Chapter 116: Chapter 116

''To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever.'' www.brainyquote.com

Claire's POV

The next day, we were invited to uncle Kevin's house for dinner. My parents and brothers were also there. Jordan and Jennifer had gone to Italy for their honeymoon. They started planning for our wedding.

They wanted our wedding to be held in New Jersey as gran always wished. So they selected a wedding venue located in Sea Bright, New Jersey that provided unsurpassed views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Shrewsbury River. Surrounded by water on both sides, this Jersey Beach Club offered a blank canvas for an elegant and dramatic wedding celebration.

So, the guest list was drawn up. Gran wanted to be my flower girl and Nicola, my maid of honor. I had become friends with Melanie and Cindy at college, so I called them to be my bridesmaids. They were too excited at the news. I informed Nicola too and she was ecstatic. Stefan was the best man and the rest of my brothers and Jordan would be groomsmen.

We would be going to Switzerland for our honeymoon. Uncle Kevin would gift us the all-paid trip on our wedding day.

Aunt Sarah wanted Jennifer's seamstress to stitch my wedding dress as well as the whole wedding wardrobe. I went with her to the boutique and gave her my measurements. The cake and menu were sanctioned, as they would be taken care of by the club who would organize the whole wedding.

We would stay with gran at her mansion whereas the rest of the guests could stay at a hotel that dad booked for the wedding, near gran's house.

There was excitement in the air as the whole family geared up for our wedding. Gran called me up many times and so did mom.

Aunt Sarah dropped by our house at least once a week ensuring that I was eating well. She took me shopping, took me to a spa, and worried and fussed over me all the time.

Finally, my wedding week arrived, and I took leave from college and we flew down to New Jersey.

We reached New Jersey by evening and my whole family was already there to receive us. I would be sharing gran's room for four days till my wedding. The boys gave Jason a stag party at one of the restaurants nearby.

My bridal shower party was held at the terrace of gran's mansion. I received blessings and gifts and enjoyed the delicious food that Martha, mom, and aunt Sarah cooked for us. It was a homely get-together with no alcohol as I wasn't of age to have any.

The next day we visited the venue. Perfectly situated on a private sandy beach, the casual yet elegant atmosphere created the ideal setting for a coastal beach wedding, just like I had dreamed of.

With only two days to go, they had started the decorations, and the 7,000-square-foot Empress Ballroom for the reception was already surrounded by neutral colors and coastal vibes, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean through its large windows. It was connected to the beachfront terrace, providing a refreshing escape for everyone.

The white oceanside gazebo was decorated with white flowing tulle fabric tied and bunched together with floral garlands. It was for our ceremony on the beach, giving us a lovely walkway that would lead us to exchange our vows.

Dad was happy with the menu package offered. He also got to taste the sample food and he was satisfied. We returned home and Jason whisked me away to the terrace.

"This is torture love," he said as I hugged him tightly. "I can't stay away anymore."

"I know, gran is very restless at night and I can't sleep," I told him as his face brightened up.

"I'll tell mom, this way with sleepless nights you will be tired on our wedding night," he said grumpily.

"Please don't, gran will be hurt," I warned.

"Oh, she won't know the real reason," he said mischievously.

So that evening aunt Sarah and mom shifted me to a small spare room upstairs at the far end of the corridor beside the laundry room. I was happy to have my own bed and room. After dinner, I went to my room and immediately fell asleep.

Halfway through the night, I felt my bed dip and warm hands cuddle me to a warm chest. I smelled Jason's minty breath on my neck and I turned around and hid my face in his chest. He chuckled and held me tightly.

"I missed you, love," he said.

"I missed you too," I told him.

"Are you happy?" he asked and I knew he wanted to know whether I was happy to marry him, to be with him forever.

"Yes, very happy, it was my dream to be your girl, to marry you one day," I told him truthfully as he kissed me slowly, tenderly.

"My dreams of you were of a different nature, though," he said as he bit my earlobe gently. "Want me to show you what I used to dream of doing to you?"

"Yes, show me," I said feeling brave.

He made love to me again and again till we were exhausted enough to sleep.

The next day was my bachelorette party organized by my bridesmaids and Nicola. We had a pool party where the boys were not allowed anywhere near the vicinity although I knew there was no blocking Tristan out. He would devise some naughty way to check out the whole thing.

We had fun, rain dance, mocktails, and lots of pool games till mom stopped and dragged me inside.

"That's it, Claire, we don't want you falling sick. Tomorrow is your wedding," she scolded me and I went up to my room to change.

The next day, we went to the venue in the afternoon, four hours prior to the wedding ceremony. I was given a room to get ready. Mom, Nicola, and aunt Sarah checked how the attendants were progressing. I wore a beautiful off-shoulder, A-line dress with ornate laces taking on various organic shapes that spread out across the bodice and illusion neckline. There was decadent detailing throughout both the sheer layers and the full tulle skirt while maintaining an overall sense of lightness.

They fixed my hair up in a unique braided updo with small floral details attached to the bun, leaving a few tendrils to float near my cheeks.

Dad and uncle Kevin came to take me to the beach where everyone was waiting for the ceremony to begin. Gran as my flower girl was looking lovely in a white flowing gown. Nicola adjusted my veil and train so that I wouldn't trip.

When the music started, gran walked in first followed by Nicola and then Melanie, Cindy, and Jennifer.

Dad and uncle Kevin walked me down the aisle slowly and I looked at Jason looking so very handsome in a charcoal grey tuxedo and green and white boutonnière matching with my bouquet and hair accessory. He stood like a statue watching me as I smiled at him. My brothers and Jordan stood beside him as he waited for me.

I reached him and dad and uncle Kevin gave my hand in his and left to sit with mom aunt Sarah and aunt Emily. The wedding ceremony started and we said our vows. It was a beautiful moment when we united as one as a married couple and Jason kissed me passionately, taking my breath away.

We couldn't wait for the reception party to be over. After the cake-cutting session, I tossed the bouquet and Nicola caught it and we left to go to the honeymoon suite of a nearby hotel that dad booked for us to spend our wedding night. Tomorrow we would be leaving for Switzerland.