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She plays with her engagement ring.
"You should put that on your right hand," I say. "Don't want to upstage the wedding ring."
She switches the rock to her right ring finger. Her eyes stay on the sparkly gem. "Is this really happening?"
"It is."
"Are you sure I'm not dreaming?"
I smile. "Positive."
"I'm really young to get married. Mom and Dad would be freaking if they were here."
"They were like twenty-three. Barely a year older than you are now."
"Yeah."
"You love him, right?"
"Like I love breathing."
"I've never seen two happier people." I squeeze her. "Do you really doubt your decision, even for a minute?"
"No." She takes a deep breath, her expression softening. She looks down at her dress. "It feels like I'm dreaming."
I pinch the back of her neck.
She yelps.
"You're not dreaming."
"You're a brat."
"Love you too."
The car stops for a solid three minutes. That was fast. I collect my purse, smooth my dress. This is happening and I'm ready.
The limo door opens. There's a smiling woman in a black pantsuit, holding a pink and white bouquet with a big pink bow.
She's one of the wedding planners. She introduces herself as Shelby Something—I'm too nervous to catch the last name—and hands us each a bottle of water.
I chug half of mine, but my throat still feels dry. There's no way I'm calming my nerves today. Might as well enjoy the ride.
Shelby presses her earpiece to her head and speaks into the receiver. "Okay. Get everyone seated." She offers Kat her hand. "We're ready for you."
Kat look at me as if to ask "is this really happening?" I nod.
She takes Shelby's hand and steps onto the curb. The rain is still pounding, but it doesn't seem to bother either of them. Shelby hands Kat the bouquet and helps me out of the limo.
"You're walking your sister down the aisle?" she asks.
I nod.
"How sweet." She leads us through the back entrance then points to the ceremony site, about five hundred feet away. There's a pink tarp tied to the blooming cherry blossom trees. The few dozen guests are seated in plastic folding chairs. Half of them are holding pink umbrellas.
"You'll get a little wet," Shelby says. "But we have a portable wooden walkway on the grass. Your dresses are safe."
We move closer, until we're about two hundred feet away.
There's a small guesthouse shielding us from view. We come to the corner. The next step is onto that walkway. Then it's one long path down the aisle.
Kat holds the bouquet to her chest.
I sling my arm with hers. "You got this?"
She nods.
It's pouring too hard for me to hear anything.
Shelby taps us on the shoulder, and then it's our turn.
Kat is really getting married.
I squeeze her as we make our way down the slippery wooden path. The world becomes a blur.
The cool colors of the rain. The soft pink of the petals blowing in the wind. And Kat standing across from Blake, both of them so happy they could die.
I'm too nervous to hear a word the officiant says, but I can feel all the love between my sister and the man who is about to become her husband. The way they stare at each other, with so much honesty, so much vulnerability.
When they read their vows, I start bawling. I don't even try to blame the rain. I used to think this kind of thing was cheesy bullshit, but it's so sweet, so beautiful.
He slides the ring onto her finger. "I do."
And then it's her turn, and her smile is so wide I almost worry her cheeks are going to break off.
She slides the ring onto his finger. "I do."
And then they're kissing. It's like a fairytale. I can see the magic swirling around them. I can see that everything in the world is exactly where it needs to be.
It's a tender moment, one that would usually be theirs alone.
But they're sharing it with the world.
That's love. You share it with the world.
A tear rolls down my cheek. I do nothing to stem it. My sister is married, and she's happy, and no matter what happens—
She's gonna be okay.
The next ten minutes are a blur. I pose for a few dozen pictures, then wait as the photographer focuses solely on the bride and groom.
For a few minutes, I watch Kat and Blake pose. They both look so happy, so natural, so free.
Maybe she's right, and I have to tell Nick how I feel, no matter the results. It's possible he'll hate me for interfering with Shepard. It's possible I'm about to lose any chance we have at any kind of relationship—
But it's a risk I'm willing to take.
