23. Raina

L ooking out over the grounds of Wingate House from the third-floor balcony, Raina let the warm breeze from the Amelia River flutter her just-styled hair. From this vantage point, she had a perfect view of the ceremony setup—a large semicircle of about fifty chairs, with one aisle that would accommodate four brides in four back-to-back ceremonies.

Massive sprays of flowers in four distinct shades of pink, from deep magenta to a sweet blush, flanked the aisle and spilled over an archway where Isaiah stood preparing to perform four weddings.

She caught sight of Grace walking toward him, already dressed in a flowered maxi. What was Grace doing down there? Raina turned, frowning into the apartment behind her just as Tori and Rose walked out to the balcony to join her.

"I'm done with hair and makeup and they're starting on Sadie and Chloe," Tori said.

"Want a mimosa?" Rose asked. "With no champagne for the breast-feeder among us?"

Raina laughed and reached for them, pulling her sisters closer. "I don't need anything but you two."

She circled her arms around them and turned so they could see over the grounds all the way to the blue waters of the river, which would be gold at sunset when four Wingate women took their respective walks down the aisle.

After a minute of admiring the view and each other, Raina asked, "Why did Grace leave?"

"She wants to practice the scripture readings one more time," Tori said.

"And be close to Isaiah," Rose added on a sigh. "I think she's pregnant."

"What?" Raina and Tori both asked the question in perfect unison.

"Just a guess," Rose told them. "She skipped champagne, barely touched a drop of food, and could not stop talking to Sadie about baby names. Now, maybe that's me being my super optimistic self but—"

"Nope. She's pregnant," Tori said.

"And she doesn't want to steal any attention from our wedding day by announcing her news," Raina added. "God love that girl."

"He certainly does," Rose said on a sigh. "In fact, I'd say He loves us all."

"These are good days," Raina agreed. "Everyone is happy and healthy, married and pregnant—"

"Not necessarily in that order," Tori cracked. "Sadie always has to break the rules, huh?"

"And Dad is strong," Raina added, shaking her head. "What was it? A year and a half ago, not even, when I got the call that he'd had a stroke."

"Kenzie and I were at Logan so fast getting on the first plane from Boston," Tori recalled. "I remember you two were at the beach house at midnight when we got in." She leaned into Raina. "You were worried about your marriage."

Raina gave a dry laugh. "And here I am, doing it again with a different man."

"A better man," Rose said.

"The best man," Raina whispered, then held up two hands at their expressions. "The best man for me. Angel Gabriel for you," she said to Rose. "And Dr. Hottypants for you." She smiled at Tori.

"It's been an unbelievable year and a half," Tori mused, taking a sip of her mimosa. "So much change."

"And yet so much has stayed the same," Rose said. "Relationships change, babies are born, we even have a new legal mother. But through it all…"

"We stay together," Raina said.

"What are you three talking about out there?" Chloe called from the makeup chair. "I have FOMO."

"Once the baby, always the baby," Tori joked, guiding them back into the spacious living room that had been transformed into the perfect bridal party dressing room. "No fear of missing out, Chloe. We're just talking about what an incredible year and a half we've been through."

"Oh, really?" Sadie looked over from the hair chair, where the stylist was attempting to tame her curls. "I thought you were talking about Grace being pregnant."

"What?" Madeline shrieked from the bedroom where she was steaming out four very different wedding dresses.

Still holding the steamer, she marched in. "Did I hear you say—"

"Exactly," Rose insisted. " Hearsay . We shouldn't start rumors, no matter how much we want them to be true."

"And we do," Sadie said. "I'd love a pregnancy pal. Although she didn't look green around the gills like I always do."

"That's 'cause you're having a girl," Rose announced. "There's no nausea with boys."

At least three of them choked in disbelief.

"And that's what they call an old wives' tale," Tori quipped.

"Well, then, I'm an old wife," Rose said. "Because that folklore held true for me and I've had four kids."

"I'm here!" Susannah called from out in the hall.

Raina rushed to open the door, anxious to see how the deep pink silk gown Madeline had made looked on her.

"The mother of the brides is here!" Susannah announced with her arms held out to all of them. "How do I look?"

"Gorgeous!" they exclaimed.

