Page 82 of My Always One

There’s a knock on the door.

“If that’s Marshal, tell him he can’t see his bride until the ceremony,” Jane says.

Mom nods as she opens the door a sliver and peers out. “Monica.”

Marshal’s mother.

“Would you mind if I come say something to Sami?”

I nod as Mom looks my way.

“Come on in,” Mom says.

I grin as Marshal’s mom smiles my way.

“You’re beautiful, Sami.”

“Thank you.”

She clutches my hands. “You have always been like a daughter to me. You know that, I hope.”

I nod, swallowing the emotions that are multiplying within me faster than the hormones.

“You may already have something, but” —she opens her clutch and pulls out a sapphire-and-diamond bracelet— “George gave this to me on our wedding day. It was for my something new and something blue. I always imagined giving it to my daughter on her wedding day.” She places it in my hand and closes my fingers around it. “Today, I am. It’s yours, Sami. Maybe you’re carrying a girl and one day it can be hers. Or maybe you’ll be like me and leave it to the good Lord to knock some sense into your son and give you the perfect daughter.”

I open my fingers. “Oh, Monica, I’ll wear it and cherish it, but I can’t keep it.”

“You can, Sami. I trust you with it, just like I trust you with my son. You know that Marshal has always been my unpredictable child.” She looks at Mom. “We all have at least one of those.”

Mom laughs. “He’s marrying mine.”

Monica squeezes my hand. “And I couldn’t be happier.”

The seconds and minutes tick by as a photographer takes pictures and my dad appears, looking dashing in his dress pants, bow tie, and suspenders. It is Marshal’s one demand—regarding the wedding, no suit coats. He wants things as casual as possible. I look down and smile at my dad’s shoes. I believe that despite the fact he’s lived in Michigan his entire life, he is wearing his first pair of cowboy boots.

Dad lifts his foot and tugs up the leg of his slacks. “Marshal explained how they’re good for kicking zombies during the apocalypse.”

“I think your supplies are now complete.”

“I didn’t know about the boot part. If I had, I’d have had a pair a long time ago.”

I kiss his cheek.

He walks me to the doorway. The children have gone ahead with their pillow and flower petals. Millie has gone and Jane just stepped away. I place my hand in the crook of Dad’s arm.

“I love you, Sami girl. Tell me that Marshal makes you happy.”

“He does.”

“Tell me he’s good to you.”

“He is.”

“Tell me you love him.”

“Always, Dad. Always.”

My dad kisses my cheek. “Then it’s time to get you hitched.”

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