“Lara,” my daddy called as he pushed open the white double doors. “You ready, darling? It's fixing to start -” The rest of the words died, and he stared at me in my wedding dress. “Oh, baby girl, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you, Daddy,” I whispered happily and did a small little spin before smiling at him. “I'm so happy.”

Today is my wedding day. I'm finally marrying the man of my dreams. I met Justin while we were in high school, we were those love - sick, high school sweethearts that people love to say won't last.

We did last, though.

We started to date in sixth grade and dated throughout the remaining years of school. We graduated, attended the same college, and then moved back home to be closer to our families.

Our relationship has been perfect, and it's definitely going to be something I tell our grandchildren about when we get older.

Our life has been utterly perfect, and I could never ask for better. He built me my dream house, a two-story home, overlooking a river, with a white picket fence.

“Honey, are you sure you want to do this?” My daddy asked me for what seemed like the fourth time today.

“Yes, Daddy. I love him,” I whispered harshly as my two friends helped spread out my train.

Where is my sister?

She should be here by now. I haven't seen her since this morning. My twin sister Mary is always late. You would think she would be on time for her own twin sister's wedding, but obviously not. I shouldn't have listened to Daddy and made her the maid of honor.

I knew this was going to happen. She should be in here with me, making sure I am ready for my big day, but instead, she is missing in action like always.

“Where is Mary?” I asked my dad.

“She was around here earlier,” my daddy shrugged.

“I saw her about an hour ago. She said she was going to fix her hair,” my friend Claire added.

“It doesn't matter. You look beautiful,” my friend Rachel giggled, and air kissed me. “You are one beautiful bride, my dear friend.”

“Oh, stop it. You are going to make me blush,” I laughed, feeling my body starting to hum with excitement and intense nerves.

I really hope Justin likes the dress I picked out. I always dreamed of my wedding dress being puffy and fluffy. I wanted to look like a princess, but when I tried on this tighter - fitting strapless dress, my sister ended up talking me into getting it.

Two thousand dollars and no returns later, and I'm stuck with it. It's a beautiful dress. Don't get me wrong, I just wish I would have just gotten the one I had originally wanted.

It doesn't really matter, I'd marry Justin in a potato sack if I had to. That's how much I love and adore that man. He means everything to me, and that's why I want today to be perfect. Not just for me, but for him too.

He invited his co-workers and his boss as well. Justin started working at a law firm last year and has been hoping to get a promotion soon. He asked if it was okay to invite his boss to the wedding, and I really couldn't say no.

I really do want to look like the most beautiful bride that he has ever and will ever see.

I want the reaction from him that I saw in the movies. The groom, crying and smiling as he watches his beloved walking towards him.

Some would call me a hopeless romantic, but that's okay. I see nothing wrong with showing love and affection to the one you love most in this world.

“I can't believe Mary is late,” growled Rachel. “She always does this to you. Whenever it's not about her, she makes it about her.”

“It's fine, Rach,” I sighed, I'm beyond used to coming in second when my sister is around. She has always had this incredible way of making everything going on in both of our lives about her.

“Hold still,” Claire said gently as she began adding a light pink lipstick to my lips.” It's not fine. She should be in here making sure everything is running smoothly for you on your big day.”

“Awe, Mary does have a high, strong spirit. She gets it from your mother,” my daddy chuckled, and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Does what she wants.”

“Today is my day, daddy, not hers,” I gently reminded him. “Please don't defend her actions on my wedding day when she is supposed to be my maid of honor.”

I have never been a disrespectful daughter towards my daddy, but he is always defending Mary because she reminds him of our mother. Eventually, that excuse won't be able to get used anymore.

We are both twenty-five years old, and enough is enough. I don't act like that. I have always been the good twin, straight As, never gave my daddy cause to worry about me, but Mary is an entirely different story.

“I'm sorry, honey. You know how she is, I'm sure she will be in here soon enough,” my daddy said gently. “You really do look beautiful, baby girl,” he whispered and kissed me on top of my head. “I wish your mother was here to see you.”

My mother died when Mary and I were only three years old. She has breast cancer, and unfortunately, by the time the doctors caught it, it was too late. My father has always made sure that we knew how much she loved us and always made sure to tell us about her every chance he got.

It's also another reason why he is constantly defending Mary. Her personality is similar to our mothers, he says, but to me, that doesn't make all her actions okay. I would never do this to her on her wedding day. I'd make sure everything was running smoothly. I'd make sure my sister wasn't nervous.

“I wish she was too, Daddy,” I whispered, my throat closing as I fought back the tears. Rachel would kill me if I cried and ruined my make-up.

“She would be proud of you, sweetheart, and I'm sure she would have loved Paul for you. He is such a good man.”

“I know, Daddy,” I sighed.

He really is the best. I honestly have no complaints about my future husband, and that is the reason I'm not having cold feet like most people have on their wedding day. I'm ready to become Mrs. L'maure.

A few minutes later, I heard the soft wedding song starting to play. Butterflies start flying around my belly as I look down at my dress, making sure everything is in a perfect position.

This is it.

I'm going to be a married woman today.

“Let's get you married Lara,” my daddy whispered, I looked up and smiled at him and when I did, I noticed that he was fighting hard not to let those tears fall down his cheeks.

My father is a big, strong man, but he is just a big teddy bear when it comes to his daughters. I'm surprised his able to hold them in at all.

“Yes,” I whispered and grabbed his arms as we started walking into position. “Thank you for everything, Daddy. You're the best, and I could never ask for a better father than you.”

My daddy got choked up as he looked down at me, and finally, one of those tears flowed down his cheek. “Darn. I didn't want to start crying, but seeing how beautiful you are and wishing your mother was here to see you, it's just too much for an old man to take.”

“Hush it. You are not even old, Daddy,” I laughed and smiled at him. He is an excellent dad. Despite struggling to raise two daughters without having a clue, he didn't pretty fantastic. He couldn't teach us how to fix our hair, but he did teach us to play baseball.

“Ready?” Rachel asked as she opened the door, a gigantic grin on her face. “I'm so happy for you, Lara. You got lucky landing, Justin, I'm a little jealous.”

“You will find your dream man soon, Rach,” I grinned at her.

“I'm losing one of my wing women,” she playfully sighed, dramatic. “Oh well, time to put my big girl panties on.”

“Like you need our help finding a man,” snorted Claire as she handed Rachel her flower boutique.”You are just too picky.”

“Shush it. I'm not. I just have standards,” Rachel defended herself.

“Did you forget Lara and I were at your house when you made that ridiculous list?”

“Now isn't the time to bring that up. It's time to get our bestie down that isle,” Rachel said, quickly switching the subject from her boyfriend application she wrote one night while we were all drunk at her house one night for girls night.

I guess it's time.

I closed my eyes, smiled, and was ready to walk down that isle towards my future.