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Amelia sat and began helping Miles and Grace dish up their breakfasts.
“Are you two excited for today?” Liam asked.
“So excited.” Grace’s eyes were wide with joy. “I get to wear a beautiful dress.”
“Yes, you do.” Amelia and Liam exchanged a smile. They’d agreed that during their small, private ceremony, everyone should get to wear exactly what they wanted. What Grace wanted was a shimmery blue princess costume and fairy wings. She looked adorable and, most importantly, she was thrilled with her outfit.
“How about you, Miles?” Liam asked. “Are you excited?”
“Ka koo,” Miles replied, very seriously. He knew a few words, but he still communicated a lot in adorable babbles.
“He’s excited,” Grace reported. She took her role as Miles’s translator very seriously, even though Liam and Amelia were fairly certain that she was no better at understanding his baby babbles than they were.
“That’s great.” Amelia grinned at her beautiful children. Her heart felt so full.
“I have a present for you.” Grace ran to her room and returned with a folded piece of paper that was smeared with syrup from the pancakes. Amelia and Liam exchanged a glance before Amelia carefully unfolded the paper. Inside was a drawing of Amelia, Liam, Grace, and baby Miles in a garden, holding hands. The sight of the picture melted Amelia’s heart and she folded Grace into a tight hug.
After breakfast, it was time to get ready for the ceremony. Amelia and Liam had announced it to their family and friends as a vow renewal, which it technically was, but it was also the wedding they’d never had. Amelia’s sister Katie came over to help her get ready, while her father watched the kids.
“I’m so happy for you,” Katie said as she helped Amelia into her white dress. “I know this has been a long road, but I’ve never seen a couple as happy to be together as you and Liam.”
“We are pretty perfect for each other.” Amelia spun to look at herself in the full-length mirror. “We just didn’t know it at first.”
“Even I knew you would be a good match before you did.” Katie winked. “You told me, very firmly, for a long time, that you weren’t interested in Liam at all.”
“And I believed it!” Amelia chuckled. “I didn’t see how wonderful Liam was, beneath his productive and managerial exterior.”
“He is pretty great.” Katie handed Amelia the pearl earrings she’d picked out for the ceremony. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” Amelia swept her gaze over her form in the mirror. Her wedding dress had three-quarter sleeves, a fitted bodice, and a long, flared skirt. It was made with a beautiful, delicate lace that Amelia couldn’t stop running her hands over. The dress had been expensive, but Liam had insisted that she get exactly the dress she wanted.
“You deserve the best, always,” he’d said, and then he’d kissed her.
“No, really, you do.” Katie shook her head. “And it’s not even the beautiful dress or your hair or your jewelry. You’re glowing with happiness.”
“And you encouraged me not to take this job.” Amelia chuckled. “You told me not to take a job that would steal my whole heart.”
“In this case, I was wrong. Love is the one job that should take your whole heart.”
The sisters smiled at each other in the mirror. Then Katie let out a sigh.
“Okay. It’s time to get you out there.”
When Amelia stepped through the glass back door into the yard, she caught her breath. Liam had closed the blinds the day before and told her very sternly not to look outside. Amelia had nearly died of curiosity, but the wait was worth it. The yard was transformed into the most beautiful wedding venue Amelia had ever seen. White folding chairs lined an aisle strewn with rose petals. An arch of flowering vines stood at the end of the aisle. Best of all, Liam was waiting for Amelia there with Miles in his arms. It was the dream wedding Amelia had imagined for herself come to life.
“Mommy!” Grace hurried over and held up her arms. Amelia scooped her up.
“You look so beautiful, sweetheart. I love your dress.”
“You look beautiful, too, Mommy.” Grace smiled her sweet toothy smile up at Amelia. “Is it time to walk to Daddy?”
“Yes, it is.”
Since this wasn’t exactly a traditional wedding, Amelia and Liam had structured the ceremony just how they wanted. Their children played a big role, the ceremony itself would be short, and afterwards they would have a barbecue lunch with everyone they loved best.
“Katie, would you ask them to start the music?”
“Sure thing.” Katie hurried off and, a moment later, the wedding march began to play. Amelia’s dad joined her and Grace at the end of the aisle and, together, they began the long walk to the arch at the front of the yard.
