"Pop
Life"
Chapter 73
"Mama, why do you have your wedding album out?" I ask as I start flipping through the pages of the album that is laying on the island counter in the kitchen.
She closes the refrigerator door and opens a bottled water.
"I was going to pick out one for a special VH1 wants to do." She takes a sip of water.
"You're going to give them one of your pictures?" I ask. I stop at a picture of my parent's looking at each other, with the sunset as the silhouette behind them. "This was always my favorite," I tell her.
"Mine too. Should I send them that one?" she asks leaning against the counter.
"You're getting this back, right?"
She laughs. "Of course. I was thinking of sending this one or..." she starts to flip the pages, "this one."
"Well, what are they going to use it for? Is it a special about you or daddy or something else?" I ask before I take a sip from her water bottle.
"It's about you."
I cough a little bit. "Me? What about?"
"Just a small clip about you as a new artist. I think it's an hour long and there will be a couple other people they showcase."
"Was this supposed to be a surprise? I didn't know anything about it."
The phone rings.
"I don't think it was supposed to be a surprise," she says going to answer the phone. "Hello? Oh hi Darcy...yes, she's right here."
She hands me the phone.
"Hey Darcy, I was just about to call you."
"Girl, do you know who Troy is?"
"Troy?"
"Yeah, Troy Roberts. I think he's in one of your classes. Anyway, he asked Trisha out..."
"Trisha who?"
I was so confused. I had started back to high school only a week ago and she's throwing all these names at me.
Darcy groaned. "Trisha Cunningham."
"Oh okay. And what did Trisha say?"
Mama smiles and me, takes her wedding album and goes into the family room. I sit down on one of the stools.
"Well she said yes. Troy is a hottie. Anyway, his brother likes you."
"Troy's brother?"
"Yes...Adriana, he's a freshman in college," she says in a giddy tone.
I laugh. "I've already got a college aged7 man. I don't need another one."
She got quiet. "So you're serious about still seeing Brad?"
"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well Adriana, he's not here. He's wherever and you're here."
"Darcy I know you don't understand this but it's what Brad and I want. We're going to try to make it work."
"Oh, okay. Shoot, my mom's calling me, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay."
We hang up. I didn't even get to tell her about my ideas for the next football game.
When I walk into the family room, mama's sitting on the couch, with the album opened up on her lap. Ashleigh's sitting next to her, looking at the pictures with her.
"Wasn't mommy so pretty?"
"Yes she was...still is," I say as I sit on the other side of mama.
"I can't believe I've never shown Ashleigh this album," mama says turning the page.
Ashleigh starts laughing. "Look at Uncle Joey."
Mama and I laugh along with her. Uncle Joey is pouting and acting like he's crying.
"He's such a cornball. He was acting like he was sad I was getting married."
"Where was this at?" Ashleigh asks when she sees the beautiful shot of the beach and the ocean.
"Hawaii. I always wanted to get married on the beach at sunset. Of course your daddy arranged for all of this," she says as she motions over the picture.
"Where are we going?" Britney asks her mother.
"To the church, I'm assuming."
"No, we were at the church last night, this isn't the way we went. Mama, do you think we're being kidnapped?"
Jamie Lynn laughs.
"What, it could happen. We don't know this driver," Britney says, starting to panic.
"Rob is up front with him honey, calm down."
"Okay, you're right," she says, letting out a deep breath. "Why am I so nervous? I mean, it's Justin."
"Maybe because you've dreamed about the day you'll marry Justin since you were twelve," Laura Lynn says.
Britney smiles and looks down at her engagement ring. "True...but I shouldn't be nervous because of that. I've known this man half of my life...there is no one else."
"It's a big day," Lynne says patting Britney's hand.
The limo stops in a parking lot.
"This isn't the church. Where are we?"
Britney was starting to panic again.
"Wait until Rob gets us," Lynne replies.
Suddenly the door opens.
"Ms. Britney...ladies," Rob says, holding out a hand to help someone out.
Jamie Lynn is the first to take his hand and get out of the limo.
"Rob, where are we? I don't see the church."
