12. Madeline

Simple. Elegant. Understated, restrained, and very, very intimate.

That was the wedding Madeline imagined and with only a few days to prepare, it was also the only kind of wedding that was possible.

Her dress, of course, met the criteria. Off-white, knee-length, crisp and clean and fitted, she'd been cutting the cream shantung the day Adam first showed up in her studio. A foreshadowing, she decided, that the chic garment that fabric became would be her wedding dress.

The setting, too, matched her imagination. After getting their license at the courthouse in town, Adam and Madeline arranged for the clerk to marry them in a small courtroom on the second floor. With windows that let in the sunshine, gleaming mahogany wood, and seating for less than a dozen people, the warm and yet formal atmosphere felt perfect to her.

The guest list was equally tiny, since they'd asked only Susannah and Rex to stand with them as witnesses. She'd promised her family they'd have a proper celebration on Sunday, with all the Wingates in attendance. Today, she only wanted the man she loved, her parents, and an officiant to guide them through their vows.

She'd opted to dress in her sun-washed studio, using the well-lit vanity and a selection of high-end makeup she kept on hand for brides. She let Susannah style her hair into flowing waves, and Dad had come upstairs before she changed to give her a few teary hugs.

Right now, everything was in her control, on time, and organized. And in one hour, assuming nothing unforeseen happened, she would be Mrs. Adam Logan.

On a happy sigh, Madeline slid her foot into the off-white slingbacks with low heels that completed her outfit. She turned in front of the full-length mirror situated for maximum impact when a bride saw herself in full wedding regalia. There was nothing too terribly regal about this outfit, but that made it even more perfect for Madeline.

From a few feet away, Susannah let out a soft whimper. "You look gorgeous."

She caught her mother's eye in the mirror and smiled. "Thanks, Suze. I love the way you did my hair."

"Complete the ensemble?" Susannah asked, holding up a matching silk box jacket with epaulet-style braiding. "I can see the Chanel inspiration on this one."

Madeline laughed. "Had to. If it weren't for the House of Chanel, I'd have never met Adam."

Madeline and Adam had shared the story of their original romance with Dad and Suze the other night, explaining how they'd known each other for half their lives. They left out the sad parts, but made sure her parents knew that while this sudden marriage might seem spontaneous, it was actually a long time coming and well overdue.

"You look happy, honey," Suze murmured, fighting a tear as she brushed an imaginary speck off the shoulder. "A very happy and beautiful bride."

"Never thought it would happen, did you, Suze?" Madeline asked on a laugh, smoothing the lines of the dress and admiring how effortlessly the silk moved. "Here I am, a few weeks from turning fifty, walking down the—well, not aisle, but the county clerk's hall—for the first time."

Her mother let out a soft sigh. "And how do you feel?"

Madeline considered the question, digging deep for the honesty she always owed this woman, who hadn't given birth to her but was everything a mother could be. And a best friend.

For that reason, Madeline wanted to find the right words to share the sensations that had claimed her heart since the moment she'd accepted this unexpected proposal.

"Not giddy and girlish," she finally said. "Not the way nearly every bride who stands on this stage usually feels when she puts on her wedding dress. I feel…certain and stable and a little bit afraid."

"Of what?"

"That something could go wrong," she admitted on an exhale. "That Adam won't show, or the county clerk says no or…or I'm going to wake up and it was all a dream."

Susannah just gave a knowing mother's smile. "Adam is standing outside in the street with your father. I just peeked. The county clerk will say nothing but, ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife.' And, yes, it kind of is a dream, Madeline. The happy kind you have while you're awake."

"I know," she replied, fingering a gold button on the jacket. "But some things are too good to be true."

"Oh, pffft!" Susannah flicked her hand. "If you're digging for clichés, my sweet girl, go no further than the obvious ones: no one deserves love more, and this was written in the stars and, um, you two belong together. Hold on to those sayings, because nothing is too good to be true."

Madeline smiled at the optimism and hope in her mother's eyes. "You know, I was so content in my life, Suze. It was—it is—set up exactly how I wanted it. Then, along comes this man who simply…fits in. And in less than two months, I'm marrying him. It feels…unbelievable."

Susannah's eyes glistened with a mother's love. "You want to know what I believe?"

Madeline nodded, waiting for the rest.

"I believe that when a love is true and real and right, you know it from the beginning. I could be convinced that there is such a thing as love at first sight, too. Maybe I'm a hopeless romantic, but I think you have been waiting for Adam all these years."

