Page 42 of Better Together

“How can you say that? I just told you I–”

Colt stopped her. “I said what I said. Are we getting hitched or not?”

She stared at him as if daring him to back out. Colt crossed his arms and stared back. “This is one contest I’ll win, princess. I’m in. What about you?”

Remi’s eyes narrowed a little but didn’t blink. “I’m not giving in.”

Colt wrapped a hand around her arm and pulled her down the hallway. “That’s what I needed to hear. Let’s get married.”

Remi laughed behind him. She was actually laughing, and Colt’s heart was lighter than ever. There was no doubt, no worry, no stress over the unknown they were walking into.

“Let’s tell the kids first,” Remi said.

“Right. I guess we have a few details to work out.”

They reached the room where the kids were playing, and Colt stopped with his hand on the knob. “Last chance to back out.”

Remi pushed past him and opened the door herself.

It seemed Remi was sure of her decision. Was he? He took a second to himself before following Remi.

Lord, is this what You want? Are we supposed to do this together?

At that moment, Abby’s high-pitched squeal filled the air. “Ahh! You’re getting married!”

That seemed to be the divine answer he’d requested, and he tried to temper his ridiculous smile as he walked in.

“What’s this about getting married?” he asked.

Abby launched herself toward him with her arms out. “You and Remi! Can I be the flower girl?”

Colt wrapped Abby in his arms and lifted her off her feet. “Sure you can. I guess you’ll want a pretty dress, too.”

Abby gasped.

Remi held up a finger. “Um, Abby, I don’t think this is going to be the big wedding you’re expecting.”

“Do you have a dress?” Abby asked.

Remi looked at Colt as if asking for backup, but he wasn’t about to save her from a little girl’s overreaction. He was just as excited as Abby, and nothing was going to rain on their parade.

“I don’t. Maybe you could help me pick out somethingreasonable.”

Abby gasped again. At this rate, she was in danger of hyperventilation.

Colt turned to Ben and crouched beside him, keeping his hold on Abby. “Ben, what do you say to being my best man?”

Ben shrugged one shoulder, trying to exude a calm and cool reaction. “That would be cool, I guess.”

Colt clapped his nephew on the back and stood. “That settles it then. We’ve got some shopping to do.”

Abby threw her hands in the air. “Yay!”

At least the kids were happy and not tragically grieving. Maybe they all needed a happy celebration right now. He had a meeting at the funeral home in five hours to plan the private ceremony for Mark and Brittany, but they could enjoy some time planning a wedding together before the sad reality showed up later.

At the mall, Ben bought a gray suit, Abby found a frilly purple dress, and Remi decided on a simple white dress that looked like it had lace flowers on it. Remi had wanted something sleeker, but Abby insisted on the flowers. Colt picked up two new suits, knowing he’d need one for the wedding and one for the court hearing.

With bags in tow, Remi pointed out a local diner across the street from the strip mall. “You guys hungry?”

---