Chapter 30

It’sthree hours before the wedding, and regardless of how many people have told me that it’s bad luck to see the groom before the wedding, I insist I am going to be there to see Thomas and Eliza meet for the first time in seventy years.

I haven’t dressed in my wedding finery yet, so I head downstairs in search of Dean, so I can watch the reunion with him.

When we told Thomas that Rose has been happily married to Jacob for all these years, it was harder than we both thought it would be, even Dean is all choked up.

Brother and sister have talked on the phone daily since the news has broken, and there has been a lot of tears, as well as laughter.

As I enter the kitchen, I find a very nervous Thomas and a very hot-looking Dean sitting at the table, trying to wait patiently for Eliza and Jacob, who are being driven to the cottage by Dean’s parents.

“Hey, beautiful. What are you doing down here in jeans? There’s a wedding happening in a few hours.”

I walk over to Dean and wrap my arms around him from behind. “I have it on good authority that the gorgeous bride has it all under control.”

I kiss Dean on the top of his head and walk around the table to Thomas to give him a hug as well.

“What if she doesn’t like me?” Thomas asks in a worried voice.

“Oh, Thomas, Eliza said you have always been in her heart. You could have two heads, and she would still love you. Please don’t worry. In fact, I bet Eliza is probably thinking the same as you. Seventy years is a long time.”

I walk back to Dean and sit on his lap, feeling awfully nervous for the reunion.

Thomas pulls himself together, sits up straight in his chair, and reaches inside his jacket to take out an envelope. “This here is your wedding present.” He taps it on the tabletop. “I want you both to know that up until last week, I didn’t have any family. Now I have a large one, and it includes you both. I certainly don’t have anyone to pass anything on to, although Lucas has spoken up for the Our Gang comics,” he says with a wistful smile touching his lips before he continues, “Having said all that, because of you both, I have my sister back, and that’s worth more than what’s in here.”

Thomas holds the envelope out to me, but my hands shake far too much to open it so I pass it to Dean. He opens it and can’t believe what he’s looking at.

“Dean, what is it?” I ask.

He has to swallow around the lump in his throat. “It’s the deed to Rose Cottage, in both of our names.”

We look at Thomas. “You’re both at home here at Rose Cottage, and I’m getting too old to look after it. I want you both to have it, and to live here and raise a family. Besides, I happen to know the local school needs a teacher, and I have it on good authority that Auntie Mack is a very good one, although a bit bossy.”

I laugh in delight, grinning through my tears. I certainly hadn’t expected the cottage as a wedding present, but I should have known Thomas would do something like this. Rose Cottage is where it all started—not just for myself and Dean, but for Rose and Jacob all those years ago.

Standing, I meet Thomas, who is walking toward us for a very big hug. “I don’t know what to say, Thomas,” I admit, more tears running down my face.

“A thank you will suffice.” He chuckles.

I pull back and take hold of Dean’s hand. “Thank you. I do love it here.” I look at Dean. “If it’s okay with Dean then we’ll live here. Besides, someone has to make sure you don’t get into any trouble.”

Thomas chuckles. “Just make sure those babies appear sooner rather than later. I’m not a spring chicken anymore.”

“I’m sure if Dean has his way, we’ll get started on that pretty soon.” I blush.

“With plenty of practice, I’m sure we’ll get it right.” Dean chuckles.

We hear a car pull up outside, which stops the laughter, and panic flickers across Thomas’s face.

I take Thomas’s hand. “Come on, Thomas, you can do this. Just remember Eliza and Jacob are going to be as nervous as you are.”

Dean opens the back door and holds it open as Thomas steps out, holding my hand really tight as though he expects me to bolt. Dean follows us outside and runs over to open the car door for his grandparents.

His grandfather steps out first, and then turns back toward the car to help Eliza out. With Dean on one side of his grandmother, and Jacob on the other, they make their way toward us.

I can feel Thomas shaking, and from the look of things, so are Eliza and Jacob. Meeting Dean’s eyes, I nudge Thomas forward at the same time Eliza lets go of both Dean and Jacob to wrap her arms around Thomas. They are both sobbing as though their hearts will burst.

I take two steps straight into Dean’s arms and cry all over him. He runs his hands up and down my back in a soothing motion.

I finally manage to get myself under control and wipe my face on the handkerchief Dean’s father passes me. “Thank you.”

Eliza takes ahold of Jacob’s hand and pulls him slightly forward to meet her brother. She had written in her diary how much she’d wished that Thomas and Jacob could get to know each other. Although it was a long time ago when she had expressed that wish, it was now coming true.

