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“But the setting…you were right about it.”
“A Kings Grove wedding should happen in the grove,” I said. I knew it would be perfect.
Mike put an arm around me then, squeezing my shoulders and leaning her head for a moment on the top of mine. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
I raised a hand up, making sure my updo was still in place and smiled at her. “I’ll miss you too. Thank you for giving me a chance.”
She shook her head, and her eyes shone. “I’d keep you on forever if you’d let me,” she said. “You sure a raise won’t change your mind?”
I swiped at my own eyes. “We already said goodbye,” I laughed. “I don’t want to ruin my makeup again.”
She sighed. “Fine. But I hope they know what they’re getting down there in Austin.”
“I’ll make sure they do.”
She turned back to the crowd just as Cam escorted Adele and Frank to their seats. “And I hope he knows what he’s letting go.”
“I don’t want to cry, Mike.” I whispered, not willing to think anymore about Cam, about what I once thought might be possible between us.
Mike took my hand and squeezed. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey,” came a whispered call from behind us. We turned to find Miranda standing holding two bouquets of red roses, looking worried.
“You look amazing,” I told her. She and Mike wore similar dresses, both a steely grey that matched the ties worn by Chance, Sam, Cam, and Connor.
“Thank you,” she said. “Mike, we’d better get into place.” I followed them through the trees and behind the cover of some tall brush where Maddie waited, shifting her weight nervously in her long white sheath.
“You look perfect,” I told her. Her hair was piled on top of her head, a few tendrils hanging around her neck and face, and while I’d heard that brides glowed before, in this case it was absolutely true.
We all squealed for a minute, hugging one another and making last minute adjustments, and then the music changed, signaling that it was time to start.
“I’ll cue you,” I promised, stepping back around the bushes so I could signal each bridesmaid when it was time for her to walk. Cam had taken his place at the back of the crowd, ready to walk Maddie down the aisle, and when I saw him, my heart juddered in my chest. I swallowed hard noticing the way his dark hair was offset by the charcoal suit, the way the jacket followed the broad line of his shoulders down to the narrow waist.
He turned to look behind him then, and our eyes met. For a moment, I thought I felt something there besides the sadness I’d felt the last few times I’d seen him, the finality of whatever we might have shared drifting away from us. A spark flew between us, and every inch of my skin caught fire under his hot gaze. I swore I could read something in those bright eyes, some kind of question I might answer, some kind of promise I might make. But I was pretty sure it was too late for any of that.
I turned away, actually having to gasp to catch my breath. And then the wedding began.
Tuck gave me a thumbs up from the front of the space, where he was ready with the camera in hand, and I nodded at him.
I signaled, and Miranda met Sam at the back of the crowd, the two of them walking arm in arm down the center aisle, parting with a kiss at the end as Sam went to stand with Connor.
Chance and Mike were next, and the elegant couple glided down the aisle to take their places in front.
Finally, the first strains of the bridal march rose from the quartet, and the crowd rose. I signaled Maddie and gave her a smile, and she straightened and walked to where her brother waited for her, his eyes shining. He smiled as she neared, and I saw one of the things I knew I loved about him then—his adoration for his little sister. I admired how he cared about her, how devoted he was to her. A momentary sigh filled me—why couldn’t he let himself love me the same way? Cam smiled and gave his sister his arm and they walked slowly up the aisle. It was perfect, and I stood at the back on a gentle slope, watching the crowd take their seats again as the officiant raised her voice to begin the ceremony.
Sunlight gleamed from between the sturdy wide trunks all around us, and the grove felt more like a sanctuary than many churches I’d been inside in my life. The forest was almost quiet in its stillness, the occasional birdcall or chitter of a squirrel filtering through the trees to where the crowd sat, rapt and quiet as the officiant’s strong sweet voice rang through the space talking about love and honor and trust. The atmosphere was ethereal, the natural setting so colorful in its deep greens and ruddy browns that the roses felt almost unnecessary.
I wiped at a tear as the ceremony concluded and Connor pulled Maddie into his arms, cementing their union with a kiss that stole my breath, even from twenty feet away. When they separated, Maddie and Connor raised their joined hands and smiled at the audience, and the crowd broke into applause.
Tuck worked with the photographer Maddie had brought in to coordinate some footage and stills as Maddie and Connor left, climbing into a decorated four-wheeler for the ride back to the Inn, where they’d take some more photos before the reception. At the same time, the rest of the wedding party and I helped guests back up the slope and handed them direction cards to navigate to the Inn. The golf carts were running in trips to the parking lot, too, for those who didn’t want to walk.
We’d marked the short drive to the outpost with signs, so those driving from the main lot in town should have no issues, and before long, the sanctuary under the trees was empty except for me and the high school kids I’d hired to put away the chairs and clean up. I gave them a few directions, and then made my way up toward the reception.
“The ceremony went perfectly,” Maddie gushed when I checked in with her at the Inn where she was finishing up photos. “Thank you for everything.”
I gave her a hug, promised her the reception would be every bit as perfect and then went to find Tuck, who was dutifully setting up the stationary cameras and filming as guests mingled on the big sweeping outpost deck under the enormous trees.
“Thank you for all your help,” I told him.
