I just want to be wonderful.

A lot had happened to Hadley in the past few months. She'd moved to the city, landed her dream job, and gotten married. What she had yet to do, though, was bring her life in Seattle together with the life that she didn't particularly want to leave behind in Renata. That was why she'd asked Sam to come over to dinner. She wanted him to meet Jacob and to see where she lived, now. Sam was one of Hadley's closest friends from her hometown and she thought that he would most appreciate her new lifestyle. Since his accident left him carless, she had agreed to pick him up. She didn't mind the drive; the city wasn't too far away from the small town that she grew up in.

She pulled her silver-blue Mustang into an empty space in his apartment complex's parking lot. She killed the engine with a twist of the key and the car's roar fell silent. She climbed out of the car, realizing - when her short heel landed on the ground - that she was there with much more innocent intentions than she had arrived with the last time that she came over to his place. She hadn't given the blowjob much thought since it had happened, because it didn't seem like that big of a deal to her, despite her engagement. Since she'd been married, she'd been faithful to Jacob, even though it felt like he was the one cheating, with his job.

The mirror was lit up on both sides. It happened automatically when the sun visor was pulled down and the mirror's cover opened. Hadley had been checking her reflection with every opportunity that she had, since she woke up that morning. In her defense, she was sure that most women cared about what they looked like on their wedding day. As always, though, she had successfully taken the care of her appearance to the next level. Her hair was in tight curls, pinned expertly and glamorously around her face. Her lips weren't painted their usual red, and her coloring overall was softer and more natural than her usually done-up shades. She brought a finger to the corner of her mouth and touched up her lipstick before flipping the car's sun visor closed agin. 

She pushed her way out of the car that she'd ridden in with Paul. The stairs to City Hall were beautiful, but climbing them in her new shoes was not easy. Her dress was in a dry cleaner's bag in her hand and she held it up to protect it from the ground. She'd had no intention of riding in the car with her wedding dress on. There was no problem, she thought, in breaking her shoes in. She'd bought them especially for the occasion. They were silver and had a ring of crystals just before her toes peeped out of the front. According to Jewish tradition, which she'd done a quick Google search on, she couldn't wear jewelry to the ceremony. She thought that was stupid, but there were other things that she'd flat out refused, and Hadley knew to pick and choose her battles. Jacob was giving up a lot of his religious tradition for the small wedding that she was so set on. An intimate affair was what felt right, though.

She separated from her friend soon after getting in the building. Jacob had taken care of getting the right set up, because Hadley really didn't want to be bothered with following guidelines that she didn't understand. He'd even paid his rabbi to be their second witness at the small ceremony. She carried her dress into a bathroom that had been designated for the bride. Though there were other things going on, people going about their daily business around them, Jacob had paid enough people off to make Hadley feel like she was the most important person in the building. She undressed in front of the mirror. Her underwear was white, matching, and a more bridal white than the dress itself. She removed the dress from it's plastic wrapping and very carefully pulled it on, over he head. It slipped onto her body and hugged her curves gently. It stopped just above her knee and the off-white lace covered the fabric and then her chest. It ended high on her neck. Reaching behind herself, she buttoned the last few buttons on the lace. She had buttoned most of them the night before, knowing she wouldn't have the help to do it. The buttons lined the dress all the way down her back, and she couldn't reach them when the dress was on.

She looked simple, but she felt beautiful, especially knowing how blown away the man she was about to marry would be when he saw her. She didn't have to accessorize, and the makeup artist that Jacob had hired did her job much earlier that morning, so she was ready once the dress was on. Her lack of jewelry left her feeling strangely naked, but she looked forward to having the new ring she'd picked out slipped onto her finger. She carried her clothes out with her when she left the bathroom, folding them over her arm. She made her way into a waiting room, where she found a bag that she assumed Jacob had brought with him. In it were some of his belongings, like a casual shirt, and a hair brush. She piled her spare clothes on top of his things. All she could do then was wait. Jacob wanted the element of surprise to their small ceremony, though both bride and groom had completely opted out of the tradition of not seeing each other for a week before the wedding.

When is came time for the ceremony to start, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she called, calmly. For her first wedding, she was surprisingly calm. It was like she'd done this before. Jacob was going to give her the life that she'd always wanted. Marrying him seemed like the obvious choice to make. A small woman who looked like a secretary came in and told her that it was time. Hadley nodded and, with a smile, followed her out. 

City Hall was a beautiful, modern building. There were walls of window, and tons of stairs. As she descended a staircase, trailing her hand lightly over the handrail, she caught sight of where she was getting married. A white canopy stood in a great hall. Standing in front of it was the man she was going to marry in a designer black suit. His hair was combed back and he hadn't shaved for the ceremony. Around him stood two unfamiliar men and Paul. She was glad that a friendly face was there. She crossed the hall, her heels clicking against the floor, and met Jacob at his side. "Hi," she greeted him with a smile. They walked under the canopy together. 

It was a judge that married them. The rabbi stepped in to read the seven, Jewish blessings and feed them wine. Hadley had never expected to participate in a Jewish wedding, and she honestly didn't know much about what was going on. She went through the motions, though, and soon enough, the band of diamonds that she'd picked from Tiffany & Co. was being slipped onto her finger and Jacob was slamming his foot down on a wine glass wrapped in a napkin. It crushed under his weight and they were married. Mazel tovs were called out around them as the couple kissed. 

The ceremony was short, and uncomplicated, much like their engagement had been, but Hadley knew she was making the right decision for herself, and felt confident as she walked, hand in hand, with the artist she'd just married down the large staircase, leading away from City Hall. He had changed almost immediately after the ceremony, but she stayed in his dress. Like a good bride, she'd reveal what was under the dress when they were in private and he could really enjoy it. They parted ways with Paul, and as they did, Hadley thanked him for coming. "I really couldn't have imagined it without you!" Jacob was whisking her away before she could say much more or hug him goodbye.