Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Sunshine glittered through the panes of the window, its rays majestically highlighting Alexis’s stunning updo.
“You are literally the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” Lou said, shaking her head as she stared. “Jared is going to swallow his tongue.”
“I hope not,” Alexis said, her smile as wide as her face as if she was secretly delighted by the prospect.
Margie dabbed at the tears that hadn’t stopped falling since Alexis had stepped into her stunning mermaid gown. It hadn’t been a surprise to anyone that Alexis had chosen the style, considering her incredible curves. The off-the-shoulder gown showed off a good amount of Alexis’s golden shoulders and the train was just long enough to create the silhouette Alexis had been dreaming of but short enough that she wouldn’t “eat it” as she walked down the aisle. Alexis’s words.
“I’ve just always hoped whoever you chose to marry would be worthy of you, and I can’t imagine anyone better than Jared,” Margie spoke from behind her handkerchief, where she was vainly attempting to stave off tears.
Lou couldn’t either. If she really thought about the situation it was quite strange. Jared had been her brother-in-law, married to her sister Marsha—and he’d forever be their kids’ father—but now he was marrying her best friend, and thanks to Lou’s dad marrying Margie, Alexis was also Lou’s stepsister.
But however strange it sounded, it all felt so very right.
Brittany stood near the closet, eyeing the beautiful veil that Alexis had yet to put on. “Is it time for this yet?” the teen asked, her fingers inching closer to the beauty but never quite touching it.
Emma and Brittany had begged to get ready with Lou, Alexis, and Margie. Actually, they hadn’t had to beg that hard. Alexis hadn’t taken long to decide that in this room was just where her future niece and stepdaughter should be.
Margie sniffled and put up a finger. “Give me a minute.”
Lou smiled. She was sad that her own mom wasn’t there to witness this day. She knew that if her mom had lived all of their lives would look vastly different now. Margie wouldn’t be married to her dad. Marsha might have still been married to Jared and . . . okay, that was a rabbit hole Lou was not willing to travel down, but despite all of that she knew her mom would have loved this. She would have loved seeing her granddaughters’ excitement, Bill marrying Alexis and Jared, Lou feeling confident enough to wear a form-fitting maid of honor dress. Her mom would have adored Alexis, and Lou was sure her mom would have even somehow loved Margie.
And so Lou had to hope that there was some way that her mom was able to see them that day.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Margie gave the all clear, her tears finally absent as she gave a quick check in the mirror.
Alexis stood and asked, “Brittany, do you want to grab my veil for me?”
“Really?” Brittany’s eyes were wide. “I’m allowed to touch it?”
“Sure. I know you’ll be careful.” It wasn’t hard to hear not only the warning in Alexis’s words but also the love she had for her stepdaughter. Brittany and Alexis had traveled a rough road but they’d made it here. Lou was sure they’d still experience their fair share of bumps but they’d come this far. They’d make it the rest of the way as well.
Brittany reverently took the hanger that had been suspended from the top of the closet door and walked toward Alexis, taking care with each step not to damage the delicate tulle.
Alexis glanced in Lou’s direction and she knew she was up. Gently Lou took the fragile veil from Brittany and then settled the comb in Alexis’s hair just the way the lady at the bridal shop had shown Lou.
Margie let out a loud sob. “And here I thought I was ready.”
Lou held in her laughter but Alexis couldn’t do the same. Lou didn’t blame her. She was probably so giddy she was always seconds from a belly laugh.
“It’s my wedding. A happy occasion, Mom,” Alexis said, her hands clasped in front of her waist.
Margie patted under eyes with her handkerchief. “I know. I’m so happy.” She sniffled.
“Sure doesn’t look like it,” Emma muttered.
Lou reached over to nudge her daughter but Emma moved just out of reach, a smirk on her face.
Alexis met Lou’s eyes in the mirror. Lou shook her head at her daughter’s remark but Alexis just grinned. Nothing was going to bother her on this incredible day, even if Marsha did show up in black.
Margie moved in to fuss over Alexis so Lou took a step back, moving to the window as she took in the beautiful spring morning. Alexis could not have chosen better weather for her day. The sun was bright but the sea air was crisp and under the shade of the large cedar trees, no one would even need to use the paper fans that Alexis had made sure were waiting on every seat in the backyard.
