller began the ceremony. His voice was strong and clear, making Peter feel better and look beyond his own loss to his daughter’s obvious happiness. His wife sniffed softly and he pressed a handkerchief into her hand.

 

The pastor had reached the point of asking the couple to clasp each other’s hands and look into each other’s eyes.  Until that moment, Jim felt as if he had been holding his breath. Trixie’s china blue eyes met his green, and he thought he heard a slight gasp come from her parted lips. His gaze was intense until she smiled tremulously. Jim smiled in return and squeezed her hands. Trixie’s smile instantly changed to a grin, and she squeezed his hands in response.

 

Pastor Miller asked Trixie to please repeat after him.

 

“I, Beatrix Alicia Belden, take you, James Winthrop Frayne, to be my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, all the days of my life.”

 

Trixie obeyed, with just a small wrinkling of her nose when she had to say her hated full name.

 

The pastor turned toward Jim and asked the same of him. Jim happily complied.

 

 “I, James Winthrop Frayne, take you, Beatrix Alicia Belden, to be my lawfully wedded wife…”

 

They finished their vows and waited for the pastor to bless the rings. Brian and Honey each carefully surrendered the circles of gold to the minister and the ring exchange began.

 

Trixie held her left hand out to Jim for him to place her wedding band on her ring finger.  She was surprised to see her hand shake slightly and quickly looked up to see if Jim had noticed. He seemed oblivious and solemnly held his own hand to her.

 

Jim closed his eyes for just a moment in prayer that Trixie wouldn’t notice the trembling in his hand.

 

“With this ring, I thee wed.”

 

Those words were heard for the second time that day and the onlookers sighed as one.

Jim glanced down at his bride, noticing a shimmer of unshed tears on her lashes. Concern flooded his features as he gently took his thumb and wiped them away.

 

Trixie looked up at him, the love in her heart pouring through her eyes. She smiled sheepishly, not having noticed Jim’s own tears.

He squeezed her hands tightly, looking to offer her support and yet seeking the reassurance that she was truly okay.

 

“With the power vested in me, by the state of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. Jim, you may now kiss your bride!”  Pastor Miller grinned.

 

Their eyes met briefly before Trixie felt Jim’s mouth on hers. The group of their family and friends burst into a grand applause. But, the ecstatic couple only knew their own happiness and joy.

 

Trixie’s mouth was so sweet that Jim would have continued to kiss his wife had Brian, not cleared his throat. Jim lifted his head and grinned back at his friend. A shrug from the groom brought snickers from Mart and Dan.

 

Jim looked back at his wife, still held tightly in his arms. “I love you, Trixie Frayne.”

 

Trixie’s eyes widened when she heard her new name, “I love you, Jim Frayne, my husband,” Then she stifled the giggle that burst forth when Jim’s eyes widened over being called her husband.

 

Jim couldn’t help but chuckle. Trixie joined in, as did the entire wedding party.

 

Servants from the Manor House came forward with glasses of champagne for everyone. The children and teenagers of the ensemble were given special glasses of apple juice instead of alcohol.

 

Once everyone had a glass in hand, Brian cleared his throat, and then grinned. “I seem to be doing that a lot today.”

 

Giggles and laughter sounded and Brian let it quiet before he continued. “I was very happy and proud to stand beside my best friend Jim today while he made my baby sister the happiest woman alive.”

 

Trixie felt the prick of tears in her eyelids and blinked to stem their flow.

 

He continued, “I think we all knew this day would come for these two. Well, eventually, anyway. I always wondered if Jim would make it to this day with his red hair intact.” Brian grinned, then his face softened with the feelings he felt for his sister and friend.

 

“I read somewhere that ‘Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married.’ I have great faith that that will always be something that holds true for Trixie and Jim.” He then turned to Trixie and Jim.

 

“If ever you are to enjoy life…now is the time! Today should always be your most wonderful day. Let today be the building block for all the years to come, and may your home and hearth be filled with your laughter, for all the days of your life.”

 

Raising his glass of champagne, Brian paused for the other guests to follow suit, “May today be the first day of the rest of your life!”

 

The group was silent while they drank from their glasses, and then they began to call out their agreement.

“Here, here!”

“Amen!”

“Well said!!”

Trixie sipped her own bubbly, stealing a covert glance at her new husband. Jim saw her look, and eased his glass from his lips. He gave her hand a squeeze and beamed at his bride.

She giggled over the rim of her glass.

“I love you, Mrs. Frayne, so very much!” he whispered. “Thank you for making my dreams come true.”

Once again, Trixie blinked back happy tears. “Oh, Jim. You’ve made all my dreams come true! I love you!”

Jim took her empty glass from her and set both of theirs on the tray of a server passing by. Smiling his thanks and murmuring something about making sure those glasses get up to the Manor House, he turned to his wife.

“Thank you for your love. Your love is everything to me. I look forward to each tomorrow because we get to spend them together. This truly is the first day of the rest of my life.”

Trixie watched as Jim slowly lowered his lips to hers. The flash from cameras caught the sweet moment. Trixie’s eyes closed, and she thanked God for the man holding her close, for this moment and for each and every second to come.

 

AUTHOR’S NOTES~      Thank you Cathy!!!  I’ve spent another year with you at this site, along with many other friends. Jixemitri and the people involved with it have been such a blessing in my life!  J

 

I want to thank my lovely editors- Steph. H. and Patte (FairyGodMom) I was so proud of myself getting ahead of schedule with writing this story. But, these ladies did even better than I did! J Thank you both for being so quick!!!

 

As always, I thank Vivian for my home at vamato.net. Sweet, it is!!!  J

 

Now some story notes:

The quotes that Brian said in his toast were the two that I said at my sister’s wedding in my toast to Jamie and John. I actually found them on a web site that held many, many wedding quotes for toasts. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any authors/credits listed.

 

Jim thanking Trixie for her love- well, that is based on me and Jim. We say that to each other often, and we also say we love each other, “so very much.”  J And I thank God each and every day for my Jim being in my life and loving me.

 

I hope you liked this quick look at Trixie and Jim’s wedding. There is more to that story of course, but I’m not sure when I’ll get to it!