Chapter 18
Emryn
The drive up to my parent’s house is beautiful, with white fencing that lines it until it opens up to their mountain cabin.
This morning, I’d gone to get my hair done. I was initially supposed to be getting it done for the ceremony today, but since that’s not happening, I turned it into a color appointment instead. My favorite stylist curled it into soft curls that framed my face, and I was excited to come home and show Brooks. But when I arrived, he was gone, along with Avery and Kip.
It’s been four days since Brooks and Avery picked Kip up at the hospital, and we are adjusting—even though we are all still sitting on the edge of our seats waiting for the biopsy results to come back. We should hear no later than next week, but that doesn’t make the waiting any easier.
I take the last curve of the drive before it opens up to the cabin, and I’m instantly confused. Cars line the drive, some bleeding into the grass. There have to be at least fifty cars here, but even with the multitude of people that have to be packed into my parent’s home, my eyes skip over it all to Brooks, who is standing on the front porch, wearing a tux, that I’m afraid to know what he pulled to get it, and a grin full of mischief. My heart skips a beat, and I wonder if that’s how I’ll die one day—from my heart malfunctioning at the sight of my husband. His hair is styled, and his shoulder is leaned against one of the porch posts. He looks relaxed, more than I’ve seen in a couple of weeks.
I don’t bother trying to find a place to park. Coming to a stop in the middle of the driveway, I put my car in park and open my door, stepping out.
Brooks stays where he is, leaning against the post and giving me an appreciative stare as I walk toward him. He raises one brow and smiles, the dimple poking in on his cheek. It makes me want to stick my finger in it so he’ll stop looking so handsome that it makes it hard to breathe.
When I’m standing on the porch in front of him, I cock an eyebrow. “What’s going on here?”
That smile of his kicks up a notch, and with it, my heart.
“We’re having a party.”
And man, if his voice doesn’t pebble my skin even in the warm air.
“In a suit?” I ask, looking him up and down, making a show of how much I appreciate the view.
Biting his lip, he doesn’t bother hiding the heat in his eyes. “All parties are better in a tux.”
“Uh-huh. Now tell me what’s really going on. You look suspicious.”
Without warning, he grabs me around the waist, pulling me to him. I go willingly, melting into the hard planes of his chest. I could spend forever in his arms, but it still wouldn’t be long enough. “Avery and I have a surprise for you, but you have to get ready first. Your mom is waiting for you in your room.”
My arms are around his neck, and I tilt my head back to look up at him. “Does this have anything to do with the cars parked out there?”
He shrugs. “Perhaps, but before I tell you, I have a question.”
Brooks’s hand slides across my lower back, barely skimming over the fabric of my shirt, but I feel it all the way down to my toes. He takes his hand from my back, shoving his hand in his pocket and leaving a trail of heat on my skin. And when he pulls his hand from his pocket, that heat takes over my whole body.
I drag my eyes up from the thing in his hand to meet his gaze. He’s watching me, that heat a living furnace in his eyes. “What do you say about marrying me again?”
“Right now?” I ask, my voice cracking.
With the hand still on my back, he takes my hand and lifts it, slipping the RingPop he holds onto my ring finger along with my wedding ring. “Right now. Right here in your parent’s backyard. Marry me again—but just so you know, if you say no, there are a lot of people here that will be disappointed.”
“How can I say no then?” I ask with a teasing grin. “Of course, I’ll marry you again. But I have a stipulation.”
Brooks rolls his eyes. “Of course you do.”
Lifting my hand, I lay my hand against his face and swipe my thumb over his cheek. “Kiss me.”
And so he does.
______________________
After the kiss that left me forgetting my own name, I walked up to my childhood bedroom to find my mom waiting, just like Brooks said she was.
Now, I’m sitting in a chair in front of a mirror, getting my make-up done. Brooks thought of everything for this. I’ll never understand how he put this together so quickly, but I’ll forever be grateful.
I didn’t tell him, but canceling our vow renewal broke my heart a little. I didn’t want him to feel guilty over it—not when we had Kip to worry about—but he noticed how it made me feel. We wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t, and I am thankful because there was a time when I felt like a window in our marriage. He looked through me instead of at me. Now, I can confidently say that he sees me, even the feelings I try to bury and hide from myself.
My mom appears over the make-up artist’s shoulder and looks down at me with tears in her eyes. “You look beautiful.”
Lifting my lips, I offer her a smile around the lipstick currently being applied. “Thanks, Mom. Where’s Avery?”
Her eyes light up with the mention of my daughter, filling my heart with so much joy. That little girl has so many people who love her. “She’s with your Dad. I’m sure they are getting into trouble somewhere.”
I scoff and roll my eyes because she’s not lying. My dad and Avery tend to find trouble wherever they go together.
With one last swipe across my lips, the make-up artist stands up and admires her work. “There. You’re all done. I’ll step out and let you get dressed, and I’ll gather my stuff once you’re done.”
I nod but remain quiet, nerves suddenly settling in my stomach. Mom seems to notice, stepping up and squeezing my hand while the make-up artist slips out.
“Come on, dear,” she says, tugging on my hand. “Let me help you get dressed.”
Hindsight is twenty/twenty. When my original dress didn’t fit, I was heartbroken, but after Brooks encouraged me to buy a new one, Mom and I went shopping. And that husband of mine was right. I needed a dress that fit who I am now, not who I used to be, because that girl from before is not the same as the woman now—not even close.
With steady hands, Mom reaches forward to the dress bag hanging on the door and lowers the zipper. As each inch of the dress is revealed, I remember again why I fell in love with it.
Lace covers every inch of the dress, revealing a tan underlay. It’s simple, with sleeves that billow out and a back that is cut out. It made me feel beautiful in a way that is sometimes hard to do as a mom.
“May I?” Mom asks, indicating the dress.
I nod, shedding my robe as she takes it out of the bag and holds it for me to step into, and as the silk underlining slides over my skin, I can’t help but wonder at the moment.
“I didn’t think we would make it here,” I say, my voice a little broken as I recall where we were. It was a kind of darkness we couldn’t see our way out of, but luckily, the people around us could. We found our way, even when we didn’t think we would.
“You did, but I always knew you would. You and Brooks are the type that are meant for forever. I knew it even when you were young. That man has always looked at you like you were his best friend. He just got a little lost for a while.”
“Me too.” I’m not willing to deny the faults I had in our struggle. There are things I messed up, too. “But God helped us find our path.”
“That he did,” she says. With careful movements, she zips up my dress and places her hands on my shoulder. “Are you ready?”
Nodding, I try to swallow, but the nerves won’t let me get it down.
She pats my arms and slowly turns me to face the mirror. A small gasp escapes me as I take it all in—me, the dress, the way my mom stares at me with tears in her eyes. My chest aches in the best possible way, like there’s too much happiness sitting inside it, and it needs to find a way out.
A lone tear leaks from the corner of my eye, and Mom tsks her tongue. “Don’t you ruin that make-up. You have a husband waiting on you.”
I turn, bending to hug her. She’s the best mom, and I can only hope to be half of what she is. “I love you, Mom.”
“Oh, baby,” she whispers, “I love you too.”
Pulling back, I sniffle one more time, then plaster on a big grin. “Let’s go get me married—again.”