I love you so much, Arizona Grace.
Forever your Mom (and guardian angel) xoxo
I tucked my lips between my teeth and fanned my face with my hands, frantically trying to ward off my tears from ruining the makeup that Lily had done earlier.
“Knock, knock,” my dad announced his arrival. “Everything okay?”
I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around his back as he pressed his lips to my forehead in return.
“I never knew I needed something so badly . . . her words—” My throat grew unbearably tight.
“I know, sweetheart, I know.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever told you this, but as I look back, I realize I didn’t always make things easy for you. You had the impossible task of being both parents, yet you never wavered in your devotion, always ensuring you were there for me. Through it all, you’ve been my steady rock and constant support, and I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you more than words can say, and I always will.
“I love you too, and you’ll always be my baby girl. No matter where you are in life or the situation, I will always be your biggest supporter. I’m so proud of you, Arizona.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” He squeezed me tighter.
A gentle, crisp breeze brushed against my bare arms as my dad helped me out of his truck. Blindfolded and unable to see, I had to rely on him as he drove me to the location Jameson had chosen for our wedding.
“Okay, stand right here; the ground is flat around you. I need to move my truck quickly.”
I heard the rumble of the engine as his truck pulled away to my left. Aside from that, my surroundings were silent, offering no hints as to where we were other than I smelled cedar.
“All right, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
I sensed my dad move behind me, and when he removed my blindfold, I immediately reached out to grab his arm as my kneesthreatened to give out. My jaw dropped in utter disbelief at what I was seeing.
The whole scene was picturesque. The sun had begun its descent, casting warm, golden tones out over the horizon, painting the sky with graceful brush strokes of color that created a stunning backdrop for the main focal point standing before me—a new greenhouse.
In the same spot where my mom’s original greenhouse once stood, a brand-new structure had been built using thick cedar beams, polycarbonate paneling on the pitched roof, and glass windows on the sides. Light filtered in from every angle, while Edison bulbs strung along the roof’s exterior framed it like Christmas lights.
When I looked inside, lush greenery stretched the length of the greenhouse until my gaze landed on Jameson, standing proudly at the end of the aisle wearing a black tuxedo. His posture was assertive yet effortlessly composed, but it was his mega-watt smile—beaming with warmth and sincerity, filled with undeniable love—that stole my breath. He looked devastatingly handsome, like my very own prince charming.
My dad then presented me with a beautiful bouquet of red roses before escorting me down the aisle, adorned with flameless candles in glass vases, while the wedding march played from nearby speakers.
With every step, my heart swelled. Jameson looked just as moved with emotion, standing alongside his proud brothers, Jaxon and Ford. Seated nearby were his parents, Brock and Camilla, with Maxim, along with Boden and Lakelyn. The ambiance was enchanting and intimate, genuinely perfect in every aspect, and far exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed of.
Jameson stepped away from the makeshift altar, a table covered with a white cloth, and held his hand out to my dad. “Thank you, Dustin.”
“You take good care of my girl.”
“As long as there’s a breath in my body, that is my vow to you,” he replied, then took my hand, gazing deeply into my soul. “Ari, you take my breath away in the most wonderful way. You look positively stunning.”
I stood before him in a white silk gown that was minimalist yet dramatic. Its mermaid silhouette and scooped neckline bodice made me feel like a princess.
“Thank you! You look quite dashing yourself.” I beamed before asking, “Did you do this?” My eyes lifted to take in the new construction.
“I might have had some help.” He shrugged innocently.
Jaxon then stepped out from behind Jameson to stand in front of us both. “Wait, are you—” I began asking in confusion as he opened a book filled with notes. “Since when are you ordained?”
“As of two days ago, at the request of this big guy, and because apparently, I like seeing him ridiculously in love, so I couldn’t say no.”
Everyone chuckled, including me.
