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“Thank you,” she told her friend. “For being here with me today, and the last time I planned to do this, too.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Cassie leaned in for a quick hug, taking care with Riley’s dress and makeup. “Who would have thought you’d be married before me?”
“Just by a few weeks,” Riley reminded her.
r /> Cassie held up her left hand, flashing her diamond solitaire. “At which time you get to return the favor and walk down the aisle with me.”
But Riley wasn’t walking down an aisle, per se. Just taking a car down to the bandshell, where their friends, all the Wilderness Group, and Justin’s family were waiting.
And Justin.
He’d be there.
Cassie helped Riley into her car. It wasn’t a long walk, but far enough that she wasn’t making the trek in a wedding gown.
A parking spot had been reserved for her near the top of the amphitheater, just out of view of the stage.
“About time you showed up,” Sam said as he helped Riley out of the car. “Your groom is nervous you’re not going to show.”
Riley shook her head. “He knows better. The only place I’m going is wherever he is.”
Simple traditional bridal music began playing. Sam leaned over, kissed Cassie, then kissed Riley’s cheek before going to take his seat.
Cassie hugged Riley one last time, then moved forward to where she would make her way to Justin. Riley couldn’t see the stage, so she waited until the music changed before moving forward.
She moved to the top of the hillside, where she looked down at her guests, all of whom had stood at the change in music and turned to face her.
A flashback of stepping out at her previous wedding hit her—that moment when she’d appeared in order to tell everyone that the groom had bailed and there would be no wedding.
But the rising panic died as quickly as it had come to life as her gaze settled on the wonderful man standing on the stage waiting for her, with a sandy-haired imp standing next to him in a matching suit.
Mine, she thought as she made her way to her soon-to-be husband, who was smiling back at her with his heart in his eyes.
Her heart. Her family. Today and forever.
And it was.
* * *
