Page 107 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

After hanging the dress on a hook, I walked over to the window, looking out at the scene below. Daniel and I were getting married at sunset, which meant that no one was in any particular rush now. In fact, the day was much calmer this time around, the grounds being transformed into my wacky, heavily floral, wildly colorful dream wedding.

A dream I cooked up for Ryan, I realized as I watched Henry laugh with Steve, the venue owner and the carnival foreman evidently having some fun with my madness. I smiled even as my heart tightened. I really, really wish I was marrying Ryan today instead.

That was the only thing missing from all this, a groom I actually loved. Well, that, and the dress.

As the thought occurred to me, I already knew I couldn’t be brave in the way Viola had likely intended for me to be. I couldn’t just throw caution to the wind and act like I didn’t care what my family thought. I was one of them, after all, but maybe I could be a little bit brave.

Once I went into the dressing room, I looked at the pearly white gown my mother and I had compromised on, but then I reached for the garment bag hanging beside it, the butter-yellow catching the fading sunlight outside as I pulled it out.

My eyes burned with tears as I thought back to the moment Ryan had first shown it to me, how utterly shocked I’d been that he’d found exactly what I’d described to him just one time on the train.

“Be brave,” I whispered as I stepped into it, marveling at how perfectly it fit.

If that’s not meant to be, I don’t know what is. As far as I was concerned, it fit even better than the gown that had been custom made for me.

I stood in front of the mirror, running my hands over the silky material and even almost managing a smile. When I swished my hips, the skirt danced around my legs in a soft little wave. I may not want this marriage, but at least I finally feel like a bride.

When Cathy eventually came in to help with my hair and makeup, she blinked a couple times but didn’t say anything about the fact that I was in the wrong dress. She simply pulled me into a tight hug and murmured against my ear. “You look gorgeous, Mags. I love it.”

More tears sprung to my eyes, but I inhaled a deep breath and swallowed them, sitting down at the vanity while she applied my makeup with a much lighter hand than I was used to from her. I even still looked like me by the time she was done, which was really something.

After running a brush through my loose hair and putting just a few spiral curls into the strands, she put her hands on my shoulders and smiled at me in the reflection of the mirror on the dressing table. “There. You’re perfect.”

“Thank you, Cathy.”

She gave me another hug from behind, waiting for me to rise before opening the door to the hallway. “Are you ready? It’s time.”

“Yeah. I’m good.”

She pushed the door open all the way, and as I turned, I realized my father was already waiting in the hall. He breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw me. “I thought it would be best if we walked together from here this time.”

I forced a smile. “Of course.”

Finally, when I wrapped my hand around his offered arm, his expression softened a little. “I’m happy you’re not trying to run away again, my darling. I know this has been hard for you.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been there and done that. I figured it might be nice to actually go through with it this time.”

He chuckled, but even so, he held on tight when his hand clamped over mine on his arm, almost like he was preparing to yank me back if I tried slipping away again. As we started down the carpeted hall, his gaze swept across the dress.

“Last-minute decision?” he asked.

“Yeah, it was important to me.”

He was quiet for a moment before he nodded. “I’m proud of you, Maggie. You’re being so brave and I know it’s not easy.”

The words hit me like a punch to gut. Deep down, I didn’t feel brave. I felt like a freaking coward. Here I was, about to go through with a marriage to a man I didn’t love without standing up for myself and telling my family what I really wanted.

I thought of Viola and of Ryan.

Putting on the dress had been a sliver of braveness, but right now, my courage had all but evaporated. I’m not brave. I’m a fucking idiot in a pretty dress.

But my father didn’t slow as he led me to the clearing, not giving me any time at all to reconsider. Which I supposed was exactly why he’d been waiting for me right at my door. There’s no getting out of this, Maggie. There never has been, so just suck it up.

As soon as the music began, my father straightened and glanced over at me. “Are you ready?”

No. “As I’ll ever be.”

He leaned over and brushed a kiss to my temple. “Then let’s go do this thing.”