Chapter 59

"Happy Mother's Day," I said, embracing my mom warmly before stepping aside so my brothers could do the same.

I looked around the waiting area of the chapel in Serenity's garden, seeing the huge bouquets of yellow and purple flowers, and I couldn't believe I was about to walk my own mother down the aisle. After all the planning and the run-up, this was it. The big day.

The fact that she was wearing a lacy, beige wedding dress just helped me wrap my head around it that it was finally here. My mom's wedding day. What the actual fuck?

I would've laughed out loud if it wasn't for the fact that I was genuinely happy for her. It was a definite mind-boggling moment though, knowing I was seeing my own mother in her wedding dress.

As Zach rounded out the chorus of Happy Mother's Day, he offered her his arm and she took it, sliding her fingers into the crook of Finn's elbow on the other side. We hadn't discussed our placement of who would go where, but I didn't mind. I hung back with Asher, and Corbin decided to bring up the rear.

Stepping up behind her, I reached out to squeeze her shoulder and leaned forward a little bit. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready," she said, her voice low and full of emotion.

Feeling a little choked up myself, I cleared my throat and watched her nod at the attendants waiting to open the doors. One of them muttered something into the microphone attached to his collar, and the familiar strains of Canon in D swelled from inside.

Mom stood up a little straighter. The attendants opened the doors and she glanced at us before she started moving. Richard was waiting at the top of the aisle, of course, his eyes only on her as she moved toward him.

I couldn't see her face, but I did see his and the look on it told me once and for all that she'd made the right call saying yes to him. With tears in his eyes, he stood staring at her, completely unashamed as his throat worked. A loving smile broke free on her lips.

Mom sniffled, and Zach tightened his grip on her. In the end, he was the one to place her hand in Richard's and he did it gently but with a smile on his face. That night when they'd told us they were getting married, I knew he didn't support the idea but it seemed like he'd come around. Just like I had.

The five of us found our seats in the front row as Mom took her place beside her beau, and the officiant got us underway with a prayer. I closed my eyes, but as soon as he was done, I glanced around the chapel, desperately needing to catch at least a glimpse of Serenity.

She wasn't there, or at least, not where I could see her. My jaw ground, but I sighed and faced forward again. Asher shot me a sympathetic smile and a shrug. I rolled my eyes, but deep down inside, I was thankful for his silent show of support.

Outside of Lance, my brothers were my closest friends, some of the few people I trusted fully. They were also the only others who knew exactly how much I'd changed.

Turning my attention back to the ceremony, I watched with a small smile as Mom and Richard said their vows and exchanged rings. The whole thing was beautiful, and thankfully, it went off without a single hitch.

So did the taking of the photographs, the canapes on the lawn, and the drinks in the bar. Honestly, I was impressed with Serenity's staff and her organization. I watched them closely, and all her people seemed to know exactly where to be and when to be there.

There was no milling around or confusion, no stopping each other to ask questions, and no hold-ups in the schedule for the day at all. But Serenity herself was still missing. Once we got to the reception, I finally noticed her flitting from one side of the venue to the other, checking on things and making sure everything ran like clockwork.

Watching her now, elegantly dressed in a navy blue pencil skirt with a white blouse and a neat jacket, I thought back to the first time I'd met her. I never thought we'd be where we were now, and the urge to win her back surged through me like a tsunami.

I joined my brothers at our table, but I only had eyes for her. Eventually, Corbin punched my arm. "Stop staring. Just go talk to her. Or put on sunglasses."

"I tried talking to her," I replied, my gaze still tracking her as she directed waiters where to go. "She's still thinking, man. Leave it alone."

Zachary's eyes followed mine. "You got a plan?"

"Yes," I said. "Let her think but make sure she knows how I feel while she does it."

Finn sighed and dragged a hand through his hair. "We should take some selfies. Post them so she knows you're having fun."

"We're not in junior high," I said. "I'm not doing that. I already told you. I have a plan and it doesn't involve trying to make her see how well I'm doing without her."

"Oh, well, that's good, because you're really not doing so great," Corbin said. I reached out to punch him and he ducked. "What? It's true. You're miserable, bro. Over a reality star, which has got to be the universe laughing at you."

"I'm aware," I admitted.

The lights turned down low and the song Mom and Richard had chosen for their first dance started playing. My brothers and I all turned toward the dance floor. Richard lifted Mom's hand to spin her around before he brought her gently back to his chest. Some others joined them after a while. Corbin grabbed some girl from the table next door to dance with while Zachary gallantly extended his hand to our five-year-old cousin.

Why he didn't have kids of his own yet, I didn't know. He loved them and he was so good with them. Making her giggle, he picked her up and swept around the floor with her, and I eventually took her seven-year-old sister out to join them.

Finn and Asher showed up too, each with a girl I'd never met but assumed belonged to Richard's family on their arms. Mom laughed delightedly when she saw Zach and me with the cousins and nodded her thanks at me before scooping the little girl out of Zach's arms and putting her in a hug of a dance with her and Richard.

It all set a light, happy, playful tone for the evening and the reception was off to a great start. When the time came for the speeches, I took a deep breath, taking the microphone and bringing my gaze to my mother's.

