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“Here you go.” Charli held out the bouquet of pink and white roses mixed with ruscus greenery.
Brynn accepted the gorgeous bouquet and walked hand in hand with her friend over the white cloth aisle that led from the limo to the barn. When Aaron mentioned getting married in a barn, this beautiful glossy wooden structure was the last thing she expected. Soft slow music filtered out through the door before the first chords of “Be My Melody” by Burwell started. Butterflies fluttered in Brynn’s stomach as the lyrics danced through her. Had Aaron chosen this song to tell her something? She shook her head; that was stupid. This was just pretend.
Dani looked up at her. “Do I go now?”
Mikel, Remy’s husband, walked towards them in a black suit, a pink rose pinned to his pocket. “You ladies ready?”
“Yes,” Dani answered for her.
“Go ahead, then.” He waved his hand inside.
Dani gave her mother one more hug. Brynn wrapped her arms around her, holding until Dani let go. She swallowed back the rush of tears that wanted to fall. Her mind dizzied as breathing became difficult. Her skin flushed hot, then cold. Mikel held out his arm, and she hesitated in taking it. It would be rude not to, but she hated how Paul had ruined her that she couldn’t even accept a friendly gesture from someone without cringing away.
Forcing a smile on her face, she brushed past him, then gasped upon entering the barn. Feet thudded as people stood, rivaling her racing heartbeat drumming in her ears. Thousands of fairy lights and hanging flowers strung from the ceiling had the room looking like a secret alcove from a fairy tale. Firelight danced from candles on the walls, the only other light in the room besides the strings above. She put one shaky foot in front of the other, stepping on pink petals Dani had dropped for her.
Everyone’s attention turned to her as she rounded the corner. Heat rose in her neck to her cheeks. Her chest cinched tight, her eyes growing blurry.
Aaron stood at the makeshift altar, decked out in a grey three-piece suit and matching boutonniere to Mikel’s. Aaron’s flowers had the same bit of greenery as Brynn’s bouquet. His soft brown eyes widened, dropping down the length of her dress and back up as a beaming smile split his face. The tension left her body as his gaze locked with hers. Everyone in the room disappeared until it was just the two of them, and she floated the rest of the way down the aisle.
He reached out his hand, and she took it without hesitation. Relief and comfort washed over her, calming the nerves in her gut and replacing them with warm butterflies. He leaned in, his clean citrus and wood scent drifting over her, grounding her further into the moment.
“You look beyond beautiful.” When he pulled back, his eyes swirled with an emotion she hadn’t seen from him before.
“Friends and family, we are gathered here today to join together this man and this woman in the bonds of love and marriage,” the officiant announced.
Brynn tuned her out as she focused on the man in front of her—the man who was about to become her husband. After escaping Paul, she vowed never to marry again unless it was for love. But here she was, this time marrying for protection.
Aaron lifted a ring from his pocket, holding the band up to her left ring finger. “I, Aaron Ridley, vow to care for you, Brynn. To put your needs first, and always be a listening ear.”
Chills raced down Brynn’s skin. Emotion clogged her throat. A selfish part of her pretended this was real, that he really meant every word he said. Why not give in to the fantasy for this one private moment in time?
“I’ll be your best friend, treating you with the honor and respect you deserve. I vow to never betray your trust and to do my best to make you smile every day for as long as we’re together.”
Her chest rose and fell as he slipped the cold metal onto her finger.
A tap at her elbow had her turning toward Dani who was offering her Aaron’s ring. Brynn’s gaze raked over the intimate crowd of familiar faces from Shattered Cove and Hope Facility. Betty-Lou smiled at her from the front row, dabbing tears from her eyes. It didn’t feel right to deceive these people who’d been nothing but kind to her, but this is what she had to do to keep her daughter safe and cared for. Brynn collected the ring, turned back to Aaron, and lined the gold band up to his finger.
“Repeat after me,” the officiant directed.
Aaron must have written his own vows and known Brynn wouldn’t want the pressure. But now that she was here, she didn’t want to add any more lies to this arrangement.
“Actually, I have my own.”
“Oh.” The officiant’s eyebrows rose as she smiled. “Go ahead, then.”
“I, Brynn, vow to give my all to the time we will share together. I will be your partner, support you, and be the best friend that I can.”
Hope flashed in Aaron’s watery gaze as he smoothed his thumb over the soft flesh on the top of her hand affectionately.
“I promise to try my best to give you what you need.” Brynn slipped the ring over his knuckle.
He didn’t let her hand go, his eyes peering into her, as if he wanted to say a million more things.
“By the power vested in me by the state of New Hampshire, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the officiant announced.
Aaron dropped her hands and slowly cupped her face, his attention locked on her, as if trying to read her reaction.
Anxiety swarmed in her veins like hundreds of buzzing bees. Warm liquid sloshed in her belly, making her feel out of control and heady.
