I paced nervously, shaking my hands out. A knock at the door interrupted my panic.
"If you're not Carlos, Pierre, or Arthur, leave! Better yet leave the venue! Actually just leave Monaco while you're at it!" I threw the door open.
"What about if we're all three of us?" Pierre asked.
"You should be more careful, throwing doors open like that in your wedding dress for just anyone to see." Carlos closed the door behind the three of them.
"Why did you call an emergency meeting..." Arthur checked his watch. "Fifteen minutes before you're supposed to walk down the aisle?"
I rubbed my shoulder, it had healed but it was still a nervous habit. "It's not cold feet because there is absolutely nothing more in this life that I want more than to marry Charles. But what if this is a mistake? I know that I made sure that Charles marrying me won't affect his racing career and Charles said that it wouldn't affect his mindset when he races, but what if it does?" I threw my hands up. "What if everything goes to shit? What if the strain ends up tearing us apart and we end up in an unhappy marriage where we both secretly hate each other and resent each other because we're trapped?"
Arthur started massaging my shoulders. "Slow down, slow down. Have you talked to Charles about any of this?"
"We talked about it extensively." My head lolled to the side. "A little to the left, that feels really good Thur, I think you missed your calling."
Pierre held up his hand. "So you're telling me that you've talked to Charles about this already. And he's completely fine with it obviously as seen by the fact that he's currently waiting for this wedding to start while you're here panicking?"
I shrugged off Arthur's hands, bouncing on the balls of my feet, shaking my hands, looking up. "Yes! What if the reception goes terribly? What if no one likes the food? What if Danny spills wine on Heidi's dress? What if-"
Carlos grabbed my arms. "Kat, stop. Your wedding is going exactly how you both planned it. Charles is so in love with you that he would do anything for you and you're so in love with him that you have done everything. So how I see it, you and Charles are two people who have faced a lot of challenges and are still here, you're still together. There is nothing you two can't face if you do it together and that includes your wedding."
"Now I'm going to cry and it's going to be all your fault!" I started tapping the corners of my eyes frantically.
Pierre looked at me quizzically. "What are you doing?"
"I can't smudge my make-up," I explained.
"I think you were panicking because everything is actually going perfectly for you two and you're afraid things are going to go wrong because of that because they have to even out. But hear me out, you've both gone through so many bad things, maybe this is things evening out? You two deserve to be happy. I don't care what I have to do to make sure of it but so help me God, I will make sure that you two are happy and this wedding happens," Pierre said adamantly.
"Are you threatening me with a good wedding?" I laughed.
The Frenchman nodded. "Yes, and I will follow through with it."
"Seriously though Kat, you're already part of our family. You don't need to be worried about it because we all love you and you and Charles are great together. You've had your ups and downs but you've always come through them stronger. You might drive Charles crazy sometimes but I've also never seen him happier than when he's with you." Arthur nudged my arm.
I opened my arms. "Hugs, now."
The three guys surrounded me in a group hug.
Arthur checked his watch again. "Ah no! The wedding is supposed to start in five minutes!"
"Fuck! Go and tell Charles the wedding is still on obviously!" I shooed the driver out the door. "Pierre, let them know that we're just slightly behind schedule. Carlos-"
Carlos stopped me. "I need to talk to you first, then you can order me around."
"I'm supposed to be getting married!" I started pacing again once Pierre and Arthur left.
"Kat, you and I both know why you're actually panicking right now." Carlos said softly.
I dropped into a chair. "I rarely ever pictured what my wedding would be like when I was young but all I knew was that my family would be there. My mom would be crying, my dad would be in tears but proud as he walked me down the aisle, Alex would be teasing me over something." My shoulders sagged. "But now when I get to that door and I look down that aisle, their row will be empty. Just three empty seats."
"Your family would be so incredibly proud of you, they'd be so happy that you found your happiness." Carlos rested his hand on my shoulder. "I know it can't be how you thought it would be, but we're all here for you. You won't be alone."
"Thank you." I smiled faintly at him.
