Page 146 of Forever After All

Ten minutes was her focus that kept the roiling in her middle from growing into a storm. Everly promised her the whole thing would be over in ten minutes.

Then, she’d be married. To Linc.

Dizziness had her swaying, and the edges of her vision blurred. She was getting married.

Her. Getting married.

To Lincoln North!

“There you are,” Everly said.

Jess blinked, clearing the fuzziness in her sight. “Yeah. I’m here.”

“You were supposed to wait inside. What if someone saw you?”

“Aren’t they about to see me?”

Everly rolled her eyes and smiled. “You know what I mean.”

She actually didn’t, but that was probably not what her friend wanted to hear.

“Is it time?” Jess asked.

“It’s time.” Everly wrapped her arms around Jess and pulled her in close.

Sinking into the warmth of the hug, Jess closed her eyes and rested her head on Everly’s shoulder. “Thanks for this. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Sure you do. You’re marrying your best friend. Trust me, you’re gonna love it.” Everly pulled back and grasped Jess’s hands. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. I’m happy for you too.” Jess winked and squeezed the hands she held.

Everly’s eyes turned glassy. “We’re excited, but the hormones are major. Especially when I get to make people happy all the time.”

“At least they’re happy tears,” Jess said. “You’re gonna be a great mom.”

Everly pulled a tissue out of the pocket of her sundress. “I hope so.”

“I know so,” Jess said with another squeeze.

Everly looked down at their linked hands. “You’re supposed to take that ring off. He has a wedding band to put on that finger.”

Jess shook her head. “I don’t care. I’m not taking it off.”

Everly’s shoulder slumped. “Come on. I know what I’m doing.”

“And I do too. Not taking it off is what I’m doing.”

Everly’s smile grew wider. “Linc is one lucky guy.”

Jess looked over her shoulder to where the guests were seated. Linc waited just around the corner. “I’m pretty lucky too.”

“I’ll be right back.” Everly peeked around the corner, waved her hand, and came back to Jess’s side. “Ready?”

“Ready.” Boy, was she ever. There hadn’t been a doubt in her mind since Linc asked her to marry him, and now, their life together was finally beginning.

Mr. Chambers stepped around the corner and tipped his cowboy hat to Jess. The wrinkles on the outsides of his eyes were deep, and his cheeks bulged with a grin.

She’d never put much thought into getting married before, and the tradition where the bride walked down the aisle with her father reared its ugly head early on in Everly’s planning.

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