Tears welled in Emma’s eyes at Casey’s compliment. “Oh shit, don’t start the waterworks now and mess up your makeup!” She waved her hands frantically in front of Emma’s face.
Emma pushed them away. “Okay, okay, I won't cry.”
“Good.”
With a strand of pearls in her hand, Grammy stepped over to them. “Can you all give us a moment?”
Casey smiled. “Sure. We’ll go get the bouquets out of the fridge.”
“Don’t even think I’m letting you put on my boutonnière.”
“And just why not?”
“Because you always end up stabbing me!” Connor cried. They continued bickering as they went out the door.
Once they were alone, Emma arched her brows expectantly. Grammy’s expression was so serious it made Emma uneasy. Trying to lighten the mood, she joked, “You know you don’t have to have the sex talk with me, right?”
Grammy waved her empty hand dismissively. “I should hope not. Of course, I assume that ship sailed back with Travis.”
Emma’s face warmed as she nodded. Without another word, Grammy moved to stand behind Emma. She brought her hands over Emma’s head and then slipped the strand of pearls around her neck. They rested a little past Emma’s collarbone.
After she fastened the clasp, Grammy gripped Emma’s shoulders and then caught her gaze in the mirror. “All my life, I wanted a strand of real pearls. For our third wedding anniversary, your granddaddy worked two extra jobs to buy these pearls for me after he did something much like Aidan did.”
Emma gasped in horror. “Oh Grammy, I can’t believe Granddaddy would ever do something like that!”
“He thought he could run from marriage and commitment, but when he did, he realized his mistake. It’s something I’ve never told anyone, not even your mama.” Grammy smiled. “Of course, our making up after his affair was the whole reason why she was here in the first place. I guess I got these pearls and your mama out of the deal.”
“So you forgave him?”
“I’m still with him, aren’t I?”
Emma fingered the pearls while thinking of all the happy years her grandparents had together. Never once had she ever seen a crack in the façade. They were what she aspired to be when it came to a married couple.
Grammy patted Emma's back. “I wanted to tell you this today so you would understand that no marriage is perfect. There’s going to be good times and bad times and heartache and joy. Don’t ever think that because of what happened before that your love isn’t as strong or as beautiful as anyone else’s. It's the love that goes through the hardest trials and survives that is worth having.”
“Thank you, Grammy.” She leaned over and kissed Grammy’s wrinkled cheek. “Do you think Aidan and I will be as happy as you and Granddaddy have been?”
Grammy smiled. “I think you will.”
“I hope so.”
“Time flies so fast when you’re happy and in love. One minute you’ll be young, and the next minute you’ll be standing in front of your granddaughter, who looks so much like her mama did on her wedding day.”
At the mention of her mother, Emma’s eyes misted over again. She would have given anything for her mother to be standing beside her, adjusting her veil, and telling her she made the most beautiful bride.
When she met Grammy’s eyes again, Grammy shook her head. “The last thing on earth your mama would want is for you to be sad today. She would want you to be happy and to embrace the wonderful future ahead of you with Aidan and with Noah.”
“I know she would. It’s just hard.”
Grammy stepped around to touch Emma’s cheek. “I know, baby girl. She was my only daughter, and I’d give anything to have her here. But she’s never very far away. She’s always right here.” Grammy placed her hand over Emma’s heart. “She’ll be there with you today, and when that sweet baby boy comes into this world and is put into your arms for the first time, she’ll be right there too.”
Emma bit down on her lip to stifle her emotions before throwing her arms around Grammy. “Thank you for being here with me today.”
“It’s my pleasure honey.”
Granddaddy cleared his throat in the doorway. “All right, that weddin’ plannin’ woman said to tell y’all it’s time.”
Emma pulled out of Grammy’s arms. For a flickering second, she saw Granddaddy in a different light for the mistakes of his past, but then she thought of Aidan and of forgiveness, and a smile curved on her lips.
She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. When she pulled away, she grabbed the lapels of his suit and smiled. “Look how handsome you are.”