Walking away from Sage, I look at myself in the mirror one last time.
I knew the white tulle dress was the one as soon as I saw it. With flowers appliqued to the bottom, hip area, and top I was enamored from the start. It reminded me of my prom dress in some ways, but this was simpler, the skirt not quite as full, and I knew my brother wasn’t a fan of the plunging neckline, but Lachlan was going to die.
My hair is curled, a few pieces pulled back with fresh flowers woven through the strands. My makeup is barely noticeable, soft and natural. I wanted to look like me today. Not some glammed up version of me I’d probably never see again.
“Hey, it’s time.” Sasha pokes her head in the door, her skin glowing. She looks happy, and I’m glad the two of them seem to be figuring things out. They’ve broken up twice in the last three years, but honestly they’re perfect for each other and too stubborn to take the next step.
Sage holds his elbow out to me. “Let’s do this thing, Weed.”
I loop my hand around his arm. “You gonna be okay letting me go, Herb?”
The lines by his eyes deepen, a frown forming on his lips. “No.” He wets his lips, staring down at me in a way I know he’s thinking of how much I’ve grown. “You’re my little sister, it’s hard to watch you live your own life. But I am happy for you.”
“Are you really?” I have to ask, because I know he’s never been a big fan of Lachlan.
“It’s obvious he loves you. I might still hold a grudge against him, but I can’t deny that. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. I know he’s going to love you and take care of you.”
“Don’t make me cry.” I feel my throat closing up.
“Never.” Sage smiles at me. “Let’s get this thing going.”
I let him guide me out of the little cottage, down the rolling green hill, to where Lachlan waits at the end with the pastor from a nearby church. Behind him are the outlines of more green hills, the water below. It looks like something from an enchanted fairytale. The arbor he stands under, adorned with flowers and greenery, adds even more to the fairytale of it all.
Lachlan’s eyes take me in and I lose my breath as he looks at me like I’m everything.
I start tugging Sage along and he hisses, “Slow down.”
Finally, I’m in front of my fiancé.
Sage hands me over and when I kiss hi
s cheek I don’t miss the tear falling from the corner of his eye.
I can’t help but look over Lachlan, in his black button down dress shirt tucked into a green, brown, and blue kilt.
So glad I made him wear a kilt.
We exchange our vows, our friends and family watching.
I slide the silver band over his thick knuckle until it comes to rest where it will sit for the rest of our lives.
He takes my hand, doing the same. I stare down at the thin silver band with tiny diamonds going all the way around it. It’s simple, but stunning.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
Lachlan’s hands go straight to my face, like always, and he kisses me slow and deep, signing the contract on the years ahead of us.
We turn, hands clasped, and I can’t stop smiling as my eyes glide over his parents and sister, my brother, Sasha, and even Ansel and his family. Ansel claps, smiling back at me. I miss him like crazy since he still lives in Paris, doing his own thing, but we talk all the time.
“I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Lachlan Taylor.”
I turn my smile to my husband. “I’m Mrs. Taylor now.”
“It’s about damn time.” He lowers his head, kissing me again. I lean into his touch, still not able to stop smiling even as I kiss him back. “I love you Dandelion Taylor.”
“Not as much as I love you, Mr. Taylor.”
He chuckles against me as we walk down the aisle, away from everyone else, into the start of our forever.