Page 50 of Monsters, Vows, and Growls
Giddiness shook through me; I was about to walk down that aisle and marry the love of my life. And I could hardly wait.
Carol stood behind me in her deep emerald gown — the one that showed just enough leg to make every man in attendance forget their names—twisting my veil into place.
“You ready?” she asked softly.
“Yes. No. Yes.”
She smiled. “That’s normal.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Can I come in?” my mom’s voice said through the door.
I stiffened. So did Carol.
It had taken three months to thaw our relationship into something resembling civil. She’d been invited, of course. I’d always known I couldn’t get married without at least trying to make peace. And today, to her credit, she’d shown up on time, dressed in navy chiffon, and had only made two comments abouthow fast things were moving.
“Come in,” I said after a breath.
The door opened. Lisa Meade stepped inside, clutching a tissue and wearing aborrowed-for-the-daykind of smile.
“You look…” She blinked, tearing up. “Beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
We stood there for a beat, the silence awkward and heavy, until she stepped forward and took my hand. “I know we don’t… always agree. On a lot. But I’m proud of you. And I’m happy for you. Truly.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks.”
“And if he ever hurts you, I will hit him with my car.”
Carol snorted behind me.
“Noted,” I said, blinking fast. “Let’s… not say that during the ceremony.”
“I brought something,” Mom added, reaching into her clutch. She pulled out a small, worn gold bracelet. “It was mine. My mother’s before me. I know we have different ideas about things… but I want you to have this. If you want it.”
I stared at it. It was simple. Understated. Not the passive-aggressive heirloom I’d feared. Just something… honest.
“I do,” I said, letting her fasten it to my wrist. “Thank you.”
She kissed my cheek—light, quick, gone in a breath—and then turned to leave. After the door clicked shut, Carol leaned in. “Did I just witness actual progress?”
“You did.”
“Should we celebrate or call in an exorcist?”
I laughed again—properly this time—and let out a long breath. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Carol squeezed my hand. “Then let’s go marry your bear.”
The first chords ofYou Are the Reasondrifted through the autumn air, slow and aching and perfect. The soft strings echoed through the trees lining the aisle, and every note reverberated inside my chest. Carol slipped out ahead of me, taking her place at the front. She didn’t look back, but I saw the way she squared her shoulders—saw the way Gabe’s jaw clenched when he saw her. Their eyes locked for maybe half a second, enough for the air between them to turn twenty degrees colder and ten times more electric.
I almost laughed.
But then Henry stepped into view, standing just outside the barn doors. A lump formed in my throat at the sight of him. He was one of the best parts of getting married to Patrick. I finally got the dad I always yearned for.
He looked… proud and strong in his dark gray suit with the tie I’d picked out because it matched the fall leaves. Just like what I needed right then. He held out his arm, and when I looped mine through it, he leaned close and whispered, “You ready, sweetheart?”