"Yes," Madeline whispered, her heart feeling like it was swelling at the thought. "I think I have been."

"When he sat in Dad's office and told us how you'd met, and how he felt about you then, and now, it was like those years melted away. He's never not loved you, and that's why we wholeheartedly embraced this marriage."

Madeline sighed, knowing Susannah was right. "No matter how hard I tried—and trust me, I tried—and no matter how many boxes I locked those memories in, I couldn't forget Adam. And now, he's going to be my husband. I…" She laughed. "The words don't even sound real to me."

Susannah took her hands and eased her closer, quiet for a moment while she gathered her thoughts and emotions flashed in her eyes.

"Madeline," she said, her voice low with the weight of what she wanted to say. "From Day One, when I entered this family as your father's much-younger sweetheart and a possible replacement for your mother, you've accepted me."

"Accepted?" she scoffed. "I adored you. Still do."

"I know." Her eyes grew misty. "You didn't have to. You could have resented me or even hated me for not being Charlotte, but you instantly came to my side as…as a helper. A friend. A daughter and a sister and my great advocate, all rolled into one amazing girl."

Madeline smiled, feeling her own eyes fill. "Well, Raina and Rose were, what? Two or three? You needed help."

"I needed you."

Madeline reached out and hugged her mother—not step, not ever—and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "Not as much as I needed you."

"I love you, Madeline," she whispered, "and I wish you every minute of happiness, contentment, and love with Adam. I give you full permission to believe something can be that good and true."

"Thank you." They hugged again and Madeline added a squeeze, wanting all those good thoughts and feelings to invade her today. "And thank you for being the mother of the bride and the matron of honor today. You're carrying the load and doing it with true Susannah Wingate grace."

"Mother of the bride and the matron of honor." She blinked back tears. "I'm going to cry."

"Me, too."

"Me three!" A woman's voice came up the stairs, startling them both until they realized it was Rose. "I mean, I would cry if you didn't have flowers to carry, so I brought some over."

She came into the studio with a sly smile, holding out a small bouquet of cream-colored roses that perfectly matched the dress, and met the "elegant, simple, understated" rule.

"I don't mean to intrude, but… Oh, wow! You look beautiful, Madeline."

"Thank you." She took the bouquet and Rose's hug, adding a kiss on her sister's cheek. "The flowers are perfect."

"I saw Dad and, uh, that other guy down on the street." She laughed. "And gave them very tiny boutonnieres. And here's a corsage for you, Suze. I hope you don't mind, Madeline."

"Of course I don't," Madeline assured her as Susannah accepted the wrist corsage with a huge smile. "You understand that I just wanted to keep this intimate."

"I do, but…"

"I don't!" Tori called out as she walked in, her hands behind her back. "But I had to steal away from the café with some makings for…" She brought her hands around, revealing a bottle of OJ in one and a bottle of champagne in the other. "Mimosas! Because what is a wedding day without one? Look at you, Madeline Wingate!"

Madeline laughed and greeted her sister with a hug. "That was sweet of you, Tori. We don't have time—"

"Oh, hush with the time. And I know we weren't supposed to celebrate, but…" She drew back and looked Madeline up and down. "You are getting married!"

"I am! And…" She made a face when she heard some voices, laughter, and footsteps coming up. "And there are more."

"Don't be mad at us!" Sadie called.

"We had to see you!" Chloe added.

"We brought the somethings!" That was Grace, who came in first, holding out a bag. "Something old, which is the black lace handkerchief you made from Great-great-great-grandmother Marguerite's wedding dress remnant. And something new, which is a bedside book of marriage prayer devotionals that Isaiah and I read every night."

"Thank you." Madeline took the bag and folded Grace in her arms, hugging her sister tight. "That was very sweet, Gracie."

"I have something blue," Sadie said, opening a baker's box to reveal a miniature wedding cake covered in blue fondant icing. "Scout helped me, but you and Adam can feed this to each other tonight. And, oh my stars, look at that dress and your hair and makeup! You know I love to see you dolled up."

She laughed, remembering how the two of them had argued before her first "date" with Adam. Madeline had wanted to wear slacks and a sweater and Sadie dragged her to the closet for an upgrade.

"The cake is perfection and so are you, Sadie." They hugged again and Madeline caught sight of Chloe wiping a tear as she came closer.

"And these are for your something borrowed." Chloe opened a jeweler's box with a pair of diamond stud earrings. "You always compliment me on these when I wear them."