Her eyes shifted to the rosewood arbor that Bill had designed just for the occasion. Jared and Bill had spent many a chilly fall evening out in the backyard making sure the structure was just right and then Margie had, the day before, decorated it with white gauzy fabric and beautiful greenery, as well as every white flower one could find on Whisling at that time of year.
A few feet from the arbor, the wedding planner stood with her clipboard, surveying the white runner that created an aisle between the two sections full of wooden chairs before her gaze shifted to the chairs, probably making sure every white bow on the back of each chair was at the perfect angle.
Lou couldn’t help but think back to her own courthouse nuptials. Back then it had seemed romantic. Her ex, Harvey, had said he couldn’t wait to get married and so they’d done a rushed ceremony—Harvey had told her it was only a piece of paper, after all.
But as a grown woman Lou saw Harvey’s actions for what they were. He’d been lazy. He didn’t want to bother with a real proposal or any of what he’d called the ‘hassle’ of a real wedding. Meaning what they’d had, to Harvey, hadn’t been worth any real effort. Lou still remembered the kick to her gut it had been when during a blowout argument Harvey had screamed those words at her. Until that moment Lou would have described their wedding as a whirlwind but special. But to Harvey, it had been a necessary evil.
It was hard to look back on her wedding day, the day that had been the beginning of the family she’d raised her beautiful children in, with that kind of a lens.
But she couldn’t help but hope that one day, she’d have this. And she knew the exact man she wanted to have by her side in each and every one of her daydreams.
“Wait, Jax has all of the kids on his own?” Alexis asked and Lou realized she was the recipient of the question.
Her eyes once again met her friend’s in the full-length mirror. “Mom was just saying Bill is working on the ceremony right now. I’d assumed he was helping Jax with your kiddos. But he’s all on his own?”
Lou nodded. She’d told Jax that she could get a babysitter or even ask Harvey for help but Jax had insisted he could handle all three of her younger kids. So not only was he playing with them all morning, but he would also be feeding them lunch and then prepping them for the wedding, including doing Hazel’s hair. That was more than Lou had even trusted Harvey with, and they were his own flesh and blood. But Jax had assured her he had it all in hand. And she trusted him. It didn’t matter how big or small the matter, Lou trusted Jax in everything.
“He says he’s got it,” Lou said with a gentle smile, the man in question coming to her mind. His open and kind demeanor, his soft brown curls, his intense green gaze, and that accent, oh that accent.
“That’s one you should probably hang onto,” Margie said with a wink.
Lou planned on it.
“Knock, knock.” Bill’s voice was just outside the bedroom door.
Alexis shook out the skirt of her dress and did a quick once over in the mirror, making sure she looked just right, before letting in the man who’d taken on the role of her father for the past few years.
Ever since Alexis had met her birth father a couple years before and had found out how manipulative he was, she’d truly begun to look at Bill as a father figure. For years she’d held onto hope that the man her mother had left had either been misjudged by Margie or had changed over the years, and she’d desperately clung to the hope that she’d have a real father in him one day. But all of that had died within a few weeks of meeting the man and Alexis had needed to fill that hole just as Bill walked into Margie’s life. And though Lou might be a little biased she was pretty sure her dad was the best of the best and was more than happy to share him with her very best friend.
Emma and Brittany tittered with excitement, both of them proud of the bride they were about to show off.
“Come in,” Alexis called.
Bill opened the door and then froze.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Margie prompted when Bill didn’t say a word.
He finally managed to nod as tears welled up once more in Margie’s eyes.
Lou tried not to feel the tiny prick of jealousy that had stung her breast. She hadn’t gotten this moment with her dad. He hadn’t walked her down the aisle and her mom hadn’t been able to help her get ready and cry at the pretty picture she’d presented.
But that had been her choice. The wrong one, looking back on it now, but she’d made it. So she had to own it. And not let her jealousy take anything away from her best friend/sister’s big day.
“Just gorgeous,” Bill managed in a hoarse whisper as he took a few steps into the room and then put his arms out to embrace Alexis.
Alexis happily returned the hug and Lou saw the photographer follow in behind Bill, taking photo after photo to commemorate the moment.
Noticing that Alexis’s veil had become a little twisted, Lou moved in to fix it and then stood back, a genuine smile on her lips.
Alexis’s perfect day didn’t have to take away from Lou’s life. Alexis had waited a long time for the right man and she deserved every happiness. Lou wanted this for her, so much.
