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“Your brother is going to spoil me,” I said, slipping into the back of the car.
“Let him,” Waylynn replied with a wink. “Y’all have got a lot of making up to do.”
After my train was carefully placed into the car, I folded my hands and took in a deep breath.
“Aunt Harley, do you need me to ride with you?” Chloe asked.
I could see the hopefulness in her eyes.
“I would love for you to ride with me, Chloe.”
She grinned. “I thought so.”
When the drive to the barn was filled with Chloe’s chatter, I silently thanked God for her. She was keeping my mind off of everything.
“Oh! We’re here! Do you feel like you’re gonna puke?”
I frowned. “No. I mean, I didn’t until just now.”
She chuckled. “You’ve still got time if you need to. You can go behind the car and throw up. I’ve seen Aunt Meli do it a couple of times already today. She tries to hide it, though. Nothing’s coming out, but she sure sounds like she’s throwing up.
My eyes widened, and I wanted to ask Chloe more about this little bit of information she’d just handed me. But I couldn’t. I was fixing to walk down the aisle and get married. I filed her comment away to revisit later.
The door opened on Chloe’s side, and she stepped out. “Let’s do this!” she shouted and fist-pumped. I giggled and turned to see my father opening the door. He reached in and helped me out. Waylynn and Paxton were right there, gathering the long train out and spreading out so it wouldn’t wrinkle.
I looked up at my father and my breath caught. He had tears in his eyes and was fighting to hold them back.
His thumbs brushed lightly over the back of my hands.
“Estás lista, Corazón?”
My chin trembled. “I’m ready, Daddy.”
I’d never been more ready for anything in my entire life.
When I spotted the two white Rolls-Royces driving by the barn, my stomach dropped. I ran my hands down my black tux and tried to breathe.
Steed placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “It’s about damn time.”
I let out a sharp chuckle. “Sure is.”
After another quick squeeze, Steed dropped his hand. I glanced past him, and Mitchell gave me a wink. It was hard trying to decide which of my brothers I wanted to stand with me. Harley only wanted one matron of honor and one bridesmaid. She didn’t want a large wedding party, and I agreed with her. When I broke the news to my brothers, the fight for who was going to stand with me began. In the end, we all ended up at Cord’s Place, drank one too many beers, and they drew straws. Steed and Mitchell won.
Harley asked Paxton and Waylynn to be in the wedding. It was expected, since the three of them were good friends growing up. Paxton was her matron of honor, and Waylynn the bridesmaid.
Chloe appeared from around the corner of the barn first. She came skipping down the aisle in her flower girl dress, tossing rose petals in the air. Everyone awwwwed at the sight. It shouldn’t have surprised me when she stopped and looked behind her. We all followed her gaze.
“Come on, Hemi girl! Come on!”
My mouth fell open when Hemi came bounding into the barn, a giant pink bow wrapped around her neck.
Everyone laughed, and I could hear Steed groan. “How did she get that dog here?” he said as I turned to face him.
“I’d rather have the dog than a goat,” I whispered.
“Amen,” Mitchell and Steed said at once.
Chloe walked over to her spot, Hemi hot on her heels. When she told the dog to sit, Hemi did, and I grinned from ear to ear. Glancing back to Steed, I whispered, “Better start saving up for college. I see another vet in the family.”
The music changed, and I looked back to see Waylynn entering the barn, with Paxton following her. They looked stunning. Both of them were wearing a more adult version of Chloe’s dress. Steed inhaled sharply when he saw his wife walking toward us.
They smiled and nodded to family and friends who were all seated on blanket-covered hay bales. At each end of the rows sat beautiful potted plants that the girls had made over the course of the last two days. Harley was worried her fingers would be stained black from digging in the soil.
The music switched again, and the guitarist and violinist started to play “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
My knees nearly buckled when I saw her turn the corner with her father.
Tears pooled in my eyes. “She’s beautiful,” I choked out to no one in particular.
Steed put his hand on my shoulder as I fought to stay on my feet. It was a reminder that I wasn’t dreaming. That my dream was coming true right before my eyes.