And she did. Despite all she'd been through—perhaps because of it—their mother looked vibrant, fresh, joyous, and ready to send four daughters into the arms of loving men.

After a group hug, Susannah looked around as if she were mentally counting heads. "Where's Grace? I just left Kenzie in the nursery with all the kids and Nikki is in wonderful spirits."

"Grace didn't go to check on Nikki," Raina said. "She went down to the ceremony setting to practice reading her scriptures."

"And be with Isaiah," Rose added.

"Because she's… ahem , not nauseous," Tori said under her breath.

"Wait. What? Is she sick?" Susannah asked.

None of them said a word, but the silence and a few raised brows spoke for them.

"No!" Susannah gasped, dropping onto the sofa. "Why wouldn't she tell us?"

Raina sat next to her. "Maybe it's too soon or maybe she doesn't want to step on our wedding days. Weddings day? What's the right way to say that?"

Suze—Mom, now, if she could ever get used to that—slid her arm behind Raina. "Perfect day, is what I call it. The weather cooperated, the inn looks spectacular, and all my daughters are full of love and joy. How could it get any better?"

Just then, the door opened and Grace stepped in and they went completely silent. She froze, looked from one to the other, a look of amusement on her features.

"You know that feeling when you walk into a room and you know everyone was talking about you?" She put her hands on her hips. "Well…"

The sisters all stayed quiet, but one of the stylists gave it away with a not very well hidden snicker.

"You were talking about me!" Grace said, taking a few more steps and zeroing in on Rose. "You can't tell a lie, Rosie. You're not capable of it. Were you?"

"None of us can tell a lie," Tori countered, pretending to be miffed.

But Rose didn't say a word.

"What were you talking about?" Grace insisted.

From her makeup chair, while blush was brushed on her beautiful cheekbones, Chloe beckoned Grace closer. And closer. Until she could whisper in Grace's ear, which she did while everyone watched, listened, and waited.

After a second, Grace stepped back, her color deepening to one of the many shades of pink they'd picked for their group wedding.

"Grace?" Susannah's voice rose with the need to know.

"Mom," she countered in the same tone.

"What aren't you telling us?" Tori pressed.

Grace gave a soft laugh. "I guess there is no such thing as a secret in this family. Of course you know."

No one needed any more than that before the uproarious response.

"It's early days," she finally said. "I think…" She looked at Sadie. "I think we have almost the same due date."

"Yes!" Sadie jumped up from the hair chair and threw her arms around her sister, dancing like a loon.

Watching the two sisters, not two years apart in age, hugging and celebrating, Susannah took Raina's hand and squeezed it.

"I know," Raina said, already wiping the recently applied mascara from under her eyes. "It's perfect. Everything is perfect for your girls…Mom."

Her mother just dropped her head back and smiled.

They held the ceremonies in order of age. After Tori and Justin's laughter-filled vows and a happy dance back down the aisle side by side with their attendants, Kenzie and Finn, the sound system played soft music while the sisters regrouped for the second wedding.

For her ceremony, Raina had Rose and Madeline as her attendants, but instead of flowers, they carried babies. Lily and Charlie were in cheery moods, too, cooing as they were carried down the aisle in their fluffy pink dresses with bows on their heads. Charlie's rested on her soft tufts of hair, and Lily's wrapped around her dear bald head.

The beautiful angels elicited cheers and applause from everyone but their father, who stood next to Isaiah with a look of wonder and awe, a tear meandering down his cheek as he absorbed the moment.

When the song changed to the processional and everyone stood, Raina slipped her arm into her father's and looked up at him.

It was time. He had to know one last thing.

"Um, Dad," she whispered. "I made kind of a big decision."

He gave her that sly Rex smile. "I know. I'm taking you to him right now."

She laughed. "I mean, about that…I'm going to…" She sucked in a deep breath just as he was about to take a step. "I'm changing my name to Madison."

The words tumbled out really fast, and she clung tighter, hoping Dad didn't tumble with them.

But he didn't move, staying still at the beginning of the stone path that led to a wedding pergola that framed the setting sun.

"I expected you to."

"You did?"

"He's the man in your life, Rain. You're sharing a home, a life, children, finances, faith, hopes, dreams, and your heart. Of course you should share a name."

"But…there just aren't going to be any more Wingate women after today. Well, Suze, but we're all married and I know you don't want the name to end."

