CHAPTER 47 johnnie
johnnie
ONE YEAR LATER
“Mom, it’s fine,” I say as she puts down her phone for the tenth time in the last two minutes. She’s been calling and texting my dad nonstop. “I’m sure Dad took his medicine but if you’re really that concerned Bea can go check.”
Bea glares at me, rolling her eyes as she stands up. “Sure thing, Ann. You’re needed for pictures. I’ll go check on Mike.” She sticks her tongue out at me before disappearing down the hall, and I bite the inside of my cheeks, attempting not to laugh.
All of us girls are in my bedroom, the one I’ve been tangled up with Collins in every night for over a year now.
My parents made it into town from San Antonio, and I’m glad—truly. Even if my mother has a talent for getting under my skin, her presence somehow makes the day feel fuller, more real. Perfect.
The room is alive with chaos. Makeup scattered across every surface, curling irons still warm, clothing draped over chairs, shoes scattered. It’s a mess.
Lou crosses the room and reaches for the dress hanging on the back of the door.
Carefully, she lifts it free and turns toward me.
She looks breathtaking wrapped in a deep purple dress that clings in all the right places, her dark hair pinned up but spilling down in soft, deliberate tendrils around her face.
“I think it’s time,” she says, her voice warm with excitement. “Let’s get you into this baby.”
She holds it out, and my breath catches. White flowing lace cascades down, threaded with delicate ivory accents that catch the light just enough to shimmer.
The moment I saw it in that little local shop, I knew. I hadn’t needed to try on anything else.
It feels like it was made for me.
The long lace sleeves are the perfect whisper of autumn. And as I reach for it, my hands trembling just slightly, it suddenly all feels real.
We decided to get married in the place that means the most to us, our own lake house, in the backyard. An early November evening, just as the sun will be sinking low over the lake as a perfect backdrop.
I’ve worried myself sick over the weather, hoping, praying, that rain, snow, or bitter cold wouldn’t find a way to interfere. It’s chilly, yes, but we’ve set up plenty of heaters to take the edge off for our guests, not that there are many. We wanted something intimate, something that felt like us.
And somehow, despite all my fears, the sky holds steady, there’s no rain, no snow. In Ohio, it could’ve gone either way this time of year, but we got lucky.
A day as beautiful as this one feels meant to be.
A day just as beautiful as our relationship.
No, we haven’t always been perfect, but our story is my favorite and, to me, we’re perfection.
Bea walks back in, just as I start stepping into my dress while Lou holds it out for me.
“Oh my god, Johnnie! It’s really happening!” She puts her hands on her cheeks and smiles at me with tears in her eyes. “Ann, I went out to the trailer. Mike’s good. Pills have been consumed.”
Mom smiles at her. “Oh, thank you, Bea.”
The guys are getting ready out in the trailer, and the thought of seeing Collins all dressed up sends a nervous flutter through me. It’s equal parts excitement and something more emotional.
Lou carefully lifts the sleeves, guiding them up and over my shoulders with gentle hands, while Bea moves behind me. The soft rustle of fabric fills the room as Lou fluffs the skirt, letting it fall into place.
Behind me, Bea’s fingers work methodically, fastening each tiny button with precision. I can feel every small tug, every careful movement, as the dress settles against me.
A deep voice clearing his throat makes my head snap up. There stands Crandall, black and white fitted tux, shiny shoes, dogwood boutonnière, and wavy blond hair slicked back neatly, holding a blue box.
He’s so handsome, and Lou looks over adoringly.
“Special delivery.” He holds the box out toward me, smirking.
“What’s this?” I reach out toward him, not really able to move from the spot I’m in, material all around me, and he comes forward, handing it over.
“Don’t ask me, I’m just the messenger.” He backs away, a sparkle in his light brown eyes. “You look beautiful, John.” His voice is soft, and his gaze lingers before it flickers to Lou. “You too, gorgeous.” He throws her a wink, then turns on his heel and starts back down the hall.
He’s barely out of sight when Bea scoffs under her breath, loud enough for all of us to hear. “You’re ugly, asshole.”
Right on cue, Crandall’s head pops back into the doorway.
“Sorry, Bea,” he says, feigning sincerity. “You look…okay.” And just like that, he disappears again.
Laughter bursts from all of us at once.
Looking down at the blue box, my cheeks start to hurt from smiling so much. I take a deep breath and pull the top off. There’s a note on top of white tissue paper.
I can’t wait to marry my beautiful girl.
Do me a favor and wear this today.
See you out there.
I’ll be the one saying “I do.”
- CC
Moving the tissue paper to the side, my breath hitches at the sight of the silky white hair bow looking back at me.
I have my hair fixed in a refined version of my typical messy bun. My veil is made to clip to the underside, and the bow will go perfectly on top.
A white bow with my white dress—a vision of the girl I used to be flashes through my mind.
I’m still the same me, just a stronger, more resilient version. And I’m happy, finally. Again.
I reach over, grabbing my bouquet from the end of the bed. I rub the dull silver tab hanging from deep purple flowers between my fingers and smile.
Time to start the rest of my life.
Our life.