Chapter Eighteen
“C an you believe that we are having another wedding in the Primrose House? Seems like there is something special in this old house,” Matthew commented as he carried in the last box of champagne glasses for the caterer.
“Please don’t call her old,” Tori corrected.
“She is vintage if you must talk about the years in her foundation and walls and roof. She’s seen a lot and she is still standing and getting better with each year.
She became our home and she has never let us down.
Maybe if you moved in here, you might benefit from her magic.
Find that special lady for you and for Jillie. ”
“Hold it right there,” he said, raising his palm in her direction. “I have more than enough ladies in my way. I don’t need any help with that. I just need more to keep them away. It’s tough being a single guy in this town.”
“Well, you know what I really mean,” she persisted. “You and Jillie need that person in your lives. I just want you all to be happy.”
Matthew’s gaze softened on his eldest sister. “I know what you mean and I know you care. But we are happy and if someone else came into the mix, I don’t know how that would work. But I promise I will keep an open mind to it.”
“Open mind?” Cassie asked, bringing in another box of chair covers. She passed them off to her brother. “Please take those out to the patio for Mrs. Gunderson. She’s going to steam them and then have her girls put them on the chairs.
“Yes, ma’am.” He bowed to her. “Your wish is my command. Or rather it is your order that I must obey.”
“Matthew, please don’t upset the bride,” Tori said, pushing him out the door.
“Too late,” Cassie said, leaning against the cabinet. “I knew Cole and I should have eloped. Everyone is being so great and all but I feel bad on how much work they are putting into this.”
“They do it because they love you both. And they love a good party,” she finished with a laugh.
“And you can relax now because you have your nail appointment in half an hour. I’m dropping you off and then I’ll pick you up and we can check on the bouquets at the florist on the way back for the rehearsal and dinner. ”
“You have this all down to a science. You should open up a business planning weddings in this house.”
“Sure…just pencil that into my calendar between sewer plant reconstruction budgets and fire engine repairs. I am a multitasking mayor…and mother is in there somewhere,” she grinned.
“I want to be you when I grow up. I guess I always wanted to do that.”
Tori stopped beside her and slid an arm around her shoulders. “I take that as the best of compliments. But you turned out just right on your own. Now we are going to stay on schedule because we have a wedding tomorrow, and it will be the best ever. Move it.”
*
Fall was upon them. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas was the best of both holidays and weather.
That was the time chosen for Cole and Cassie’s big day.
And four months was the limit that Cole was willing to wait to place a gold band on her hand.
The porches of the Primrose House were covered in fall décor with pumpkins and strings of golden lights and hay bales and happy dancing scarecrows and miles of autumn leaves with twinkle lights entwined on railings and staircases.
She had chosen the fall theme over Christmas trees and fake snow.
Hurricane candles were surrounded by fall leaves and glowed on the table covers of gold and cream linen with the same color scheme in chair covers.
The two fire pits in the conversational areas on the patios would be lit to help make comfortable the coolness of the evening after the late afternoon wedding.
Buffets of food sat in the dining room and alcoves.
The cake was a four-tier confection of ivory buttercream and bright fall-colored flowers trailing from the top’s traditional bride and groom.
“Perfect,” Tori pronounced it as the trio arrived to get ready to play the music for the ceremony.
A country band would take over after the meal.
She adjusted the light gold wrap that went with her tea-length full skirted matron of honor dress.
Opening the door to the bedroom, she went in to check on the junior bridesmaids, Jillie and Emmie.
They had dresses much the same as Tori’s but in a soft ivory with sashes of gold.
“Ladies, we will be taking photos soon. I love your hair done in French braids with pearls.
You are both gorgeous. Cassie will love it.”
“When do we get to see her?” Emmie asked.
“As soon as she is ready, I’ll come get you for photos with her. Okay?”
They nodded and went back to sitting as still as possible in their full skirts. Tori had to smile at how grown-up they were trying to appear.
Matthew met her in the hall. “Can we do something with these now?” His nod went to the flowers in his arms. “Did Cole buy stock in that flower shop or something? It would be a lot cheaper if he just bought it and gave it to Cassie.”
“Do you have a romantic bone in your body?” his sister asked. “Take lessons from him.” They went to the last door and knocked. Tori added her voice. “It’s me and that little brother of ours.”
“Come in…both of you.”
“Goodness…I can’t believe how amazing that dress is and you in it,” Tori burst out, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Geez, here she goes.” Matthew sat the flowers down on the bottom of the bed and grabbed Kleenex from his pocket, handing it over to her. “Your makeup is going to be a mess again.”
Cassie laughed. “She can’t stop crying and I can’t stop laughing. There’s something wrong here.”
“It’s normal. My daughter has given me a crash course on weddings every night. She has bought every magazine on them and the computer is nothing but weddings and all things connected to them. Thanks a lot, Cassie. She was into sports until you had to go and get married.”
“I won’t apologize. It’s a girl thing. All you need to know is to start saving now…for the college fund and for the wedding fund.”
