“Is it safe?”
I laughed. “You’re good.”
He peeked open one eye, then both, and clutched his heart. “The sheer volume of beauty in one room is rather excessive, don’t you think?”
Aunt Bertie chuckled. “What a charmer. Where did you find him, Shi?”
“No one found me, my dear lady,” Holden said. “I sprang full blown from Ronan and Miller’s imagination.”
I exchanged grins with him, and he winked.
After graduation, Holden had disappeared, leaving River Whitmoreto wait for him like I had with Ronan. Holden had been all over Europe, killing his own demons, purging them and putting them between the pages of an award-winning novel.
Now he was back and was one of Ronan’s groomsmen, along with Miller and Hector. He looked devastating in a soft-gray suit, no tie, the top buttons of his white dress shirt undone. A sprig of pale-purple, yellow, and baby-blue wildflowers—a miniature version of my bouquet—was tucked in his lapel.
“The coordinator is busy with some flower emergency.” Holden flapped his hand. “I’ve been sent to tell you…it’s time.”
I blew out a breath, butterflies taking flight in my stomach.
“That’s our cue.” Bertie, resplendent in deep purple, helped Bibi to stand. They kissed my cheeks—Bibi’s eyes full, seeing me like she always had. Straight into my heart. She said nothing but patted my cheek, and I pressed into her hand, the love for her overflowing.
The other gals hugged me, and everyone slowly made their way out, Luisa shooting Holden—her partner up the aisle—an appreciative smile.
Holden leaned into me. “Since rehearsal dinner last night, that girl can’t stop making eyes at me. Not that I blame her.”
“It must be such a burden, being as beautiful as you are.”
“It really is,” Holden said seriously, his green eyes twinkling. “If it gets worse, I’m going to have to jump River in the middle of the ceremony to show I’m spoken for.”
“Pretty sure you were going to do that anyway.” I laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Shoo. Behave yourself.”
He shot me another wink and went out, leaving me alone with Mama.
She faced me and took a steadying breath. “You sure you don’t want Uncle Rudy walking you down the aisle? Or Bibi? There’s still time to get her back. I know she’d be honored.”
I shook my head and slipped my hand in hers. I’d thought about it, but Bibi and I had talked it over.
“A parent gives the bride away. There is no better way to show Marie that you see her than to let her do this.”
I agreed.
“You’re my mama,” I said with a teary shrug.
She felt the weight of everything in those three words, her eyes shining too. “Thank you, Shiloh.” She hugged me close.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do.” She pulled away, her smile beautiful. “I know a second chance when I see one.”
June Seong, my wedding planner, rushed in and delicately cleared her throat. “Excuse me, ladies.”
She’d done such an impressive job with the grand opening of my shop, her name was the only one on my list to handle the wedding. As I knew she would, June made it the beautiful, somewhat rustic event I’d dreamed of. Unfussy, set in the backdrop of the forest, with just enough touches to give it an understated elegance that wasn’t too fancy, nor too casual.
“Crisis averted,” she said. “Your flower girls showered your ring bearer with all their petals, much to his delight, but everything is ready now.”
I grinned. While Ronan was incarcerated, Maryann Greer had been promoted at her work and moved from the Cliffside apartments to a better place, but we never lost touch. She and her twin girls were frequent visitors at our home, Cami and Lily treating August like their baby brother.
“You both look gorgeous,” June said, sizing us up. “Ready?”