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Wren
I lie on my side on the chair and stare at the art on the wall. “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.”
“You’ve been planning this for months, sissy. It’s the best idea.” Haley claps her hands, then shoves Quinn my way. “Tell her not to worry.”
Quinn squeezes my hand. “It’s not going to be huge, babe. You’re going to be fine.”
A large man whose baby I delivered last month walks into the room. “So, are we doing this tonight or rescheduling, doc?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Let’s do it.” I look over at Haley and Quinn. “Pass the flask.”
“After I’m done,” the artist says, and I groan. “I have no tolerance for pain.”
“You’ll be fine, doc. Just think of this as my way of thanking you for my baby girl.”
I blow out a long breath. “Okay. I’m ready.”
* * *
Haley laces up the back of my wedding gown, and I bite down on my lip. “Ouch. Not so tight. I need to be able to breathe, Hales.”
She ties my bow and fluffs my hair. “Perfection, sissy.”
My mother fills the champagne flutes and passes one to each of us. “Pain is the price of beauty, darling. And you look beautiful, Wren. Absolutely beautiful.” She lifts her glass in the air, and Haley, Quinn, Maddie, my soon-to-be sister-in-law who’s become one of my closest friends, and I all do the same with our own glasses.
“To my beautiful girl and your handsome husband-to-be. John and your father used to always joke that you two were meant to be. The two of you fought constantly, but even as small children, you only had eyes for each other. Some kind of magnetic energy constantly drew you to one another. You just had to be in a place to be ready for it. And I’m so glad you’re both finally there. Cheers.” My mother taps her glass to mine. “Choose happiness, Wren. Choose love, and never regret your choices. Life is too short.”
A knock on the door sounds before my father appears, looking dapper in his gray tux. “They’re ready for you, ladies.”
The girls clear out, and Haley quickly links her pinky with mine. “See you on the other side, Wren.”
“Love you, Hales.”
Dad holds his arm out for me to take. “Are you ready, honey?”
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life, Daddy.”
* * *
The next generation of Kingstons walks down the aisle first, followed by Haley and Quinn, while Dad and I wait at the back of the field where Sawyer proposed. The music changes to the acoustic version of “Over the Rainbow,” and Dad and I walk down the aisle to where Sawyer stands at the end, surrounded by Hudson, Jace, and Becket, while Max stands next to them, having become ordained so he could be the one to marry us.
Once we get down the aisle, thankfully without tripping, I turn to face my father and swallow down my emotions.
“I’m so proud of you, Wren.” He takes my veil and lifts it from my face, then kisses my cheek and offers Sawyer my hand. “Her heart is yours to take care of now, son.”
“I’ll guard it with my life, sir.”
When Sawyer takes my hand in his, all the noise of the morning stops. Silence surrounds me as everything disappears, except this man standing in front of me. “Hi,” I whisper, then kiss him quickly.
Sawyer wraps his palm around my head and deepens the kiss, until Max clears his throat.
“Vows first, brother. Then you can get to the good stuff.”
My groom kisses me again. “I’ve already got the good stuff,” he tells Max, then turns to me. “You ready to marry me, Red?”
“Hey, Max?” I smile. “Can we hurry this part up, please?”
A round of laughter breaks out behind me, and my husband-to-be takes both my hands in his as we stand in front of Max.
