Page 55 of Keeping You
Luke:
One more sleep until I’m keeping you next to me forever.
I love you, too.
Smiling, I drift off to sleep, dreaming of the day to come and all the days after that we'll spend together.
Morning arrives quickly, but for a moment I lie still, savoring the hush. Once I get up, the whirlwind begins. I barely have time to finish my coffee before the quiet erupts into chaos.
Harper arrives with pastries, Anna with her makeup kit, Rachel with her baby in tow, and even Mrs. Faraday stopsby with something borrowed and blue—a delicate handkerchief passed down from her grandmother.
In front of my vanity, Harper fusses with my hair, muttering at me to stay still while I keep catching glimpses of my bright, excited eyes, flushed cheeks, and a happy grin I can’t suppress.
“You look stunning,” Nikki says softly from the doorway, already radiant in her burgundy bridesmaid gown. “Like the little sister I used to boss around grew into the beautiful bride who can’t wait to see her handsome groom.”
“Is it that obvious?” I laugh, earning another gentle scolding from Harper for moving.
“To everyone who knows you,” Nikki confirms. “Which, in this town, is pretty much everyone.” She crosses the room to join us. “Your dress counts as new, so I have something old for you.”
“You do?”
“Mom’s pearl earrings. She wore them when she married Dad.”
Nikki gently places the tiny white studs in my hand. “I wish they were here to see you.”
“Don’t cry, now,” Harper demands as she sniffles.
“Not sure I can promise you that,” I tell my best friend. “Thank you, Nikki.” I stand up and hug my sister tightly.
By the time we arrive at Cooper Lake, I’m a bundle of nerves and excitement. The ceremony site is exactly as we dreamed: white chairs set on the grassy shore, an arch draped in spring flowers and greenery, the lake glittering under the May sun. Wildflowers nod in the breeze, and the faint scent of honeysuckle drifts across the air.
From the tent, I catch glimpses of friends, neighbors, Luke’s fellow officers, my library staff, and other familiar faces gathered for our special day. And then I see Luke, standing near the arch, handsome in his dark suit, his best man at his side.
In just minutes, I’ll walk toward him. In just minutes, our forever begins.
“Ready?” Nikki asks, appearing at my side with a stunning arrangement of deep red dahlias, white roses, and greenery for me to carry. I take a deep breath, nodding. “More than ready.”
The music starts with an acoustic version of a song we both love, played by a local musician. Anna, Rachel, and Nikki take their turns down the aisle, each glowing in burgundy satin. Harper waits next to me, squeezing my hand before stepping out ahead of me.
And then it’s my turn. Once I take that first step, all I see is Luke. The rest of the world blurs until it’s just his grin, brimming with a love so fierce it’s almost painful to realize how much I adore him.
I don’t see our friends. I don’t hear the music. I don’t notice the flowers, which I’m sure are gorgeous.
Then I’m there, and he’s closing the distance to meet me.
“Hi,” he whispers.
“Hi,” I whisper back.
The ceremony flies by in a whirlwind of vows and promises. Luke speaks first, his voice strong though his eyes betray his emotion.
“Callie Cooper, fifteen years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life when I let you go. But fate had other plans and brought us back together. You’re my partner, my best friend, my home. I promise to love you through every chapter, and to remind you daily that our story is my favorite one of all.”
Damn it. I wasn’t going to cry.Tears spill freely down my cheeks as I begin mine.
“Luke Caldwell, our story hasn’t been simple. We’ve had more twists than the thickest novel on the shelves. But you were always the boy who made my heart race, the man who taught me forgiveness, and the partner who shows me what real love lookslike. I promise to love you, not only for who you are today, but for who you’ll become tomorrow, and for all the days after that.”
The rings slide into place.
