Page 60 of Hearts & Embers

His gaze swept across the apartment.

"Most grooms spend wedding mornings pacing."

"Most grooms don't have you turning up to supervise them."

Cody laughed as he handed me a second coffee.

Over the previous year our friendship had somehow become even stronger than before. He'd stood beside me through recovery, the uncertainty surrounding Aurora's fears about my profession, my proposal six months earlier, and through every stage of planning that followed. There had never been any question about who would stand beside me today. Cody had been the obvious choice from the beginning.

The proposal itself had taken place during a weekend getaway to Door County. Aurora had spent weeks pretending she wasn't expecting it despite becoming increasingly suspicious every time I attempted to plan anything. Eventually I proposed on a quiet lakeside pier shortly before sunset. The answer had arrived before I finished asking the question.

Neither of us had looked back since.

"You realise Ingrid has a betting pool going."

I looked toward Cody.

"A betting pool about what?"

"Whether you cry before Aurora does."

I shook my head.

"That's ridiculous."

"That's what I said."

His smile widened.

"Then again, she has several firefighters supporting her position."

The conversation continued while I finished getting ready. Eventually we left the apartment and headed toward Saint Michael's Chapel on the north side of the city. The historic stone church overlooked Lake Michigan and had immediately become Aurora's favourite venue when we visited it almost a year earlier. The architecture felt timeless, and the surrounding gardens created exactly the atmosphere she wanted. Every detail had been chosen carefully, although I knew better than anyone that Aurora had spent months insisting she wasn't particularly invested in wedding planning before becoming unexpectedly competitive about flowers, table settings, and invitation designs.

By the time we arrived, guests had already begun gathering.

Members of Firehouse 99 occupied one section of seating while Aurora's colleagues from school filled another. Family members, including my parents and Aurora’s mother sat in the front row. The atmosphere carried the kind of anticipation that only existed before significant moments. Conversations remained quiet, smiles appeared frequently, and everyone seemed aware they were participating in something important.

The chapel itself looked incredible. White roses, eucalyptus, and soft greenery lined the aisle without overwhelming the beauty of the building itself. Sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, casting colours across polished wooden pews. The scent of flowers mingled with polished timber and candle wax, creating an atmosphere that felt elegant without becoming excessive. Aurora had wanted the day to feel intimate rather than extravagant, and somehow every decision she'd made had accomplished exactly that.

Cody and I waited near the altar while guests settled into their seats.

He wore a perfectly tailored black tuxedo with a charcoal waistcoat and silver tie. My own tuxedo mirrored his and Aurora had selected white rose boutonnieres for both of us. Looking around the chapel, I realised everyone had somehow managed to look considerably more sophisticated than they usually did.

Even the firefighters.

The music began shortly afterward. Then Elyssa appeared, and several people immediately turned to look.

She looked beautiful and I couldn’t help noticing how she and Cody immediately locked eyes.

Her gown was a rich shade of sage featuring delicate beadwork along the fitted bodice and flowing chiffon that moved effortlessly with each step. Her blonde hair had been swept into an elegant style that framed her face while allowing a few loose curls to soften the overall look. She carried a bouquet of white roses and greenery and somehow managed to look simultaneously emotional, proud, and completely prepared to threaten anyone who upset Aurora.

Then the chapel doors opened again and everything else disappeared.

Aurora stood beside her father at the far end of the aisle, and for a moment I genuinely forgot how to breathe.

The gown suited her perfectly.

Ivory silk flowed from a fitted lace bodice that had clearly been designed specifically for her. Delicate floral patterns extended across sheer sleeves before ending neatly at her wrists. The skirt fell elegantly to the floor without becoming overly dramatic, while a cathedral-length veil framed her face and caught the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows. The effect was breathtaking not because the dress itself demanded attention, but because it somehow highlighted everything I already loved about the woman wearing it.