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“Music and picture taker, or checking up on me?”
He laughs. “My job is multi-faceted.”
I shake my head. “Thank you for caring, but I’m walking by myself. I’m okay with that, it’s what I want. So you can relax.”
With a gleam in his eyes, he leans forward and drops a proud kiss on my cheek. “Atta girl. I’ll see you out there. I’ll start the music and turn this timer on. When the timer ends, send your first girl out, start the timer again, then send the next girl. Don’t you walk out till both your girls are situated. Got it?”
“Got it. You’re a very capable event coordinator, Mike. If the bouncing business ever goes under…”
He barks out a laugh. “I already did this once. The shit I learned that year is burned to my brain.” He looks over his shoulder, then back to me. “You ready?”
I nod and do that excited little bounce the girls have been waiting for.
“Alrighty. You look amazing, baby girl. Knock ‘em dead.” He presses the timer, then play on an iPod, and when the music begins, he slips out the doors. Pachelbel’s Canon plays loudly through professional sounding speakers and sends my heart tripping.
I’m so giddy with excitement; I’m barely twenty feet away from him.
While the girls decide who’ll walk first, I study my bouquet. The yellow roses, the white lilies, the daisy that Evie gifted me just this morning. I placed white ribbon around the stems – ribbon that helped wrap the last gift my daddy ever gave me, and attached to the ribbon is a small picture frame.
I don’t need anyone else to walk me, because he’s coming along for the ride, anyway. No way would I let him miss out.
Just as the timer buzzes, Tink makes their decision for them, opens the doors, and physically shoves Iz outside. I don’t condone pushing pregnant chicks around, but I still laugh when Iz stumbles and shoots a glare back at Tink before she stands tall and turns to walk.
Casey resets her timer and steps toward me. “Are you ready, babe?”
I nod. I have no words. Just a jerky nod and goofy smile.
“I’m so fucking proud of you.” She takes my hand and squeezes. “You’re amazing, Kit. You’re who I wanna be when I grow up. You’re doing an amazing job with Jack, and everyone knows it. That’s on you. You should be proud of what you’ve achieved and overcome.”
“Stop.” I use my shoulder to wipe my eye. “You’re gonna make me cry. I was fine. I’m not a crier, but you’re making me emotional.”
She smirks and uses her thumb to gently swipe below my eye. “You’ll be fine. You’re allowed to cry sometimes.”
“Thank you for everything, Case. Not just for being here today, but for everything. You’re the best friend I could have asked for. I’m so happy you stole my cupcake in kindergarten.”
She snorts and thumbs below my other eye. “It was the best cupcake I ever tasted, and once I was done, I got you. The girl who asked if I wanted milk to go with it. You’re the purest person I know, Kit. It was love at first sight, and I swear, you’re stuck with me for life.”
“Casey–”
“Oops, that’s me.” She spins when the timer dings. “See you on the other side. I’m pretty friggin excited to see those fine ass men, and their fine asses, in fine suits.” She smacks a kiss on my cheek and dashes out the door – proving not all beautiful women are elegant.
I move closer to the door to peek through the tiny gaps, but I can’t see the top of the aisle. Which means I won’t know when she reaches the end.
Which means, I’ll have to wing it.
I stand and wring my hands together nervously and slowly count to thirty. I daydream and think about Bobby Kincaid in a suit. I realize with a smile it’ll be the first time I’ve ever see him so dressed up, and those pesky butterflies tickle my stomach.
For the first time since our first date, I’m nervous to see him.
He’s so close. In only a matter of seconds, I’ll be stepping outside, and I’ll finally get to see him. I missed him so much last night, it hurt.
Mike, the ever wonderful and all-knowing Mike, saves me fromwingingit, because the music changes and sends my nerves skittering in all the best ways. The volume increases, the beat speeds, and when I step forward and reach out for the door handles, they open for me and present everyone that came out for us today.
Emotion lodges in my throat at the smiling crowd as they span the arching pathway and hide Bobby from my sight. Remembering my part, I glide forward and match my steps to the music. Slowly moving with my flowers clutched tightly in my hands, I smile and cry and blubber like a fool.
I’m crying, but I’m happy. So happy, every bad thing that’s ever happened to me washes away to be replaced withthis.
This feeling of love that settles deep in my chest.