He looked into her eyes, happy tears in his. "It's not a name, Raina. It's a spirit. It's in our DNA and we will continue to carry on that spirit for generations. Lily and Charlie will do their bit. You watch."

He was so right. So very, very right.

"Now," he whispered. "Can I give you away to the only man I've ever met who is deserving of a prize as great as you?"'

She laughed softly. "Yes, please."

They started down the stone path slowly, her gaze locked on Chase standing under the flower-laden trellis. His tall, strong silhouette stood out from the sunset on the water, beckoning her closer with every step.

In the golden glow, she could see every angle and shadow of his expression. The light in his eyes, the upward curl of his lips, the teeth as he grinned with joy at the sight of her.

Two more steps and her father brought her to a gentle stop, turning to her.

"I love you, Regina Wingate," he whispered as he hugged her. And into her ear, he added, "Now go be Raina Madison and carry on the spirit."

"I love you, Daddio." She gave his cheek a light kiss, then inched back when he turned to hug Chase.

She gave her bouquet to her mother with another hug and kiss, then stepped up to the platform to stand in front of Chase, with Isaiah in the middle, holding the Wingate family Bible.

Both of them were trembling when they took each other's hands.

"Hey," Chase whispered. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

She let a shiver roll over her. "Back at you, Charles."

They shared another nervous laugh, and then settled into the short ceremony that Raina and Chase, like the other three couples today, had written themselves.

Isaiah welcomed the guests to wedding number two for the day, earning laughs, and then asking them to bow their heads in prayer.

Raina wasn't much of a pray-er. She liked to take matters into her own hands, as God and anyone who knew her would attest. But right then, she wanted to pray. If there was a divine power that could bless this union, protect them and guide them, then Raina wanted to lift those words and get that blessing.

As Isaiah began the prayer, she looked down at their joined hands, then slowly lifted her gaze to meet Chase's. There was no smile, no glimmer, no humor right then.

They stared into each other's eyes and connected. Just like that. They were one.

"…Your Word proclaims that what God joined, no man can tear asunder." Isaiah's baritone boomed over the crowd, barely needing a microphone. "And to that end, we ask Your blessing on this couple as they begin a life together, as parents and husband and wife. Let their family grow and honor You with every decision. Father, bless this marriage from today into eternity…"

When they finally broke eye contact and the prayer ended, Isaiah invited them to exchange rings while he took them through the traditional wedding vows.

Raina's hands trembled again as they slipped on rings, repeating words, making the promises to love, honor, and cherish until death parted them.

With every word, all she could think was how this man had come into her broken life and healed her heart. He'd shown her love with patience and friendship, taught her how to laugh again with teasing and a deep understanding of what made her tick, and nurtured her with attention and care and a whole lot of homemade pasta.

And the next thing she knew, Isaiah pronounced them husband and wife and Chase swept her off her feet with a soul-melting kiss.

As the applause died down, they took a step down, just below where Isaiah stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the big man exclaimed, then he waited a beat and leaned in right between them to whisper, "Raina?"

She slid him a look and whispered, "Madison."

"Allow me to present Mr. and Mrs. Madison!"

She managed one quick look at her very happy husband, then clung to his arm as they floated back down the stone path to start their life as husband, wife, and parents.

At the end, he wrapped his arms around her and spun her in a full circle that kept her feet off the ground.

In fact, she floated through two more beautiful weddings—Scout and Sadie broke a glass and everyone said, "Mazel tov!" After much applause, music, and chatter, the youngest Wingate started her trip on Rex's arm.

Ring bearer Judah preceded Chloe down the aisle with Lady Bug, the flower girl, on a leash next to him. The sweet little boy carried the rings with great style and grace, and stood next to Travis while the couple exchanged vows and were pronounced "husband, wife, and future son."

And while that meant that not one of the seven sisters remained a Wingate any longer, Raina knew the spirit would carry on for many generations to come.

What a gift to be part of that legacy. What a blessing, indeed.

Love Hope Holloway's books? If you haven't read her first two series, you're in for a treat! Chock full of family feels and beachy Florida settings, these sagas are for lovers of riveting and inspirational sagas about sisters, secrets, romance, mothers, and daughters…and the moments that make life worth living.