Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Since I planned the whole thing, it doesn’t make that much sense that I’m not allowed to peek, but whatever. I’m too busy eyeing myself in the mirror for imperfections to care about what they’re doing outside.
I finally look like a bride today.
I look like I’m getting married.
Hattie turns and her eyes widen.
“Oh, Margot,” she whispers, her hands flying to her mouth. “How does it look even better today than when you tried it on for alterations?”
“Um, I guess because it’s really happening.” I don’t know if I’m trembling from nerves or sheer excitement. “Come help me do my hair.”
Hattie and Mom work together to get my hair sorted, both chattering away about the guest list, a who’s who of New England power and fame, plus the folks who couldn’t make it.
There are a few people I don’t mind passing on their invitations.
Daria, for one.
She’s down in Key West filming for two weeks and had to decline.
Honestly, I’m relieved.
I knew we had to invite her for the family’s sake.
Just like I know how important it is to keep up healthy relationships for the kids. Still, every time I find out another way she neglected them, I want to punch her.
But this is my wedding day, and even my distaste for Daria can’t last.
“Everyone’s in place,” Mom says from her perch by the window. “Ooh, and Kane’s walking to the front. That man has a good pair of shoulders.”
“Mom.”
“It’s fine, your dad said as much. Keeping fit, that’s important for a man at any age. You need to be sure he takes his health seriously, and yours, too.” She touches her hair self-consciously, though it’s fresh from the salon and almost blindingly glossy.
“I can look after myself,” I say, rolling my eyes at how hopelessly cringe she can be.
She looks at me and smiles.
“I know, honey. You’ve proven that, what with your near-death incident and all.”
There’s another knock at the door, and when Mom opens it, Sophie pokes her head through.
Finally, someone who won’t annoy me.
“Hey, Soph,” I say, putting the finishing touches to my lipstick and slipping a thin chain around my neck. The engagement ring glints on my finger, and like I always do, I have to stop myself from admiring it.
“Are you guys almost ready?” Sophie asks shyly. “The ceremony’s supposed to start soon.”
“It’s a wedding, half pint. Brides are always late.” Hattie winks at the little girl.
“Really? Why?” Sophie frowns.
I look back in the mirror.
“You know what? You’re right. Why should I be late when I’ve been dying to walk down that aisle?”
“Yay!” Sophie claps her hands.
I give her a quick once-over.
She helped pick out her dress, which is an adorable pink made from satin to match mine. She’s also wearing a pair of adorable white sneakers with gold splashed along the sides, specially designed just for her today.
“Still got the rings?” I ask her.
“Wouldn’t lose them for the world! They’re in my pocket,” she says proudly.
“Then let’s go have a wedding.”
Hattie takes my arm, and Mom takes the other as my breath stalls.
This is it.
The end and the beginning.
As Sophie leads the way, we head to the back door, where a red carpet sprawls down the steps, flowing all the way to the cute altar by the lake.
Outside, it’s heavenly.
The sun shines like liquid gold.
The birds chirp merrily in the trees, the lake gleams like emerald, and all the people I love have assembled to watch me marry the man I love the most of all.
“Oh, no, are you going to cry?” Hattie whispers. “Because if you cry, I’m cooked. I’ll cry ten times more.”
Actually, there’s a real chance I will burst into hilariously messy tears, but I just squeeze her arm.
Mom leans in to kiss my cheek.
“Hang on. I’ll check in with the music,” she whispers and hurries along the carpet.
The huge, winding red carpet was Dan’s idea, and it felt like a little much in the planning stage.
Now that it’s forging the perfect path, it’s everything.
I start down it slowly, the priest having caught Kane’s attention so he’s facing away from me.
Good. I want to see the wildfire in his eyes when he notices me walking down the aisle toward him, counting down the seconds.
One.
We step through a wooden arch threaded with white roses. There’s a low hum through the crowd as they realize I’ve arrived.
Two.
Kane turns, and the band starts up.
And there, right in the middle, I see Dan with his drums and the most serious look on his face.
He barely stops to grin up at me as he does a little solo, the rest of the band backing off to give him space.
Three.
Holy potato, here come the tears.
“Good luck—you’ll kill it!” Hattie whispers, and she pulls Sophie back gently so I can walk in front of them.
Four.
It’s a shorter aisle, which means I’m already close enough to Kane to notice the slack-jawed wonder on his face, the lopsided smile he holds in, and when I take another two steps, the sheen in his eyes.