Alexis let go of Bill and the latter walked to Margie’s side as they proudly looked on at the woman they were about to share with Jared.
Lou’s smile grew, the jealousy now a distant memory as ecstasy for her friend filled her.
“So that means we’ll be starting soon?” Margie asked her husband.
Bill nodded. “Most of the guests are arriving. I’ll go down in about twenty minutes and you two can follow as soon as the wedding planner gives the go-ahead.”
Alexis pressed a hand to her stomach, biting her lip as she glanced at Lou.
Lou pumped her eyebrows, causing her friend to laugh.
Through the open door, Lou heard footsteps pounding up the stairs followed by the familiar call of, “Mommy!”
“And that’s my cue,” Lou said, giving Alexis a quick side hug before heading her kids off. She was pretty sure there wouldn’t be anything sticky or dirty on her children thanks to Jax getting them ready, but she wasn’t about to bet Alexis’s pristine white gown on that. Some of her children seemed to have a magnetic property when it came to grime.
Lou stood in front of the door to keep the adorable walking grenades from getting in before turning back to say, “Next time I see you you’ll be walking down the aisle to become Mrs. Tuttle.”
“Eep,” Alexis squeaked, now both hands on her stomach.
Lou sent one last grin to her friend before picking Hazel up in her arms.
“But I wanted to see Aunt Alexis,” Hazel moaned, her cute big brown eyes welling with tears.
“Look over Mom’s shoulder and you can see her, dummy,” Aiden pointed out unhelpfully.
Lou opened her mouth to reprimand her son when she heard a deep voice behind her. “Aiden, bud, I thought we talked about this.”
Lou felt her heart skitter at the sound of that voice.
“I’m sorry, Hazel,” Aiden conceded without a word from Lou.
Lou’s gaze met the handsome face she’d thought about all too often that morning. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
Jax winked and then shrugged, as if to say, all in a day’s work. And it was. For any parent. But Jax didn’t need to do any of this. And yet he was here, doing it.
“That’s okay,” Hazel muttered as she looked over Lou’s shoulder and saw Aunt Alexis in all her glory. “You look like a princess,” Hazel told the bride, satisfaction filling her voice.
The adults chuckled as Jax leaned around Lou to close the door behind her. Of course he already knew her objective was to keep the kids away from Alexis.
The action brought Jax quite close to Lou and she felt the warmth of his body before he leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead. “You aren’t supposed to outshine the bride.”
Jax appreciatively took in the blue dress that Alexis had insisted Lou wear as her maid of honor. It was a one-shoulder number that Lou wasn’t sure she could pull off. The simple silk dress had looked okay on the hanger but was brought to life with Lou’s curves. The hair stylist had gathered most of Lou’s brown hair on the top of her head and let a few pieces strategically fall around her face. Lou had felt pretty then, but felt absolutely stunning thanks to Jax’s reaction.
“Once you see her you’ll see that isn’t even possible,” Lou replied.
Jax shook his head and then whispered into her ear, “I don’t have to see her to know you are the most beautiful woman to ever grace this planet.”
Lou’s heart pounded as Jax took Hazel from her arms. And the little girl happily went to the man, telling Lou just how much Jax had wormed his way into Hazel’s heart as well.
“You all look so wonderful.” Lou realized she had yet to say anything about Hazel’s pretty white flower girl dress and the matching tuxes her two big boys were wearing.
“The tie itches,” Cash stated in a very Cash-like manner.
“And Jax said we can take off our jackets as soon as we finish ring bearing,” Aiden added.
Lou loved that he’d made the job of ring bearer into a verb.
Jax met Lou’s eyes, the question in them plain to read. Had he overstepped?
Lou was sure that the only reason Jax had said anything about the jackets was to get Aiden dressed in the first place and Lou was all too familiar with making promises for the future to accomplish what needed to be done in the present.
Lou hoped her small nod conveyed her approval before she turned back to Aiden. “As long as you put it back on for pictures.”
“Ah man,” Aiden complained but he didn’t object further so Lou was going to call that a win.
“Is Bill around?” Sasha, the wedding planner, asked breathlessly from the top of the stairs.
“In there.” Lou pointed to the room she’d just vacated. “Is it time already?”
Sasha nodded as she hurried down the hall and knocked on the door.
