28. Chapter 28

Chapter twenty-eight

T wo Years Later

Sam adjusted the collar of her shirt for what felt like the hundredth time, staring at her reflection in the small mirror perched on the table. The suit she’d chosen was a deep charcoal, crisp and perfectly tailored, though she kept fiddling with it as if the right fold or tug would settle her nerves.

Tiana and Caleb bickered in the background, their voices filling the small room with an easy, playful energy.

“I’m just saying,” Caleb protested. “I’m the best man. I should get to stand next to her at the altar. Besides, you got to throw the bachelorette party, so I should get this.”

“Of course I got to throw the party,” Tiana shot back, glaring as she adjusted a stray petal of the flower pinned to Sam’s suit pocket. “You wouldn’t know the first thing about having a good time.”

Caleb rolled his eyes, adjusting the sleeve of his shirt. “The point is, I should be beside her,” he said, crossing his arms. “You got the party. I get the prime position. It’s fair.”

Sam chuckled, turning around to watch them, feeling the warmth that only people who knew her inside and out could bring.

The door creaked open, and Chris stepped in, his military dress uniform pressed and immaculate as always. He gave her a once-over, his expression as unreadable as ever. Then he strode over, tilting his head as he reached out to straighten her tie.

“How’re you feeling?” he asked.

Sam managed a weak smile. “Nervous.”

Chris nodded. “From what I’ve heard, that’s normal.” His eyes softened just a fraction as he gave her tie one last tug. “You look good.”

She nodded, swallowing back a sudden lump in her throat. He offered a brief, approving smile, patting her shoulder before stepping back.

“You ready?” he asked, squaring his shoulders.

Sam stepped out into the hallway, Caleb, Tiana, and Chris trailing behind her. As they closed the door, Sam caught sight of Mike waiting at the end of the hall. He stood there, shoulders tight, with his hands tucked into the pockets of his suit pants. His expression was solemn, yet softened by a certain depth in his eyes as he looked at her.

Caleb and Tiana exchanged a quick glance, then took a step back, allowing him the space to approach. Chris remained close, arms crossed as he watched intently.

Mike walked up, stopping just in front of her. He glanced down for a brief moment, as if gathering his words.

“Big day,” he began, his voice low and gruff.

“Yeah,” Sam said with a small smile, tucking her hands in her pockets. After years of dating his daughter, she’d grown used to his awkward tendencies. It almost felt comforting now, in its own way.

He cleared his throat, nodding as he looked around the room. “Jess is—” he paused, his gaze shifting, as if the sentiment was larger than the words he could find for it. “Lucky,” he said finally. “But I am, too.” His hand came up, giving her shoulder a firm, brief squeeze. “Glad it’s you.”

Sam felt her chest tighten, a mixture of gratitude and relief warming her as she nodded. “Thank you, Mike,” she murmured, meeting his gaze with sincerity. The words might not have seemed like much to anyone else. But she knew him. Even better than she ever would’ve thought possible. And those words carried the weight of all the years they’d known each other, of everything she and Jess had fought through to get to that day.

Mike gave her a final nod before stepping back, his hands finding their way into his pockets once again.

The wedding coordinator approached them, clipboard in hand. “Alright,” she said, glancing from Sam to Chris and then to Jess’ father. “Let’s get you all in place.”

They followed her instructions, and as they moved toward the garden, Sam felt a renewed calm settle over her, each step bringing her closer to the moment she’d been waiting for.

Sam and Chris stopped where they’d been instructed, then Caleb and Tiana took their places in front of them before the two wide wooden doors.

Her heart raced as the first note of the song they’d chosen began to hum from the other side of the doors.

Chris nudged her elbow, giving her a single nod as the doors opened, and Caleb and Tiana immediately began their slow ascent up the aisle.

Once they reached the altar, the coordinator gave them the signal to begin.

The venue was open air, a garden surrounded by tall, whispering trees and filled with rows of guests seated on wooden chairs decorated with wildflowers. The late afternoon sun cast a soft, golden glow over everything, filtering through the leaves.

As she walked, her eyes scanned the crowd, catching familiar faces. She spotted Laura in the fourth row, her eyes already misty as she watched.

At the front of the aisle, two empty chairs adorned with delicate arrangements of white lilies and baby’s breath sat side by side. On one chair sat a beautifully framed picture of Jess’ mother.

And on the other, was the one good picture she had of her own mother. It was carefully taped to the center, and from that distance she could make out the small details of her genuine smile.

Having the memorial made after all those years had never really felt real. It hadn’t felt like anything, really. But seeing that empty chair in the front row, with her mother’s picture—that felt real.

When they reached the end of the aisle, Chris gave her an approving nod before stepping back. She took her place at the altar, heart racing as she turned to face the crowd. And then the music shifted, softening.

And when she looked up at the end of the aisle, her breath caught in her throat.

Jess had one hand resting lightly on her father’s arm, her white dress flowing around her in soft, unbroken lines. She looked radiant, her face illuminated by a mixture of nervous excitement and overwhelming happiness that Sam felt deep in her chest.

Their eyes met, and the world around them faded, leaving only the soft glow of the evening. Mike walked Jess slowly down the aisle, each step measured.

When they reached her, she extended a hand to him.

Mike glanced down at it for a moment, the corner of his lip turning upward. Then he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her with a tenderness that caught her off guard.

She hugged him back, catching Jess’ equally surprised, but wide, grin over her shoulder.

Mike released her, stepping back as he gave one last look at Jess, reaching out to squeeze her arm.

Then, as he strode away, Jess turned to face her, both hands extended. Sam took them, warmth filling her chest as their fingers intertwined.