Page 124 of Watercolor Skulls

I drop my hand. “You’re absolutely right.”

We walk out to the patio, letting our gaze settle over our family. Today I’m seeing them in a whole new light.

Jenny has not only been my angel, but she’s also been Jackson’s, Raffe’s, Dan’s…

His amber eyes snag on mine. My tummy does a little flip when he smiles at me.

Okay, you were right, Jenny. He’s just as wonderful as you described.

I smile as a dragonfly flits by.

Oh, now you’re just showing off.

The End

Epilogue

Lily

???

My eyes dance in the mirror, taking in the people who are mingling behind me. Dan’s mom. Jenny’s mom. Candice. Rachel. And Jesse. I watch her fingers whip my hair around the curling iron. She cocks an eyebrow at me. “You sure you want to do this? I mean the guy is kind of an asshole.”

“I’m sure.” I smile smugly at her through the glass.

I run my finger under my lip, straightening my lipstick line, smacking my lips together.

“Okay, if you say so.” She shrugs, letting my hair fall away from the iron, a curl falling softly at my shoulder.

I watch as she runs her fingers through my hair. My mind wanders to the last time someone did my hair. Stop. Deep breath. Focus on something real. My eyes go to my dragonfly pendent. Deep breath. The wave of anxiety passes. It’s getting easier and easier. My therapist and Raffe have given me so many good tips to keep it under control. I control it, not the other way around. It makes me feel powerful.

“All done,” Jesse says.

Jenny’s mom is up next, her fingers fret over the tiny pearl buttons on the back of my dress.

Dan’s mom walks towards me. She’s been doing so good. We’ve got her on a new experimental drug for dementia. It hasn’t improved the disease, but it has kept it from progressing. That in itself is amazing.

“Is it your wedding day, dear?”

“It is,” I reach out and take her hand in mine.

“Oh, I remember my wedding day. My husband and I ran off to Vegas.”

I smile. She’s told me this story many times. But I love it each and every time. Knowing Dan’s parents love each other gives me hope for my own marriage.

“Where are we?” she asks, looking around as if she’s just arrived.

“We are at the Harvest Festival,” I tell her.

“Oh, Dan loves the Harvest Festival. He will be so happy.”

I turn to Jenny’s mom. “Go get Dan.”

“The groom isn’t supposed to see the bride…”

Cutting her off. I pull Dan’s mom with me out the door and down the hall. I don’t even knock I just barge into the room set up for the groom and his men. Dirk raises an eyebrow at me in passing. Dan is standing in front of a long mirror, his chin lifted high as he tightens the bow on his tux. I stop dead in my tracks. Fuck me, he’s sexy. His eyes drop to mine. Slowly he turns. “Lily?” he rushes to me in concern.

I nod my head to the side, raising my eyebrows at him. His gaze shifts to his mom. Instantly he smiles. “Hey,” he says, not sure if he should call her mom.

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