Page 81 of Promise Yule Be Mine
Every one of his brothers and his niece raised their hands, while our parents nodded.
“See? We’ll be okay,” he told Jenna and then turned to me.
I took his hand and squeezed it.
I had all the faith that it would. If he knew anything, that was how to make the best out of a bad situation. And if he could teach me how to craft a perfect wedding invitation then I had no doubt he could teach everyone how to make gorgeous floral arrangements.
26
NOVA
“Ready?” Jenna asked me and squeezed my shoulders.
“As I’ll ever be,” I said and turned to Mom.
“You look amazing, sweetheart,” she said and cupped my face. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m happy for me too.”
Mom smirked. “Two down, five to go.”
“Is that what you’re thinking right now, Mom? About marrying off your other sons?”
Mom shrugged. “What? I’d like to get some peace and quiet at home before I die. And a gym. I’d like a gym too. Think we can get Rhett to marry Nikita?”
Jenna laughed. “They couldn’t be more different.”
“Pfft. Details,” Mom replied.
I groaned. “Can we focus please?”
“Right,” they both said and turned their attention to me.
“Ready?” Mom asked.
I nodded and Jenna opened the door and walked ahead, put her arm through Nikita’s who’d been waiting outside the room, and Mom and I walked behind them.
When everyone set their eyes on Jenna they were confused by her simple red A-dress that reached her knees, and then, with even more confusion, looked behind her at me.
I bit my cheek and soldiered on.
The events room of the museum had been transformed by the garlands and mistletoe and all the other seasonal flowers we’d put together the day before. Endless strings of fairy lights hanging from the ceiling gave everything a fairy tale ambience, only adding to the surreal feel of this moment.
Jenna and Nikita reached the front where her maid of honor, Meredith, and Jett, Kody and Nikita’s other friend waited, just as confused.
“You’re all dismissed,” Jenna said to both of them and everyone started whispering as my friend made everyone get in a semicircle around us leaving only us, herself, and Cookie and Milk standing in the middle.
We’d decided we didn’t need any groomsmen or groomsmaids. Nikita as the witness was more than enough. And even though I hadn’t wanted to be walked down the aisle, I’d done it for Mom.
Jenna took Kody’s hands and reached out to me as we approached.
“Look after him,” Mom told Kody and patted his hand.
“I plan to do just that for as long as I breathe.”
“Good answer,” she said and joined the others in the semicircle.
Jenna cleared her throat. “So this may be confusing,” she said, “but we are gathered here today to join Kody and Nova in matrimony.”
