Page 105 of Hearts on the Mend

The wedding coordinator, Sophie, pops her head into the small spare bedroom. “Boys, time to head out soon. The girls are almost ready, and the ceremony is on a schedule. Ethan, you’re looking like a groom.”

“I’d like to be,” he grumbles. “What’s taking so long?”

“And you sound like a groom too.” Sophie laughs. “Had to work out some security details with Brooks. All set now.” She flags us forward, down the short hallway of the old Victorian beach house.

Brooks is back from tour and suddenly a certifiable rock star. It’s been chaotic navigating it all this week with the wedding.

We walk past the corner room where the girls are getting dressed, their laughter leaking through the closed door. Ethan pauses.

“Bad luck to see the bride, son,” Dad says.

Jack slaps his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Go ahead.”

Ethan softly knocks against the door. “Hey, Sun.” A soft answering knock is her response, which brings a smile to my brother’s mouth. “See you soon.”

Cassie finds me just outside the back door as Sophie works with the photographer. Cocktail hour is in full swing on the lawn. Soft music plays under strings of café lights, and a long table has been set up covered in flowers and candles.

She’s wearing a navy silk dress that hugs every luscious line of her body, and her auburn hair is swept back into some fancy bun.

“Hmm, you clean up okay,” she says, smoothing a hand down my lapel.

“Just okay?”

She tilts her head. “Maybe a little better than okay.”

I dip my head closer to her ear. “Mrs. Murphy. Meet me in the bathroom in two minutes, and I’ll show you exactly what you do to me.”

Cassie chuckles softly and presses her palm against the growing swell of her stomach. Almost four months pregnant, and I’m still caught off guard by the sight of it. “Already have a pretty good reminder.”

I can’t help it; I smile before I kiss her.

She groans against my lips, gently pushing her hand against my chest. “My makeup. We can’t mess it up before pictures.”

“But after?”

Cassie brushes her hand over my cheek, and I swear I melt like butter on toast. “Are you happy today?”

I nod, stepping back as Ruby barrels toward me. “Can you believe this dress, Nollie?”

Sloane took Ruby shopping with Cassie. It’s a white, poufy gown with a wide ribbon belt and a flower. Her hair’s been curled and tied back in a bow. She’s the mini version of Cassie, and I’m still not sure how I ended up so lucky being able to call them both mine.

“Looking good, Miss Ruby,” Jack calls out. She grins bigger.

“I was going to say beautiful.” I hold my hand out for her, and she steps onto my dress shoes, then we spin around the room like we do a lot of nights after supper. “Did a great job as a flower girl, kiddo.”

“Better than Nana and June,” Jack laughs. “Why did they think they could both ride June’s scooter down the aisle?”

Ruby dissolves into giggles. I catch Cassie’s eye over the top of her head, and that perfectly gorgeous smile still stops me in my tracks.

I spent years running toward fires, toward the worst possible thing, to find something I couldn’t name. All it took was the worst year of my life to find my answer.

Cassie and Ruby. The baby boy we’re going to name Jared, due in November.

“Okay, Murphy family. Everyone here? You’re up first.”

Ethan and Sloane are just outside the door, whispering to each other in front of the flower garden Nana helped plant. Sophie joins them next.

“We’ll find her,” she tells them.