Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

“Come in,” Heather said. We all looked in to see my father. He took one look at me and smiled.

“Hey Daddy.”

“Hey sweetheart, do you mind if I speak with Kynslee alone, girls?”

“Not at all, Uncle Steve. We’ll be outside,” Patty said.

As Heather walked by, she stopped. “She’s a bit nervous, not pregnant.”

Daddy smiled and nodded. He shut the door and made his way over to me. Sitting down next to me, he let out a soft sigh.

“I know you’re probably not happy with me going on with the wedding, but I love him, Daddy. I want to be his wife.”

“Now why do you just assume I’m not happy?”

With a half shrug, I replied, “You don’t like Miles.”

My father laughed. “I don’t know why you think I don’t like the boy. Yes, I hated seeing you wait for him all those years, but at the same time, I can understand why he didn’t want to put you through that worry. I’m simply happy the two of you have found your way to each other. Miles has proven to me that he cares for you. The day he showed up looking for you, the boy looked like hell. Then, in the middle of planning a rushed wedding, dealing with his deadbeat father, the guy got dressed up like a spice and worked the fall festival booth with you. Which by the way, great custom idea, sweetheart. And Miles even suggested to me another idea for next year. Soap and a loofah.”

I smiled and bumped his shoulder with mine. “Thank you, and I think the soap and loofah idea needs a bit of revisiting when the time comes.”

“What I’m trying to say is, I know he loves you, Kynslee. I see it in the way he looks at you. As long as he makes you happy, I’m happy.”

“He does, Daddy. He makes me very happy.”

He winked at me. “Then why is your head hanging in a waste basket?”

Laughing, I set it on the floor. “Funny, I feel better. Like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.”

“You were worried about what I thought of Miles?”

“Yes and no. I was letting my mind think too hard on things, I need to just let it go.”

“That’s my advice on just about everything. There are only a few small things in this world that we can truly control, Kynslee. Focus on making your life happy, filling it with the things you love, and I promise, the rest will fall into place.”

I kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.”

He stood. “You best get back to getting ready. I saw your future husband a few minutes ago, and he was a sight.”

Standing, I felt myself grin. “How was he?”

“Well, if I’m being honest, he looked about the same as you when I walked into the room. The boy was nearly jumping out of his skin to marry you.”

I laughed. “Nervous too, huh?”

“The day I married your mother I felt the same way. My biggest worry was whether I could make her as happy as she made me. Miles was feeling similar.”

I felt the tears building in my eyes.

“Oh no, do not cry, Kynslee. Your mother warned me if I made you cry I wasn’t going to be able to have any cake!”

Laughing, I hugged my father. “I love you, Daddy. Thank you for helping make all this happen. I walked through the barn this morning, it looked beautiful.”

“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Kynslee. Now, let me bring everyone back in. I think they want you getting dressed.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Daddy.”

He kissed me once more on the forehead. “I love you, baby girl.”

Once my father left the room, everything turned into a whirlwind of excitement. Heather, Patty, and Lana all helped me get ready. Baby Wanda was in the room, and each time she made one of those precious little sounds, it felt like a bolt of lightning hitting my womb. Good Lord, the baby bug was hitting me hard, and on my wedding day, no less.

My blonde hair was pulled up from the sides with ringlet curls hanging down and resting on my bare back. A few wisps framed my face. I wore pearl drop earrings that were a gift from Ally. She told me her mother had worn them when she married Miles’s grandfather. Ally had never gotten the chance to wear them in her own wedding, but she said she was glad they weren’t wasted on a jerk like Peter.

“It’s time for the dress!” Heather called out.

I watched my mother unzip the bag and take the beautiful white lace dress out. It had been a pure miracle that I’d fallen in love with the second dress I tried on. We had driven into Austin and visited a small bridal store on the north side of town, Alexia Gavela, where my mother bought her gown when she married my father. The gown fit like it had been made just for me and needed only a few small adjustments to make it perfect. I loved it because it was sophisticated, yet sexy as hell. Miles was going to freak when he saw me in it.