Chapter 784 - It begins!

3:24 PM…

All the guys (except for Jeff) are in the 'hallway-tunnel' when the girls arrived. Guys' attention got drawn to the girls' chatter mixed with laugh.

Each of the bridesmaids has matching chiffon gowns, and each gown has some unique features.

The gowns are a soft blue color, but depending on how light hits the fabric, color changes to pastel green. This color change of the fabric depending on the light angle is something that Ellie perfected and it's one of the signature features of her latest creations.

Each bridesmaid is happy with her dress. Halter draped bodice with high neckline and a flowing skirt is undeniably flattering to both tall and slim bodies like Millie's as well as petite ones like Bridgette's.

The bodice is draped in such a way that it provides an inverted 'V' shape where chest and sides of the waist are held snugly by the fabric while area in the middle is covered loosely by the skirt part of the gown. Sophia loves it, because it accommodates her growing belly and she has a matching dress with the rest of the bridesmaids without looking like it came from the maternity section. In the area of Sophia's left collarbone, Ellie added diamond accessory which Felix designed to make it extra special.

Keyhole back has two sheer strips of fabric flowing from each side, from below the shoulder blades where bodice ends, toward the halter in the back of the neck. Sarah's dress has additional fabric which is sewn to look like roses in full bloom over the sheer strips on her back. She is very happy with this, because it covers her scars from the surgeries which she had few months ago. Scars healed well and are barely visible, but Sarah is still aware of them and prefers them covered.

Each of the bridesmaids has blue, teal and green ribbons and small jeweled flowers braided in their curly chignon hairstyle, making them look like fairies.

Girls observed that all the guys look dashing in their suits, and few girls even playfully whistled as they approached them.

Sarah went straight toward Aiden, Sophia to Felix, Emma to Bradley and Jill to Vincent.

Millie and Sharon (of course) went to Jasper.

Ellie and Bridgette came last, since Ellie adjusted draping in the back of Bridgette's gown, making sure that everything looks perfect. Bridgette's gown has a wide sash as a unique feature, accentuating her narrow waist. Based on the way Steve almost gaped at Bridgette, he approves of her look.

Ellie saw that Millie and Sharon approached Jasper and paused her steps. She has no intention of fighting for his attention with those two, or anyone else.

Ellie was surprised to hear Jasper's words: "Don't you two ladies have partners to go to? You are blocking the way for mine."

Jasper didn't sound polite at all but to Ellie that was one of the most pleasant things she heard coming from him.

Sharon and Millie grimaced and went to Russel and Christopher while ignoring Ellie.

When two of them moved, Ellie saw that Jasper is more than dashing in the gray formal suit which has blue details on the lapels and at the bottom of the sleeves. Blue handkerchief peeking out of the breast pocket and a blue necktie completed the color-matching part with girl's dresses. And somehow, the whole outfit made his icy-blue eyes a deeper blue color and Ellie had to remind herself to keep on breathing.

Jasper extended his arm to Ellie, palm up, and she placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her closer.

"You look lovely.", he said in a low voice when she was less than a half of step away from him.

"Thank you. You too.", Ellie awkwardly responded. She really didn't know how to react to this... attitude change.

Ellie pulled her hand out of his grasp and kept her hands behind her back.

Did he just chase those two because of her? And what is with that charming smile? She decided to do her best in avoiding to meet his icy-blue eyes. She can't allow herself to lower her defenses just because he did one decent thing... it will take much more than that.

Ellie's awkwardness was cut off by Sophia.

"Don't rub the belly! You will wrinkle the dress…", Sophia was whispering with urgency to Felix.

"I will not rub. Let me just touch.", Felix was not willing to give up easily.

"You two! Now I see why Anna told me to make sure you don't kiss. You are spoiling your make up!", Sophia was scolding Sarah and Aiden whose lips were locked in a kiss.

"Felix! What did I say about not touching the belly?"

"You said not to rub it.", Felix reminded Sophia. "I'm not rubbing it… but if you keep moving around, that is the same as me rubbing it…"

Ellie burst into a fit of giggles. Sophia fuming while Sarah and Aiden are ignoring her and Felix is full of smiles pretending that he does not see her displeasure, was just too funny to hold it in.

After few seconds, Ellie saw that Jasper is looking at her intently. She stopped laughing and cleared her throat. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Yes."

"What?", Ellie reached with her hand and patted invisible crumbs from her cheeks.

"A smile."

Jasper's response caught Ellie by surprise.

Ellie looked away from him and was happy to see that Julia is approaching them.

"It's time… line up, please.", Julia was trembling from excitement. If someone does not know, they might think it's her wedding.

…

Outside, Jeff is standing at the altar and Elanor is adjusting his necktie and tugging on his lapels (for the fourth time).

"You are very handsome.", Elanor gushed, visibly excited.

"Thanks mom. Go and take a seat, it will start in a minute."

The first row was reserved for the closest family members, on the left for JoAnna's and on the right Jeffrey's.

Jeff was surprised to see that his and JoAnna's grandparents sat together on the left, while their parents were on the right. On the right, next to Oscar was also Jeff's uncle, Marcus with his family, and on the left, next to Mary, was Owen.

The biggest surprise for Jeff was that his maternal grandfather, Richard was also present. Richard was on the left between Donald and James while Mary and Barbara sat next to them. All of them chatted in low voices with big smiles on their faces.

Jeff was confident that Richard will be moved to see one of the necklaces he created many years ago around JoAnna's neck.

Seeing them all acting like close friends made him feel that they are really combining two families with this marriage.

The only not-so-happy part of the front row belonged to his uncle Marcus, a woman next to him which Jeff assumed is his wife, and Marcus's two children, Lucas and Samara. They all had indifferent or slightly grumpy faces. Jeff doesn't mind them, as long as they don't cause trouble.

On each side of the flowery pathway are chairs, with roughly about one hundred people seated. Other guests are further away, in the garden area, and can watch the ceremony on one of the three large screens which are showing the live feed.

Out of girls marked to be watched for this event, Harriet Morgan is seated in the beach area. She is not very interested in the ceremony, and her mother silently warned her to stop checking her phone.

Also seated toward the back in the beach area is the Wright family with their daughter Melodie. They arrived early that morning. Melodie earned her spot on the watchlist when Elanor warned them that Wright family is not hiding their desire to make Melodie future Mrs. White.

The background music changed, and the people quieted down.

"It begins!", few people said in unison.

Jeff straightened his back and looked toward the end of the white carpet, which is laid out over the wooden base from the altar to the end of the beach sandy beach.