The beautiful day didn’t have a cloud in sight. As she walked, she pictured Greer, the stubborn man she had grown to love. That was why she had decided to walk instead of drive. Their path had always been hard. So many years of heartbreak had stood between them.
She bent her knees, so Diamond could put her veil on as their guests found a spot to sit in the field that Greer, Logan, and God had created for her.
When the music went from honky tonk to the wedding march, she walked to the oak tree where Greer and his brothers waited.
“Who gives this woman away to matrimony?”
Logan cleared his voice at their pastor’s question. “I do.” Her son handed her hand to Greer.
The wedding was a blur of tears. When Greer slid her mother’s wedding band on her finger, she clasped his hand, kissing him, feeling the summer breeze ruffle the layers of her veil. When they finished kissing, Greer took out his pocket knife, and then each of them took their time carving their initials into the old tree. Turning, they then raised their hands as their friends cheered.
“Woman, you’re mine.” Greer swept her into his arms, twirling her in a circle.
“Greer, you’re making me dizzy.” She laughed.
“Let’s go cut our cake before the Hayes eat it all.” Greer had used the massive front yard to set up stations for food and a huge cake.
She grabbed his suit jacket, pulling him close for another kiss. “Thank you for inviting them.”
“I told you I’d let bygones be bygones.”
She didn’t quite trust that Greer wouldn’t get payback, but she wasn’t going to let it worry her today. Today was her and Greer’s day, and she wouldn’t let anything ruin it for them.
They ran through the daisies—Logan, her, and Greer—sending them swaying.
Logan broke away from her. “I’m gonna go eat.” The spinning hamburger wheel had captured his attention.
“He sounds more like you every day.”
“I know,” Greer said, slicking down his shirt to tuck back into his trousers.
Holly rolled her eyes. “Zip up your pants.”
When he looked down, she swatted him under his chin. “Gotcha to look.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“You just can’t let anyone get anything over on you, can you?”
“Hell, no. I wouldn’t be a Porter if I did.”
Reminding herself she didn’t want anything to spoil her day, she took a plate from one of the servers.
“Thank you.” Her smile slipped when she saw it was Lindy.
Ignoring the waitress’s hate-filled glare, she took one of the hamburgers and one of the miniature hot dogs, seeing Greer loading his plate with five of them.
Her new husband brazenly propped two hamburgers on top before leading her to the large table.
She took small bites as most of her guests stopped by to congratulate them.
One of waiters brought a tray of champagne to the table. As she took two of the glasses, one for Greer, she saw a man talking to Jessie she didn’t recognize, thrilled that the woman was dating someone.
She had gotten to know Jessie from when Logan was in her daycare, and then the summers when school was out. They had connected with each other, both having no one special in their lives.
She tapped Greer’s shoulder to give him his drink. “Do you know the man with Jessie?”
Greer turned away from Shade. “Who?” He looked to where Jessie was standing by herself.
“Never mind. I’ll show you later. Jessie brought a date. I was wondering who he was.”
“Unless he has a wad of cash in his checking account and is willing to kiss her brothers’ asses, he’s wasting his time.”
“Be nice,” she scolded.
“I was.” He snorted, turning to continue his conversation with Shade.
Holly chatted with Diamond and Knox as Greer made another trip to the food stations. He was only one bite into his sixth hot dog when they were called to take their first dance.
Greer had strung fairy lights across the yard, and it was beautiful with the sun going down, the day disappearing into a magical night.
The cake was just as delicious as the food, and she spent most of the evening tearing Greer away from the food tables to the dance floor.
She was resting her head dreamily on his shoulder as the guests started leaving, not even lifting her head when King spoke to Greer over her head that he was breaking down the stations and his staff would be leaving.
“You ready for me to carry you over the threshold?”
When she nodded, he unexpectedly swept her up into his arms and carried her to the front door. Lowering his knees, he opened the door then carried her inside, leaving the few guests outside shouting their drunken encouragements to Greer.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Porter.”
When he put her down, she pressed a quick kiss to Greer’s lips.
“Thank you, but I have to use the bathroom.”
“Why didn’t you go in Tate’s house?”