My daughters and the kids made up the wedding party…and the wedding guests.We’d chosen not to invite anyone else, wanting to keep the ceremony as private as possible.A pang hit me again as I wondered if Steve would remember this day as magical—as one should their first wedding.
“What’s that look?”Aya asked, peering at me while Kate fixed the pink rosebuds and baby’s breath slipped between the plaits in my updo.
I blew out a breath.“Steve waited fifty years for this day.I want to make sure it’s everything he dreamed?—”
“It’s your day, too,” Jenna said, her eyes gleaming.That sweet girl, she turned ferocious when she worried someone wasn’t treating her family fairly.
“I know, darling.But it’s Steve’s first wedding.”
“It’s not like you’ve had that many,” Kate scoffed.“And you’re a widow to the man you married.”
Aya pressed her cheek to mine and met my gaze in the mirror.“Steve’s happier than I’ve ever seen him.He’s bouncing through the house.And smiling so much.He’s thrilled to be sharing this day with you.He’s thrilled to share the rest of his life with you.Take a moment to enjoy that.”
I turned and kissed Aya’s cheek.“You ladies are the absolute best thing to happen to Steve and me.I’m so glad this is happening now so we can enjoy it together.”
Regan stepped forward and hugged me, followed by the rest of my girls.Jenna handed me my bouquet—more of the blush rosebuds and baby’s breath—before heading to the door.
“You ready, Mama?”Kate asked.
I fumbled a bit with our bouquets so I could squeeze her hand.“Yes, darling.I’m so ready.”
Jenna opened the door with a flourish to the smiling faces of Cam and Carter.
“Don’t you two clean up nice,” I said, smiling.They each kissed one of my cheeks.
“So do you, Mama,” Cam said.“You look so pretty.”
“You’re a beautiful bride,” Carter said with a smile.He offered me an arm.Cam offered his, and I slid between my boys, thrilled they both wanted to walk me down the aisle.
The faint strains of an acoustic guitar filled the warm, humid air as we walked out onto the freshly cut grass that spread out like a plush emerald carpet to the bower of live oaks and weeping willows dripping with fairy lights.
Rye crooned out a love song he’d written last year to Kate—one of my favorite songs—while Carter and Cam soodled behind Kate, Aya, Jenna, and Regan toward Steve, Nash, and our officiant.
Chapter17
Steve
The faint lapping of water and the sighing of the breeze in the leaves rose and fell in time to Rye’s fretwork, folding nature into his beautiful love song.Each of our daughters strolled out across the lawn, blocking my view of Jasmine, though I could see her sons, strong and sturdy, like pillars, on either side of her.
Then Aya settled into her spot and I saw Jasmine.Her silver and ivory gown—I knew the colors from Aya—swished around her ankles as she walked toward me.Her arms wove between Carter and Cam’s as the men matched their long legs to their mother’s shorter stride.
She had flowers in her hair and a huge smile on her face.
She was perfect.The moment proved to be more beautiful than I’d expected.Emotion swelled from my chest up to my throat, and I had to blink back tears.Not because I was afraid to let them fall.No.I just didn’t want to miss a single second of Jasmine walking toward me—offering herself to me.
Iadoredthis woman.
I’d known it and thought about it many times, but in that moment nothing was clearer—little else mattered.
I loved her so much, and I was going to do everything in my power to make her happy.
Her beaming face brightened further.Cam slapped my back as Carter placed Jasmine’s hand on my arm.
“We’re holding you to that,” Cam said.
I glanced up at him, wondering what he was talking about.
“Doing anything in your power to make her happy.”Cam winked.
