Two hundred people. All watching him. All waiting for the rings that he'd somehow lost.
"Inside jacket pocket, genius," Jamie whispered from behind him, barely audible.
Mac's hand flew to his inside pocket and: yes.Thank God.He pulled out the small velvet ring box, trying to look like he'd known where they were the entire time and had just been building dramatic tension.
Cole shot him a look that promised murder. Sophie's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. Luke didn't even bother hiding his grin.
And despite everything, despite Matthews potentially lurking, despite the threat, Mac smiled. Because this was his family. He found his father in the crowd. The old man nodded once, and Mac had to swallow past the lump in his throat.
He handed the rings to Pastor Williams. "These rings represent eternal love," Pastor Williams said, holding them up. "Cole, as you place this ring on Ellie's finger: With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Cole's hands shook.
"Ellie: With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Tears streamed down Ellie's face, but her voice held steady.
"By the power vested in me by the state of Vermont," Pastor Williams said, his voice growing joyful, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Cole, you may kiss your bride."
Cole didn't wait. He pulled Ellie close and kissed her like she was his entire world, his hands cradling her face, the kind of kiss that made everyone in the church feel like they were witnessing something sacred and private and beautiful all at once.
The church erupted. Applause, cheers, whistles. Someone, probably Jamie, let out a whoop that definitely violated several church rules.
Cole and Ellie broke apart, both laughing and crying.
The recessional music started, something upbeat and joyfulthat Mac didn't recognize, and Cole and Ellie practically ran down the aisle hand in hand, both grinning so widely they looked like kids on Christmas morning.
Mac offered his arm to Sophie.
"Inside jacket pocket?" she murmured as they walked down the aisle. "Really?"
"I panicked."
"You almost gave Cole a heart attack on his wedding day."
"He'll forgive me."
"Oh, I'm telling everyone by the way. This is comedy gold."
“The whole town is here, theysawit.”
“Fine,” Sophie paused, then her expression softened. "Mac? The way you were looking at Rachel during those vows? That was even better."
Mac didn't deny it. Couldn't deny it.
Because watching Cole and Ellie promise forever had crystallized something for him.
He didn't just love Rachel.
He wanted forever with her.
31
Rachel
Rachel couldn't stop crying.
Happy tears. Overwhelmed tears.This-is-what-love-looks-like-tears.
