“You are, without a doubt, the best man I know, not just because of how you love me, but because of how you move through this world with honesty, integrity, compassion, and strength.
“I love the quiet ways you show up for me, the way you understand what I don’t say, and how you make ordinary days feel like something worth celebrating.
“I promise to be your calm when life feels heavy, your laughter when things get too serious, and your partner in every unknown ahead.
“I will grow with you, listen to you, and love you. Because from the very first moment I saw you, even before I wanted to admit it, and in every moment since, it has always been you, my rock, my love, my forever.”
I wiped a tear that slid down my cheek and found my eyes scanning the crowd and landing on Adam, of course. He looked so handsome in his suit and charcoal gray tie, sandwiched between his girls, one twin on each side of him. When he caught me looking, his lips curled in a knowing grin. My mind went back to just a few weeks ago to when we were exchanging our own vows that we made up on the spot. So much had happened in those few weeks. The routine with the girls, with Adam.
He was better now, I could see it. Any day now he was going to get cleared to use the stairs, and then there’d be no reasonfor me to stay. I wassurethat’s why he’d asked me to come downstairs a couple nights ago, to let me know he didn’t need me anymore. Instead, he’d just asked me about my stalker.
“No news is good news.” That’s what Detective Ramos said the last time I checked in with him. Was it? In my opinion, no news meant they were no closer to finding out who the hell had broken into my apartment, car, and slashed my tires.
“Bailey,” Cole’s voice cracked, and it snapped me out of my inner thoughts. I turned my attention back to my sister’s wedding. “I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you, not in a loud, overwhelming way, but in a quiet certainty that settled somewhere deep inside me, like my heart recognized you before I had the words to explain it. And every day since then, I’ve fallen in love with you all over again, in your smile, your kindness, your strength, and in all the little ways you make my world feel softer and brighter.
“You are my safest place and my greatest adventure. With you, I have found a love that feels like home and a future that feels limitless.
“I promise to stand beside you through everything, to be your calm in chaos, your joy in ordinary days, and your partner in every dream we chase together. I promise to listen, to grow, and to love you with patience, honesty, and everything I have to give.
“No matter where life takes us, no matter how much time passes, I will keep choosing you, with the same certainty I felt the very first moment I saw you. Because loving you isn’t just something I do, it’s who I am.”
Once again, I found myself looking out over the crowd, my eyes landing on Adam. This time he wasn’t looking at me, though. He was speaking to the girls, who looked to be getting antsy.
He was such a good dad. So patient, so attentive, present, empathetic, and strong. He was everything his father and myfather weren’t. And the crazy part was, he’d had the entire thing sprung on him. It’s not like he’d planned on it.
I noticed Birdie looking around, too. Dylan had texted quite a few times saying his flight was delayed. It seemed he was going to miss the entire ceremony just like he’d missed his own entire engagement party five years ago. I wasn’t sure why Birdie stayed with the man. They’d been together since high school, so there had to be something there I wasn’t seeing, but consistency and showing up certainly weren’t two characteristics he had.
Luckily, Bailey couldn’t get a better guy than Cole. At least I knew I never had to worry aboutoneof my sisters. Not that I had to worry about Birdie. She was the poster child for a free-spirited, independent woman, which was probably why it didn’t bother her that Dylan was never around. The only reason I could think of that she stayed was if she had a traditional relationship, it would most likely stifle her.
Before I knew it, the officiant was declaring Cole and Bailey man and wife, and Cole was kissing the bride. Cheers erupted and the wedding party was pulled away to take photos.
The reception was immediately following in the backyard, and cocktails were served. I kept getting intercepted to speak to people who I would normally avoid, but since it was Bailey’s wedding, I felt like I had to be polite.
Music played, tables lined the outer edges of the fence, with all the mismatched chairs for the ceremony repurposed for use around them. A makeshift dance floor was erected in under ten minutes, and a DJ played a good mix of oldies and new pop hits while everyone let loose, to celebrate Bailey and Cole’s union.
When I finally freed myself from unwanted social interactions, my first order of business was to find Adam. My eyes did a full scan and couldn’t find him anywhere. I was still looking when I got a notification on my phone. I checked themessage and saw that it was from the private investigator I’d hired to find Adam’s mom on the day we got married.
When I read the information, I felt sick to my stomach. Adam’s mom was dead. She’d died when he was twelve. She’d been in and out of treatment facilities for her mental health and addiction, and his dad knew. He was listed as her next of kin at her time of death.
I looked up and saw Adam walking towards me. Alone, the girls weren’t with him.
“Hey,” I forced myself to smile.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his expression turning to concern.
“Nothing.”
“Is it your stalker?” he practically growled, then started looking around.
'“No!” I rushed to assure him. “No, nothing has happened there are no more incidents. Nothing.”
His eyes were still scanning the crowd, his shoulders were tense, so I used a diversion.
“Where are the girls?” I repeated.
“At the sleepover. Maddox just picked them up.”
“Oh.”
