But I don’t want all our guests here, anyway.
I just want my family. Brooks and Scout and me, along with his parents.
The pastor who was going to marry Sophia and James stands with us under the arbor I dreamed of. The one my husband and my friends built with their own hands. Dark red roses and green garlands wrap around it. A bough of mistletoe hangs above our heads.
For our first kiss as husband and wife.
To have and to hold, ‘til death do us part.
I do.
I do.
He slips a ring on my finger, the diamond glittering, the same as the tears falling from my eyes. His eyes too.
He was a stranger a few days ago, and now he is my partner, my lover, my life.
You may kiss the bride.
And he does.
Scout is squealing, and I am melting. Brooks’ lips meet mine and I am his wife.
Just like that, our lives have changed.
I am his and he is mine.* * *The reception is my fairy tale come true. When Brooks and I walk into the lodge, everyone in town is on their feet, clapping for us, cheering for our love. Brooks lifts his little girl onto his shoulder, and the photographer is there capturing the moment.
It’s more than Christmas magic in the air — this, what we feel, is love.
Pure and simple and instant and everything.
Everyone who was invited for Sophia’s big day are the same people who are here for mine. This day I planned, and Brooks made it mine.
“You are such a beautiful bride,” Sophia says as she gives me a hug.
“Is it weird, me in your wedding dress?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No. It’s perfect. You look like a Christmas bride if there ever was one.”
“Shush,” I say, about to shake my head at her compliments. But then I stop tears in my eyes, so much gratitude filling my heart. “It is perfect, isn’t it?”
“Your parents would be so proud of you, Noelle, for following your heart.” She wipes the tears as they fall. “I’m proud of you too. And I love you, and I swear, I will be a better friend.”
“You better,” I say. “Because I’m gonna need you. I have no idea how to be a wife.”
She laughs. “And I do?” She squeezes my hand. “You are going to be a wonderful wife. You always look out for the people you love.”
“Thank you, Sophia. For giving me your big day.”
“I think,” she says, with a big smile. “This was how it was all supposed to turn out. Just don’t tell James that.”
“Pretty upset?”
She nods. “But he’ll get over it.”
“I think he is probably most bitter over the fact you changed the airline tickets for your honeymoon to Brooks and my names so we could use them.” Tomorrow morning Brooks and I are flying to Tahiti courtesy of Sophia. Her corporate job gave her a Christmas bonus and she is spending it all on us. Scout will stay with her grandparents and my husband and I will get to know one another. Which is probably a good idea now that we’re hitched.
She laughs. “Well, it was the best wedding gift I could think of at last minute. I mean, you didn’t give me much lead-time. I didn’t even get to throw you a bridal shower.”
I wiggle my eyebrows as Brooks takes my hand, leading me to the dance floor. “That’s okay,” I tell her. “You can plan the baby shower.”* * *As we stand before our door of the suite at the Linesworth Hotel, Brooks picks me up.
“I need to carry my bride over the threshold.” I laugh as he carries me inside, still exhilarated from the festivities of the day. We are staying here tonight, then going to his parents’ before the sun rises and celebrating Christmas with Scout, before flying off to our honeymoon.
Scout frowned for a few seconds when we told her the plan, but quickly realized it meant seven whole days with her grandparents’ undivided attention and she quickly changed her tune. I told Brooks we didn’t need a honeymoon now, but his parents insisted. And not so secretly, I’m glad. I want this, the time alone with him. To dream about our future and learn each other’s pasts.
It’s the beginning of our love story and I can’t wait to dive in.
“And what was this I heard about Sophia planning a baby shower?” he asks as he sets me down, spinning me around, so he can help me take off this big white gown.
“Just planning for the future, is all,” I say, looking over my shoulder.
“Our forever.”EpilogueBrooksOne year later …Considering the year we’ve had, I’m amazed that we are here, in one piece.
A wedding.
A move across the state.
A new home.
A pregnancy.
A school for Scout as she started kindergarten.
A baby… boy.
And now, our one-year anniversary.