hall.
"I know the best man and maid of honor have already given their toasts to the bride and groom, but I just wanted to say a few words." He looked over at his sister and smiled. "Today I had the honor of filling in for a roll that, no matter how old I get, I will never be big enough to truly fill his shoes. I got to walk the best older sister, by twelve minutes, down the aisle and give her away to be married."
After pausing briefly to allow the soft laughter to die down, he held his hand out to Diana and when she placed hers in his, he helped her up and led her to the center of the ballroom. "It is a joyous day, without a doubt. But it is also bittersweet, because sadly our father is only here with us in spirit. But my mother and I, and James as well," he turned and acknowledged his new brother-in-law, "wanted to make sure his presence was felt. So we put together a little something for you."
The music began to play, along with a slideshow filled with photos of Diana and their father, starting from when she was a baby, until some of the last pictures they'd taken together.
"You did this Dyl?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
Dylan nodded and swallowed, his own throat clogging up. He cleared his throat and said, "This is usually where they have the father/daughter first dance. I figured since I've already walked you down the aisle, my job wouldn't be complete without a dance."
Diana smiled through her tears, and Dylan pulled his sister into his arms and they began to waltz around the dance floor. Julie had made up a perfect dance that would be easy enough for Diana to catch on to, since she'd been taking lessons of her own.
Once the dance was over, everyone stood and clapped. There didn't seem to be a dry eye in the house.
Diana wrapped her arms around Dylan in a tight hug.
"You've made this the absolute, most perfect wedding day a girl could ask for. Thank you, Dylan."
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Julie took a sip of wine and wiped yet another tear from her eye. She couldn't seem to stop crying ever since the touching video and dance Dylan had put together for his sister.
She was surprised to suddenly see a pocket napkin in her face.
"You are much too beautiful to be shedding tears."
She looked up to see Dylan standing over her.
She took the napkin from him and dried her eyes.
"It's a wedding," she excused. "Everyone cries at weddings."
"Be that as it may, I still hate to see you cry."
"Your tribute was beautiful."
"I had a lot of help. Thank you by the way."
"No thanks needed. I was happy to help. Besides, they were basic steps, you really didn't need my help."
"Any excuse to have you in my arms will do," he said with a grin. "Speaking of which, will you dance with me?"
"I would love to."
They made their way over to the dance floor and he pulled her close to him. He kissed the side of her face as they danced slowly and she closed her eyes, placing her cheek on his shoulder.
"I want you to come away with me next weekend."
Her eyes flew open, shocked by his words.
"Go away with you?"
"Yes, on my boat."
"You have a boat?"
"I do. Actually I have two. One here, the other in Martha's Vineyard. That one was my dad's."
"Oh...so you want to go out sailing, on your boat?"
"I want to take you somewhere by boat," he clarified.
"Where?" she asked.
"It's a surprise."
"And you want to spend the entire weekend on the boat?"
"Not exactly," he chuckled. "But we will do a little fishing, cook up what we catch. Make love on the boat in the middle of the ocean."
He kissed her below the ear after his last suggestion, and she blew out an aroused breath.
"You sure do know how to tempt a girl."
"Is it working?" he asked, huskily.
She peered into his eyes and knew she couldn't say no.
"What should I bring?"
"Just your gorgeous self. And a
"I know the best man and maid of honor have already given their toasts to the bride and groom, but I just wanted to say a few words." He looked over at his sister and smiled. "Today I had the honor of filling in for a roll that, no matter how old I get, I will never be big enough to truly fill his shoes. I got to walk the best older sister, by twelve minutes, down the aisle and give her away to be married."
After pausing briefly to allow the soft laughter to die down, he held his hand out to Diana and when she placed hers in his, he helped her up and led her to the center of the ballroom. "It is a joyous day, without a doubt. But it is also bittersweet, because sadly our father is only here with us in spirit. But my mother and I, and James as well," he turned and acknowledged his new brother-in-law, "wanted to make sure his presence was felt. So we put together a little something for you."
The music began to play, along with a slideshow filled with photos of Diana and their father, starting from when she was a baby, until some of the last pictures they'd taken together.
"You did this Dyl?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
Dylan nodded and swallowed, his own throat clogging up. He cleared his throat and said, "This is usually where they have the father/daughter first dance. I figured since I've already walked you down the aisle, my job wouldn't be complete without a dance."
Diana smiled through her tears, and Dylan pulled his sister into his arms and they began to waltz around the dance floor. Julie had made up a perfect dance that would be easy enough for Diana to catch on to, since she'd been taking lessons of her own.
Once the dance was over, everyone stood and clapped. There didn't seem to be a dry eye in the house.
Diana wrapped her arms around Dylan in a tight hug.
"You've made this the absolute, most perfect wedding day a girl could ask for. Thank you, Dylan."
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Julie took a sip of wine and wiped yet another tear from her eye. She couldn't seem to stop crying ever since the touching video and dance Dylan had put together for his sister.
She was surprised to suddenly see a pocket napkin in her face.
"You are much too beautiful to be shedding tears."
She looked up to see Dylan standing over her.
She took the napkin from him and dried her eyes.
"It's a wedding," she excused. "Everyone cries at weddings."
"Be that as it may, I still hate to see you cry."
"Your tribute was beautiful."
"I had a lot of help. Thank you by the way."
"No thanks needed. I was happy to help. Besides, they were basic steps, you really didn't need my help."
"Any excuse to have you in my arms will do," he said with a grin. "Speaking of which, will you dance with me?"
"I would love to."
They made their way over to the dance floor and he pulled her close to him. He kissed the side of her face as they danced slowly and she closed her eyes, placing her cheek on his shoulder.
"I want you to come away with me next weekend."
Her eyes flew open, shocked by his words.
"Go away with you?"
"Yes, on my boat."
"You have a boat?"
"I do. Actually I have two. One here, the other in Martha's Vineyard. That one was my dad's."
"Oh...so you want to go out sailing, on your boat?"
"I want to take you somewhere by boat," he clarified.
"Where?" she asked.
"It's a surprise."
"And you want to spend the entire weekend on the boat?"
"Not exactly," he chuckled. "But we will do a little fishing, cook up what we catch. Make love on the boat in the middle of the ocean."
He kissed her below the ear after his last suggestion, and she blew out an aroused breath.
"You sure do know how to tempt a girl."
"Is it working?" he asked, huskily.
She peered into his eyes and knew she couldn't say no.
"What should I bring?"
"Just your gorgeous self. And a
Similar Books
