Chapter 52
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
“If you mess up her makeup again, I’m going to throw a damn shoe at you.
” Savannah scowls at my brother as we all swipe away tears.
There have been a lot of emotions, but when my brother gave me an iconic pale blue jewelry box as my something new, I was not expecting it to be a set of silver and diamond mixed cluster earrings, with alternating carat sizes creating the illusion of a shooting star.
“I’m not quite sure how we went so long without talking about where the inspiration for Lux came from, not just the company, but the name, everything.
” My brother clears his throat before continuing, “But you were this force as a little girl, even before you won that talent show, and when you went on stage, you lit it up like the brightest star. You have always been a bright light, even when others have tried to dim or control it, you still shine, Tinsley. And...” Wells looks up to the ceiling as he tries to compose himself and clears his throat again.
“Ah, fuck it.” He grabs me and pulls me in for a hug, and I wrap my arms around my big brother.
“Watch her hair!” Savannah squeaks from behind me, making me chuckle.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Tinsley. Anyone that thinks that I am the impressive sibling has it entirely wrong.
When you told me that you wanted to sing, I thought it was a cute dream, but I’ll never forget the first time I saw you on stage at the state fair.
” Of course, he won’t forget it—the man has a damn-near eidetic memory.
“Eres increíble, hermanita.” You are amazing, little sister.
“I knew you were special because your light was so big. It still is, Tins. You could never step on stage again, and I would still be proud to be your brother because it has nothing to do with the fame and everything you’ve accomplished, but it’s because of the amazing person you turned out to be, despite our shit parents.
Although I do think hiding your light would be some kind of crime though, but whatever you want or need to be happy in this life, I will forever have your back and cheer you on.
Eres brillante, Tinsley, más brillante que cualquier estrella.
Te quiero.” You are brilliant, Tinsley, brighter than any star. I love you.
I whisper into his ear, “Eres el mejor, Wells. Yo también te quiero.” You're the best, Wells. I love you too.
“Holy cannoli, girl, that’s like seventy grand in earrings!
” Cara blurts out, making us laugh, and I pull back from my brother to see Cami elbow her.
“What? I know my Tiffany’s. I’m sorry, I forget you guys are all stupid rich.
” I stick my tongue out in jest at my friend.
She’s not wrong, but I know she doesn’t actually care if we have money or not, even if it’s not the price tag that brought tears to my eyes.
No, it’s the stars and what my brother said.
And then—in an entirely hypocritical move—Savannah damn near topped my own brother’s sweet gesture.
“You never had the chance to meet our mama, but I know she’s here today.
Vivian accidentally started this tradition at our brother’s wedding the other month, so I’m making it a thing by carrying it on.
” I was at that wedding, but I’m not sure what tradition I missed.
“When Mama gave birth to both Vivian and me, Daddy gave her special rings to commemorate the occasion. Vivian’s has an emerald as the center stone.
” Savannah nods to Vivian, who lifts her right hand and shows the ring on her ring finger.
“And my ring is this one.” Savannah reaches over and pulls off the ring she wears every day on her right hand.
I know between her divorce and when she was married to Theo, she wore it on her left hand for a time too, but she wears this ring every day—and it’s way too special for her to be loaning it to me.
“It can count as something old, something borrowed, and something blue.” Her gorgeous ring is a cushion cut sapphire in a dainty pavé setting.
I lift my hand in panic as it feels like too much.
“Don’t you dare say no, that’s rude.” Savannah shoots me a mama glare before winking at me.
“But seriously, you can’t say no. I won’t allow it.
You’re only borrowing it for today. It’s also very symbolic because it first belonged to Mama, and now it’s mine, so to be on your finger today is another way of us claiming you as a Callahan.
” She takes my right hand and slides the ring onto my finger.
“It’s also a way to include Mama in today and I know Jack will be floored to see it.
” She squeezes my hand, wiping away a tear with her other hand, before leaning in and kissing my cheek.
“And I love adding another sister to our growing Brigade.”