"A small detour ma'am."
"Detour!!!"
The other women get out of the limo.
"Rob, this is serious...this is my wedding day. I don't have time for detours."
"Trust me," he says holding his hand out for her to take.
She grabs his hand and lets him help her out. She looks around and sees a couple of white tents.
"I can hear the ocean."
The women start walking down the white runner that leads them down a pathway. When they get past the tents, Britney's hand covers her mouth at the sight before her.
"Oh my God," she says as the tears start to fall.
They look around at the beautiful scene in front of them. There's rows of chairs that are facing an altar full of white flowers.
"Amazing," Laura Lynn says.
"I don't know what to say," Britney says looking at her mother.
Lynne smiles and squeezes her daughter's hand. "He is amazing. You got a good one, honey."
"Justin did all of this?"
Lynne nods.
"But the church?"
"Is a decoy. There is someone at the church who is driving everyone here for the ceremony. Now, let's get into this dressing room so we can clean your beautiful face off."
The girls all piled into the tent.
"Vera...what are you doing here?" Britney asks as she walks over to the designer and gives her a hug.
"Well, I heard that I might need to alter the dress a little bit. You won't be needing these," she says as she discards the shoes Britney was supposed to wear.
"He thought of everything," Britney says, shaking her head.
Britney could hear people talking outside the tent. Jamie Lynn kept poking her head out to look.
"All of the guys are here," she reports.
"The groomsmen?" Lynne asks as she combs her fingers through Jamie Lynn's hair again.
She nods. "They're right across the way."
"How are you doing?" Fe asks Britney.
"I'm doing okay. I can't wait for this to begin."
Vera cuts the last thread and looks Britney over. "Okay, tell me what you think," she says turning Britney around to face the mirror.
"Beautiful," Fe says as she stands next to her.
"Oh Vera. It's perfect."
"I just shortened the hem a little and took it in here...we needed to make it more simple for the beach."
Britney nods. "It's perfect, thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, I'm going to go be a guest."
"Thank you," Lynne tells her as she sees her out.
All of the women left the tent so that they could take their place and walk down the aisle.
Jamie pokes his head in the tent. "You ready sweet pea?"
"Yes daddy."
She picks up her bouquet of white lilies and takes his hand. There's a wedding coordinator who keeps them behind the tent so no one can see them yet. She fixes Britney's dress and headpiece of flowers before she says, "Now, remember to breath and smile. Did you put Vaseline on your teeth?"
Britney smiles and nods. "Yes, see?" she asks as she shows her teeth. "They won't stick."
They both chuckle. "Good luck, you look gorgeous."
"Thank you."
The five piece orchestra changes songs and Jamie leads Britney to top of the aisle. Britney looks around and sees familiar, smiling faces. She looks down at the altar but can't see Justin yet. Finally someone moves their head and she sees her husband to be at the end of the altar, smiling at her. He looks breathtaking in his bare feet, white pants and white cotton loose-fitting shirt. He hadn't shaved this morning, she noticed. He knew she loved it when he had a little bit of scruff on his face.
She smiles back at him as she and her dad start to walk down the aisle. When they make it to Justin, he takes her hand, leans down and kisses her.
"Surprise," he says with a devilish smile.
"You spoil me. Thank you."
"Okay you two, there will be enough time for that later," the minister starts.
The crowd laughs.
"I couldn't help myself," Justin jokes.
The ceremony begins and just as Justin and Britney turn to each other to say their vows, the sun is setting directly behind them.
"Britney, I feel like I've loved you all of my life. You're my inspiration every single day. I think about you when I wake up and I think about you when I go to sleep. I don't know what the rest of my life would be like without you because it wouldn't be a life. You mesmerize me with your knowledge, your beauty, your sense of humor. Know that I will spend the rest of my life cherishing what we have together. I will be faithful and honor you always. I love you, Britney Jean Spears."
Britney wipes a tear away and returns her hand to Justin's.
