“No thank you. I prefer to hold on to my balls,” Mav said with a wink.
“Yeah, without a wife, I’m sure you’re doing that a lot,” Cooper told him.
“Hey!” Mav scowled. “I have no problem finding women to warm my bed.”
“Yeah, but at the end of it all, you’re still left with an empty bed,” Cooper said.
“This is a conversation a mother shouldn’t be hearing,” Evelyn told her sons, reminding them she was there.
“Sorry, Mom,” Mav quickly muttered.
“Let’s just focus on your brother since this is his day,” Evelyn suggested.
“I think that sounds like a plan,” Nick said, happy for once not to be the one getting in trouble. “Besides, you’re a national hero who’s marrying a beautiful girl. Plus, I’m going to be an uncle. And since I helped so much in the relationship, I think you should name my nephew after me.”
“Stormy and I were thinking of naming him William Sherman . . . or Will.” Scanning their faces for reactions to the name of the little boy that would be coming in the spring, Cooper fondly smiled at his mother.
“That’s a wonderful name, son. Baby Will is a wonderful name and this grandma can’t wait to meet him.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“Lindsey, my hair is beautiful.” Stormy gazed in the mirror at her best friend, who’d been fussing with the do all morning.
“I know, but I’m so nervous,” Lindsey replied.
“Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” Stormy questioned with a laugh. Though, she didn’t feel nervous at all. She just felt excitement.
“Yes, it is. How are you feeling?”
“I was sort of afraid that Cooper would snap out of the shock of the crash and run away when he realized he was engaged, but I know he loves me,” Stormy said with a secret smile.
Placing both hands on Stormy’s arms, Lindsey replied, “Of course he does. I’ve seen the way he looks at you . . . and it’s true love. There’s no mistaking it.”
Stormy smiled at her best friend as she thanked her for always being there. But soon they were interrupted as a knock sounded at the door.
The door creaked open and a soft voice broke the silence.
“Hello, dear. I wanted to see my beautiful daughter-in-law before the big moment.”
“Please, come in.” Stormy gave her a smile. Evelyn had been so kind to her from the moment they’d first met.
“You are absolutely stunning, darling,” Evelyn said.
“Thank you,” Stormy replied quietly.
She turned and gazed at her image in the mirror. She’d chosen simple and comfortable, but the dress was indeed stunning. It was white, but unique in style. The bodice of the dress was adorned with lacy designs of silky, white, gilded ivy and jasmine flowers. The waist flowed into a billowing gown with ornate accents surrounded by small gems that made it look as if she were walking through a field of flowers.
At the waist, pure silk encircled the front, ending in a diamond-studded pendant of her own making that was affixed to the dress. Evelyn had been so impressed with Stormy’s designs that she was backing her in a jewelry shop where she could create custom jewelry and finally pursue her dream. Her world kept getting better and bigger each and every day.
“It’s time.” Sherman stood in the doorway now, tears in his eyes.
“Oh, Sherman.” She moved to him and kissed his cheek. “Meeting you has changed my entire life. There aren’t words to express how much you mean to me. Thank you for walking me down the aisle. I miss my dad so much, but I know he sent me you. He brought you into my life when I was at my most vulnerable and you’ve lifted me back up when all I wanted to do was lie on the ground and cry.”
Sherman’s eyes shone as he gazed at her, and that made her cry all the more.
“I’ve only known a beautiful, strong, confident woman from the moment I met you,” he said. “Yes, you might have thought you were broken, but you never have been. I’m the one who is so grateful our paths crossed, and I do believe it was your father. He gave us to each other when we both needed someone so desperately.”
“Thank you.” His words meant more to her than she could ever explain.
And then it was time. Now her stomach tensed just the littlest bit. The ceremony she could do without. But knowing at the end of it that she and Cooper would belong to each other, well, that made her having to be in the spotlight worth it.
She’d finally found what she wanted from life. It was funny how everything could go from so chaotic to nearly perfect in such a short amount of time. All she’d had to do was stop fretting about the small and big stuff, and then life had managed to come around.