Divided By One

Twin One and Divide

Twin One 

The groom, Ryan, had been waiting for this day for a long time. Since the day that he had met her, he knew that she was the one.  Now, they were finally here. Their wedding day. The music started and the procession began. Ryan walked out first and smiled at his family and friends that had gathered to celebrate with him on this special day. He stood on the right of the altar and looked out to the crowd. He frowned slightly, there was one face that he didn’t see sighing he put a smile back on his face. Ryan watched as the groomsmen and the braids maids finished their walks down the aisle. 

Soon the flower girls came in their blush pink dresses and rose flower crowns. They were his friend’s daughters, fraternal twins, just like his brother and himself. They walked to the end of the aisle and sat next to their mother. The ‘Bridal March’ started and Ryan’s head shot up. The world shifted beneath his feet as he saw his bride for the first time. She was breathtakingly beautiful. She smiled at him as she took her father’s arm. Ryan’s eyes started watering as she drew near, he blinked rapidly to clear them. She laughed as Ryan took her hand in his. 

“I can’t believe this is real,” She said.  

Ryan nodded, “I know.”

They took their places in front of the minister and the ceremony began. Ryan didn’t pay attention too much of the ceremony until the part that she said, “I do,” and then it was his turn. He turned to look his love in the eyes. He smiled lovingly at her and took her face in his hands, “I do,” he said. Her eyes filled with tears and when they fell he brushed them away with his thumbs. The minister smiled as he pronounced them husband and wife for the first time. 

“You may kiss your bride.” Tiffany smiled as Ryan leaned in. Their lips touched and her arms went around his neck as he pulled her closer. They broke apart and faced the crowd. The crowd cheered as the minister announced for the first time a Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Cross.

Divide 

The bride, Tiffany, was standing in the back of the church as her bridesmaids met the groomsmen. She put a hand on her throat. “I’m going to be sick,” She swallowed hard. The last three pairs of nine bridesmaids and groomsmen made their way down the aisle. Why she and Ryan choose nine pairs she couldn’t quite figure out. She thought about her time in the Air Force, her squadron of nine best friends. She was thankful that she was placed in an all-female squadron, but that also meant nine bridesmaids. Tiffany couldn’t have chosen just a few, they were her sisters in arms. Luckily, Ryan had been able to choose nine members of his friends and family for his groomsmen. Tiffany was taken out of her thoughts by her father. Turning to him she asked, “Does my hair look okay?” Her auburn hair was in an elaborate twisted design so that it looked like a rose. 

Her father chuckled slightly and put an arm around her shoulders, “Honey, you look gorgeous. You do not need to worry.” 

Tiffany looked at her father and smiled, “Daddy, I love you so much.” She hugged him hard. 

He smiled and put her hand on his arm, “Your mother would have loved seeing you so happy, are you ready?”

Tiffany nodded and together they moved into position in front of the aisle. She heard the ‘Bridal March’ start to play and the main doors opened. When she saw Ryan she thought that he was the most handsome man in the room as she walked with her father down the aisle. She smiled at her friends and family members as she passed. Her father kissed her on the cheek as she handed her Maid of Honor her bouquet and she stepped up to where Ryan was standing. Tiffany watched him blink rapidly as he took her hand. She laughed lightly, “I can’t believe this is real.” 

“I know,” He replied, his voice soft. 

They took their places in front of the minister and the ceremony began. She said her vows quickly, but meaning every single word from the bottom of her heart. At last, she said, “I do.”

She listened intently as he said his vows and smiled as he took her face in his hands. She leaned into his touch. He said ‘I do’ in a hushed whisper meant for her ears only and those of the minister. She felt his thumbs wipe away tears that she hadn’t noticed slip down her cheeks. Tiffany heard the minister announce them husband and wife but still paid attention only to Ryan. The minister said, “You may now kiss your bride.” 

Tiffany smiled and Ryan kissed her sweetly. She put her arms around his neck as he gently tugged her closer. They parted and turned towards their family and friends. They cheered as the minister pronounced them as the new Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Cross. 

Later in the day, they held the reception and the pictures were taken. Her father had tears in his eyes as they danced their father-daughter dance with a song from Tim McGraw: “My Little Girl”. Then there was the first dance. It was a beautiful, slow-moving waltz with the song “From the Ground Up” by Dan+Shay. They danced close together and as Tiffany placed her head on Ryan’s shoulder, she looked around at all the people that loved her and Ryan so much that they came to celebrate with them. As she looked, she noticed a dark outline of a man in the frame of the main doors, Ryan spun her making her dizzy. When she was still once again the man was gone. Tiffany pushed the thought far from her mind and was practically floating once again as the song finished. She and Ryan kissed as the crowd applauded. The rest of the day went by in a blur that she barely remembered most of it. 

During the cake cutting a motorcycle’s roar was heard as it passed by the building, it was so loud that both Tiffany and Ryan noticed. Ryan scoffed. 

Tiffany kissed him on the cheek, “Let it be. It was just someone passing by.” 

Ryan remained silent. In their hearts, they both knew who it was. 

At eleven pm when Tiffany was seated in a limo with her husband heading towards their honeymoon destination.