Chapter 67

The sun poured in through the stunning walls of glass, casting a golden glow over the room where we were all gathered. It was Jenny and Ward's wedding day—finally. The windows provided an amazing view of the beautiful estate as a backdrop.

The manicured grounds stretched out to infinity, green and bursting with color. I could practically smell the flowers and the rich dark earth. It was like being in nature without the bugs, heat, and humidity.

"This place is incredible," Karen said as we walked toward the bridal suite where Jenny was getting dressed. We had been sent out to get the bride some ginger ale. She was feeling the wedding jitters.

We walked into the suite that was decked out with garment bags, makeup cases, and bouquets waiting to be carried by us.

In the middle of all the chaos, Jenny was standing in front of a mirror with Lauren adjusting her dress. She was an ethereal beauty that took my breath away.

"You look beautiful," I told her. "Absolutely stunning."

"I'm so nervous," she groaned. "Why am I nervous? I want this. I've been looking forward to this moment for months."

"You're nervous because it's your wedding day and it's perfectly natural," I reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, that's true," Lauren chimed in, continuing to fiddle with the delicate fabric of Jenny's dress. "It's going to be an unforgettable day, Jenny. Everything is beautiful. The venue is absolutely gorgeous. Jitters are just part of the experience."

Rylee nodded. "Yeah, we'd be more worried if you didn't have any nerves."

"Drink," Karen said, holding up the glass with a straw to keep from spilling, dribbling, or ruining her makeup or dress.

Jenny let out a shaky laugh, looking at us through the mirror. "You guys are right. Change is always a little nerve-wracking, even if it's a good change." She took a few sips from the straw.

Sunny was sitting quietly, watching something on her tablet. Jenny had been very careful with her instructions. Try not to get anything on the white lace until after pictures. Sunny had taken her instructions seriously and was sitting ramrod straight in the chair to keep from messing up her princess dress.

"You guys look so pretty," Jenny said with tears in her eyes. "Is it obnoxious if I say I picked some pretty awesome dresses?"

Lauren laughed. "A little bit, but it's your wedding day, so it's allowed."

"I'm not going down in the dreaded horrible bridesmaids' dresses hall of fame," Jenny said with a grin. "That's a pretty good start."

I loved the sage-colored dresses we were all wearing. The color even complemented the green landscape outside.

Jenny laughed, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "I hope you guys would tell me if I was."

"Mine's a little tight in the caboose," Karen said and shrugged. "Other than that, I love it."

Rylee nodded. "I've never been shy with my opinion on your fashion sense. If I thought these outfits were tragic, I would've told you."

Jenny smiled gratefully at us before taking another sip of ginger ale. Her hand was shaking slightly, but she seemed to be more at ease than before.

Sunny looked up from her tablet and surveyed the room, an awed expression on her face. "You all look like princesses," she said with a smile. "No notes for any of you."

"And you look like a real princess," I told her. "You are going to be the prettiest flower girl ever."

"Are you nervous?" Jenny asked her soon-to-be stepdaughter.

The kid shrugged. "Not in a dress this pretty."

We all laughed. I admired her confidence.

"I'll open the bottle of bubbly," Rylee said.

Sunny held up her little hands. "None for me, ladies. I'm driving."

The room erupted with laughter. Jenny had lucked out with a kid like her.

"Did you get that little bottle of cider?" Jenny asked.

"Of course," Rylee answered.

She opened the bottle of champagne and poured us each a glass. Another glass of sparkling cider was poured for Sunny. We raised our glasses in a toast to the bride-to-be, and the clink of champagne flutes echoed through the room.

"I still can't believe I ran into Ward last year at Naomi and Colby's wedding." Jenny smiled with a look of pure love in her eyes. "I was absolutely appalled to see him there, of all places. And look where we are now."

We chuckled at the memory. Ward's presence had once grated on Jenny's last nerve. But now, it was impossible to imagine Jenny's life without him.

"How could I forget?" Lauren shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "You were fuming. It was all, ‘he's arrogant' and ‘he's intolerable' and ‘he's pompous.' Now you're about to walk down the aisle to become Mrs. Arrogant, Intolerable, Pompous."

Everyone laughed as Jenny blushed furiously.

"A real love-hate relationship." Karen nodded.

"I was so wrong," Jenny admitted, her voice catching slightly. She glanced over at her soon-to-be stepdaughter, who was holding her cider. "I don't know what I would do without him and Sunny. They're my whole world."

Sunny smiled and hugged her stepmother. "You're the best mom I could ask for," Sunny said.

The sweetness of the moment threatened to overwhelm me. Tears pricked at my eyes as I watched the bond between stepmother and stepdaughter unfold before me. But I held them back, determined not to let my emotions get the best of me and ruin my makeup.

There was a soft knock on the door. The wedding planner popped her head in. "Are you ready to start the ceremony?"

Jenny took a deep breath. "Yes."