“Hear, hear. I love it so much!” Vivian comes up and hugs me from the other side, while I’m engulfed in a hug from Cami and my other new sister-in-law, who only recently joined The Brigade herself.
The Callahan siblings are known as The Cavalry, but since Vivian married Walker, then Savannah married Theo, they refer to the larger group as The Brigade. I was added to the group text months ago, but to know I’m an official member of it after today? That’s pretty damn special in its own right.
“This is all very adorable, but there is a very anxious groom downstairs that is ready to get this show on the road,” Finn says from the doorway with an unapologetic grin. “But we can make him sweat it out, could be fun if you want to mess with him.” He winks at me, making us all laugh.
“Nah, let’s put him out of his misery,” I concede as Savannah touches up my makeup one last time. Vivian hands me my bouquet, fluffs my skirt before giving me a kiss on the cheek, and hustles the others out of the upstairs bedroom that we’ve been getting ready in.
My dress feels like it belongs to an actual princess.
The strapless sweetheart neckline felt mandatory with how much Jack loves my boobs—not something I'd comment to my brother about—but I can tell him how much I love the beaded detail that covers the A-line skirt. When Pippa suggested trying a bridal boutique in Nashville, I couldn’t believe they had this dress in stock so I could buy it off the rack.
The ruched bodice is complimentary to my generous curves, and the high slit in the skirt is a little fun surprise.
Instead of a traditional veil, I opted for a decorative hair clip.
I hear the music start and my bridesmaids begin their descent down the main staircase.
I asked Savannah, Vivian, Cami, and Allie to stand up for me, which worked out well for Jack’s brothers and Wells as groomsmen.
Usually, the best man doesn’t give away the bride as well, but who cares—we’re doing things our way, including having five-month-old twins CJ and Fitz as my flower girl and ring bearer, both of whom are being carried down the aisle by Olivia and Emily.
“What do you say, kid? Want to take a little walk with me?” Wells asks as he gives up fighting the tears that glisten in his eyes.
“Sounds great, brother. Let’s go get my man.”
“Love you, Tins.”
“Love you, too, Wells.” I squeeze his forearm as he tucks my hand in his arm to walk me down the rounded staircase in the Callahan’s foyer, which then meets the aisles as indicated by CJ and Fitz’s cousins scattering rose petals on their behalf.
I hear a cello playing an acoustic version of my song “Everything to You” and I give up the futile fight against the tears in my eyes.
When I told Jack two days ago that I wanted to do this on New Year’s Eve, I wasn’t prepared to have as much help as we did when we immediately announced it at my birthday brunch.
The Callahans like to have a New Year’s Eve get together with each other—of course they do—so it was perfect when Murphy offered up his home, which is where Jack wanted to do it anyway.
Savannah and Vivian said they would handle all the details for the actual ceremony.
How in the world did they remember that I love this cello version of my song?
I had made one comment about it to Savannah in passing months ago when Olivia sent me a video of someone playing a cover of my song with their cello.
I didn’t care about matching bridesmaid dresses, so they all wore whatever dress they wanted—and they all happen to be coordinating in navy dresses, which has Savannah written all over it.
The white hydrangeas and roses are perfect details to a day that was thrown together so quickly, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Especially my man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
Wells likes to call Jack the Ice Man, but consider him officially melted, and he isn’t even trying to hide the tears that trail down his face. He isn’t sad, no, my man is radiating happiness, which is appropriate because that’s what he makes me feel every single day.
Jack asked Max to officiate, in part because he wanted his brothers to stand up for him, and in part because we wanted to keep the guest list as small as possible, so when we had a role we needed, we looked at the people we had coming and tried to fill it.
Willa and Stacy are taking pictures for us, and despite not being able to be here in person, Sophia walked Liam through how to set up the room to get it all on video without us even noticing the cameras.
Cami and Cara helped coordinate all the food and whatever additional catering we needed beyond their insane skills.
Lauren helped herd the cousins and babies.
The men were the manual labor to clear Murphy’s family room, dining room furniture, and set up the chairs for the ceremony.
It has been two days of organized chaos—perfect organized chaos.