Page 173 of Begin Again, Part 2

"You still remember what they mean?"

"How can I forget?"

"Good," he chuckled. "This is the first day of the rest of our lives."

"Our new start," she added.

"Yeah, our new start. And I love you, Mrs Anderson."

"Hey, I'm still Ms McBride, you know."

"Only for the next two hours. See you soon."

And for the next two hours, Eden was poked, pulled, and pushed, while the makeup artist, Franco, and a crew of pamper specialists worked their magic to get her ready.

With thirty minutes to spare before the ceremony began, the pulling and prodding finally stopped, and Eden could breathe again.

Her friends, too, were ready to rock and roll in their mismatched, blush pink bridesmaid dresses, matching nude Louboutins and dripping diamond earrings, their hair swept up in romantic updos.

"You guys look amazing," Eden told them as she took a few snaps of the trio and sent them to Lydia for her vlog.

"And you look like a dream come true, Edie," Sienna gushed as she hugged her, tears shimmering brightly in her eyes. "I hope you're blessed with wisdom, strength, and patience to brace this shitty weather and all other storms with your one true love."

"And I wish you a lifetime of amazing orgasms." Lydia finished off her mimosa and tipped her glass at her. "And you were right. All those other dresses we saw paled in comparison."

"And I—" Cassandra said as she stepped out of the en suite bathroom with an apron over her gorgeous, A-line halter dress. "Wish you and Liam a lifetime of happiness, Edie. No one deserves it more than you."

"Oh, you guys, stop it," Eden said, willing herself not to cry because she'd ruin her makeup if she did. It was waterproof, but after her implant debacle, she no longer trusted anything claiming to be technologically advanced.

"And I hope you'll always be in my life. The three of you were my only constant, and I can't imagine my life without you," she said when the lump cutting off her words in her throat melted away.

They huddled together, shared a group hug, and asked one of the housekeeping staff to take a few photos of them.

While Cassandra dashed across the courtyard to check on her catering staff, Sienna chatted with her colleague assigned to help her cover the wedding for a follow-up story to the exposé she'd done just weeks before. Lydia couldn't sit still either. She checked on the guests and ensured they had all the champagne their hearts desired.

Eden found herself alone for the first time that day. But not for long, though. A double knock sounded on the door, and Erica, dressed in a grey off the shoulder midi lace dress and matching silver pumps, strolled in.

"Oh, Edie, you look beautiful," she gushed, hugging her for the first time in years. The last time they hugged was at Eden's graduation, and even then, it was very brief.

"You and Liam and your babies will be so happy," Erica sighed in her hair. "I know I never told you often, but I am so proud of the amazing woman you've become."

"Thank you, Mom." Eden couldn't hold back her tears. After all, she'd waited her whole life to hear those words.

They held on to each other for a little while, and their long embrace reminded Eden of the mom from her childhood, of the woman who'd put a Band-Aid on her when she fell off her bike and skinned her knee.

"I have something for you," Erica reached inside one of the pockets on her dress Eden hadn't noticed until now, and pulled out pearl studs and a side comb.

"Something old," she said as she placed the earrings in Eden's palm. "Grammy gave them to me on my wedding day. You don't have to wear them, though. I just thought you'd want to have a part of her with you today."

"I want to wear them." Eden quickly took off her diamond drop earrings and slipped on her grandma's pearl ones.

"And now, for something borrowed," Erica carried on as she placed the diamante flower and leaf side comb in Eden's hair. "When you told me about your side-swept bun, I immediately thought of this. I hope you like it."

"I love it," Eden said as she hugged her again.

"Okay, I have to check on the groom and my grandson," Erica smiled and pinched her cheek like she used to back when Eden was little.

She'd just sat down again when another knock pulled her to her feet.

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