28. Brynlee
And they lived happily ever after . . .
—Brynlee’s Secret Thoughts
Iwatch my mother attach my veil through the reflection of the antique mirror in the bridal suite. She’s trying hard not to cry, but the woman the world likes to call an ice queen is struggling.
“Don’t cry, Mom. It’ll ruin your makeup.” I smile back at her as she sucks in a shaky breath.
“Look out. She’s gonna cry now,” my little sister teases, and oh boy, am I glad I’m not on the receiving end of the glare Mom just threw her way.
“Zip it, you,” Mom warns Livvy while Gracie and Everly laugh. “Can you three give us a minute?”
As the door closes behind them, I turn to face my mother. This woman I’ve wanted to emulate my whole life. And I’m suddenly tongue-tied, trying to tell her how I feel.
“Mom . . .”
“Shh... I know,” she whispers as she fluffs my dress out around me and dabs the corners of her own eye with a tissue. “You, my darling girl, are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m so incredibly proud of the woman you’ve become.” She gently moves my hair behind my shoulders, then adjusts my veil once more before she smiles. “I’d like to think I had a little something to do with that. Thank you for letting me be your mother.” Her voice catches, and she purses her lips as she tries to hold back her tears. “I love you.”
My lips tremble, and my eyes fill as I wave my hand in front of my face, trying to stop my tears from falling.
If they start now, they won’t stop.
“Now you’re going to make me cry. Stop,” I plead lovingly before stepping into her arms and holding her as if my life depended on it, like I used to do when I was a little girl. “There was never a better mother than you,” I manage to get out before someone knocks on the door.
“It’s time, Brynn,” my dad calls out. “Can I come in?”
I look back at my mom, suddenly nervous. “Do I look okay?”
She nods with a trembling smile. “You look beautiful, baby,” she manages to get out before opening the door for my dad and whispering something to him before he walks in, as handsome as ever in his tux.
“Brynlee,” he whispers reverently. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
He takes my hands in his and swallows. “I love all my children equally. But you and me, kid. We’re special in a way they can’t understand. Not your mom or your brother and sister. It was just you and me for a long time. You taught me what unconditional love is. You helped shape the man I am. And now you get to do that for Deacon too.”
I look up at the ceiling, trying desperately to get my emotions in check.
“He’s a good man, Brynn. And he loves you. I couldn’t ask for anything more for my baby. Now humor your old man, and let me give you just a few words of wisdom, okay?”
I nod, unable to form words.
“Never go to bed angry. I know everyone says that, but it’s cliché for a reason. Choose your battles. If it really matters, fight for it. If it doesn’t, don’t. Never be mean. Even when you’re mad at each other. And never use your love as a bargaining chip. It’s not a tool. It’s the greatest gift in the world. Remember that.”
He takes my face in his hands and gently presses his lips against the top of my head. “And don’t make the man come to every family function if he doesn’t feel like it. Most of the world didn’t grow up with as big of a family as you were blessed with, kid. It’s a little overwhelming for those of us who weren’t born into this chaos. Give him a pass every now and then.”
He wipes a tear from my cheek. “Don’t cry, baby. Your mother will kill me.”
“Thank you, Daddy. For everything.”
“I love you, Brynlee. Now, let’s go before one of your uncles decides to take the microphone away from the judge who’s waiting to marry you.” He links my arm through his. “You ready?”
I look at the first man I ever loved and suddenly understand why a father gives a daughter away. He’s giving me to the last man I’ll ever love.
“I’m ready.”
Deacon
“You nervous, brother?’ Rip asks from next to me at the end of the aisle.
“Not even a little,” I tell him as the music changes and Kenndy appears at the end of the aisle. She looks petrified, but my brave girl smiles at me and keeps her eyes focused only on me as she walks down the aisle. She kisses my cheek when she makes it to me.
“I did what you said, Dad. I never looked away,” she tells me, so damn proud of herself.
“I love you, Kennedy. Do you want to stand up here with me?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
“Not a chance,” she whispers and fist-bumps Rip. “I’m going to go sit with Grandma and Grandpa.”
By the time the music changes to an instrumental version of “Here Comes The Sun,” I’m ready to march down the aisle to Brynlee myself. But then Cade and she round the corner, and I get my first glance of my wife. My beautiful wife. Every single moment in my life has led me here, and I’d gladly go through it all again to get to spend my life with this woman.
She and Cade stop in front of me, and he lifts her veil and kisses her cheek before putting her hand in mine. “Take care of my baby girl, Deacon.”
“With my life, Cade.”
Brynn hands her sister her bouquet and places her other hand in mine. “Are you ready for our next chapter, Deacon?”
“Our next of many, Brynn.” I cup her face in my hand and press my lips to hers.
The judge clears his throat and everyone around us laughs. “We’re not quite there yet, Deacon.”
Brynn’s eyes sparkle like the Fourth of July.
“We’ve been there for a long time, haven’t we, baby?” I whisper, and she smiles the most beautiful smile.
“Our story started here,” she whispers.
Yeah. Our story started here.