He returned the smile and then stood up, brushing off his pants. "We'll be waiting for you."
I watched as he started walking towards the door before I stood quickly. "I need to ask you a favor."
- - - -
Charles POV
I paced anxiously in the front of the church, checking my watch constantly as if somehow time would reverse.
"Arthur!" my younger brother came into view. "What's going on? Is Kat ok?
He nodded. "Just a little behind schedule. Pierre is letting the musicians know, I'm supposed to let you know so you don't panic but I think I might have arrived too late for that."
I stared at my brother for a moment. "So everything is ok?"
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Yes, but I see your humor isn't."
I pushed my brother. "I'll laugh at your jokes as soon as they become funny."
A loud clap brought us back to focus. I looked over at Ines who had done the clapping.
"Ok everybody, I just talked to Kat. We're good to go." She smiled at me. "She looks stunning."
I released a breath and shook out my hands. "I guess it's my turn." I looked around the group. "Thank you all, this day wouldn't be the same without you."
The music began and suddenly my mouth was dry. "This is happening."
"Yes it is, but you're supposed to be on the other end of the aisle." Pierre pointed down the aisle as he returned from talking to the musicians.
Somehow I made it to where I was supposed to stand and looked at the people in the crowd. We had elected to have a very private ceremony with only people we were close to. Kat had managed to appease the government officials with the promise of a very lavish wedding photoshoot during the week after. In pairs, the wedding party began walking down the aisle.
George and Carmen. Alex Albon and Lily. Max and Kelly. Danny and Heidi. Pierre and Kika. Carlos... Where was Carlos? Why was Isa walking down the aisle alone? I fought the panic rising in my chest. Where was my teammate? Arthur and Ines walked in last as the best man and the maid of honor. They weren't panicking. Why weren't they panicking? I drummed my fingers nervously against my thigh, looking down at my shoes to even my breathing. The music changed. My head jerked up and tears welled in my eyes.
True to Ines' word, she was stunning. But she was more than that, she was breathtaking, awe-inspiring, heart stopping. To say she was simply gorgeous was a disservice. I wiped my eyes quickly so that the tears didn't obstruct my view of her walking down the aisle towards me. But that's when I realized it. Her hand was on Carlos' arm as he walked her slowly down the aisle. I stared at my teammate and he smiled at me, nodding slightly. Her steps faltered. I tore my eyes away from them to see what she was looking at and smiled, not even trying to hide the fact that tears were running down my face now.
Pierre and I had come up with the idea one night. He had spent days rummaging through photos with Andre while I had kept Kat distracted, then at night we had picked through the photos until we found the right ones. In the row where our families would have sat, there were framed photos. A picture of Kat and her dad, Kat and her mom, and then a picture of Kat and her brother, Alex. Then for me, a picture of me and my father, Jules and I, and then Anthoine and I. She covered her mouth with her hand while Carlos covered her hand with his, reassuring her.
Reaching the end of the aisle, Carlos put her hand in mine before leaning in closer so only I could hear him. "I don't need to say this, but I'd be a bad aisle walker if I didn't. You hurt her in any way, you're dead. And I have a whole lot of people who would help me hide your body."
My eyes widened momentarily before Carlos patted me on the back and joined the other guys.
"I would say he's not serious but..." she teased.
I squeezed her hand. "I never plan on hurting you so I guess I'll be safe."
Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. I loved her smile.
"Thank you for bringing our families." Her voice was quiet.
My smile softened. "They're already with us but I thought it would be nice to see them too."
The ceremony commenced and seemed to last both forever and only a second at the same time. I must've done everything right because before I knew it, I was being told that I could kiss the bride.
My hands shook as I cradled her face. Her eyes shone as she held my gaze.
I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip. "I love you, princess."
"I love you too, racer." Her hands rested on my chest.
Leaning in, I pressed a kiss to her lips.
————
Part one of the Epilogue in time for the start of the Monaco Grand Prix ❤️🤍 Forza Ferrari❤️