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Mia smiles. “You know what my dad used to do when he and my mom would argue over something?”
“What?”
“He would hold her hand,” she grinned. “Even if they were yelling and getting super animated, he always held her hand. He used to say that it’s hard to argue with someone you love if you’re holding their hand.”
“Is that so?” I ask, thinking there’s no way such a simple thing could have such a huge effect.
“He swore up and down that when he held her hand, the fights would end quicker and they would be resolved much faster than if he didn’t. It was simple but he told me that there was power in simplicity,” she confirms. “I think you and Meg will be just fine. Anyone with working eyeballs can see how much you two love each other.”
“You think it shows that much?”
“I know so,” she smiles. “As cheesy as it sounds, as long as you two love each other, I don’t think there’s anything in this world you guys can’t get through together.”
“I can’t help but think that even though our parents aren’t here, their life lessons are coming to the surface,” I say, thinking of my conversation with Troy when he gave me Mom’s ring.
“I feel like they come to mind when it matters most,” Mia agrees. “Meg is really excited for tomorrow and you can rest easy knowing she’s not a runner,” she adds, taking away my worries.
“That’s great to hear,” I chuckle. “Thank you, Mia.”
“Anytime. Now let’s get back inside and find your bride. I think Chef Thomas is serving dessert soon!”
Chapter thirty-five
Meg – Here Comes the Sun
“And one last touch,” Mia, my maid of honor, says, as she finishes twisting and pinning my hair away from my face, letting the rest cascade down my back in flowy beachy waves. She returns with Mom’s veil and I have to force myself not to cry.
“Don’t you dare ruin your makeup,” she warns. “Wait until after the honeymoon for Drew to see your makeup in a mess,” she teases.
“You know, even though I’m the one wearing Mom’s veil, you’ve never looked more like her than you do right now,” I say, taking in the sight of Mia in a pastel pink dress that meets the floor.
Her golden locks are pinned up in a delicate updo that lets a few select strands fall away to frame her heart-shaped face. Just like Mom, her smile allows dimples to appear just under her cheeks, and her eyes soften to match Mom’s delicate baby blues.
“I only notice it when you wear your hair up,” I realize.
She swallows back a few tears. “I guess I’ll have to wear it up more often then.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Grandpa says, from the dressing room door.
In true Florida fashion, his wedding attire is a loose linen shirt with light khaki pants, paired with sandals rather than dress shoes.
“You both look stunning,” he smiles, then looks at me. “You ready, kiddo?”
“Let’s do it.”
Mia takes off ahead of us to meet up with the rest of the wedding party, which consists of Troy, Drew’s best man, and Lillian, my bridesmaid. The boys are dressed in white collar linen shirts but Drew wears a sunflower pinned to his pocket.
Of course, the girls hold singular sunflowers, while I carry a whole bouquet of them. Mom and Dad’s handkerchief has been fastened around the stems, so Mom and Dad can take the walk down the aisle with me.
Despite being tucked around the corner from the ceremony setup, I can hear friends and flown-in family talking and laughing with each other as it’s announced that they should take their seats.
I feel surprisingly calm for my wedding day. That is, until I start to hear the soundtrack of melodic piano music playing, setting off the start of the ceremony.
I suck in a breath and hold tight to my grandfather’s arm. Butterflies fill my stomach and it hits me that this is it: my big day. Drew is waiting for me at the altar, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives here in Seaside together.
“It’s okay, sweet girl,” Grandpa whispers. “I won’t let you fall. And he won’t either.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever get this,” I sniffle, gently drying the tears that still want to pour out.
