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“Not until after you change into a white dress, then walk down the pier where he’ll be waiting for you.”
Her eyes got watery, and before the tears fell, the doors opened from inside. Bristol had her hands clasped together and a huge smile on her face. “Ready to get married?”
Paris made a strangled noise, and the two women hugged. “How did this happen?”
“Scotty was sick of waiting for you,” Bristol said as she pulled Paris into the house. “He knew what you wanted but also understood a part of you was afraid, so he made the decision for both of you.”
She turned in a circle when we got inside. “How did he get this place? They never rent it out.”
“Sal,” I said.
“Figures,” she said under her breath. “Who all is here?”
“You’ll find out when we get outside. Now, come on. The sun will be setting soon, so we need to get this show on the road so the photographer can get the shots.”
Paris stifled a cry as Bristol pulled her down the hall and into the room that had her dress. But once she saw the intricate detail and beading on the white material, she lost the battle and cried. “How did he know?”
“He found the file you had on your computer with all the saved images and notes. He planned your dream wedding down to the very last detail.” Bristol handed Paris a tissue. “The colors are the mineral pastels that you wanted, the ceremony will be at sunset on the edge of the pier, and the water will be glistening. It’s beautiful, Paris.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“You deserve it.” I grabbed my sister’s hands and smiled when she looked at me. “You deserve this, Paris. You deserve a man who would do all of this for you. Most importantly, you deserve that man to know you so well that he understands you don’t think you deserve your dream wedding, but he gives it to you anyway.”
She fell into me, and I wrapped my arms around her while she cried. After a minute, I saw two women walking in, and I nodded at them, then separated from my sister. “They’re here to do your hair and makeup. I’m going to change, then I’ll be outside waiting to walk you down the aisle, but before I go, I have a few things to give you. Figured I should do it now so you can get your crying over before they do your makeup.”
“Shut up,” she sniffled. “You’d cry too if the love of your life surprised you with the wedding of your dreams.”
“Probably. Okay, so this is from me. It’s your old and borrowed because I want it back.”
I handed her the scrap of material, and when she saw what it was, she laughed. “I can’t believe you still have this.”
“Of course I still have it.”
She ran her fingers over the monogrammed stitching. She made it in sixth grade in home economics. It was supposed to be a Father’s Day gift, but she used my initials and gave it to me instead. “Did you use it to blow your nose?”
“No.”
“Thank you.” She scrunched the handkerchief in her hand and hugged me. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” Bristol handed me the next item, and I held it between Paris and me. “This is your blue from Maggie.”
Paris took the antique blue barrette, and as she studied it, her lip quivered. “It’s been in her family for generations, and she wants you to have it now. And one last thing.”
“I don’t think I can take anymore.” She laughed anxiously as she took the square box from my hand.
“This is your new from Scotty. He said you wouldn’t need an explanation.”
She opened the lid, and immediately, tears rolled down her cheeks, but there was no sadness on her face at all. She blew out a breath, then said to the room, “It’s time for me to get married.”
Scotty
“Nervous?” Sal asked, clasping my shoulder.
I shrugged as I stood at the end of the pier. “Not really. More anxious that she’ll feel pressured to do this.”
“She loves you.”
“I know, it’s not about that.” It was about the fact that she wanted a dream wedding. She had all the pictures saved, and for years, she’d been secretly planning an extravagant wedding for herself but would never commit to a date. “I want it to be perfect for her.”
