Epilogue
A urora stared into the mirror. At least she picked out her own dress. Talk about a whirlwind! As soon as they announced their engagement, every decision was taken out of her hands.
Ruby Lou declared herself the maid of honor, and from there Ruby Lou and Katie were in a constant huddle, planning. Who knew there were so many wedding magazines and ideas?
Stewart had opted for a simple wedding, but others overruled him. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders and stayed out of it. Aurora didn’t have that option.
Both women thought she should invite her mother. It made her heart ache just thinking about it, and in the end, she refused to invite her.
Color schemes became a whole thing. Ruby Lou wanted blue, and Katie wanted peach. They didn’t speak to each other for a week until Katie gave in. But blue wasn’t good enough; it ended up being teal.
Aurora mentioned roses for her bouquet, and they both looked horrified. Why would she want roses in Montana? Wildflowers from a florist were the thing. How could greenhouse-grown flowers be truly wild?
They even fought about the style of wedding dress. Aurora went to Billings with Flora, and they found the most exquisite gown. What a thrill to try on the dresses for herself. After modeling many styles, Aurora decided on an all over lace fit and flare gown with a V-neck and puff sleeves. It made her feel beautiful, so she bought it. The lace gave it an elegant romantic look.
Flora must have told Katie and Ruby Lou not to say anything negative about the dress. They smiled when they saw the picture and said nothing further. Which was more than fine. Aurora didn’t say a word when she saw Ruby Lou’s beyond shiny ruffled dress. It might have looked nice on a young girl going to a prom.
Despite the fighting, Aurora felt blessed to have friends. She was gaining a whole bushel of McKeegans as family, too. The sheer happiness of knowing others liked her and sought her company was a healing balm to her soul.
She walked alone down the aisle. She’d never been so happy or nervous. Stewart looked so handsome in his black tux. Next to him stood Reilly.
The love in Stewart’s eyes humbled her. Being cherished by the man before her made her the luckiest woman. He had taken her broken, lonely pieces and made her whole. He was her best friend, and with him, anything was possible.
He loved her for who she really was. In his arms, she found serenity, safety, and a love that was so profound it strengthened her. With one look, he sent her heart fluttering, making her believe she was beautiful.
She was surely blessed.