Lou realized her time was short and there was one more thing she had to do before she was ready to walk down the aisle.
“Why don’t you guys go into Grandpa’s room and look through the window to see how many guests are already sitting in their seats?” Lou asked her children.
“There are seats in Grandpa’s backyard?” Cash ran in the direction he’d been led.
“Cool!” Aiden followed after him.
“I wanna see too,” Hazel called after her brothers, causing Jax to put her down so that she could round out the group.
Jax eyes shone as he turned to Lou. “That seemed planned,” he said, taking a step closer to her.
“Did it?” Lou feigned innocence.
Jax smirked and Lou couldn’t help her sigh.
Every version of Jax was beyond good looking, but they all paled in comparison to Jax in a tuxedo.
“Good sigh?” Jax asked, taking Lou into his arms.
“Very good sigh. You know you clean up nicely, don’t you? Like I already thought there could be no better looking man, but then you show up topping you?”
Jax chuckled.
“Did you know that it’s good luck for the maid of honor to kiss a man before she walks down the aisle?” Lou asked coyly.
“Just any man?” Jax teased.
“Well, it is better if that man has babysat and fed the maid of honor’s kids as well as dressed them quite perfectly, even getting the oldest boy to wear his suit coat.”
“That sounds oddly specific.”
“Hey, I don’t make up the rules.”
Jax closed the distance between them and gently kissed Lou’s lips, butterflies filling her belly.
“I mean, it’s a sacrifice I was willing to make for luck.” Jax grinned.
“Well, if it’s such a sacrifice . . . ” Lou tried to pull away from Jax’s embrace but the motion was half-hearted and Jax knew full well what he was supposed to do.
His muscles tightened, stretching against his jacket as he pulled her into him once more, a possessive light in his eyes, and this time the kiss was far from gentle, this kiss telling Lou just what Jax thought of her in that dress.
“The chairs are just regular chairs,” Aiden complained, causing the two lovebirds to jump apart.
Her kids had seen Lou and Jax kiss before but she didn’t allow it often since she never wanted to make them feel uncomfortable. She figured she should keep this part of her life private as much as possible, at least until the kids seemed okay with it all.
“Was Mom kissing Jax again ?” Cash asked as he trailed after his brother.
“Hey, Jax was kissing your mother, thank you very much,” Lou defended before she truly thought about what she was doing.
Jax chuckled.
“I mean . . . ” Lou amended, “what do you mean by just regular chairs? Did you think they were special chairs?”
“Yeah. Because why would you tell us to go look at normal chairs?” Aiden asked.
“Yes, why would you do that, Lou?” Jax supplied unhelpfully.
Lou didn’t know whether to address the teasing or the chairs first.
“Because they were in the backyard,” Hazel said as she also came into the hall. “Table chairs don’t belong in the backyard. That makes them cool.”
“That’s not cool, Hazel,” Cash said, exasperation filling his tone.
“That’s because Hazel doesn’t know what cool is,” Aiden added.
“Both of you, be nice to your sister,” Lou reprimanded, annoyed at the fighting but a little grateful they’d moved on the from the kissing thing.
But did the matter-of-fact way Aiden had brought it up mean her kids were okay with the kissing? Lou wondered if her kids were closer to accepting her and Jax as a permanent thing than she’d thought. Not that she was sure she and Jax would be permanent. She hoped, but that didn’t mean . . .
The bedroom door opened and Sasha appeared with Bill.
“Lou, I’m going to need your kids ready at the end of the aisle in five,” Sasha ordered kindly before ushering Bill down the steps.
Lou would have responded but it seemed unnecessary since Sasha was already nearly out of earshot.
“Let’s go get those pillows and flowers,” Lou said to her kids as she led them after Sasha, hoping all would go well. Hazel had been a pro at gently dropping the petals on both sides of the aisle but her worry was for her boys. They had tried to race one another down the aisle during the rehearsal and both had dropped their pillows in their haste. Alexis had assured Lou that the rings would be tied on securely but Lou truly hoped that her boys had learned their lesson. She’d reiterated time and time again that they had one job. Nicely walk those pillows down the aisle.
“So what are you boys supposed to do?” Lou asked.
“Hold the pillow and walk, walk down the aisle,” Aiden repeated the portion Lou often had.
