“Just perfect.” Hazel hurried over to embrace Noelle. “You’re going to be the bride of Dean’s dreams.”
It was Noelle’s turn to wipe away a couple of tears as she hugged the rest of her family members. “I’m so happy you all are here,” she said. “I’m glad I get to share this moment with all ofyou.” Her face was radiant with joy as she looked at herself in the mirror and spun slowly in a circle. “This is it, I know it. As soon as I tried it on, I knew.”
“It’s definitely the one,” Faith agreed, grinning from ear to ear.
Alexis let out a loud sniff, and everyone turned to her.
“Sorry,” she said, laughing again through her tears. “I’m just so excited about Noelle joining our family. She’s going to be an Owens for real now.”
Vivian’s eyes teared up as well, and she gave Noelle another hug. Alexis wrapped her arms around them both, and soon it turned into a group hug.
“I’m so happy,” Noelle said. “Everything is perfect—except for Dean’s diagnosis, and the way his condition has worsened.” Her face clouded with worry as she thought about everything the man she loved was struggling with.
“Don’t let that upset you,” Julia said, putting a reassuring arm around Noelle’s shoulder. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. Try to keep your chin up.”
“And don’t let it spoil this moment,” Hazel said. “Dean is a tough cookie, and he’s got all of us and you to support him. He wouldn’t want his struggles to dim the joy of you picking out your dress, and you shouldn’t let it.”
“So true,” Alexis said. “And while it’s true that we don’t know what’s going to happen with Dean’s symptoms, we do know that he’s going to have an incredible future. You and Dean are going to be married; there’s no question about that!”
Noelle’s smile was bright and full of happiness as the reality of Alexis’s words sank in. “You’re right. That is something I know for sure. And it makes me so happy it overrides all my worries.”
“And remember, no matter what, we’re all here to support you and Dean,” Hazel said, giving her a hug. “I’m sureeverything’s going to work out just fine, but keep in mind that we all have your backs twenty-four seven.”
The other women chorused their agreement, and Noelle teared up. They gave each other another group hug, everyone feeling emotional and filled with love for their family.
“Come on,” Julia said as the hug finally broke apart. “We have to take a picture of this one to send to Delilah and your other friends, Noelle. They’re going to absolutely flip when they see you in it.”
Noelle took her place on a miniature stage in front of one of the mirrors and posed like a princess. Everyone applauded and whooped for her, and Julia’s heart swelled.
This is just as it should be, she thought.Noelle feels loved and supported, and she’s found the perfect dress. I can’t wait until she marries Dean.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Delilah set down her hairbrush on the counter of her hotel bathroom, letting out a long sigh. She looked up and inspected her reflection in the mirror, thinking to herself that her hair looked coarse and a little frizzy. She never seemed to know what to do with her hair herself—when her stylists worked on it, they were always able to work some kind of magic that caused it to appear smooth and glamorous. Delilah herself, however, couldn’t seem to get anything out of it besides a bedhead look or an over-brushed look.
She swallowed, realizing that it had been several days since she’d given any thought to her hair, which ordinarily was a source of never-ending insecurity for her. Her mind had been filled with Tom, and all of the other joys that Rosewood Beach had brought her. She hadn’t bothered with self-consciousness.
She left the bathroom and sat down on the end of her hotel bed. She didn’t know what to do with her free time, now that Tom had ended things between them. She didn’t even feel like wandering around the charming town just outside her hotel, since she knew that many of Rosewood Beach’s best places would make her think about Tom, and that would make her heart ache.
She stared down at the carpet, tracing the patterns with her eyes and feeling a sense of listlessness overwhelm her. She closed her eyes, remembering the way Tom had held her in his arms, and how safe and secure she had felt there.
I wish he didn’t feel the way he does,she thought, feeling tears spring into her eyes.I do still believe that things could work out between us.
She opened her eyes, noticing the way the sunlight was dancing across the carpet. A sense of peace came over her, although she couldn’t have said where it came from. She watched the light for a few more moments and then felt a strong desire to go outside come over her.
She picked up her purse and made her way down the hotel’s stairs. She was wearing comfortable, sensible shoes, and she was glad of that because she had a feeling that she was going to wander around for quite some time. Instead of feeling defeated, she suddenly felt as if she had a problem to solve. She knew that walking would help keep her mind whirring at the speed that she wanted to think at.
She stepped out into the sunshine, enjoying the way the wind kissed her face. The sunlight was warm, but there was a bit of a chill in the air, and she buttoned up her pink sweater to help keep herself warm.
For a while, she wandered along the sidewalks on Main Street, looking through the windows of the gift shops without going inside. She didn’t want to distract herself by looking at cute things. She was determined to take all of the thoughts and feelings she’d had ever since Tom had said he didn’t want to pursue a relationship with her and sort them out into a clear path forward.
She didn’t feel ready to let things with Tom go, and she needed to figure out if her feelings were something that she should voice to him or not.
I understand why he’s afraid,she thought, pausing to sniff the glorious blossoms of a crabapple tree that bordered the road.But I think he’s afraid because he believes that my heart couldn’t really be here, with him. And I know it could be. It already is.
Her certainty grew as she continued to walk. She began to feel more and more that she should speak with Tom and tell him what was on her mind. She’d let things go when he told her his concerns, but now that she’d thought about it all more she didn’t feel willing to lose him because of his fears.
After a while longer, she found herself in the gazebo in the center of town. As she’d expected, a wave of memories of spending time with Tom there swept over her, and tears rushed into her eyes. She looked around at the gardens surrounding her, listening to the sound of the wind ruffling through the trees and inhaling the richly sweet aroma of the flowers. Instead of making her feel sorrowful, however, the memories served to strengthen her resolve.
