BooksBarbecue
Back First Comes Love Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

After I’ve made my decision to go through with the wedding, it all spirals out of my control. The hair stylist inserts fresh pink roses in my hair, the makeup artist gives my cheeks a last minute brush of color, and before I know it, the wedding march is playing and I’m at my father’s side, walking down the long, long aisle. I hold on to him, hoping this walk will be over soon and willing it to last forever at the same time. So I’m not marrying my first love; almost no one does. Nothing wrong with that. I focus my attention on Richard’s adoring face. I don’t deserve you. The treacherous thought slips out of my head.

I’m such a fraud. Richard’s face is glowing with love, and not two minutes ago, I was contemplating leaving him at the altar to chase after another man.

We reach the front of the chapel and my dad gives my hand to Richard. I hold tightly onto Richard’s strong arm, trying to stop mine from shaking. I try to plaster a confident smile on my face. Richard leads me to our spots in the center of the aisle and the minister opens the ceremony.

“Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here on this beautiful day to celebrate the union of Gemma and Richard in matrimony…”

Right, there’s no turning back at this point.

As the ceremony progresses, increasingly frequent shivers of panic spider walk down my spine. My palms begin pooling with sweat and I try to inconspicuously dry them on the skirt of my dress. I hope no one notices.

“…In the time that Gemma and Richard have spent together, they’ve built the sturdy foundation for a lifelong relationship…”

Now, seriously. We’ve been together barely a year. It hardly qualifies as a sturdy foundation. Lifelong relationship. It gives me pause; I’m committing myself to Richard for life. It’s not on a day-by-day basis anymore; it’s forever. Forever! Tiny beads of sweat make their appearance on my forehead. Why are those huge yellow lights pointing right in our faces? Are they trying to melt us?

“…May you all remember and cherish this ceremony, for on this day, with love, we will forever bind Gemma and Richard together…”

This forever thing again. Why does he keep repeating it? Isn’t once enough?

A noise behind us distracts me. It sounds like the chapel’s front door opening. Some late guest maybe. I’m tempted to look back, but I’m afraid that if I see an open escape route, I’ll take it.

My corset’s too tight. I can’t breathe. Oh gosh, I’m going to pass out. I can’t breathe. I need to get out of this dress; I need out. Out, I need out.