“There’s no more rocks or sticks,” Winnie tells me. “We cleaned them all up.”
“Is that why you guys were collecting them?”
“It was our secret project.” She beams.
“Alright my little something blue,” Lauren kisses Winnie on the head. “You got this.”
Myranda motions for me to go. It was beautiful yesterday, but now, in the afternoon light with the flowers all in place, it’s enchanting.
When I finally lift my eyes, they center on him instantly. During the rehearsal, I kept my gaze anywhere but on him. The ground, the sky, the trees. Now, my eyes settle on him like they’re trying to find their way home. Tanner’s lips purse to the side, and his eyes blink away tears.
Beautiful.He mouths and my heart aches for him with every step I take and every quiver of my bottom lip.
I slip into my spot and turn to watch Winnie come out the door. Her smile is beaming across her face. No hesitation. No fear. Just pure giddy excitement.
Then halfway down the aisle, she does it. A quick little spin just like she and Lauren talked about last night in bed, and everyone laughs. Rhett gives her a high five before she goes to take her seat next to my mom. She gives a little wave and with aquick glance I see that it’s Tanner she is waving to. With a smile and a little tear down his cheek, he returns her gesture looking utterly in love and devastated all at once.
The quartet shifts into a new song, an Elvis tune, then out steps Lauren and Paul. I steal my quick glance at Rhett. His stoic stone face had already softened but now, every hard edge or mysterious frown line is gone. He has tears down his cheeks as he laughs through a sob. Tanner pats his back, tears of his own trailing down his cheeks.
Once they reach the end of the aisle, Paul kisses Lauren’s tear-stained cheek, shakes Rhett’s hand and gives her hand to him with a wink. The crowd chuckles as he then shuffles into his position as officiant, and it begins.
He goes through the beautifully scripted ceremony leaving not a single dry eye in the yard. He announces them as Mr. And Mrs. Atwood, and everyone erupts into cheers as the quartet begins to play again while Lauren and Rhett walk back up the aisle. Then Tanner steps forward and lends me his arm.
“You’re stunning,” he says to me so quietly I almost miss it.
I squeeze his arm and focus on keeping my feet under me.
“It doesn’t break a rule.” He clasps his other hand over mine. “Because it’s a fact.”
I blink the burning tears away and I cling to his arm because there’s nothing else left to keep me standing.
Pictures are fast and furious as we are shuffled through all the poses the photographers have lined up. All the bridesmaids. All the groomsmen. The couple. The whole group. The families.
“Mommy!” Winnie runs up and grabs my hand. “Come on, we need a picture with Tan too!”
“Oh, Winnie we don’t really have time?—”
“Sure we do.” The photographer winks at Winnie “I can squeeze one in for you with your mom and dad.”
Winnie, nor I, correct her. And neither does Tanner as he stands there watching us with some muddled expression I can’t decipher. We shuffle together and Tanner’s hand slips around my waist and I lean into his side and hope the camera can’t pick up the tears in our eyes.
When it’s time for the reception, Myranda lines me back up with Tanner. He holds his arm back out for me again and I cling to him like my life depends on it. I hold tight because I know I’m losing this. I’m losing these people and this home. I’m losing him.
“Maid of Honor and Best Man, Hannah Dorada and Tanner Auclair,” the DJ calls out, and we step out to Winnie standing on her chair cheering louder than everyone else.
“She really loves you,” I tell him through my smile as the crowd cheers.
“And she really loves you.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and hate myself for leaving. I hate myself for letting Ethan win again. I hate Tanner for not wanting me to stay enough to fight for me.
We make our way to the head table that’s been set up where the alter once stood. Tanner pulls out my chair for me before sitting in his spot.
“And get those hands together for the new, Mrs. and Mrs. Atwood!”
We all swing our napkins overhead and cheer. Lauren’s hand falls to her belly, and she smiles from ear to ear.
After dinner, we get drinks and make our way to the dance floor. I pretend not to notice Tanner watching me from his spot at the makeshift bar. When the music slows, a hand I would know anywhere presses against my lower back.
