Chapter Twenty
Presley Ann smiled at Leah’s reflection in the mirror as she came up behind her and straightened the white mesh fabric gathered neatly at her waist and said, “You look gorgeous, sis.”
“Thank you.”
Leah chuckled and said, “So do you think you’ll go full-time as a mom and business owner, and leave me high and dry for my best saleswoman?”
Presley Ann snorted and said, “Your best? Please. I was just properly motivated. You can keep me on as a temporary floater during your busy seasons. Remember how I was in the beginning?”
Leah’s shoulders shook as she rolled her eyes and then popped her hip out and put her hand on it. “Oh my gawd, my feet hurt so bad. When can I get out of here? And why is Dad making me do this? I mean, it’s not like I can make a living here. And oh my gawd did you see the mess in the dressing room? These people are pigs. I’m so like ready to get fired.”
By the time they were done laughing, tears were brimming in both their eyes and Leah was flapping her hands, “Oh, don’t cry! You’ll ruin your makeup!”
There was a soft knock at the door and her dad poked his head in. “They’re ready downstairs when you are, sweetie.” She waved him in and Leah handed her the bridal bouquet, made from fresh yellow roses and wrapped with a royal blue satin ribbon.
“I’m very ready.” She turned to her sister as she adjusted the skirt on her simple, white lace floor-length wedding gown. Leah had helped her find it on short notice, since they’d decided on a late January wedding and binding ceremony. The men had agreed. There was no point in waiting when what they had together felt so right.
“Sweetie, I gotta say, this is not what I expected from your wedding day,” her father said as he looked her over with a beaming smile. He held the crook of his arm out to her as he opened the door.
Presley Ann kissed his cheek. “It surprises me, too. I always fantasized about a designer dress and shoes, ten bridesmaids, a huge reception, and a two week honeymoon cruise.” She looked out the door at the simple floral garland draping the bannister of the staircase at the Hourglass Inn and listened to the crowd that waited in the little ballroom downstairs. “This is so much better than I could’ve imagined.” She looked down at Whit, who was wrapped up in a special white mesh sling and kissed his forehead and murmured, “Isn’t it, sugar pea pie?”
Leah sniffled behind her as she did last minute fluffing to Presley Ann’s dress and patted her beautifully arranged hair. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “You look so beautiful. Those men are gonna flip when they see you.”
Presley Ann turned back to her and put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. Their relationship hadn’t always been peaceful, but it was perfect now, as far as she was concerned. Doing her best to speak over the knot in her throat she said, “It’s you I thank for bringing them into my life. If it hadn’t been for…everything…”
Leah kissed her cheek and patted at a tear with her tissue. “Stop crying, now. If he was here, Patterson would be so thrilled for you.” She swallowed, unable to say more but her eyes and her glowing smile spoke volumes.
Life was a wonderful mystery, the way lives touched lives, and she was grateful.
Beyond grateful.
* * * *
Truehart Strong stood with his brother as the two men playing guitar at the back of the room began playing a different song, signaling that the bride and her father had arrived.
His heart pounded wildly, emotions ricocheting around in his chest as he watched the angel that had filled his dreams for the last year come into view on the arm of her father. Whit as nestled against her chest in a pure white sling, his jet black hair a marked contrast against her white lace dress and her pale blonde hair and ivory coloring.
When she’d invited him and Noble to the wedding, he’d hesitated. Not because he hadn’t wanted to be there for her but because he wasn’t sure they could pull off the incognito thing a second time. As if she’d anticipated his concern, she’d told him that the event was a binding ceremony that would occur after the actual wedding, between her and Kendry that a local Justice of the Peace was performing. This binding ceremony would be attended by close friends and family, who already knew the truth about his identity. They’d all been very laidback since his arrival with Noble, which he appreciated. The celebrity thing got old when it came to wanting a few moments of “normal” in his life.
He’d committed to come to the ceremony and told her that he had an agent looking for property in the Divine area. For now, his music career kept him on the road, an exhausting but necessary evil to keep their following growing and their names in the spotlight. But he hoped to spend at least some of his off time in Divine and maybe make a home there in future years.