She went through the motions. Eli took her out to the gazebo while Sarah grabbed her guitar and strummed a song as she and Eli walked down to the front where Pastor Scotty was waiting. Her wedding wasn’t as large as Eli’s and Sarah’s—well, at least her side of it. Jerica had more than enough family to make up for Bridget’s lack of family.
It still stung that her parents refused to even acknowledge she was getting married. She’d sent them an invitation on a whim, not telling Jerica until after she mailed it, and had hoped somewhere in the back of her mind that they would answer and come. The pain from not seeing them as she stood at the front of all her friends and family was more than she’d anticipated.
The music changed, and Bridget’s breath caught. Jerica’s bridesmaids walked down one at a time, and it seemed to take forever for the last one to get there. When the music shifted again, Bridget stared up, looking straight into Jerica’s eyes as she appeared from around the corner of the house.
God, she is stunning.Her dress flowed around her, catching in the wind. Her hair was in long ringlets down her back, and a crown of white daisies adorned her head. Bridget couldn’t help the smile that grew on her lips. She wanted to run up and wrap her arms around Jerica, swinging her around in a circle.
She shared a look with Eli, leaned over and whispered, “Think she’ll get mad if I go hug her?”
Eli grinned. “I think you should do it.”
Not needing any more encouragement, Bridget jumped off the top step of the gazebo and ran. Jerica looked surprised at first, but then her gaze softened, and she opened her arms in a welcoming embrace as Bridget grabbed her around the waist and did exactly as she had wanted. Jerica cupped her cheeks and kissed her tenderly until Bridget finally put her down.
“You’re supposed to wait.”
Bridget snorted. “I couldn’t.”
“Could you ever?”
“Nope. And there isn’t really a need to, is there?” She looked at Jerica’s father and nodded to him. “Sorry.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t be. I couldn’t have picked anyone more perfect for her.”
He held his hand out in front of them, indicating they should walk the rest of the way together. Bridget wrapped their hands together and started down the aisle toward the gazebo, helping Jerica up the two steps to stand in front of Pastor Scotty who just shook her head at them with a grin.
“You two are incorrigible.”
“You like it, don’t lie,” Bridget quipped back.
“I do. But now, I think we should do a wedding. What about you?”
“Yes! Let’s do this. I’ve got everyone I need here.”
Jerica’s eyes glistened with tears of happiness.
“I don’t need anyone else.”