"We're ready," Lauren confirmed.

The wedding planner grinned, seemingly satisfied. "Very well. Let's get you beautiful ladies to the solarium."

She held the door open, and one by one we filed out into the hallway. Jenny was the last to leave, Sunny clutching tightly to her hand as they ventured out side by side.

The anticipation in the air was intense. I was looking forward to seeing Archer in the crowd.

The music swelled around us, signaling the beginning of our procession. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the big moment.

The doors to the solarium swung open, revealing the breathtaking beauty of the space beyond. The soft light filtering through the windows cast a warm glow over the room. The chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling twinkled like stars in a night sky, their reflections dancing on the polished marble floor.

Greenery and blooming flowers hung from the ceiling, cascading down like a waterfall and weaving into the white chiffon that draped the room. It was as if we had been transported into a fairytale, the beauty of it all leaving me momentarily breathless. The guests rose as one, their collective gasp echoing throughout the stunning room.

Rylee went first, her steps slow and measured as she made her way down the aisle. Behind her, Karen moved with an elegance befitting the occasion, her radiant smile matching the expression on Rylee's face. We had practiced this walk more times than I could count. I understood why Jenny had been so insistent on it being perfect. I followed behind them, scanning the crowd.

I found Archer almost immediately. He stood in the second row, his eyes fixed on me with adoration that stole my breath away. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he gave me a thumbs-up, a silent reassurance that washed away the nerves that had plagued me moments before.

I took my place at the front, flanked by Lauren, Rylee, and Karen. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I watched Sunny and Jenny make their way down the aisle. Sunny was having the time of her life tossing pink rose petals with Jenny walking behind her with a huge smile. It was the look of a very happy woman.

I glanced over at Ward and saw the emotion in his eyes. Sunny ran to him, demanding a hug which sent the audience into laughter. Sunny quickly moved to stand to the side with us. Then, all eyes were on Jenny as she gracefully approached the altar. Her dress was perfectly tailored to her. Her veil flowed behind her like a gentle river. She looked like an angel gliding down the aisle.

Ward seemed to hold his breath as he watched her approach. His eyes were fixated on her with such intensity that it looked like he might faint. I felt for him in that moment. He was seeing his soon-to-be wife and the stepmother of his little girl.

He was seeing his future.

Then they were standing face to face at the altar. The pastor began to speak at length about love and commitment, about trust and fidelity. His words painted a picture of the sacred vows they were about to take.

They had written their own vows. Jenny had stressed over hers for weeks. None of us had heard them since she made the final tweaks. When she started to speak, no one said a word. The room was completely silent.

"I promise to always be your best friend, your partner in crime, your lover and confidante," Jenny began in a quiet voice. "I promise to walk with you through every storm, to dance with you under every rainbow. I promise to love you when the sun shines, and even more when it rains. I will laugh with you in times of joy, and comfort you in times of sorrow. I promise to put us first, to remember that we are a team. I will cherish and respect you, trust and appreciate you." She turned and gestured for Sunny to come stand beside Ward.

I was going to be a sloppy mess of tears. I just knew she was going to say something that had the whole damn crowd bawling.

"Sunny, my sweet, sweet girl," Jenny said, bending down to look the little girl in the eyes. "I love you. I cannot wait to be your mom. I promise to protect you, to guide you, and to help you grow. I promise to do my best to answer all your questions, even those about why we can't have ice cream for breakfast every day. Sunny, together with your Daddy, we will be a family."

As she straightened up, Ward broke protocol and enveloped Jenny in a warm hug, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. The emotion in the room was thick as he took a step back to say his vows. I stole a glance at the crowd and noticed all the tissues being passed around. People, even some of the men, dabbed at their eyes.

I barely kept it together as Ward spoke. "From the moment I first saw you, I knew. I knew that you were a force of nature, beautiful and wild and completely unstoppable. You've taught me what it means to love without restraint, to live without fear, and to savor every moment. You've made me a better man than I ever could've been without you. For that, and for so many other reasons, I promise to always stand by your side."

To my surprise, it wasn't me that couldn't hold back a choked sob. It was Rylee.

I pulled the tissue I had hidden in my bouquet and handed it to her. A moment later, they exchanged rings and sealed their vows with a kiss. The room erupted in cheers and applause. Sunny jumped up and down, throwing the last of the rose petals in her basket into the air.

As they turned to face the crowd, Ward with Jenny on his arm and Sunny skipping at their side, we all clapped and cried tears of joy. This was why we all packed enough makeup to handle a hundred women. Everyone filed out, making their way to the room on the opposite side of the venue where the reception would be held.

In the midst of the chaos, Archer found me. He pulled me into his arms. "You look incredible in that dress," he murmured close to my ear. "But tonight, that dress is going to look even better on my bedroom floor."

I laughed and kissed him. My heart was overflowing with love and happiness. "I like the sound of that."