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Dolly:
I told you he was a keeper. Wear something pretty tonight.
Mom:
He called me at 7am baby. 7AM. I love that man. Call me when you're done crying.
I show Rhett the phone. He reads the screen. Shakes his head.
"Small towns."
"Your town." I go up on my toes. Kiss him with tears still wet on my face. "Our town."
His arms tighten. He kisses me back slow, deep. The kind of kiss that promises everything.
We stay at The Falls for another hour. Drinking cold coffee. Talking about the wedding. Small. Ms. Shelly's backyard, maybe. Or Hank's bar. Or right here, at The Falls, where the water drowns out everything except what matters.
When we finally walk back through the woods, hand in hand, my phone is still buzzing. The whole town already knows.
Kennedy Brooks said yes.
And for the first time in my life, I let someone else handle the group text.