Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
When I cry myself out, we still hold each other, and Hale reaches for the ring again. He slips it over my finger.
“We’re a family,” I repeat, staring down at the diamond with the beautiful emeralds.
“Family. Now and forever,” he insists, smiling down at me. His expression is filled with so much tenderness and compassion that it makes my heart skip a beat.
“I love you too,” I whisper, and this is it. This is the moment I know I do have a family.
I’m not an orphan anymore. I am loved, and I am wanted. I’m going to build a beautiful life with my grumpy mountain men.
11
IVY
“Are you sure this is OK?” I ask Mallory. She’s the owner of Sew Cute, a store here in town. It’s a dress shop for curvy women, specializing in retro clothing designs.
Hale proposed to me last night. When I woke up this morning, I told him I wanted to marry him today. We’re going to get married at the chapel in town this afternoon. He’s talking to Judge Helen, and he’s getting a marriage license while I look for a dress.
Mallory waves at the shop full of designs. “Whatever you want. It’s my wedding gift to you.”
She has a huge selection of vintage dresses. I’d rather shop locally, and I didn’t want to wear a white dress to my wedding. I want something pretty that I can wear again and again in the future and be reminded of my special day.
“Do you have a color preference?” Mallory asks as she uses her power chair to navigate the layout of her store. She has a neuromuscular disease that affects her mobility. It didn’t stop her hot cowboy husband from marching into her workplace one day and demanding that she marry him on the spot. Rumor is he dragged her down to the courthouse that very day and slid of ring on her finger in front of the judge. They’ve been happily married ever since.
“How do you feel about autumn colors?” Mallory asks as I trail along after her.
“I like anything warm. Reds, oranges, yellows, those colors,” I tell her.
“I have one I think you’ll love.” She reaches for a yellow dress that’s the color of sunshine. The halter top and swing skirt make me smile.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell her.
She gestures toward the dressing rooms. “Try it on. I can make alterations on the fly.”
I’m in the dressing room when I hear Gabby, Ginger, and Mackenzie come in. I can tell it’s them because there’s a flurry of squeals as they approach the dressing room door. I already texted them the plan when I got here.
I step out in the dress that hugs my body like it was made for me. “What do you think?” I ask the girls.
Gabby sweeps me into a wordless hug and whispers in my ear, “I’m so happy for you!”
“I’m happy too,” I sniff. I feel like I’ve cried more in the last twenty-four hours than I have in my whole life.
After years of being alone, I finally have a family. But more than that, I realize Hale isn't my only family. These women are also my family. They're my sisters—the way they've taken me in and adopted me and treated me as one of their own. They’re my besties, my ride-or-dies.
“This is the one,” I tell Mallory when I step away from Gabby.
Mallory takes quick measurements, but other than letting it out in the bust, the dress is perfect for me. While she makes the alterations, the girls take me back to Mackenzie's place for some girl time where I get a manicure and pedicure. They help me with my makeup and do my hair.
“It's exactly the kind of low-key wedding day I wanted,” I tell Gabby.
“Good.” Ginger grins at me. “Save your strength for the wedding night. That's what I always say.” She winks at me.
I laugh at her, feeling my cheeks heat.
Gabby and Roman are going to be watching Ollie tonight so that Hale and I can enjoy our first married night together. I still can't believe I'm about to marry the hot mountain man that I've been crushing on for five months. It seems so crazy to me, and yet it feels so right.
By the time, our little spa session is over, Mallory has arrived with the alterations. I slip into the dress and together the five of us head to the wedding chapel in town.
The tiny white building is glowing with light from the inside and above the door is a simple inscription, “All are welcome here”. I love that message. I’m so glad I found a place like Courage County to live.
Inside the small chapel, it’s warm and smells of orange and lavender. A sense of peace washes over me as I stand in the foyer. The minister, who’s wearing blue overalls and a checked shirt, smiles at me. His eyes twinkle as he welcomes me with a weathered hand grasping mine. “It’s a good day to get married. You got this boy of yours all tied up in knots. The kid is crazy about you.”