Page 69 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

Chapter Eighteen

MAYBE RACHEL COULDget her fairytale wedding, after all.

She didn’t need sparkling palaces or a gleaming white dress decorated with sparkly diamonds or later the reception with dishes she couldn’t pronounce for her wedding to feel magical. She just needed Tex to be in it. Being the groom, specifically.

The ocean sparkling in the sunshine like it had during her second date with Tex offered more than enough bling. As did the sparkle in the eyes of the man she loved and knew loved her in return with a love more than she could ask for.

When she started the slow walk toward him along the rows of white chairs, her heart sang a duet with the ocean, giving voice to a song known only to the two of them. Tex beamed at her, and in turn, happiness filled her to the brim, and trying to hang onto it and not float away on pure euphoria, she tightened her grip on Irene’s arm. Rachel had asked Irene to give her away and, to her delight, her mom/role model accepted.

She’d chosen a sleeveless ivory-hued top and a matching long skirt so she could wear it again, the ensemble simple in its elegance. She combined it with sneakers, not caring anymore that they might not go well with the outfit. Having decided to forego the hairdresser, she’d let her hair flow over her shoulders. Kennedy had decorated it with lavender sprigs, but that was it. Tex had said he was already thrilled she’d decided not to hide her hair under an old cap for the wedding.

Of course, she could’ve afforded a more expensive dress and shoes as well as a private appointment with a good hairdresser. Tex had insisted the budget for their wedding was whatever she’d wanted it to be. Irene and Kennedy had written her blank checks as wedding gifts, which had shocked Rachel and brought tears to her eyes.

But she wanted her wedding to be as simple as possible. Okay, she’d considered a lavish wedding because of Tex’s status and his possible need to impress investors. When he’d said he didn’t need to impress anyone but her, she’d loved him even more—which was saying something considering how her enormous love for him swelled her chest as she now stood by his side.

It was becoming a tradition for the Lawrence brothers to get married at the beach and follow the ceremony with a reception in their childhood home’s backyard. Rachel was happy to follow the endearing tradition, though she’d be just as fine eloping. The main thing was that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Tex, and the entrance to that magical land mattered much less compared to the lifetime there.

“You make me so happy,” he mouthed to her.

“Same,” she mouthed back. She wasn’t the kind of person to say lots of words, so she let her eyes speak for her, saying how much she loved him. Surely, he could see that.

She was getting better at communication, though. Including with Kennedy, who was both her matron-of-honor and bridesmaid. Rachel didn’t ask for any dress code, and Kennedy wore one of her gorgeous silvery evening gowns that reached her metal-tinted sandals. Austin had once compared his wife to moonlight in a conversation with Rachel, and Rachel could see why.

She glanced back. While she had no relatives seated among the guests, she wasn’t alone in the world any longer. Of course, she had several fantastic coworkers and the best boss in the world. She softened her grip on the arm of her said boss—no, her mother, wow!—held crooked to support her. But this feeling of elation and belonging was because Tex’s family, each member in attendance today, had taken her into their fold and accepted her as if she were one of their own. She’d love to credit her wonderful personality for it, but according to her sisters-in-law, the Lawrences treated them with the same love.

Now that Irene wasn’t Rachel’s boss any longer, they’d slipped into the mother-daughter relationship Rachel always craved but didn’t dare to ask for. Leaving her job, as heart-wrenching as it had been at first, turned out to be an unexpected blessing. She’d had a lot of those lately.

Months ago, she never would have imagined herself here or having applied for college and been accepted. Tex was much less surprised by that than she was and fully supported her. It was difficult to say whether her mice were surprised, but Rachel was sure they supported her wholeheartedly, as well. Button and she had already started reading textbooks together, both fortified by cheese from time to time.

Tex had put his condominium up for sale, and the two of them along with Tiny Tim had been searching for a cottage close to the beach. Kennedy had said she’d gladly gift themthatcottage, but didn’t think it a good idea because of what had happened there. Tex and Rachel had gratefully agreed.

Of course, whatever they found would need to have a spacious yard for Tim. Rachel glanced back and smiled, then turned back. Austin was minding the dog during the ceremony and, even more importantly, the reception. Tim looked much healthier, his fur lustrous, and since one couldn’t count his ribs now, they’d dropped the tiny from his name.

When it was time to say their vows, worry pinged her. Tex’s speech was long and beautiful. In comparison, all Rachel could say was, “I love you so much! I’ll love and cherish you forever. Well, until my last breath.”

But based on his huge smile, that must’ve been enough.

Austin had agreed to multitask for this wedding, now acting as their best man and ring bearer. Rachel had suggested Tiny Tim be a ring bearer, but considering the dog often chewed and swallowed everything in sight, which was understandable after years of starvation, Austin seemed a better choice. He handed them the rings, and once Tex slid the wedding ring on her finger, she could finally fully, completely, totally believe it was happening. Until this moment, some part of her still expected the other crystal shoe to drop. But it hadn’t.

Thank You, Lord.

She’d gotten her fairy tale. As people lined up to congratulate the couple and her new journey as part of the family began, she knew she’d gotten more than she could dream of.

But this wasn’t a fairytale ending where so often everything ended with the wedding. Her glance fell on Tex’s grumpy brother Darius, who stared at one of Kennedy’s friends, Saylor Helms.

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