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Max chuckled, as did I.
I glanced up toward the sky above me, inhaling the calming natural scents around me. The day couldn’t have been any more beautiful. I figured Caley would have beat mother nature down if she dared throw a storm our way.
The sky was a clear blue, and the clouds were those puffy white ones. The air around me was warm and typical of Memphis this time of year. Not too hot to cause a sweat, but warm enough being in my dress didn’t bring a chill and also wouldn’t make Max drip sweat next to me.
“Done good, kid.”
Max’s soft voice drew my head down to look at him, and he smiled. “I’m not a replacement for your family, and couldn’t ever be, but I’d imagine they’d be proud of you now.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and my throat tightened. I had wondered how I’d feel on important days without my parents. Would I miss them so much it hurt? Perhaps I’d gone through enough since their death I simply couldn’t take life for granted.
On a day surrounded by so much love, to be sad would take away from what I should get out of it—what I deserved to experience—happiness. I leaned my head against Max’s arm and his lips pressed against the top of my head as I whispered, “Not a replacement, but you’re as important.” A tear slid down my face and I hurried to wipe it away to not mess up my make-up.
The sound of a pretty song from a harp drifted around me and I said to Max, “That’s our cue.”
He inclined his head, pressed his hand over mine, and then led us forward.
My heart raced, not in nerves—well, maybe a few, since being the center of attention wasn’t a spot I enjoyed—but more in excitement. Especially once we made it to the top of the hill and the crowd below came into view.
Rows of white chairs were spread out perfectly—Caley probably measured them all—and the garden was stunning. Along the ground and leading our way were white and pink rose petals.
However, all the people—a lot of them who were on their feet and looking our way—made me groan. “Oh, god.”
Max chuckled, patting my hand. “Keep breathing.”
I did.
By the time I’d taken my third exhale, we had made it to the bottom of the hill and there before me, on the left, was everyone who had touched my life. From Dane, who acknowledged me with a nod, and even Amelia tucked into his side, who grinned. To Dylan Cobb, my old boss, and even the receptionist, Doris. But there, standing by her seat, exactly as I planned, was one very special ghost, Holly.
The ghost who sent me on the crazy demon hunt, but who also was a big part of what led me to Gretchen. She gave me a little wave and I chuckled, knowing that no one else here would see her, but knew Dane and the other members of the Animus probably knew she was here.
On my right were quite a few many more people. Betty, the receptionist at the police station and many more police I recognized from the station sat in the chairs, but none that I knew on a personal level. Then I spotted Eddie as he wrapped his arm around a pretty brunette who he’d recently started dating.
My shoes pressed against the grass below and I looked out in front of me, discovering Caley bawling. Her waterproof mascara was holding up well, but her eyeliner was now making her look like a raccoon.
I studied Gretchen in next to her, who held up her pink Gerber Daisies, dressed in the same yellow sundress as Caley. My attention then shifted to Brandon, who smiled at me with Zach in beside him, and even Zach was teary eyed.
Then I zeroed in on the man in the center of them all.
Intense eyes took my breath away. A face, chiseled and strong. A body, tall and muscular. And a smile that charmed me in magical ways. Kipp strode away from the Minister standing in front of the large oak tree—wrapped in white ribbon with added flowers—and met Max and I halfway.
He winked. “You ready to do this?”
I nibbled my lip and hesitated. “I did get dressed up and all. Might as well go ahead with it.”
The side of his mouth curved as he took my hand and tugged me close to him. “That enthused, are you?”
I shrugged, giving him a smirk. “I suppose it’s not a bad way to spend the day.”
One sleek eyebrow lifted. “To spend the rest of your life, you mean?”
I leaned into him, wrapped in all his strength and love. “Oh, well, now that I might have to consider.”
Max laughed quietly. He leaned down to kiss my cheek, and then he turned to hug Kipp. “Go on, kids. We’ve kept everyone waiting long enough.” He spun on his heels, and the crowd chuckled.
Kipp gathered my hand, leading me forward to the Minister, who smiled. Once we stopped, Kipp turned me to him and took both my hands. From there, I heard nothing of what the Minister had said.
I couldn’t understand the words.
