Page 64 of Searching for Love

ChapterTwenty-One

As she walked down the sandy makeshift aisle lined with white rose petals, holding a small bouquet of wildflowers, the situation hit Avery hard. Things were changing. Everything was changing.

Today, she and Hannah would finally be sisters. How long had they dreamed of this day? She was as close to Hannah as she was to Wyatt.

She and her friends had helped Hannah get ready all morning long. There had been plenty of laughter and some tears as the four of them sipped champagne and helped each other with hair and makeup.

The small gifts Hannah had given each of them, silver necklaces shaped in her favorite starfish design, were around each of their necks as they walked down the aisle. Avery’s gift to Hannah and Wyatt was already set up off to the side, hidden from their view for now.

Hannah had gifted her an extra maid of honor gift of a small diamond heart bracelet. She was wearing it now and would probably never take it off ever again.

Avery stood beside Brook and Kate, and they all waited as the music changed and Wyatt stepped to the end of the aisle. Every guest turned to watch as the music beat started to pump.

Her brother and his groomsmen, all dressed in tan suits, had everyone laughing as they danced their way down the aisle towards the flower-covered archway. Their synchronized routine had been practiced to perfection.

She was laughing so hard that her sides hurt by the time Wyatt and the others took their spots across from them.

Then the music changed once again and Hannah stepped out from behind the white tent that blocked everyone’s view of her.

The front of Hannah’s hair was curled and wrapped around a simple tiara, while the rest of it flowed in soft curls around her shoulders. The white spaghetti-strap dress had a corset on the upper half and a long, flowing light-as-air skirt, It was the most beautiful dress Avery had ever seen. The day she’d helped Hannah pick it out, they had both known instantly that it was the dress.

Tears blurred Avery’s vision as the laughter still had her heart swelling at her stupid brother’s moves. Glancing over to her brother, she saw his eyes start to water too.

Today was perfect. Her brother was marrying the woman of his dreams. She had a sister that she’d dreamed of her entire life. And, most importantly, she was in love.

She listened as Hannah and Wyatt spoke the vows they’d written for one another. Avery handed Hannah her vows in a special paper to which she’d added a light dusting of sand for Hannah’s joke to Wyatt. When Hannah blew the sand off her vows, as if she’d written them long ago, everyone in the crowd laughed.

The fact that the two of them had been destined to be together was no secret to anyone at the wedding or, for that matter, anyone in Pride.

As they kissed one another finally as a married couple, she let those tears that had been building up fall down her cheeks as she cheered. When Hannah rushed over to her and hugged her, more tears fell.

“Sisters forever,” she whispered as she handed Hannah back her bouquet.

Watching the happy couple walk down the aisle, she glanced over to where her gift sat and smiled. She itched to give it to them now but knew it would be sitting right where they would see it when they walked in out of the sunlight.

Hannah and Wyatt’s wedding photographer had everyone in the wedding party wait under the tent for photos while everyone else headed inside, so she wasn’t there to see her gift just yet or to see everyone’s reaction to it.

She grew more anxious as they spent almost half an hour taking photos on the sand.

“All done out here,” the photographer finally said.

“Time to head inside.” She clapped her hands and got everyone’s attention. Everyone followed her back to the barn, where she’d made sure the outer doors had been shut and the happy couple would be the first to walk in.

Turning with her back to the doors, she took her brother’s and sister-in-law’s hands in her own.

“One of my duties as maid of honor includes making this day extremely special for both of you. To do that, I decided to roll my gift to you in with a special surprise that the two of you would cherish and be able to share with loved ones for the rest of your lives.” She smiled and felt her heart flutter.

“What did you do?” Wyatt groaned, causing her to laugh.

“From me to the two of you. My brother, who was born to torture me, but who would eventually give me the sister that I deserve.” She laughed and then flung open the barn doors.

Hannah and Wyatt had to blink a few times. She did as well until her eyes adjusted to the large canvas, which was set directly inside the barn doors. It was surrounded by white roses and wildflowers and sat directly under a light that highlighted the artwork.

There stood the most amazing painting of their wedding that anyone could have ever captured. Everything was so perfect, the beach beyond the floral archway looked almost alive. The wedding party stood around the bride and groom, surrounding them as Hannah and Wyatt looked lovingly into one another’s eyes.

“How did you…” Hannah rushed forward, pulling Wyatt with her. “It’s a painting,” she exclaimed as Avery stepped inside.

“All thanks to Elle Comings.” Avery took the artist’s hand and pulled her closer.