I don’t even notice the tears until everything blurs.I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him.
“Yes.What else can I say?Yes.”I laugh and cry at the same time.
“Thank God.”He exhales and kisses me again.
I pull him close, kissing him back, not caring about the people watching from far away.All that matters is how warm his kiss is and how much happiness it brings into my life.
“I love you, Laird.”
“I love you more.”
* * *
“Honey, you look absolutely stunning,” my mother says.
“Thanks, Mom.”I beam the moment her compliment lands.She hands me a bouquet of pink, red, and white flowers.I take it and hold it carefully in front of me.
“I still can’t believe we pulled this off in just a couple of weeks.”She shakes her head, eyes wide.
“We even thought about getting married the day after he proposed, but then I remembered you saying you wanted everything prepared.”
I press my lips into a thin smile.If only I hadn’t stopped Laird that day, we would’ve sprinted to the nearest chapel we could find.But no—I still had my mom in my mind.
“Of course!I only get one chance because you’re my only daughter.”She clasps my satin-clad hands, holding them too tight.“I hope the fruit tarts and crab cakes are enough for the guests.”
“It’s okay, Mom.If we run out, we can stuff them with the wedding cake.That five-tier monster you ordered exists for a reason.”
“You’re right.And thank God Mrs.Maddox took the order.”She sighs, then studies my face with a soft smile.Her thumb strokes my ear with that motherly tenderness that always sneaks up on me.
“Oh, I wish your father could see you, even if he can’t walk you down the aisle.”She adjusts my veil, her breath unsteady.Her eyes shimmer in the morning light.She’s seconds from crying.
“It’s okay.Golden is good enough for me.I still can’t believe he came all the way to Boston just to walk me down the aisle.”
I glance at the old man in the black suit with a white flower on his lapel.He stands with a few relatives, checking on us every few seconds.
“How’d you convince him?”I tilt my head.
“All he wanted was a homemade dinner.”She laughs, cheeks turning pink—not too pink, but enough to betray her.Her laugh is crisp and shy, a little too bright for her age.Paired with the special cookies she baked for him, yeah… there’s more.
“Just you and him?”
“That’s what he asked.”Her eyes flicker with excitement she tries and fails to hide.
“You two would be cute.You should… you know.Go for it.”I shrug.
“Go for what?”She startles, then lets out a tiny embarrassed laugh.
“For once, Mom.Follow your heart.”
“Oh, hush.”She waves me off, but her smile gives her away.
“Are you ready?Everyone’s waiting,” Mr.Golden says as he walks toward us.
“Oh, okay.Let’s go.”I exhale a deep breath.
“Bless you, my pretty baby.”My mother kisses my forehead, hugging me tight.
“Thank you, Mom.”I smile wide, chest pounding inside the corset.Everything is suddenly too real, too fast, too perfect.