"I think most of you know that I wasn't too sure about Richard when Mom first told us they were engaged." Some chuckles rippled across the crowd, but I saw more than a few people exchanging confused looks. Mom smiled though and Richard laughed softly. "I looked at him and I wondered how he'd convinced her to say yes to him just three short years after my father had passed."

I paused for a beat. "What I've realized since is that life is short, but those years were long. I've learned that it's not often people get second chances. It's not every day you meet someone that you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with. The night they told us they were getting married, they asked us one very important question. Why wait?"

"At the time, I had a dozen answers to that question," I said honestly. "All of them snarky and filled with evidence of just how little I understood what they'd both been through and their hopes for the future."

I sighed. "I've since gotten to know Richard a little bit better and I've realized that he's a lot like my father. He's smart, funny, and wise. He loves deeply and he gives advice freely. He genuinely cares about my mom and I know he's going to make her happy, so the only answer I have to that question now is don't."

I paused for a moment to let that sink in. "Don't wait. I'm really glad they didn't and I'm really glad they ignored us when we tried to suggest that they should. The truth is that life is for the living and the longer we wait, the less life we've got left. Congratulations to Mom and Richard. We love you both and we can't wait to see what other surprises you've got in store for us."

Laughter rang out and guests toasted to the happy couple, but I wasn't done yet. After taking a sip of my own champagne, I brought the microphone back to my mouth. "As a family, we'd also like to thank Serenity Halverson for throwing such a fantastic wedding. I couldn't have done it better myself, and that's the biggest compliment I can give."

The crowd laughed again. My mother grinned and shot me a thumbs-up, clearly ecstatic that I had chosen to make this particular move. I'd mentioned to her that I might and she'd been all for it, but I hadn't been sure if I was going to follow through until I'd been sitting in that chapel, watching my mother promise to love another man for as long as they both shall live.

It had reminded me of what Richard had said about regrets, and I wasn't about to let this opportunity pass me by. "Over the last few months, many of you have speculated about why my mom and Richard chose to get married here instead of at our venue. At first, I asked that question myself. The answer isn't mine to give, but what I can tell you is that none of us, not even me, have ever regretted choosing the venue we're at today."

Getting the crowd focused on her, I smiled and found her staring at me with wide eyes from the opposite side of the room. She'd frozen right where she had been before, looking like she might just bolt at any second.

"Throughout all the planning and uncertainty, Serenity has been absolutely incredible. As you might imagine, I wasn't the easiest customer to deal with initially. Yet, she impressed me almost right from the start with the way she welcomed my mom like family. She made her feel comfortable and at home, and she supported her in absolutely everything she wanted, moving heaven and earth to make sure she got it."

I locked my eyes on hers. "Serenity's heart is one of a kind and it's thanks to her that this day has turned out so completely perfect. I've heard a lot of you whispering about how much of a hand I've had in this, and I would be remiss if I didn't address the assumption that I'm responsible for today. I'm not. I was a family member and that's it. From Serenity's amazing treatment of an older bride, to her tolerance for the bride's difficult know-it-all son, and her insight into what would make this a day to remember, it has been a real honor having her plan this special day for us." I smiled at her.

"Everyone who knows me knows that I don't say that lightly," I added. "Giving up control isn't exactly in my nature."

More laughter rang out, with everyone on Mom's side of the guestlist nodding enthusiastically. I waited for the chuckles to die down before I looked right at Serenity again. "I was wrong about what I said before. Reality stars aren't just there to gain fame and be laughed at. I mean, I'm sure those people are out there too, but it was a crass generalization I should never have made. It occurs to me that I've never known what motivated people to let the cameras into their lives like that. I've never bothered to ask, but something tells me that for many, it's about a lot more than just fame."

I released a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry, Serenity. All I want to do is to make you happy and I've failed miserably at that at every turn. I have nothing but respect for you, not only for who you are, but also for the gentle way in which you changed my perception of the world. Of people. With every challenge we've faced, you've made me better. I know things haven't been easy for us, and I can't say they ever will be, but I want to try. If you'll have me."

The crowd held their breath while I spoke. When I moved out from the podium and walked up to her, they went wild. I left the microphone behind, but I spoke loudly enough for most of them to hear me.

"I don't want to live with regrets. I want all of this for us one day and I want it with you. You can even plan it. I won't interfere at all. What do you say? Do you think we can make it work?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks and she nodded and buried her face in my chest. "We can make this work, Dash."

Joy streaked through me and I dipped my head, waiting until she looked at me again as I held her in my arms. "I love you, Serenity. I'm sorry for all the hurt I've caused you, but I'll make it up to you. I'll keep making it up to you, no matter what it takes because I do. I love you."

"I love you too," she murmured, her palms sliding up my arms to my cheeks, and she pushed up on her toes to kiss me. "I've been too scared to admit it, but I love you and I believe you. And I'm sorry too, Dash. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to conquer my fears."

I kissed her, sliding my arms around her waist and dipping her down. If we could get through everything we'd already gotten through, then we could get through anything else life would throw at us. Serenity and I had fought to get this far and we'd keep fighting—I would keep fighting—to give her the happily ever after she deserved.