“Almost ready, ladies?” The girls’ mother pops her head into the dressing room, then steps through the door wearing a shimmery rose-gold mother-of-the-bride dress. She has Cassie’s nose and forehead, but Missy and Lisa’s impeccable styling, and she’s beaming with pride as she surveys her three daughters.
Her eyes fill with tears when her gaze lands on Cassie. “Aren’t you a beautiful bride.”
Cassie rolls her eyes, but I can see they’re shimmering, too. “Mom. You saw me five minutes ago.”
“And I’m allowed to cry every time,” she says. “It’s not every day one of my daughters gets married.”
Susan Michaels pulls all three girls into a group hug. It’s a beautiful moment, and I’m glad the photographer is there to capture it. Spotting me, Susan waves over Lisa’s shoulder. “You, too, Sarah,” she says. “You’re part of this love-fest.”
I set my bouquet on the dressing table and join the huddle, so filled with love that I feel like I might explode. What is it about weddings that brings out everyone’s sentimental side?
Susan is first to draw back, and she plucks a hankie from her little clutch and dabs at her eyes. “I’m proud of all of you girls for finding the love of your life,” she says. “I can only hope all four of you are even half as happy as Glen and I have been these past forty years.”
My heart lodges in my throat, and I swallow hard to force it back down. All four of you. She means me, too, and for a moment I entertain the idea of having the same kind of marriage they all do. The kind I always assumed I’d have.
As I take several shaky breaths to compose myself, Mrs. Michaels makes her way to the door. “If you’re ready, I’ll signal the musicians,” she says.
Lisa fusses with Cassie’s veil one more time. “Are Simon and Junie already in place?”
“They’re just waiting for the word from us.”
I love how family has been incorporated into every aspect of this wedding. Simon and Cassie both wanted Junie by their side, but ultimately let her choose between being Cassie’s maid of honor or Simon’s best woman.
“Best is better than honor,” Junie pointed out. “Everyone knows that.”
So Junie is with Simon, and Cassie has the three of us for support. “I’m glad he has her by his side,” Cassie says, reading my thoughts. “It’s been just the two of them for so long. They’ve always had each other.”
My heart clutches a little at that as I realize that no matter what kind of wedding Ian and I have, we’ll feel Shane’s absence. My father’s, too, though I never really knew him. When it comes time to walk myself down the aisle, I’ll be ready for it. I pick up my bouquet and take another breath.
“All set, Sarah?” Lisa moves toward the doorway, then pauses and cocks her head. “You okay?” she mouths.
I nod and join the sisters. “I’m so thrilled for you, Cassie,” I tell her. “You look so happy.”
“So do you.”
It’s true, and I know why. It’s Ian, and the fact that I’m so in love with him I could explode. I hug my friend, then step back as her father appears in the doorway, ready to walk her down the aisle.
“Showtime, ladies,” Lisa says.
Missy strides out first, then Lisa, then me. We march slowly out the doors of Suttle Lake Lodge, squinting as the glare of sun on the lake hits us full in the face. Notes of Pachelbel’s Canon bounce off the water as we drift across the deck and out onto the grassy lawn.
At the last second, I glance back at Cassie. Her face radiates so much love and joy that my breath catches in my throat.
I want that.
I turn and make my way down the aisle.
Simon is waiting under a handmade arch with Junie resplendent in champagne silk beside him. She’s wearing their late mother’s earrings and a smile that’s filled with love for her brother and new sister-in-law. Dax stands next to her, smiling at Lisa like she invented beer and blowjobs. Two guys Simon works with round out the rest of his group, and they’re all watching us make our way down the aisle.
As I take my place on the opposite side of the arch, I watch Simon’s face as Cassie appears.
There it is—pure, unaltered love. There’s no other way to describe it, and my breath catches again with a soft little hiccup. Mesmerized, I watch his face as she glides toward him.
You’re beautiful, he mouths with tears of joy glittering behind his tortoiseshell glasses.
Cassie smiles back and flashes him a thumbs-up. She’s wearing the same expression he is. Love—her face glows with it, her whole body radiates with rays like sun glinting off water. My throat tightens, and I take a few deeper breaths to keep myself from bawling.
Ian.
