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Claire: Take a deep breath, sweet girl. Everything is absolutely perfect, and you are surrounded by so much love today.

Georgia: From this day forward, your home is going to be filled with so much laughter, hospitality, and a love that grows sweeter with every single passing year.

Lilly: Your heart is as big as the sky, and I know your marriage is going to be filled with more love and blessings than you can count.

Emilia: You have always been the sweetest soul, and today you get to start the most beautiful, lifelong love story you so deeply deserve.

Everly: You are absolutely breathtaking today, and you are going to walk down that aisle with all the grace and beauty of a true Southern belle.

Summer: Fix your crown, adjust your spanx, and take a deep breath, Lexi. That man is about to marry up.

Claire: You’ve got that right!

Knock, knock, knock.

Before I can reach the bedroom door, it bursts open, and a whirlwind of soft fabric, perfume, and loud chatter floods the room. Georgia, Lilly, and Claire lead the charge, looking stunning in matching sage green bridesmaid gowns tailored to their distinct personalities. Lilly is wearing a conservative, elegant cut with soft cap sleeves while Georgia rocks a sweetheart neckline. Claire will no doubt be turning heads in a sleek, sleeveless, form-fitting dress. That fireball will be taking no prisoners in this gown.

Right behind them, Summer, Emilia, and Everly fill the doorway, glowing in a gorgeous mix of soft greens and baby blues.

“Oh my god, Lexi,” Georgia gasps, clapping her hands to her mouth as collective oohs and ahs echo off the high ceilings.

“Look at you,” Lilly squeals, her eyes glistening as she clasps her hands together. “You are an absolute vision.”

“All right, all right, don’t make her cry before the photos,” Claire chimes in, a rare, soft smile warming her face as she steps closer to inspect my veil. “Besides, she needs to save her energy for tonight.”

Tonight? Holy cow. I’ve been so busy putting together this wedding, I haven’t even considered what happens later.

Nothing. That’s what will happen, Lex. He’ll go to his corner, and you to yours. A torture you’ll have to endure night after night, for the next three hundred and sixty-five days.

A gentle knock sounds at the dressing room door, and the chatter of my friends fades into soft giggles as they gather up their bouquets and slip out into the hallway to leave us alone.

My grandpa steps into the room, leaning lightly on the doorframe. In his charcoal suit, looser around his shoulders than when he was still working, he looks more handsome than I’ve seen him in years. He stops in his tracks, taking in the sight of me in white, and his eyes instantly fill with a watery sheen.

“Look at you,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.

I swallow down the emotions clogging my throat and hurry to his side, taking his free hand in mine. “How are you feeling? Please don’t hesitate to head out or go somewhere and sit down if you get too tired.”

“Tired?” He lets out a dismissive laugh, waving his hand as if sweeping my concern away. “Alexis, my heart hasn’t felt this full in years. I’d walk you from my house to the vineyard today if I had to, let alone escort you down a short grassy aisle.” He reaches up with a slightly trembling hand, gently brushing a stray curl behind my ear. His blue eyes, so like my own, study my face with paternal pride.

“You look just like your grandmother on the day we were married,” he murmurs softly. “So beautiful and confident.”

A sharp spike of guilt pierces through my chest. But she got a real love story, I think, my heart aching as I squeeze his hand harder. She found a man who looked at her with reverence, not one who proposed a one-year contract.

“Grandpa,” I start, the words catching in my dry throat. “I just… I want you to know that nothing is going to change. I’m always a phone call away. I’ll continue to make sure you’re taken care of. That you’re safe, and happy, and⁠—”

“Hey,” he interrupts, placing his hand over mine. “You don’t owe me anything, Lexi. Ever since your parents passed, you’ve carried the weight of the world on those narrow shoulders of yours. You’ve taken care of me, the clinic, and everyone around you.”

He pauses, looking deeply into my eyes, his tone shifting into something solemn and steady. “I understand that is simply who you are. A nurturer who is loyal to a fault. It probably gave you something to focus on besides your own grief.” The corner of his mouth curls down at the reference to my parents. “But this is your time. Your chance to build a life with someone. And Sam is a good man. I don’t know what transpired when you were young. But I watched him stand at the altar ten minutes ago, unable to take his eyes off the aisle. That boy has always looked at you like you’re his entire world.”

My breath hitches. Ha. Right. If only. But there’s no way I’m going to tarnish my grandfather’s opinion of the man I’m about to marry.

“Promise me one thing before we walk through those doors,” he says, offering me his arm. “Let yourself be happy.”

I look into the gentle, trusting eyes of the man who raised me, unable to tell him the truth. “I promise,” I lie, sliding my hand through his elbow and holding tight to his steady warmth. I’ll try for today at least. Before I have to put that wall back up in order to protect myself from the year ahead.

Sam

The morning of the wedding is a blur. Lexi’s been managing cake tastings, flower arrangements, and locating the perfect dress with the same skill and efficiency she probably uses in her practice. She ditched the bachelor and bachelorette parties. I assumed it was because we were pressed for time and money. Yet she said it wasn’t necessary, given my life until now, has been one big stag party.