"Justin, I always dreamed I would meet my Prince Charming one day. And today I'm marrying mine. You make all of my dreams come true. You make me laugh, you make me cry, I still get butterflies inside when you're around. My love for you has never faltered and never will. I know my love for you is still alive when my heart does flip-flops every time I see you. You mesmerize me with your knowledge, your beauty, your sense of humor. Know that I will spend the rest of my life cherishing what we have together. I will be faithful and honor you always. I love you, Justin Randall Timberlake."
They exchange rings and as it got darker, there were small lanterns that lit up around the perimeter of the guests and altar.
"Now, by the power vested in me, from the state of Hawaii, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now Justin, you may kiss your new bride."
Justin smiles at Britney, takes her face gently in his hands and kisses her. It's a slow meaningful kiss. Their guests start to cheer and applaud as Justin pulls away. He wipes the few tears that have escaped from Britney's eyes with his thumbs.
"I love you," she says.
"I love you too," he replies.
They turn around and hug their family and friends as they walk down the aisle. When they reach the end, Justin pulls Britney behind one of the tents and kisses her again.
"We did it," he says when he pulls away.
"I know. It feels so good. We're married, can you believe that?"
He laughs. "Finally."
I wipe away a tear. "That gets me every time," I say.
Mama laughs and lays her head on top of mine.
"It gets me too."
"That was a nice story mama," Ashleigh says.
"I still can't believe daddy surprised you like that," I say.
"Surprised her like what?" daddy asks as he walks into the family room. He's got an apple in his hand and he takes a bite.
"The wedding," mama says.
"Ohhhh yeah, I scored big on that one," he winks at her.
"I don't think you'd have to do anything else the rest of your life. That moment takes the cake, daddy."
"Yeah well, I like giving surprises."
"And there were more to come after that too," mama says.
Daddy leans down behind mama and kisses the side of her neck.
"And there will always be."
I sigh.
"Is that for the VH1 special?" daddy asks before taking another bite of apple.
"Why does everyone know about this, but me?"
"Oh, maybe it was supposed to be a surprise?" daddy says.
"I don't think so," mama says.
He shrugs.
"How's my little hurricane today?" daddy asks as he leans over and rubs mama's stomach.
"Hurricane?" I laugh.
Ashleigh laughs with me.
"I'm testing out a few nicknames," he says.
Mama rolls her eyes.
"I like mine," Ashleigh smiles up at him.
"I do too, Daffodil," he says before he leans over and kisses her forehead.
"So what did Darcy want?" mama asks as she turns another page.
"Just to gossip. Oh get this...she was telling me that some guys brother likes me and he's in college. I don't think she gets that I'm with Brad."
Mama glances over at daddy, who is now sitting on the chair across from us, before she looks back down at the album.
"I like this one," Ashleigh says, ignoring my conversation.
"Well they probably forget since he's not here with you. Sweetie, remember about the transition you're going to have to go through for the next few weeks. You've experienced a lot this summer. It's made you mature faster than them and they won't understand that."
"I know daddy. I'm beginning to see it more and more. Maybe I should just get that tutor you were talking about."
Daddy shakes his head. "No, I think you're doing okay. Try it for another week or so and see how you adjust, okay?"
I nod.
"Okay."
"Hey Tony...what's this I keep hearing about a VH1 special?"
"Who told you about it?" he asks over the phone.
"Mama and daddy mentioned it. Was it supposed to be a surprise?"
"No... I wonder how they found out? I only found out about it this morning and that's why I called you."
"Oh...well maybe they just found out about it. Mama's sending them some pictures and stuff."
"Well, I'll find out more details. You might have to fly to New York to do the interview, but I'll see if they can capture you at home. I think that would have more of an affect."
"Oh okay."
"Then they're going to interview Brianna and Jennifer Lopez's son, I think."
"Brianna? I thought this was going to be about up and coming stars or something."
"No, it's about children of famous people and how they handle it. What it was like to grow up in the spotlight. Of course each of you has your own talents and are individuals and that's what they're going to highlight."
I laugh. "It sounds like you're reading it from paper."
"I changed a few words," he chuckles.
I sigh. "Well okay, just tell me when and where."
"Will do."