“Everyone’s in place,” Mom says from her perch by the window. “Ooh, and Kane’s walking to the front. That man has a good pair of shoulders.”
“Mom.”
“It’s fine, your dad said as much. Keeping fit, that’s important for a man at any age. You need to be sure he takes his health seriously, and yours, too.” She touches her hair self-consciously, though it’s fresh from the salon and almost blindingly glossy.
“I can look after myself,” I say, rolling my eyes at how hopelessly cringe she can be.
She looks at me and smiles.
“I know, honey. You’ve proven that, what with your near-death incident and all.”
There’s another knock at the door, and when Mom opens it, Sophie pokes her head through.
Finally, someone who won’t annoy me.
“Hey, Soph,” I say, putting the finishing touches to my lipstick and slipping a thin chain around my neck. The engagement ring glints on my finger, and like I always do, I have to stop myself from admiring it.
“Are you guys almost ready?” Sophie asks shyly. “The ceremony’s supposed to start soon.”
“It’s a wedding, half pint. Brides are always late.” Hattie winks at the little girl.
“Really? Why?” Sophie frowns.
I look back in the mirror.
“You know what? You’re right. Why should I be late when I’ve beendyingto walk down that aisle?”
“Yay!” Sophie claps her hands.
I give her a quick once-over.
She helped pick out her dress, which is an adorable pink made from satin to match mine. She’s also wearing a pair ofadorable white sneakers with gold splashed along the sides, specially designed just for her today.
“Still got the rings?” I ask her.
“Wouldn’t lose them for the world! They’re in my pocket,” she says proudly.
“Then let’s go have a wedding.”
Hattie takes my arm, and Mom takes the other as my breath stalls.
This is it.
The end and the beginning.
As Sophie leads the way, we head to the back door, where a red carpet sprawls down the steps, flowing all the way to the cute altar by the lake.
Outside, it’s heavenly.
The sun shines like liquid gold.
The birds chirp merrily in the trees, the lake gleams like emerald, and all the people I love have assembled to watch me marry the man I love the most of all.
“Oh, no, are you going to cry?” Hattie whispers. “Because if you cry, I’m cooked. I’ll cry ten times more.”
Actually, there’s a real chance I will burst into hilariously messy tears, but I just squeeze her arm.
Mom leans in to kiss my cheek.