“Why do we have to hold a pillow though? It would be faster if we just threw the rings to Uncle Jared,” Cash said.
Lou prayed for patience.
“Today isn’t about what’s fastest, Bud. It’s about making this nice for Uncle Jared and Aunt Alexis,” Jax supplied.
“Oh, okay,” Cash responded as if that was all he’d needed to understand what she’d been vainly attempting to hammer into him all this time.
Lou let out a sigh of relief as they made their way to the side gate where everyone else was gathering.
A wedding assistant handed a pillow each to the boys and then a basket full of rose petals to Hazel.
“I’ll see you in there,” Jax told Lou. Then he leaned closer, lowering his voice to a volume meant for Lou’s ears only. “I’ll be the man who can’t take his eyes off of you.”
She beamed as she watched her man jog into the backyard. Dang, she loved him.
“So it’s Emma, then me, then you, right?”
Lou turned around to see that Brittany and Emma had joined them.
“That’s right,” Lou told her niece as the assistant gave her, Emma, and Brittany bouquets of blue hydrangea, white roses, and baby’s breath.
“I’m so excited,” Emma declared.
“Me too,” Brittany said happily and then added, “Look, my mom’s here.”
Lou glanced in the direction Brittany had pointed to see that indeed Marsha was there, and she was seated nicely as a guest, doing nothing to draw attention to herself. Lou knew her sister was genuinely attempting to turn over a new leaf, and yet, anything to do with Alexis had seemed to bring out the worst in her. But it looked like Marsha was really trying that day. And Lou had to give her sister props for that.
Music began to play in the backyard and Lou knew that meant that Bill, followed by Jared and his parents, were walking in from the other side of the yard.
“You’re on in one,” Sasha said to Lou’s boys.
They both looked back at Lou for clarification.
“One minute until you walk down the aisle,” Lou translated.
“Oh,” Cash said dramatically as Aiden nodded.
Heaven help them all.
Lou heard fabric rustling behind her and she turned to see Alexis being led over the uneven grass by her mom.
“I’m getting married,” Alexis stated in a breathless whisper as she drew up beside Lou.
Lou nodded. “I know. It’s freaking thrilling.”
“Isn’t it?” Alexis radiated joy.
Lou turned toward the backyard when the gate opened and she watched her boys walk, not run toward the aisle. So far so good.
Lou felt an arm link through hers and she didn’t have to look to know that the arm belonged to Alexis.
“Can you believe we’re really here?” Alexis breathed.
Lou smiled as she watched Hazel follow her brothers.
Alexis dropped her voice so the little ones couldn’t overhear. “I mean, it feels like it was just weeks ago that I was crying to you about how terrible all men are and you were still putting up with Harvey’s crap and now . . . ”
“We’re both so happy,” Lou finished for her, her heart nearly flying away it was so content.
Alexis swallowed as she nodded. “I just couldn’t let this day go on without telling you how grateful I am for you. Men are wonderful. Jared is my world. But you, Lou, you were there when I was at my lowest. You showed me how to rebuild my self-esteem one brick at a time so that I could be here today. Without you . . . ” Alexis paused and Lou knew exactly what she was thinking because Lou was thinking the same thing. Lou didn’t want to imagine where she’d be now if it weren’t for her best friend. Tears welled in both women’s eyes. “Because of you, I am here. I am me. And I’m proud of who I am. I can give myself to Jared because I know who I am. I love who I am. And that’s on you, Lou.”
Lou shook her head. That was all Alexis. Lou had just been along for the ride.
“I wish they had weddings for best friends. Because I’d best friend marry you in a heartbeat.”
Lou laughed, trying to blink away the tears so she wouldn’t ruin her makeup.
“I’d best friend marry you too.”
They both watched Emma and then Brittany walk down the aisle next. “And we’d live happily ever after, right?” Alexis asked.
Lou nodded. “Of course we would. And now I’m going to hand you off to your mom. Because not only do we get our friend happily ever after, but you’re about to start yours with Jared too.”
Alexis beamed. “Love you, Lou.”
Lou wiped away an errant happy tear. “Love you more.”
Then it was Lou’s turn to a walk down the aisle on her best friend’s special day. And she had absolutely no doubt what she’d told Alexis was the truth. Today was the beginning of the rest of Alexis’s forever. And Lou would celebrate with Alexis that day, as well as every day beyond.