Eliza turns toward me and moves closer. I let go of Dean and walk straight into Eliza’s embrace. “Thank you, Mack. You have no idea how much everything you have done means to Jacob and me,” she whispers.

I pull away and wipe my eyes giving both Thomas and Jacob a hug before I return to Dean’s waiting arms.

* * *

I turnaround to take the first look in the full-length mirror.

I don’t think I’m unattractive but I have never been one to pay a lot of attention to preening. After all, I’m a schoolteacher of small children and classes tend to be messy. But when I turn and see myself in the mirror, I’m stunned. Staring back at me is . . . “A princess,” Melinda says, as she enters the room.

“Is this really me?” I whisper.

“You are so beautiful. Today, you are simply radiant. Are you really happy, Mack?” Melinda asks, taking hold of my hand.

“Sis, I’ve never been as happy. I love Dean so much and I can’t imagine my life without him.” I pause. “I also can’t imagine living anywhere other than here.”

“What are you trying to tell me?”

I smile. “Thomas has given Rose Cottage to Dean and me, as a wedding present. Apparently, Lucas has claimed all the Our Gang comics, and he doesn’t have anyone else to leave this to. He said that we’re his family, and he wants us to have it and raise a family here.”

“So, you’re going to move here?” Melinda questions.

I nod.

“This is what you’ve always wanted, Mack. A house out of the city near the beach with a good loving man and lots of kids. A huge part of your dream has come true, and I’m really happy for you,” Melinda says.

“Thank you.”

“You do realize that Lucas will always want to come and stay with you?”

“As long as there’s no school, he’s always welcome. You all are.” I grin.

We turn upon hearing the door open. “What are you girls doing in here? You’re supposed to be downstairs.”

“Mom,” Melinda winks at me, and then turns back to our mother, “I was giving Mack the birds and the bees talk.”

Our mother walks further into the room, walking around Mack with tears coming to her eyes. “You look stunning… Your father is going to cry like a baby.” She then turns her attention to Melinda. “And I’m sure she doesn’t need the bird and the bees talk considering the very handsome groom downstairs,” she comments, fanning herself.

“Mom, you’re not supposed to notice things like that,” Melinda says in fake shock.

“I have eyes.”

“Mom…” we moan in unison.

“Come on, there’s a nervous man downstairs wanting to make you his wife, and your very nervous father is waiting to give you away.”

I take another look at myself in the mirror and allow my mom and Melinda to escort me out of the room and downstairs to my father.

* * *

Dean was standingin the gazebo while he waited for Mack to appear. His nerves danced as the minutes ticked by while he wondered where his bride was. There wasn’t a huge amount of family present, but only meeting Mack’s parents, with her father giving him the third degree, hadn’t helped his nerves much. All he wanted was his Mack.

Thomas was sitting close by, waiting to act as best man. He was still a bit shaky after his meeting with Rose—a very emotional time.

It took Mack about half an hour to calm down. Then she was mortified to realize both her eyes were puffy, so after cutting chunks of cucumber, had disappeared back upstairs saying she would see them all at the wedding.

Thomas came to stand beside him. “You’re one lucky man.”

“Don’t I know . . .” Dean trailed off when he caught sight of Mack in her long, fitted, white, strapless dress covered in lace. She started walking toward him and he couldn’t take his eyes from her. She truly was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but most importantly, beautiful on the inside, too. He swallowed around the lump in his throat and tried to take hold of his emotions. As he did so, Dean glanced at his grandmother and noticed her crying softly into his grandfather’s arms.

He looked back at Mack and spotted his mother with her handkerchief guarding her eyes as well. She had apologized to Mack for being so rude and had welcomed her into the family. Mack had accepted the olive branch, and even asked her to accompany herself, along with her mother, when she went looking for a wedding dress.

Lucas came to a stop at Dean’s side with a huge grin on his face. Dressed in a pale grey suit, dark grey shirt, and silver tie, he looked so handsome. He leaned toward Dean. “Don’t forget, when you’re my uncle, you have to buy me a present and my birthday’s next week. And seeing as you don’t know how to play, maybe you can ask my grandma how to play strip poker. She says it’s very easy and stimulatering, or something like that.”

Dean laughed and turned back to Mack, who was about to reach his side. He was thankful she’d decided to rent Rose Cottage for the summer. Grateful that she’d discovered his grandmother’s diary, which had brought him to the Cottage, and eventually brought his grandmother back together with her brother, after all those years apart. They’d come full circle, and he couldn’t be happier.

Mack passed her flowers to Melinda and turned to look at Dean. When their eyes met, they realized this was where they belonged, with each other…at Rose Cottage.