“You’re here!” Delaney grabbed me in a hug. “I’m freaking out.”
“You’re getting married in six hours. Freaking out is allowed.”
“What if I trip walking down the aisle? What if Barrett throws the rings in the pond? What if…”
“What if you marry the love of your life and everything is perfect?” Reece appeared from the hallway, already dressed and put together. She hugged Delaney fiercely and then held her out at arms length. “Breathe. Today is going to be beautiful.”
Delaney took a shaky breath and nodded. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
“Of course I am.” Reece smiled and then looked at me. “Now, we have hair and makeup arriving at nine, our amazing photographer needs to get to the pond by eleven to set up, and Delaney needs to eat something before she passes out from nerves and mimosas.”
“I had toast,” Delaney protested.
“Half a piece of toast doesn’t count. Billie, can you make her an actual breakfast?”
“On it,” Billie called from the kitchen.
“I love how everyone just takes orders from you now,” I said to Reece.
“Someone has to be in charge. And Blake has been pounding the mimosas because apparently that’s the only way she can awake at this time in the morning, but I’m not quite sure how to follow that logic. I’m the only one keeping it together here.”
Blake lifted her mimosa in salute. “She’s not wrong.”
“I see we’re all handling this very normally,” I quipped.
“Define normal,” Blake muttered.
“Fair point.”
The next two hours were a blur of activity. Hair and makeup artists arrived and transformed Delaney’s living room into a salon. Billie kept bringing food nobody ate. Reece coordinated everything with the calm efficiency of someone who’d probably run military operations in a past life.
“Earth to Leigh,” Blake said, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’ve been staring at that mimosa for five minutes. Drink it or put it down.”
“Sorry. Just thinking about the shots I need to get today.”
“Ever the professional.” Blake grinned. “Well, drink up. We have a bride to finish getting ready.”
Delaney called from the other room. “Leigh! I need you!”
I found her in her bedroom, standing in front of the mirror in her wedding dress.
And oh my god, she was stunning.
The dress was simple but elegant. Lace and flowing silk, fitted at the top and cascading down into a soft skirt. Her hair was swept up in loose curls, with small white flowers woven through. She looked like something out of a fairytale.
“Well?” she asked, her voice nervous. “What do you think?”
“I think Trace is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
She smiled, tears gathering in her eyes. “I still can’t believe this is happening. That I get to marry him.”
“Believe it. Now let’s get you to that pond before you cry off all this beautiful makeup.”
She laughed, wiping carefully at her eyes. “Okay. Let’s go get married.”
The pond was perfect.
White chairs were arranged in neat rows on both sides of a makeshift aisle. The flower arch at the front was covered in white roses and greenery, with the pond shimmering behind it. The late August sun filtered through the trees, creating this magical dappled light that was going to look incredible in photos.
