“Blessed,” Vanessa said.
A double knock sounded at the door. “We’re ready when you are,” the minister said.
“Thank you.” Vanessa took something out of her pocket as she lifted the simple bouquet of wildflowers. “Okay, the flowers are new.” She handed them to Anna, then tucked a pick with a flower made of blue buttons into the arrangement. “This button flower was made from buttons in Mom’s button tin.” Then she lifted her gold cross necklace over her head and placed it over Anna’s. “This was Mom’s. I know she’d want you to wear it today so she could be a part of this. That’s the borrowed.”
“Sweet Vanessa. Thank you.” She fondled the cross. “This is perfect.”
“You’re set.” She opened the door and reached for Anna’s hand. “We’re ready.”
They walked out of the dressing room and joined Buck, Mike, Edna, and Misty in the church.
The minister didn’t waste a moment.
Buck and Anna stood before him.
He rolled right into the ceremony, and it wasn’t long before all the “I do” and “I will,” and rings were placed upon the bride’s and groom’s fingers; then the couple turned toward the guests and the minister pronounced them to be husband and wife.
Vanessa dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.
Mike walked over to her. “You always cry at weddings?”
She nodded.
“I guess I better get used to it. Right, Misty?”
She nodded in a hurried response. “Yeah.”
Vanessa smirked. “You better not be thinking of marriage anytime soon, young lady.”
“Not me,” Misty said. “Not for a long, long time. I’ve got things to learn. A business to run.”
“Yes, you do.” Vanessa was thankful Misty wasn’t the type to rush off and do something crazy like marry before she was even out of college. She had a bright future.
Buck stood right behind Mike, holding Anna’s hand with a huge grin on his face.
“Yeah,” Mike said. “But if you’re going to cry like that, you might have a real problem on December twenty-first.”
“Why?” She sensed something was up, but she had no idea what it was she was supposed to be remembering. “Is that the tree lighting? Who’s getting…”
Mike lowered to one knee and took a ring box from his jacket pocket. “Vanessa Larkin. Will you marry me?” He nodded toward Misty. “Help me make sure this girl has someone to always talk to when the going gets tough? Be a part of our family? For as long as we both shall live?”
Her mouth dropped open. Her eyes flitted from person to person. “I didn’t. I—”
“It’s a yes-or-no question. I’ve talked about it with everyone here in this room, including the minister. I want to marry you during the holidays.”
“Oh my gosh. Really? That’s so fast. Are you joking?”
“This is not a joking matter. If it’s one thing I learned the hard way, it’s that life is unpredictable. Don’t make me wait. I don’t want to miss a single day with you in my life. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Misty said. “Both of you.”
“I love you both too,” Vanessa said. “I already feel like part of the family. I can’t believe this.”
“I might even teach you my secret chicken-stew recipe,” he said with a wink.
“Can we serve it at the reception?”
“Absolutely.”