“Is this a private party or can anyone join?”
Their youngest sibling, Thomas, stuck his head around the door and was giving his usual teasing grin at them. All three siblings erupted into shouts.
“You’re here!” Cassie clapped her hands.
“It’s about time!” Tori jerked the door open and grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.
“Fashionably late as usual,” Matthew deadpanned.
“Better late than not here at all. I had to hop on two flights, grab a rental car, and drive most of last night. But nothing was going to keep me away from my sister’s wedding. And a really good wedding cake.”
Laughter erupted again.
He walked up to take Cassie’s hand. He looked her up and down. Then he made his pronouncement. “Wow, you do clean up good.” Then the pair hugged.
Tori spoke up quickly. “Please don’t mess up her hair or wrinkle anything.”
Thomas stepped back and grinned. “Can’t mess up the bride.”
“I hate to break this up but we need to get downstairs and make sure the groom hasn’t snuck out.”
Cassie gave him a hard look.
Matthew held up his hands. “Sorry, sis. Just a joke.”
“Thomas, please take your brother downstairs and watch him and the groom,” Tori directed.
“Hear that? I am in charge so watch it…I have a gun and handcuffs.”
“So do I,” came the comeback from Matthew.
“But you left yours in the car. I know you. I am packing.”
Cassie shook her head. “I don’t want to know these things.”
Tori opened the door and shooed them both out. And that moment the photographer appeared. “Come in, Artie. I am going to get the girls for a photo and be right back.”
So it began, photos of the bride, photos with bridesmaids, photos of each person, a group photo.
Cassie asked that Tori and Jillie give her a moment with Emmie, who had been very quiet the last couple of days. She took her hands in hers.
“You look beautiful Emmie. We’d sit down but I am afraid to do that just now and wrinkle something that will cause Tori to have a fit.” She coaxed a laugh from the girl.
“I’m very glad you wanted to be in the wedding. I wanted all the people I love to be close by me today.”
“I’m one of them?”
“Yes, Em, I love you very much. I know I will never be your blood relation, but I feel just as close to you as if we were. I hope you can do the same.”
“But I do,” she spoke up. “you’re the real mom in my mind. My real one never really cared or wanted me. I know that. I just pretended so Dad’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt. But you are the mom I always wished I could have.”
“Nothing would be a better wedding gift than to have you want me in that role. I am here for you forever. I love you just as I would my own little girl. Never forget that.”
Cassie forgot the rule about wrinkles and wrapped her arms around the girl. “There is that amazing smile of yours. I missed it. Now I guess we better go and put your dad out of his misery. He might think we ran away.”
One final check before going down. Cassie hoped Cole would like her choice.
It was a slim-fitting light ivory silk skirt that flared a bit at the hem to trail behind her on the floor as she moved.
The strapless bodice was form fitted and had a short shrug jacket that made it very classy.
A pearl and flower hair clip held her upswept hairdo in place.
Timeless was the name of the gown. And it was perfect in her mind.
Tori handed over the fall flowers in the bouquet with long gold satin ribbons trailing down the skirt’s length.
Music had begun and she could hear the murmur of guests seated outside in the garden and patio areas. Cole would be waiting under the gazebo at the end of the aisle and she couldn’t wait to race down it and say ‘I do.’.
Thomas escorted her half way and then Matthew stepped up to take her the remainder of the way to the altar.
Cole took her hand in his and all was perfect in her mind.
The pastor intoned the prayer and then Cole spoke the words he had for his vows.
And at the end, she became aware that there were some stifled chuckles in the group. Then something caught her eye.
Peaches had decided to take a leisurely stroll down the aisle, almost as if she were greeting her guests as she went.
She had grown into a teenager and even had a rhinestone collar for the occasion thanks to Jillie, but no one expected her to take center stage.
She finally reached the altar and looking first at Cole and then at Cassie, she moved a bit and took her spot, next to Cole’s boot.
The expression on her face was almost ‘I’m here, you may begin. ’
Cassie looked at Cole and he had to smile, then winked and squeezed her hand.
Perfect. Her dream was perfect. Cole was the one who waited in her dreams until it was time to step out and into reality.
He was strong of body and spirit, and she knew that theirs would be a glorious adventure all the days of their lives.
Cake cutting, photos, handshakes and hugs, were all a blur. Until the music began for their dance and Cole took her in his arms. And the world faded away. It was just her and Cole dancing in her garden under a jumbo harvest moon to the strains of ‘Unforgettable.’ The title said it all.
Hours later, the moon was high in the sky, and night sounds replaced music.
Before flying off the next day to their honeymoon destination in a much warmer climate, they were spending their first night alone at the ranch.
Being held in her husband’s arms, safe and feeling infinitely loved, Cassie knew there was a hand in bringing her there to find him and finding the home she had always sought.
She smiled. She had found home, and it was even better than in her dreams.
Because it was real, and it was indeed perfect .
The End