14. Bliss
Bliss
The day of the wedding came fast. For most people, picking a wedding date has more to do with venue availability.
But here in Pine Ridge, it means that everyone has to find time to take a break from spring roundups.
All the hay farmers are about to start cutting, and everyone’s gearing up for summer harvests.
We decided it was either a quick engagement and a May wedding, or wait all the way until the winter time.
Since my mom has already started turning my room into her new quilting space, Zane and I decided we might as well get married right away. Our engagement has lasted less than four weeks.
No one has commented on the brevity of it, besides telling us how happy they are for us and asking if they can bring some food to the reception.
It’s one of the many reasons why I love this town.
Even things like weddings aren’t a one-family show.
I’ve hardly had to do a thing to get ready for my own wedding with all the volunteer help.
I’m grateful for it, because I have been busy dealing with a group of late lambing ewes that keep having problems. This morning, I had to pull a breech single lamb.
Luckily, both the ewe and the lamb lived and are doing great.
But it wasn’t exactly a very wedding-ish activity to do.
It definitely wasn’t an appointment at the nail salon.
My sisters were laughing when I came back to the house, splattered with afterbirth.
My mom was horrified, and Dad asked if I was able to save the ewe.
Both my brothers-in-law were wise enough not to make any comment on the situation.
Both of my sisters are here for the wedding.
Briar and her family, along with Belle and her husband, flew up to spend the week with us.
We lost both Briar and Belle to Texas when they married.
It’s a crying shame because I really like my sisters.
And I like their husbands, too. I wish I could convince them to move back.
Briar adjusts the small veil pin on the back of my hair and then comes around to stand in front of me, brushing a few wispy hairs back. “You look so beautiful. I cannot believe you’re getting married today. My baby sister.”
Her eyes are misty, and I’m scared she’s going to make me cry.
“Don’t do it, Briar,” I tell her. “I don’t know how waterproof my mascara is.”
She laughs and pulls me into a hug, careful not to crush my hair or the veil. “I love you so much, and I’m so glad for you. Zane is such a good guy, and I hope you two will be very happy.”
Briar and Zane went to school together. From what I gather, I think they were friends. But honestly, I wasn’t paying that much attention when they were in high school. I was busy in my elementary class.
“Do you think it’s weird?” I pull back a little to look at her face. “Be honest—is the age gap strange?”
She shakes her head. “No. Knowing both of you the way I do, it doesn’t surprise me at all.
Actually, I think you will get along really well.
You have qualities that complement each other.
He’s a lot of fun, and you have a quick sense of humor.
I’ve never seen two people more willing to help someone else, and I can see if you aim that kindness toward each other, you’ll always feel loved and cared for.
Oh, and I forgot the most important thing: you’re both workaholics.
” She laughs when I glare at her. “It’s okay though, because you love what you do.
I hope you have a lot of fun because I have a lot of fun with Oliver, even though we’ve been married for seven years now. ”
She rests a hand on her belly. “And who knows? Maybe sooner rather than later, Addison and baby Billy will have a cousin,” she says with a grin.
She is six months pregnant and having a boy, which is another reason Zane and I decided to get married right away—because if I waited longer, she wouldn’t have been able to come. Apparently, airlines frown upon people giving birth on an airplane. Addison, my niece, is going to be the flower girl.
“Yes, well, they’ll have a cousin from Belle.
Your due dates are only a couple of months apart.
You have to give me a while to get used to being married before we even mention a baby.
” I force a smile as I realize it might be years before that’s a reality for me.
It’s not even something Zane and I have thought about, much less discussed.
The door to the bedroom opens, cutting off anything Briar could say, and Dad steps in. We’re in the Maddens’ house, and Zane’s mom kindly set up all sorts of mirrors for us in the guest room so that we could get ready here.
“Oh, you’re so beautiful,” Dad tells me as he thumps across the floor. He’s wearing his nice cowboy boots today, and he even shined them for the event.
He gives me a big hug, not being careful about the veil, or my hair, and pressing it flat. I don’t care. My dad is the best. He’s a bit abrupt with a lot of people, but when it comes to my sisters and me, he saves up all that squishy, lovely inside, and I’m not mad about it.
“It’s not too late,” Dad says. “You can live with me forever, you know.”
The door opens again, and Mom walks in. “Hubert, you’re ruining her hair!” she exclaims.
Dad releases me, and Mom fusses as she sets about adjusting my veil and hair again. “What a wonderful day. I can’t believe you’re finally getting married and moving out of the house.”
I give Dad a pointed look. His lips press into a flat line.
“Are you all ready? You’re a couple of minutes late,” Mom says. “But that’s okay. There are still guests coming.”
Charlie and Belle walk into the room, wearing their matching pale-yellow sundresses. The two of them and Briar are my bridesmaids.
Zane’s oldest brother, Aidan, flew in from Colorado to be his best man. His middle brother, Drew, unfortunately couldn’t make it due to being stationed in an unknown location with the military. So Zane asked Max and Nash to be his groomsmen.
Magnolia kindly agreed to be the guest book attendant, and I’m sure she’s out there making friends.
“Everyone is ready,” Charlie informs me. “You look amazing, Bliss. Zane is so lucky.”
“That’s so nice of you to say,” I tell her.
Charlie holds the door open, and the rest of us walk out into the hallway and make our way through the Maddens’ house.
“How are we going to walk down the path without your dress getting all dirty?” Mom says.
Belle steps behind me and lifts up the train. “Don’t worry; I’ve got it,” she says.
Belle is also pregnant, but she’s only five months along. It’s her first, and her bump isn’t quite as big as Briar’s, so she’s able to bend a little easier.
I take a slow, shaky breath as we start down the path toward the barn, the barn where I’m about to get married despite all my concerns.
I know deep down that this is the right thing to do for my life.
But all I can do is watch my red cowboy boots carry me toward commitment.
It’s as though someone else is operating my legs for me.
Because surely I’m not about to marry Zane?
If I were to explain it to other people, I don’t think it would make sense. I don’t think they would understand why I’m marrying Zane. Right now I truly do feel like a burden to my parents. They wouldn’t understand that he’s offering me an honest place of belonging. Somewhere I’m welcome.
He might not love me, but he wants me, out of everyone, to be his wife.
I’m going to promise him forever in front of all our friends and family.