"Oh! I love those earrings," Madeline said with a clap, then looked into her baby sister's beautiful blue eyes. "And I love you."

"Do you, though?" Tori teased. "We heard your instructions loud and clear, and yet, here we are, crashing the party."

"It's fine," Madeline said, looking from one to the other. "Just perfect, actually."

"We couldn't stay away," Grace said.

"We know you don't want a big to-do," Sadie added. "But…Maddie."

She laughed at the nickname they were all using again like she'd never insisted they drop it twenty-five years ago. "Really, I'm glad you're here. I didn't want, you know…"

"Six bridesmaids in Pepto-pink?" Chloe asked with a dry laugh. "Been there, ran away."

"Wait…" Madeline frowned, then tipped her head. "I guess there was no way Raina could crash with you—"

"Oh, I'm here!" Raina called from the bottom of the steps. "Just a little late, but I made it!"

Raina burst into the studio, empty arms wide apart. "No gifts, but no babies, either, and that means Chase is the one giving a gift so I could be here with you. Madeline! You are a vision in white!"

They threw their arms around each other and squeezed.

Behind Madeline, a champagne cork popped. Crystal flutes dinged as Sadie brought them out, and Chloe found the sound system, filling the studio with music and laughter and everyone was singing "We Are Family" and dancing around her like…like…

Like a giggle-gaggle of Wingates, as Rex would say.

"And now I feel bad I don't have you as bridesmaids," Madeline said as she accepted the mimosa Sadie handed her.

"It's not too late," Susannah said, wrapping her arm around Madeline's waist.

"Yeah, it's not like we couldn't find dresses." Tori raised a brow and pointed downstairs to the salon. "They just might not all match."

For a second, no one spoke. They all looked at Madeline with expectant faces, seven women she loved more than anything in the world, all waiting for her to say…

"Go! Find a dress you love—long, short, any color—and hurry, girls! I will not be late for my own wedding."

With shrieks that could surely be heard outside, the Wingate women charged downstairs like there was a fire sale on bridesmaid dresses. All but Susannah, who was already wearing a pale blue silk suit and looked not terribly surprised.

"Did you know about this?" Madeline asked with a wry smile.

"I heard rumblings, but this all must have been organized this morning, since I've been with you. Are you okay with it?"

Madeline smiled as laughter and joyous cries floated up the stairs. "Yes," she said. "I am more okay with it than I ever dreamed I would be."

In a flurry of pastel silks and satin ribbons, bubbly champagne and bad dancing, plus the distribution of seven more bouquets brought courtesy of Coming Up Roses next door, an hour slipped by.

Madeline was officially very late for her own wedding.

But as the massive wedding party made its way down the stairs, through the salon, and out to Wingate Way, she had never enjoyed the complete loss of control—or the clock—more than she did at that moment.

Dad and Adam had been texted that there'd be a delay, so they waited in the chocolate shop but stepped onto the sidewalk at the same time as all the Wingate women dressed in every shade of the rainbow. Adam didn't even notice them, though. He only had wide and appreciative eyes for the bride.

He stared at Madeline, his soft intake of breath audible.

"Maddie," he whispered, walking toward her with his hands out. "You are stunning."

She gave an easy laugh, certain no bride ever had a "first look" that made her feel any more beautiful.

"You're pretty cute, too," she teased, playfully straightening an already straight tie, and looking up to meet his smoky gaze. "My wedding party grew."

He laughed and finally looked at the others. "It seems I have sisters."

"Many," Tori said, coming closer. "You won't even know what hit you."

He looked down at Madeline. "I already feel that way."

"Aww!" The chorus was loud and only grew louder as they moved like a pastel pack down Wingate Way and turned on Centre Street, headed for the brick courthouse with the massive clock tower that stood sentry over Fernandina Beach.

With each step toward the landmark Madeline's heart started to beat faster, and she held Adam's arm. "Are you ready for this?" she asked.

"I'm ready to be done waiting for you, Madeline Wingate," he whispered. "I'm so ready to be your husband."

Her foot wobbled and she clung tighter for support, getting a quick look from him.

"Heels on bricks or nerves starting to fray?" he asked.

"Both." She smiled up at him. "And I'm…trying not to float on air."

"You know how I feel?" He leaned down so only she could hear. "Like I'm driving to the state capital holding a ten-million-dollar lottery ticket that I'm about to cash in."

