So thick and heavy I wasn’t sure that I could breathe.
“Don’t cry,” Raven murmured with a soggy laugh as she reached out and dabbed at the very edge of my eye. “It took me a full hour to get that eyeliner right. You don’t want me to have to start over, do you?”
“Never,” I choked.
“Though you know I would be happy to.”
“Thank you. All of you. So much.” I hugged the ring to my chest as if I could imprint it on my soul.
The significance of it.
What it meant to me even if it didn’t mean that to anyone else.
“It’s such an honor to get to do this. To be here,” Charleigh said. “Just like I know you’ll be right there for mine and River’s wedding at the end of the summer.”
She touched the back of my hand to show me she believed I would still be a part of their lives then.
“Can you believe Charleigh will be the last one of us to get married, when she was lucky enough to snag my brother first?” Raven winked at her.
Charleigh hiked a sweet shoulder. “You know I’m a firm believer that everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to.”
“Yeah,” Emery murmured with a soft touch to a lock of my hair. “And that’s why Daisy is standing right here in the place, right now, at this purposed time.”
I blinked away the tears, trying to keep it together. Not sure that I could stand under all their support when this was only temporary.
When it wasn’t real.
I didn’t have time to refute the fact because Charleigh took the ring and placed it back into the box. She tucked it into a little crystal-encrusted clutch. “Here. This is mine, and I thought it would go perfect with your dress.”
Raven moved to another bag and pulled out a gorgeous fresh bouquet. “From Moonflower, my floral shop. Now you have a little of each of us for your day.”
My nod was reticent and awed, and I accepted the bouquet.
“It’s time,” Raven said, gesturing for me to lead the way.
“I just need to do something really quick first.”
They must have realized I needed some privacy, because they piled out while I grabbed my phone and tapped out a message to my sister.
Me
It’s happening. I’m marrying Cash today.
I wished she could be there.
That she could share this moment with me.
I wanted so desperately to unite in a complete way.
For this family to come together wholly.
She responded almost immediately.
Hadley
Wait. Are you serious? You’re actually marrying him? Isn’t it fast?
Me
