My Willow Wisp covers her mouth with both hands as she looks at me.
With a single flick of my thumb, I pop the box open to show off the black onyx and diamond engagement ring. Several hushed gasps float over us, but they won’t stop me. A freight train barreling down on my head couldn’t.
“Willow Macklin, will you marry me? Will you be my wife, my other half, my soul, and mother to my daughters? Will you keep surprising us every day of our lives?”
Long dramatic pause.
My heart stops a few times and restarts as her beautiful face twitches, completely frozen.
Then she floats toward me like the wind, laughing and crying and nodding her head, a chestnut mane of hair spilling out behind her.
“Yes, yes, yes, and yes! Yes to all three of you. Yes to you, Grady. Yes to us. Yes to forever.” She loses it as she throws her arms around my neck, and she’s not alone.
I’m holding back my own man tears. They’re so hot and ferocious it might fucking break me, especially as she looks at me and says, “Talk about surprises! I love you.”
The crowd cheers like some shit from a movie, and after several kisses, I slide the ring on her finger.
Then comes the big family group hug.
Willow and I first before we’re joined by the girls.
Peter wraps his long arms around us last.
I don’t think there’s a dry eye or a mouth not bursting with laughter when a loud roar splits the air. Our last family member joins in.
Bruce.
Who the hell knew cupid was a tiger?
25
Tiger Bride (Willow)
Months Later
“A girl’s wedding should be everything she wants it to be,” Dad says, fussing with his collar for what must be the millionth time as he tries on his tux.
“It already is, Dad. This is a fairy tale come true,” I say, fluttering my lashes. “Look at this place. It’s gorgeous, it’s alive, and I get to be princess for a day.”
We’re standing inside the new visitor center that was just finished and opened last week.
The construction crews kept going all through the long, cold North Dakota winter to have the place ready by spring.
Grady was there every day, too, a guardian angel ensuring it came to life just as I’d wanted when we’d drawn up the plans.
With the help of many friends—mainly Grace Barnet and her fantabulous eye for decoration and design—we’ve turned the center into a one-day wedding marvel.
An artistic ode to our love and to Grady McKnight.
The man I’m marrying tomorrow.
“I want your honeymoon to be fit for a spoiled princess, too,” Dad says with a laugh. “And suitable for Prince Charming incarnate. I asked him if I could plan and pay for your honeymoon, by the way. He agreed, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with a lavish trip to anywhere worth going.”
I look at the folder in my hand, my heartbeat quickening.
“Dad, this is more than a honeymoon.”
“Indeed, Willow girl, it’s the beginning of your lives as man and wife, and our lives as a family.” He kisses my forehead and I suddenly feel so warm I could scream. “I’m picking Jelly and Beans up from school, and then we’re going over to visit Joyce to make sure we’re ready for your big day. So you take that folder up to the house, show it to Grady, and try to get some sleep. Use this time alone to pack so you’ll be ready for your escape ride after the reception.”
He leaves with a parting wink.
I take the four-wheeler up to the house, where I find Grady on the couch.
“You look relaxed,” he says with a wink.
I’m glad one of us is.
Sitting up, he laughs. “Think I’m still hungover. Your old man knows how to throw one hell of a bachelor party. Poor Weston made the mistake of challenging him to a drinking contest and lost.”
Smiling, I sit down next to him. “Speaking of my dad...he said you let him help with our honeymoon?”
He winces. “Yeah, he insisted on throwing money at it, and I’m not looking to do battle with my future father-in-law over it. Figured he’d know where you always wanted to go for a few ideas, too. Why?”
“Have you ever heard of an extended honeymoon?”
He frowns. “How extended?”
I open the folder. “Dad spends seven or eight months a year traveling, so his itineraries cover everything.”
“Okay,” he grunts, hiding a smile. “Wait. You’re not talking about spending almost a year away from—”
I laugh.
Shaking my head, I start flipping through pages. “Just one amazing month, roughly. He has the bar completely covered with West, the rescue center running like clockwork, and he’ll stay with the girls here at home for two weeks before flying to South Africa. If you’re down for it, I’m hoping that’s where we’ll spend some time before they join us. And from there, all five of us can visit several countries for the next two weeks before coming home by summer.”