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Hunter smiled at all of them, feeling for the first time, in a long time, that everything was working out and it was okay. Trent was here. All his siblings were here.
Yes, everything was as close to perfect as it could get. For a second, an image of his parents talking to them on that old VHS tape made him smile. His dad had blown them a kiss. Hunter laughed.
Warm chills washed over him and he knew that his parents would be around today, even if he couldn't see them.
Yes, it was going to be a great day.
Chapter 37
As Reese stared down at the red carpet the Stone family had laid on the sand, she knew her perfect makeup would be destroyed.
Her mother stood next to her, their arms linked at the elbow. She had been crying since yesterday when she had first seen Reese. “I am so happy for you two. I can’t believe this day has come. I just love that boy so much.”
Reese listened to the wedding march as it began. “I can’t believe it either, Mama.” Her tone was soft, and she was already trying not to cry. “I'm just grateful. I'm grateful that we found our way back to each other, and that I was smart enough to wake up and realize how much I loved him before it was too late.”
That was how she felt. The past month, as they prepared for the wedding, so many times she'd thought of her first wedding and got scared. She would think of her ex and all the horrible things she'd gone through. It would make her want to run away.
But, then she would think of Hunter and the other part of her would take over. The part of her that saw a man who took care of others around him and never expected a thing for it. Of a man who loved to hold his guitar and tap out melodies and tunes in his deep tenor voice. She thought of the man who had always intensely listened to her. The man who'd built those garden boxes for her. The man who'd sacrificed so much for his country, but would never think to ask for anything in return.
When she would think of those things, she would calm down and she would think about how she couldn't wait to be with him forever. Secretly, she'd started thinking to herself that, just like the Stone family always talked about how 'the family' was their true treasure, she felt that way about Hunter; he was her treasure.
It was cheesy, but … she would tell him that tonight, too. He would like that.
She was grateful to become Hunter Stone’s wife. He'd already talked about getting certified as a pastor and the changes he would make to some of Pastor Henry's after-school programs. He wanted to add weightlifting and self-defense skills.
They had both changed so much, and it made her smile to think about him being here full-time. With her. Renovating their little home and planting a garden and even having a baby someday.
Her mom tugged her arm. “Let's get going.”
As they walked down the red carpet, Reese smiled and nodded at pretty much the whole town of South Port. Not to mention a bunch of Navy SEALs that Hunter and Trent knew. Many of them were here to support Hunter, and she was grateful.
As they reached the front, she smiled at the Stone entourage. Trent stood in the spot as best man.
None of the other brothers cared one bit. They were all just so thrilled to have Trent back.
Emotion hit her and she almost began to cry right then, thinking of the joy of having Trent back from the dead; he truly was worth more than ANY kind of gold they could have found.
Next to Trent was Trey, Marshall, Brooks, Tim, then Matt. She blinked, telling herself not to cry, again.
As she turned her attention to her line of ladies, another round of emotion hit her. She'd never had sisters, but these women were as close as a girl could come to them.
Lucy stood as head bridesmaid, she'd assigned herself that role. Then Dawn, Ava, Kensi, Kat, Serenity, Liberty.
Her eyes went back to Hunter. He looked dashing, though not a typical groom. He wore his eye patch, and he had let her trim his hair, long on top and short on the sides. The way she liked it best.
As their gazes connected, she felt so many feelings. Intense feelings, the way she'd always felt about Hunter. It was like his intensity had grown inside her and all she wanted was to be with him for the rest of her life. She was so grateful for this man and the love that felt like it just kept increasing and increasing.
When they reached Hunter, her mother placed Cheryse’s hand ceremoniously in his. “I know you will take care of her. I know you love her.”
Gingerly, Hunter took Cheryse’s hand but gave her mother a half hug. “Of course I will. And you.”
Her mother pulled back, and a warm smile washed over her face.
Happiness warmed Cheryse from the inside out. Hunter was an honorable man—her family was now his family, too. She was grateful again to be marrying this amazing person.
“Hey,” Hunter whispered, taking both of her hands into his.
She met his gaze and felt like her whole world was finally complete. “Hey.”
