Page 95 of Clean Out of Luck

“Oh, I really like him, but you’re my granddaughter, and if you don’t want to marry him, I will help you run away.” She raises her eyebrows in a way that lets me know she’s serious.

It’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.

“You would be the best getaway driver ever, Grandma.”Although, I don’t know that we would make it out of it alive.But I don’t say that part out loud.

“But I really do love him, and I’m excited to marry him. Is it weird that I’m not nervous? I feel like maybe I should be nervous about this, but it just feels so right—like I’m meant to marry him, and like this is just the next step in our lives.”

Grandma nods. “That’s just the peace of knowing you’re marrying the right person. You’d be nervous if it was the wrong one.”

Mom bustles into the room, holding my giant bouquetthat she made. “Oh, you’re breathtaking. I can’t believe how beautiful you look.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say with a laugh.

She hurries to add, “Not that you don’t look beautiful every other day. It’s just so strange to see my little baby in a wedding dress. I can’t believe this day is here. I told myself I wouldn’t get emotional, but here I am.” She dabs at her eyelashes. “I don’t want to ruin our family pictures.”

“You know this isn’t going to change anything, right, Mom? We’re still living in Serendipity Springs. We’ll still be here.”

“I know, but it’s a big life event to promise your love to someone and promise to be with them.”

The music starts outside.

“Come on honey, if you’re ready, all the guests have been seated.”

I adjust my dress one more time. I opted for an off-the-shoulder, ball gown style dress with an embroidered lace skirt. It’s a dress that belongs in a movie or a book. It feels like I’m living out my own fairy tale.

Mom opens the door, and we leave the bedroom I grew up in. Dad is standing on the landing.

He’s crying.

A battle-hardened prosecutor with the biggest heart. I blame him for setting my standard high for the man I marry.

“Honey, you just look—” He chokes back his words as he leans forward to press a kiss on my forehead. “I think I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want you to be old enough to get married.”

I kiss his rough cheek, breathe in that familiar cologne that smells like home. “I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too.”

And then we make our way down the stairs and to the glass sliding door that leads in to the back yard. Grandmawalks out the door, holding her cane in one hand and clutching Mom’s arm as they make their way down the path to sit at the front of the chairs.

There’s about a hundred people here. Wade’s family. My extended family. Several neighbors and friends from The Serendipity. Pretty much the whole fire department that’s not on shift today.

It's a crowded back yard and I see Wade standing in front of the arbor next to the officiant.

Oliver starts down the aisle, pulling his sister in a wood wagon. He makes his way slowly, trying to match the beat of the music, but then quickly gets tired of that and sprints toward Wade.

Both Carson and Wade rush forward to catch Margie before she can topple out of the wagon. Wade reaches her first, and Oliver drops the handle on his dad’s foot, then runs over to stand next to Phoenix.

Wade returns to his spot, Margie still in his arms and now playing with the corsage pinned to his suit. The man makes holding a baby look good.

Ashlyn has a rather dark look on her face as she gives her four-year-old the mom look, just before she makes her way down the aisle. When she reaches the front, Wade passes her a giggling Margie.

Lilly makes her way down next and my breath catches as I realize it’s my turn next.

The first strains of the bridal march plays over the rented speakers, and the guests rise to their feet.

Dad pats my hand, and we step out onto the deck. “This is it,” he whispers.

“This is it,” I agree.

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