42. Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Two
Juliet
F our months later
When Leo said that I deserved the world and he was going to give that to me, that also meant the literal wedding of my dreams.
Rows and rows of white chairs fill the backyard at the estate, and more than a hundred people from Evergreen Heights, Denver, and New York City are seated in them.
Leo and our officiant stand under a beautiful custom arch full of white and pink flowers and vines, and a videographer and a photographer are strategically placed to get the best shots and footage .
I breathe in and out steadily as I walk down the aisle, following Piper as she tosses white rose petals onto the grass in front of me.
Piper smiles at me over her shoulder, looking adorable in her frilly, pink dress that she picked out.
I smile back before lifting my eyes to Leo, my heart fluttering.
He always looks good in suits, but he looks especially handsome today. A few weeks of beard growth shadow his jaw, making him look less like a polished CEO and more like the man who spent his childhood in these mountains. He's the perfect mix between a billionaire and a mountain man.
I won the jackpot.
Leo leans down and kisses Piper on the cheek before she sits with Lily and Jensen on the front row. He turns to me as I stand in front of him, his eyes sweeping over me and my A-line style wedding dress with a lace bodice and off the shoulder sleeves.
“You’re stunning, Juju,” the approval in his gaze sends heat through me .
I take his hands, looking up into his eyes as our officiant speaks. I know all the words by heart because we practiced so much for this, even when life was pulling us in a hundred different directions.
Through all of it, Leo never stopped showing up. For Piper. For me. For our family.
No matter how busy he gets, no matter how much responsibility rests on his shoulders, he always finds his way back to us.
“Juliet, do you take Leo to be your husband from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” I say.
“And Leo, do you take Juliet to be your wife from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?”
Leo smiles. “I do.”
Piper is so special that she gets to play ring bearer too. I hear people awing as she brings Leo and me our rings before sitting back down.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” I say as I slide Leo’s wedding band on .
Leo does the same with mine. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
My hand gently trembles in excitement as I gaze down at my rings. One is from the past. One is from the present.
I’m honored to wear his mother’s engagement ring, and I couldn’t attend my own wedding without honoring my mother, so I have her silver earrings on.
In a way, they’re both here in spirit, and if Frank was still alive, I would’ve had him walk me down the aisle. He was more of a father to me than my biological dad just by being present in my life.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Colorado, I pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant tells us, a warm grin crossing his face. “You may kiss the bride.”
Leo doesn’t hesitate to pull me into his arms and capture my lips in a sweet kiss that has everyone cheering and applauding.
I smile into the kiss as I throw my hands up around his neck, joy radiating through me as a dream of mine is finally fulfilled.
I just married the love of my life in the same place where we fell for each other .
The reception starts not too long after the ceremony and takes place outside under a massive white marquee tent stretched across the lawn, overlooking the mountains and glowing softly with string lights.
Guests drift between the dance floor, dining tables, and bar as our DJ starts playing upbeat songs and classics that everyone knows.
We had food catered from a really nice place in Denver, and guests can serve themselves inside or outside where we have bartenders working to pour drinks.
Leo spared no expense. He never does.
We roam around the party together while Piper plays with a few other kids in the yard, catching up with friends and thanking everyone for coming.
This is only the beginning for what’s in store.
Leo has done so much for the town in these last few months, and he’s going to keep doing even more once High Rise’s building is done. Galloway Logging is on the mend and will be able to hire more people by the start of next year.
Even while building up his two companies, Leo has donated to those in need in town, and he volunteers with me whenever he has the time .
“I can’t picture a more beautiful bride,” Leo tells me as we head toward the DJ.
“Enough. I’m done blushing and crying today,” I say, flashing him a playful smile.
“I’ll never stop saying it, my love,” he teases me, tugging me closer by the hand.
Heat flickers through his gaze as he slides an arm around my waist. Leo leans down and brushes his lips against mine. The kiss only lasts a second, but it leaves my pulse fluttering all the same.
“Careful,” I whisper when he pulls back. “Because if you keep looking at me like that, we might not make it to the end of our own reception.”
One corner of his mouth lifts as he draws me a little closer. “Don't tempt me, wife.”
I lean close and peck him on the lips, hearing someone whistle at us. Laughter bubbles from me as I shake my head. The reception is turning out to be a really fun party.
The DJ fades out the music and hands Leo the microphone .
“I’m not going to hold up the party for long,” Leo promises as we turn to face everyone. “But I just want to thank everyone for coming to our wedding. It means a lot to have you all here.”
I lean against him, sharing a warm look with him as people applaud.
“If you’d like, grab a glass of champagne. I’d like to make a toast,” Leo says, gesturing to a few servers with trays full of glasses of champagne.
One server walks up to us, handing us each a glass.
Leo holds up his glass. “First, I’d like to toast to my dad, Frank Galloway. Many of you knew him. Five months ago, he passed away after a long fight with cancer. I wish he was here right now, and I know that he would’ve loved celebrating this day with all of us. He pauses for a moment.
“My dad wasn't a perfect man, but he taught me a lot about hard work, loyalty, and what it means to fight for the people you love. Toward the end of his life, he got to see Juliet and me find our way back to each other, and that's something I'll always be grateful for.”
Leo turns toward me and squeezes my hand .
“For a long time, I thought success was measured by the companies you build or the money you make. Then Juliet gave me something far more important.”
His gaze drifts toward Piper.
“A family.”
The single word hits me right in the chest.
“So I'd like to raise a glass to the people who got us here, the people we miss, and the future we're building together. To family and friends, second chances, and finding your way home.”
“Cheers,” several guests echo as everyone lifts their glasses.”
A gentle ache envelops my heart as I think of Frank. Honestly, he crosses my mind every day. Just like my mom. Just like Leo’s mom. My dad was never around, so I can say that Leo and I both lost all of our parents.
It’s a heartbreaking thing, but I find peace in the fact that they’d be so happy for us if they were still here.
Leo takes a sip before tucking me under his arm. “I really wish he was here. ”
“Me too. I wish they all were.”
Leo nods. “At least we have that little one.”
I follow his gaze and spot Piper eating some French fries off a small plate near Maria and her boyfriend. “Let’s get her.”
Leo chuckles and crosses the yard with me to reach Piper. “Are those good?”
Piper picks up the last French fry on her plate and holds it out to him.
“Aw, thank you,” Leo says as he takes it from her while I toss the plate away. He pops it in his mouth before picking her up. “Doesn’t your mom look like a princess in that dress?”
“Yes! The prettiest princess!” Piper replies.
Even that makes me blush.
“Thank you, baby,” I tell her, kissing her cheek. “You look beautiful too.”
A glowing smile crosses Piper’s face. “Are you married now?”
Leo and I both laugh a little .
“Yes, we are. What do you think about that?” Leo asks her.
“I’m happy!” Piper says, reaching out to wrap her arms around both of our necks.
I’m crushed against them, but I certainly don’t mind. They’re my two favorite people in this entire world. They're my family. The people gathered here are the people we love. Evergreen Heights is home and it’s woven into every part of our story.
There's no other place I'd rather be. Now and forever.