Page 92 of Black Roses

I can’t take my eyes off him as he watches me. He shifts his feet anxiously—something I don’t normally see and I wonder if weddings make him nervous.

Baylor pulls me by the elbow. “There’s plenty of time to daydream about your hot boyfriend. Come on, we have a job to do.”

We all gather in the foyer of the church, just beyond the ornate double doors that lead into the large sanctuary. We line up in order, Maddox leading off the pack carrying a velvety pillow that has a fake ring attached to it.

Next in line are Baylor and Gavin. Then Mason takes his place next to me. I notice beads of sweat dotting his brow. “You okay?” I ask in a whisper, as Skylar barks out orders behind me about how slowly she wants us to walk up the aisle.

“Will be,” he says, reminding me of the same words he spoke in the hospital a few weeks ago.

Before I can question him, someone opens the doors and Maddox begins the procession. Music is piped through the sound system so we have an idea how it will be tomorrow with the live organist.

Maddox gets to the altar and moves off to one side. Then Baylor and Gavin reach the front. He kisses her on the cheek before they part, then he takes his place at Griffin’s side while she moves off to the left.

Mason’s elbow is squeezing my arm tightly, almost painfully, against his body. And even over the soft music, I can hear his deep, labored breathing.

I know Skylar must be about to walk in behind us, but instead of everyone looking at the empty doorway, they are all looking at me, huge grins on their faces. Even Griffin—who put this off for two months because of me—doesn’t look for his bride-to-be. In fact, when we make our final approach to the altar, he moves aside and stands closer to Gavin.

Confused, I look back to see that Skylar has raced up the aisle and is coming to stand beside Baylor. And my mom and dad are now sitting with the kids in the first pew. I draw my brows together, looking at Skylar while I try to pull away from Mason so I can take my designated spot. But I’m met with resistance and he won’t let me go. When I turn around to see why, my heart plugs up my throat, making it impossible for me to breathe.

Mason has dropped to a knee. He’s staring up at me, the expression on his face somewhere between looking ill and wanting to smile.

Oh. My. God.

Flashbacks of the first dream I ever had of Mason flood through me.

My eyes dart around slowly enough to realize that what’s happening here is not unexpected—well, except by me.

Maddox walks up to Mason, holding the pillow out to him. My eyes go wide when I see what I thought was a fake ring sitting on top of it. Getting a closer look, I gasp when I see a large sparkly diamond that’s casting prisms across the room as it catches the light beaming through a window.

Mason ruffles Maddox’s hair. “Not quite yet, buddy. I have to ask her first.”

Laughter from my family echoes through the large room as Maddox takes two bashful steps backwards.

Mason clears his throat and squeezes my hands. “Piper, I know you’ve been trying to decide what to do with your life—be a waitress, go into publishing, maybe even try your hand at acting again someday. But there is one job I want you to have regardless of what you choose for your profession.” Hailey makes a loud squeal and his eyes turn to her as my mom tries to hush her.

He looks back up at me. “Actually, that’s not true. I want you to havetwojobs. If I searched the entire world, I could not have found a better woman—a better role model for my daughter. You’ve been to hell and back yet you are the strongest person I’ve ever met. You are fiercely loyal to those worthy of your love. You think you are damaged. I think you are beautiful. You’re the most beautiful person, inside and out, that I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. I want to love you, cherish you, and protect you every day from here on out. I want to be your husband, your best friend, and maybe someday, the father of your children. And I want you to help me raise mine.”

Sniffles come from behind me and I know my sisters are both crying. I try to take in everything he has said as my knees attempt to keep me standing.Husband? Children? Can I do this? Am I even capable?

“I don’t know what the future holds,” he says, still looking up at me with pools of hope swimming in his icy-blue eyes. “I can’t promise my job won’t take us away from here. I can’t promise I’ll be home for dinner every night. I can’t promise I will make every birthday party and holiday celebration. But what I can promise you is my heart. My soul. My devotion. My forever.”

He looks over at Maddox. “Now, buddy,” he says.

Maddox hurries over and Mason removes the ring from the ties that bind it to the pillow.

“Piper Mitchell, I love you. I love every part of you that I’ve seen, and every piece of you I’ve yet to discover.” He holds the ring out to me. “So, what do you say, Snow White, will you be my princess, my queen, my one and only wife from now to eternity?”

Big drops of tears fall onto my cheeks as I nod my head over and over. My heart is so full, I’m incapable of speech. I let him slip the ring onto my finger then I fall to my knees, right into his strong arms and welcoming lips.

Applause bounces off the walls around us as we seal the deal with our mouths and then embrace each other like there is no tomorrow. Hailey runs up to us, jumping into our hug as only a two-year-old can do.

Mason laughs, his glistening eyes mirroring mine. “Just to be sure, that was a yes?” he asks.

I nod again as we stand, him holding Hailey as he helps me to my feet. She holds her arms out to me and I take her. “That was a yes,” I say. “To everything.”

“Everything?” He raises a roguish brow, his face filled with more promises.

“I want it all, Mason. The whole fairy tale. The happily ever after. I’m ready for it now. Thanks to you, I’m ready for it now.”

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