“And a wonderful one,” Mom added.
“Grandma would say he’s too handsome.” Britt winked at Nora.
“Which proves that John’s exactly as handsome as he should be,” Willow said.
John was far more than a pretty face. He was a Medal of Honor–winning former Navy SEAL. He’d encountered hard things, and so had Nora. The challenges only served to make this day all the sweeter.
“Ever since you were small...” Mom’s attention landed on Willow, Nora, then Britt. Drop earrings swung from her ears. “Your dad and I have prayed over you, asking God to bless and guide you. It’s amazing to see the ways He’s doing just that.”
“It really is amazing,” Dad said. “When you were little, and youwere supposed to be sleeping because it was past your bedtime, I remember hearing you talk about your future weddings.”
“Nora wanted a dragon-themed wedding on top of a volcano,” Britt said.
“That’s very true,” Nora concurred. “And I fully intended to marry Harry Potter. Willow wanted to get married in Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland.”
“Right.” Willow’s smile dazzled. “I had my heart set on marrying Dawson fromDawson’s Creek.” She eyed Britt with amusement. “You wanted to hold your wedding on a yacht in Alaska.”
“And I planned to marry the cute guitar-playing guy fromThe Princess Diaries.”
They all laughed.
“Our plans didn’t exactly come to fruition,” Willow said.
“Thank goodness,” Nora said, “seeing as how my future husband, Harry Potter, is a fictional character.”
“Your real-life marriage,” Dad said to her, “is going to be terrific. We wish you and John all the best, honey. We’re really proud of you. If Robin could have been here, I know she’d have been every bit as proud as we are.” Their family always acknowledged Nora’s mom, Robin, at pivotal moments in Nora’s life.
Tenderness softened Nora’s face. “Thank you, Dad.”
“No crying,” Britt warned. “Those of us wearing makeup are absolutelynotallowed to cry right now.”
“An excellent point,” Mom said. “We’ll finish up by simply saying that we love you.”
“I love you all,” Nora replied. “Thank you for ... well, you know what. Everything. All these years.” Her voice began to wobble.
“No crying!” Britt said. “Quick, Dad. Say a prayer.”
Dad thanked God for his wife and for his girls, then earnestly prayed for God’s grace to flow through the marriage of his middle daughter, Nora.
The second of the two flower girls kept hunching over to pick up the petals that the first flower girl had dropped. Britt spotted the little girl’s antics as she made her way up the central aisle between the white folding chairs positioned on the lawn. Nora’s OCD flower girl added the ideal note of spontaneous charm to the wedding ceremony.
Britt ascended the chapel’s steps clasping a bouquet bursting with shades of pale pink, vermilion, and white. When she took her position and turned to face the guests, she pinpointed Zander without having to scan the crowd. She just ... knew ... he was sitting in the middle on the bride’s side. His dark gray suit looked stunning against his white shirt and pale gray tie.
Nora and John exchanged their vows in front of the chapel’s peaked blue door, which was crowned by a garland of the same flowers that comprised the bridesmaids’ bouquets.
Across from Britt, the guys’ white tuxedo jackets reflected the sunshine. Above, spring leaves murmured happily. Birds wheeled into the sky with soft song.
When John and Nora were pronounced husband and wife, they shared an excellent kiss. Then the string quartet launched into the triumphant strains of “Ode to Joy” as the audience applauded.
Britt’s attention flicked to Zander. All the normal people were watching the bride and groom. Not him.
He was looking steadily back at her.
Zander seemed to have disappeared. She’d lost sight of him fifteen minutes ago.
The dancing portion of the wedding reception had begun thirty minutes before, and Britt was currently partnered with the OCD flower girl on the dance floor. So far the band had been playing slow love songs that everyone knew and all the guests felt comfortable dancing to.
Britt held one of the girl’s hands high. Her skirt flared out as she executed a spin. “Again?” the girl asked.
