Your One True Love (The Bennett Family 8)

I admire my engagement ring again. The double infinity knots are all elegant curves and shiny diamonds. When Daniel gave it to me, I asked why infinity knots, and he answered, “Because we are forever.”

I only received the ring yesterday. Daniel asked Pippa for a custom-made engagement ring, and Pippa confided in me that Daniel turned out to be her most demanding customer. They spent the two weeks since we returned from Vegas working on it.

“On the bright side, spending weeks overworking my creative juices gave me an idea for a new line of engagement rings: unusual designs. More than the princess, prong, and usual cuts and settings.”

The sound of the door opening snaps me out of my daydreaming. Dad walks in, teary-eyed, and I can feel the emotions coming off him in waves. Oh no! At this rate, I’m going to turn misty-eyed in no time.

“Dad, I must say, you look dashing in a tuxedo.” This is the first time I’ve seen him wearing one.

“Your mother would never have let me go to my daughter’s wedding without one.”

He opens his arms, and I walk right into them. I never missed Mom more than today, and this has to be just as hard for Dad. When we pull apart, he takes something out of his pocket.

“This belonged to your mother. I kept it with me, but it’s a shame not to be worn.”

He opens his fist to reveal Mom’s old silver butterfly pendant.

“I don’t know if it goes with your dress. It’s not so fancy.”

“Of course I’ll wear it. It’s perfect.” My voice wavers, loaded with emotion. I turn so he can clasp it around my neck, and we both sniffle lightly.

“Tha

nk you, Dad.” I feel a bit as if Mom is with us too, right this very moment.

We head out of the bedroom, down to the living room. I chose to get dressed here in my childhood home. Niall should arrive any minute now to drive us to the church.

“Fathers usually say no one is good enough for their daughters, but I don’t feel that way. Daniel is a great man, and he loves you.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

“When I saw your mother, I knew.”

“Really?” I’ve never heard their story. Too personal, I suppose, and I haven’t asked.

“Yes. Took some time convincing her, though. She was always the practical one. Wanted to be sure we weren’t being hasty.”

“Sounds like her, yeah.” I laugh, touching the pendant. Just then, a honk from outside tells us Niall is here.

The church is full to capacity with our family and friends, and I do my best not to let any nerves show as I slowly walk to the altar, my father’s arm steadying me. When we come to a stop in front of my man, Daniel looks Dad straight in the eyes and says,

“I promise to take care of your daughter, love her, and respect her.”

“I know you will.”

After the ceremony, we head on foot to the restaurant, which is just across from the church. It’s a lovely venue, large enough for the three hundred guests attending. Only about fifty were at the church; the rest will come directly to the restaurant. Daniel and I are leading the group of fifty, crossing the street. It rained this morning, so I have to keep my dress up to keep the hem from getting dirty. My satin shoes will probably be a mess, but no one will see them under the dress.

The restaurant is surrounded by a beautiful garden, and vines loop around the black iron entrance gate. Past that, a path of cobblestones leads to the front door of the restaurant. It was easy enough to walk on the uneven cobbles wearing flats, but in heels it’s hell. I don’t even voice that thought before Daniel hooks an arm around my waist, steadying my every step.

He only lets go inside the restaurant, where servers are waiting with trays of champagne. As the guests help themselves to a glass, I notice Summer is firing off instructions to the wedding planner. I barely suppress a grin. Between the wedding planner and Summer, Daniel and I didn’t have to do much in terms of organizing.

We take two glasses for ourselves, then welcome every guest. We finish the greeting round by clinking glasses with Pippa and Summer.

“No more weddings to organize now,” Summer says wistfully.

“What are you talking about?” Pippa asks. “We have more single cousins than I can count. Look at all those Connors. And there’s you, of course.”

“Of course. I’m sure the right one’s out there somewhere. He just needs a map to find me. Or a compass. Better yet, a GPS. Mine’s definitely not working. Keeps sending me into dead ends.”