Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Just like her mama.” Pike squeezed her hand and Tulsi’s smile widened.
She was so lucky, so truly blessed. She’d been reunited with a man who loved her as madly as she loved him, she had a sweet, smart, healthy little girl, and pretty soon they were all going to be a family. She was so happy that she could only laugh when Clementine disobeyed her express orders not to deviate from the walk they’d practiced, for a solid thirty minutes before the ceremony started, and turned to perform a dramatic curtsey at the end of the aisle. A wave of laughter swept through the crowd, and Clem earned herself a brief round of applause that had her beaming as she took her seat in the front row by Mia’s mother.
Clementine grinned up at Tulsi and gave her a thumbs up. Tulsi gave her a wink and a thumbs up in return. Moments later, Mia and her father started down the aisle.
The rest of the ceremony was every bit as perfect. Mia was beautiful in an antique lace dress that ended just below the knee paired with her gray and lavender boots. And the look on her face as she promised to love, honor, and cherish Sawyer forever brought a fresh batch of tears to Tulsi’s eyes. The love Mia felt for her soon-to-be husband made her even more stunning.
It was a moving reminder that love was patient and kind, but it was also magical, a transformative force that planted seeds of hope and faith wherever it went. By the time Sawyer was given permission to kiss his bride, Tulsi was a blubbery mess, but she didn’t care. Her tears were happy tears, and she knew Pike would always think she was beautiful—even with her nose all red and her eyes swollen and puffy.
“You need another one of these, Tulsi?” Bubba held out his handkerchief as Mia and Sawyer turned to walk back down the aisle hand in hand, while the bluegrass band played “I’ll Fly Away” and their friends and family got to their feet to applaud.
“Yes, thank you.” Tulsi wadded Pike’s already soaked handkerchief in her hand and put Bubba’s to use mopping up the rest of her damp face.
Bubba patted her back with a chuckle. “Poor thing, you’re too tender-hearted for weddings.”
“It was just so beautiful,” Tulsi said, fighting another sudden wave of emotion. “I’m sorry you guys got stuck by the weeper.”
“Don’t you dare apologize.” Pike pulled her in for a hard hug that immediately made her feel a hundred times better. “I loved being by the weeper.”
“Me too,” Bubba assured her. “I might have even cried a little myself.”
“You totally did. I saw your eyes shining!” Marisol, Bubba’s fiancée, appeared beside him in a flurry of long silky brown hair and coral chiffon, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You big softie. Are you going to cry at our wedding?”
Bubba grunted, but he was clearly fighting a smile. “A manly tear or two might be shed. But they’ll be manly tears. That’s a whole different thing.”
“Right,” Marisol said with a wink in Tulsi’s direction. “You want to come to the bathroom with me and I’ll fix your makeup?”
“That would be amazing,” Tulsi said just as Clementine ran up to grab her hand.
“Come on, Mama,” Clem said, jumping up and down as she tugged at Tulsi’s arm. “They’re putting out the buffalo wings! I can smell them from here!”
“Me too,” Pike agreed. “They smell amazing.”
“They’re my favorite,” Clementine said. “I’m going to eat a hundred.”
“I think nine or ten will be more than enough.” Tulsi rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Why don’t you come to the bathroom with Marisol and me first. Then we’ll go get you a bib and some wings.”
Clem frowned. “Bibs are for babies and my stomach is already growling. I’m probably going to have a hole in my guts if I don’t get some wings in there soon.”
“That sounds serious,” Pike said, touching his hand lightly to Tulsi’s back. “Why don’t I take Clem to get wings and we’ll meet you at the tables by the dance floor?”
Tulsi blinked. “Oh, well—”
“That’s a great idea, Mr. Pike!” Clem dropped Tulsi’s hand and snatched up Pike’s.
By the time Tulsi pulled herself together and called after them for Clem to be on her best behavior, they were already halfway down the aisle. Tulsi watched them go, hand in hand, refusing to let the fear still lingering at the back of her mind take root. She didn’t have to be afraid of Pike and Clem spending time together. It was natural that the sight of something she’d feared for so long would cause her anxiety, but there was no need for anxiety anymore. Everything was going to be okay and it was wonderful that Pike and Clem seemed to be hitting it off.