AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Exactly. And I’d better skedaddle so I don’t miss it.” She turned to him.
“Can I walk you down?” Grant offered her his elbow.
“Please.” Once again, she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.
He turned to his sister over his shoulder. “I’ll be back in a flash.” And they headed out the door. “Thanks for that.”
“For what?”
“Stopping by, encouraging my sister, being here. Take your pick.” They started down the stairs that led to the main level. More guests were walking in, and he could see through the window that the chairs set up outside were almost full.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“That’s good, because I’m about to parade you all the way down the aisle to sit on the front row.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “The family row?”
“Yep. But since I’ll be the only one on that row, I was hoping you’d join me so I don’t have to sit alone. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. In fact, I’d be honored.” She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “But I should’ve gone down earlier. You realize everyone will be looking at me as we walk all the way down the aisle, right?”
“In that dress, everyone would’ve been looking at you anyway.” He waggled his eyebrows and pushed the door to the outside ceremony area.
Yup, it was official. She was his first person. And since big changes were on the horizon, he had a feeling things were about to get complicated.
Chapter Fifteen
Molly had been nervous aboutcoming to the wedding, which had nothing to do with Grant. In fact, probably the opposite was true. He’d become one of the people she most wanted to spend time with, even more than Hope or the baby turtles, which was saying a lot.
She’d been nervous about tonight’s event because she’d thought being at a wedding would be tough. This was the first time she’d sat through someone else’s nuptials since she’d canceled her own. It had potential to trigger some wounds.
“Well, look who it is. The Mollster’s holding down the front row.” Mateo slid into the second row among other people Molly knew to be Grant’s cousins. He held his fist out for a knuckle bump.
“I heard they were seating people according to how fabulous they were and naturally assumed this row was reserved for me.” She tapped her fist against his.
Mateo chuckled as he settled into the chair directly behind her. “You’re here with Grant?”
She nodded. “He’s up with Claire.”
“Right.” A look flashed across his face, which she didn’t quite know how to interpret. Curiosity with a hint of concern, maybe? Or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, it vanished almost as soon as it appeared, and she dismissed it. “Just make sure you stay down in front. I don’t want anyone obstructing my view of my favorite cousin getting hitched,” he teased.
“I’ll do my best but I make no promises.”
The music changed, and Molly turned her attention to the back of the ceremony space. Lance stepped in the aisle, escorting his mother. She watched as he kissed his mom and joined his groomsmen in the front, then turned her attention to the procession of bridesmaids.
The music changed again, and the guests stood. A collective gasp rose as Claire stepped up to the end of the aisle, escorted by her brother. She was glowing, the perfect picture of a bride in love. Molly’s hand flew to her heart and unshed tears pricked her eyes as she took in the elation that filled the air.
And that was the moment Molly realized two very important things.
First, and probably most important, celebrating someone else’s happiness was always a joyous occasion. It didn’t matter that her own attempt at happily-ever-after had ended in a dumpster fire. Today, love won. Today, Claire got to say “I do” to the one her heart desired, and Molly got the great privilege of witnessing it. It was a truly happy occasion worth celebrating, and the wounds from her past, no matter how deep they cut, didn’t stand in the way of her wholeheartedly rejoicing with them. In fact, she was pretty sure she could feel part of her heart healing as the sounds of the wedding march filled the air.
Which brought her to her second realization.
While calling off her wedding and breaking up with her fiancé had left her heart shattered in a thousand pieces, her time in Emerald Cove had started to put it back together. It was a phenomenon she hadn’t expected. In fact, if she was being totally honest, she hadn’t been sure it was even possible.
Of course, she hadn’t expected to find in Emerald Cove what she had. She’d found friends who were honest and real, a job that was rewarding and fun, a mission with the turtles that was life-giving to all who were involved…
And Grant.
