I rubbed at the welt. “You’re a monster,” I muttered.
She winked, then tilted her head. “I know. Now let’s get you down to the greenhouse. Bishop is waiting for you.”
Bishop
I stood and glanced around the greenhouse. I had seen it earlier today. I had helped Abby finish up the lanterns for the tables and had climbed up the ladder to add flowers to the faux chandeliers that hung down from the ceiling. I’d seen it all, but standing here now, only moments away from making Abby mine again, I was overcome with a rush of emotions.
Happiness to have Abby back in my life. Sadness that we had lost the last couple of years. Guilt that I had let my pride keep me from going after Abby harder. Hope for a future that I couldn’t wait to live out with the woman I loved more than life itself.
Gone were all the dead plants and memories of the last few years. In their place stood nothing but breathless beauty. Dreams of happily ever after once again. The one single plant that had somehow survived sat at the side of the altar. I smiled every time I saw it. I hadn’t seen Abby set it there, but I knew it was in the exact place it needed to be.
I caught a glance at myself in the reflection of the windows. I was dressed in a black suit with a white tie. More casual than our first wedding, but it all just felt so damn right.
“It’s so beautiful in here, Bishop,” my mother said. “I wouldn’t have ever known this was an actual greenhouse, had I not seen it filled with flowers once upon a time.”
Smiling, I turned and kissed her on the cheek. “I know; it’s been totally transformed into a winter wonderland.”
“It makes you feel like you’re standing outside, which is beautiful. I have to say, even though it’s a much smaller wedding, I do believe I prefer this to the first one.”
I laughed. “Me too.”
My father and Abby’s dad, Pete, joined my mother and me.
“It looks beautiful in here,” Pete said with a proud smile on his face. “My daughter clearly has a talent with flowers.”
We all chuckled.
“Where’s Crystal?” I asked Pete.
“She wanted to see Abby.”
“Are you not walking her down the aisle then?” my mother asked.
Pete sighed. “Trust me, Catherine, I tried to talk her into giving me that honor, but she said she wanted it simple. No attendants, nothing but her and Bishop.”
I felt a grin spread over my face.
“Oh dear,” my mother whispered. “Bishop Harris, what do you have planned?”
Greer, Arabella, and Candace all walked into the greenhouse, each of them wearing wide smiles on their faces. Bree jumped in front of them and started snapping pictures. Candace covered her chest and said something to Bree that made her laugh.
Aiden had been driving the Mule back and forth from the house to bring folks to the greenhouse so they wouldn’t have to walk the distance in the cold. Since the Mule had doors and heat, no one had to worry about coats. And the greenhouse was toasty warm.
Once the wedding was complete, the food would be brought in. I had secretly hired some people to help serve the food. I had heard Candace in my kitchen earlier, giving out commands and telling the staff when to bring certain dishes to the greenhouse. An idea had struck me in that moment. Boggy Creek didn’t have a catering company in town…and Candace would be the perfect person to start such a venture. I’d made a mental note to talk to Abby about it later.
Now I watched as Aiden headed back up to the house to get Abby. I wondered if she‘d seen Kyle yet. I had to fight to keep from laughing every time I thought about it. I knew that Abby would think it was the best idea ever, and Kyle was such a good sport. He honestly was taking the job assigned to him really seriously.
Arabella caught my eye as she made her way over to the table she was sharing with Candace, her boyfriend Rick, Kyle, and Hunter. She smiled, and I returned the gesture.
“Bishop? What are you planning?” Mom asked again.
Turning, I kissed her on the cheek once more. “You’ll see soon, Mom. Better take your seats. It’s about to start.”
Abby and Arabella had used round tables so that everyone had the perfect view of the far end of the greenhouse, where an arch had been constructed and was filled with every kind of white flower imaginable. Small pops of blue flowers were tucked in, a nod to Abby’s favorite color. My heart beat a little harder and faster. I just wasn’t completely sure what she would think about the blue diamond. Even though I’d had the money at the time to buy her whatever ring she wanted, Abby’s choice for her first engagement ring was just under a carat: a white solitaire diamond in a platinum band. I prayed she wouldn’t think the new ring was over the top.