She laughed, warmed by the compliment. "Only ten?"

"A hundred million." He leaned down and brushed his lips against her hair. "I have definitely won the lottery, Maddie."

She took a shaky breath and started walking again, catching up with Susannah and Dad right before they reached the courthouse steps.

"One picture, please?" Susannah asked, digging for her phone.

"Oh, sure, let's be two hours late," Madeline teased, but walked to the top step, standing under one of the arched openings.

Adam joined her while Susannah straightened her phone and took a few shots of them posed and laughing, then they all started grouping and gathering for more.

"A kiss?" one of her sisters asked.

"When we're married," Adam said. "It's probably bad luck to kiss the bride before she says, ‘I do.'"

"I don't know, but I don't want to risk it," Madeline joked.

"Can we get one with all of us?" Susannah asked. "Adam, you have a long arm. Take a group selfie."

They gathered as a group with Adam at the end, stretching out his arm to hold the phone, when the courthouse door opened and someone barreled out and nearly knocked the phone out of his hand.

"Oh, oh, sorry!" the man said. "My bad."

"It's fine," Adam told him, stepping to the side but suddenly freezing so completely, Madeline felt his whole body stiffen.

She looked at the stranger, and somehow managed not to gasp out loud at the sight of Nico Cassano.

Stunned, she stared, somehow sensing that this—this fluke encounter with the man who'd inadvertently made them rush this wedding—would be the thing that unraveled all the control and ruined this blissful moment.

"Nico." Dad put his hand on his shoulder with a low laugh. "You're in so much of a hurry that you almost knocked us over…on the day of my daughter's wedding."

No! He was really quoting The Godfather to Nico Cassano?

Nico blinked and suddenly laughed, getting the joke, and shifting his gaze to Madeline.

"Well, congratulations, my dear. And…" He turned to Adam, extending his hand, and frowning. "And to you, sir. Have we met?"

"Only in passing when I've dined at your restaurant," Adam said coolly, shaking the man's hand. "Adam Logan."

Nico still frowned ever so slightly and every cell in Madeline's body turned to ice.

He knows. He knows. He knows Adam works for the FBI and we are colluding to get information from his daughter and—

"Let me do the honors of taking a picture of all of you," Nico said, stepping back with Adam's phone.

Everyone found a place on the stairs, easing the bride and groom front and center, arm in arm. Did he feel her trembling?

Madeline and Adam stole the quickest, most instantaneous shared look, a million thoughts arcing between them.

Their secret. Their connection. Their history and hopes, their past and future, their fears and expectations, everything. Every single thing that linked their hearts and promised that no matter what happened, they'd stay together.

She wasn't sure how she saw all that, but she did. When she turned to the camera—held by the man who'd unknowingly brought them to this moment—she smiled from her heart, certain of this choice.

"Is this bad?" she asked Adam through her smile and gritted teeth.

"Nope. Organic and ideal. Now he knows I belong to you."

The words released a much more real smile that only got wider when Nico congratulated them again and jogged away, disappearing down Centre Street.

From there it was smooth sailing into a small courtroom—as smooth as anyone could sail with six mismatched and raucous bridesmaids in tow—where a clerk waited to marry them.

Adam and Madeline walked in together, holding hands, and Dad and Suze stood on either side. Her sisters filled the seats and a white-haired man named Lawrence read simple vows that they repeated without taking their eyes off each other.

Madeline heard herself make lasting promises—to love, honor, cherish—and listened to Adam put the same parameters around his heart and life. For richer, poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward…

'Til death do us part.

And with Lawrence's permission, Adam leaned over and gave her the lightest kiss, their first as husband and wife.

With a few more pictures, lots of hugs, and a final signature on some paperwork, the group left less than a half-hour later. Laughing, they all walked into the lobby of the courthouse and the wedding party poured onto the sidewalk.

Suze and Dad held the double doors open while Adam and Madeline walked through. Suddenly, a shower of flower petals—where had Rose hidden those?—was tossed in the air, raining down on their shoulders with a cheer that could be heard all over town.

So much for understated.

Laughing, Madeline kept one arm around Adam, then thrust her bouquet victoriously in the air as her sisters called for a kiss.

With a playful look, Adam—her husband—wrapped her in his arms, tilted her all the way back, and planted a kiss she'd never forget on her lips.

For that one euphoric moment, fifty-year-old Madeline Wingate, maker of wedding dresses and dreams for other girls, finally knew exactly how it felt to be a bride.