I step under the now empty altar and look up at the transparent pink tarp. The rain is down to a drizzle. It makes tiny drops on the tarp, that same pitter-patter, only softer.
I pull my phone from my purse and call Nick.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Voicemail.
"Hey Nick. It's Lizzy. I'm at the wedding. It was beautiful. Reception starts in forty-five minutes, but that's not why I'm calling. It's because I have something to say."
I take a deep breath, willing my thoughts to straighten.
They do.
"I talked to Shepard. He made me a deal, to leave your company alone if I ended our relationship. I thought it would make you happy. It did. But it made me miserable. Nick... I don't want to say this over the phone. I'll come over after the reception. I have to see you. Please, even if you hate me for getting involved." I dig my hand into my phone. "Let me know where you'll be tonight. The reception ends around seven. I can get anywhere in the city by seven-thirty."
I end the call and hug the phone to my chest. My heart is racing. My breath is totally uneven.
Whatever happens, I have to tell him today.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The reception is in a solarium. There's hardwood floor beneath us and a beautiful curved glass ceiling above us. The dance floor is surrounded by tables with soft white cloths.
The cake is sitting against the wall, right in the center. It's white and pink, and it's decorated with cherry blossom petals.
It's so Kat. The ceremony, the reception, the dress—all of it is perfect.
The sound system reverberates as the DJ steps up to the mic. "Now arriving, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling."
Blake and Kat step through the doors. They go straight to the dance floor. They dance to Etta James's rendition of "At Last." It's seamless and sweet. The whole time, they're staring into each other's eyes like they're lost in a different world.
When the song ends, they mouth "I love you" and take their seats.
The DJ speaks. "The salad course will arrive in ten minutes. But first, some words from the best woman and the maid of honor."
A coordinator brings a mic to Fiona. I find my speech in my purse and read over it. I'm so focused I don't hear a single word she says. I don't even look up until I hear clapping and cheering.
She passes the mic to me.
Here goes nothing.
I stand up and look over the reception. "I'm sure you've heard this story,
but I was in an accident four years ago. It killed our parents. Almost killed me. Doctors told me I'd never walk again." I dig my fingers into the mic. "It gets better, I promise."
The tension in the room eases into a laugh. "Kat was only eighteen, but she was there every day when I woke up, and when I fell asleep. She took me to every physical therapy session and every doctor's appointment. For a long time, I was sure that no one would ever take care of us but each other. I was protective of her too. When she met Blake, I didn't want her to have anything to do with him."
Everyone laughs.
"I never thought I'd be okay with anyone else taking care of my sister, but when I see her and Blake together, I know I can pass the torch. He appreciates everything that matters about her. The way she sees all the magic and beauty in the world. The way she loves with her whole heart. I've never seen two people more perfect for each other. A year ago, I didn't believe that kind of happiness was possible." I look over to them. They're smiling. Blushing even.
"You guys made me believe in love. You made me believe enough that I fell in love. That wasn't possible last year. And that's worth more than all of Blake's money. Which is a lot." I swallow hard. Almost done. "I'm so happy for you both. It couldn't happen to two better people."
People are laughing. Kat is crying. Blake wipes a tear from her eye and presses his lips against hers.
It's too hard to breathe in here. I lock eyes with Kat then motion to the door. I mouth, "I'm going to get some air."
She nods okay and mouths, "I love you."
Everyone is looking at the food. It's my only chance for a break. I go straight to the main entrance and slip outside.
The air is still cold and damp, still drizzling. I wipe my glasses on my dress but it doesn't help.
"Here."
Huh? That's Nick's voice.
I look up. That's him. That's Nick.
He takes my glasses, wipes them dry on his shirt, and slides them back on my face. His touch is gentle, affectionate.
"Your speech was beautiful," he says.
"You heard that all the way over here?"
He nods. "I didn't want to interrupt." He runs his fingertips over my cheek. "Did you mean the part about falling in love?"
