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When I stand to follow her, my eyes meet Parker’s gaze, and it’s obvious he also noticed Rosie’s departure was off. He nods toward her, and I shrug my shoulders and indicate I’m going to check on her. He nods, and as I walk toward the back of the church, I can still feel him watching me.
When I walk through the doors, Rosie is nowhere to be seen, so I call her name. “Rosie,” I say in a loud whisper. Still nothing, so I decide to check the bathroom. “Rose, are you in here?”
Rosie walks from a stall, sniffling as she dabs at an errant tear falling from her eyes. “Yes,” she whimpers. I rush to her and grab her hand. “Rose, what’s the matter?” I ask nervously.
“Oh, Abs, I’m worried that we’re rushing into this. I mean, what if Drew changes his mind about loving me?” I can’t help myself, I burst out laughing. I laugh so hard until I see Rosie’s face again. Her eyes are wide with fear. With sadness. “My God, Rose…you’re serious,” I say.
“Well, yeah,” she sniffs.
I take her by the shoulders and force her to look me in the eyes. “Rosie, where is this coming from? You’re the girl who believes in love and finding your soul mate and happily ever after.” My own emotions catch up with me as a tear falls down my cheek. “Drew loves you, and you love him. Do you even see how he looks at you? He’s the one. You can’t let nerves and the stress of the wedding get to you because your love goes beyond the ceremony. It’s all your life together before now and every moment of the life you will create after that day. It is…”
“It’s true love,” a deep voice comes from the doorway. Parker. He’s standing in the ladies’ room with us. “Rosie, don’t you dare doubt the truth you and Drew know and have fought for together.” He steps further into the room with us.
“You’re in the ladies’…” I start to say. He glares at me, “Not now, Abbey.” I close my mouth and stay quiet.
Now he is standing before us. “You and Drew found something special. You love one another completely, and that is all that matters,” he states it so firmly that it leaves no room for argument. There is something about the way he says those words that gives the impression he believes in love too.
I turn to look at Rosie’s reaction. She has stopped crying, and a smile begins to form on her lips. “I don’t know what came over me. It’s like I’m suddenly transported back to all the fear and doubt I had when Drew and I first fell in love,” she says. She leans in and kisses my cheek, then raises up on her tiptoes and places a peck on Parker’s cheek, too.
“You’re good?” I ask her. She takes the tissue and wipes her eyes. “Yep, is my makeup smeared?” She looks up at me and Parker. Some of the color has come back to her cheeks already. “I’m good, I promise. Just a momentary lapse of crazy,” she tells us.
We all walk into the entrance hall of the church, and a moment later, Drew comes through the front doors. “Hey, I was looking for you guys. Everyone else headed over to the restaurant for dinner.” Rosie walks directly to Drew without a word, throws her arms around his neck, and kisses him fully on the lips. He falls right in sync with her, as they do with just about everything in their lives—one of them taking the lead while the other instinctually follows without missing a beat.
I look over at Parker at the very same moment he looks at me. I smile at him, and he mirrors my expression with his own. We turn back to Rosie and Drew just a Rosie pulls back and says, “I love you, Andrew Nallen, and I can’t wait to marry you tomorrow.” Drew’s mouth spreads wide into a happy grin. “And I can’t wait to marry you, Rose Marie Fisher. Now, let’s get going so we can end this night and get closer to saying I do,” Drew tells her.
We all walk out together and head toward the restaurant just two doors down. Rosie hooks her arm through mine and leans her head on my shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispers. I take her hand and squeeze it in response.
Parker and Drew walk ahead of us talking while Rosie and I trail behind them in silence.
My mind swirls with thoughts of my best friend, the one who never gives up on love, letting doubt creep in. If she can take a risk and believe, then maybe I can too.
Twenty-Three
PARKER
From the moment I open my eyes, my world is bustling with last-minute details for the wedding. Despite my mother’s worry and Tyler’s sarcasm, I’ve felt happier than I have in months. Hell, I’ve felt happier than I have in years.
Between Drew’s smiling face and giddy attitude and my renewed hope that things are going to work out between Abbey and me, I’m on cloud nine. Nothing can dampen my mood as I walk through the doorway of the groom’s room.
“Hey, Parks!” Tyler’s voice booms. Nope, not today. He will not annoy the crap out of me. He will not do it because this is Drew’s day. A day for peace, love, and happiness. “Hey, Ty,” I reply, waiting for something more from Ty, but he says nothing more. Complete silence. When I glance at him, he is concentrating on tying his tie in the mirror. Huh, nice. Miracles do happen.
I set the box of boutonnieres my mom gave me on the table in the middle of the room.
“Have you seen Drew?” I ask Tyler. Without even looking up from his tie, he responds, “Yep, I think he and Jasper went to touch base with Father Jerome.” Man, he is a sight to see. Kind of glad I made a pact with myself to make sure today is as smooth as possible, or I would be giving Ty crap right now. “Uh, need help?” He stops and glares at me for a moment before replying, “Not a chance.” I laugh as I walk out of the room and back into the hallway.
There are different people moving about the church, setting up the finishing touches before the ceremony begins. I see my mom and Mrs. Fisher walking with a young woman who’s carrying flowers.
Just as I pass a doorway, I hear two familiar voices, one belonging to Jasper and the other to Cora Connolly, our neighbor and a childhood friend of Kelsea and Jasper. I try not to eavesdrop on their hushed conversation, but it’s the sound of Jasper’s voice that gives me pause.
“Cora, what were you thinking? Tommy Warner is a complete idiot,” Jasper scolds her. Dear Lord, he isn’t wrong. Tommy Warner is every parent’s worst nightmare. Not to mention a complete douchebag.
“That’s the problem, Jas. I wasn’t thinking. Now I…” Cora tells him. Her words drift off to silence. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she continues, her voice tinged with worry.
I hear Jasper sigh, “Cora, I told you I will help you. Everything will be fine. We’ll figure it out, okay?” There is silence and a quiet sniffle. “Hey, look at me,” Jasper says again, tenderness in his voice. “I’m telling you. Everything will be fine. I’m here for you. Always.”
What in the hell is going on? This conversation is too private, but everything in me tells me I need to protect Jasper.
“Good God, Jas, this is your brother’s wedding day, and here I am crying on your shoulder. Thank you for always being here for me. I can’t think of a single time in my life that you haven’t been here to pick me up.” Cora’s voice is kind and filled with sincerity.
