CHAPTER 54
Maddie
“It’s crazy out there. Wait till you see the Jam Squad.”
Rhonda, who got off crutches three months ago, has just returned from checking to see how many people have already arrived. I’m so glad she’s here. It wouldn’t have been the same without her. “The Jam Squad?”
“Is Ash with them?”
“Of course.”
Elsie is done messing with my hair. “Give us a spin.”
I turn in front of the mirror. I was too busy to make the dress myself, so I had Ryleigh Bardot make it, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. I told her to come see me after she graduates. I think she’d make a good addition to my team of designers.
It’s been six months since Riggs proposed.
We’ve both been busy, but we didn’t want to put it off any longer.
Sarah and Mark’s ranch was the only place I would consider.
It’s so beautiful this time of year. And it’s strange, maybe even poetic to think I’m getting married where Jake nearly turned me off to all men forever.
So much has changed in the past six months.
Elsie is in the middle of moving her business from Colorado to Portland.
She bought a three-hundred-acre ranch just outside of town and moved there with Arlo and Odie.
Her “bitch-boy” is staying in Denver. Apparently, she’s planning to go back and forth.
Sounds… unpleasant, but it’s what she wants.
None of us knows what’s up with Ash. He’s best friends with the Jam Squad but swears he hasn’t so much as touched any of the women.
I believe him, but I don’t know what to make of it.
He sure spends a lot of time with them, and if the rumor mill surrounding the Jam Squad was crazy before, adding a hot, young billionaire to the mix has only spiced things up.
Rhonda traded Top in for the director of a soap opera she met in LA.
My best friend is finding her own fame since she landed a not-so-small role on her new boyfriend’s show.
The soap takes place in a hospital, and she plays a sexy nurse.
It fits her so well. I even see her name pop up in entertainment news occasionally.
Usually, it’s a story speculating about whether she landed the role, and that’s how she met the director, or did she land the director, and that’s how she got the role?
When I asked her about it, she said it was a little of both.
I have no idea what that means, but I’m super excited for her.
Riggs bought the hundred-plus wooded acres at the back of Zane and Chelsea’s ranch. We’re building a ginormous log cabin on it, big enough for a few kids. It’s right on the river, and I love it as much as he does.
Ash bought the hundred and eighty acres next to us, so we share a fence. So far, he’s parked an RV on his land and hasn’t decided what he wants to build.
As a wedding present to me, Riggs handed his shares of the roofing company over to Keegan and Josh.
They couldn’t be more grateful. Their business is doing well, and Josh even has a girlfriend for the first time in his life, someone he met online.
They haven’t actually met in person yet so it will be interesting to see how that plays out.
Jake is serving time in prison for dealing fentanyl.
Apparently, he sold the drugs to an undercover cop in Portland, and when they went to arrest him, he took most of the Portland police department on a high-speed chase that caused a lot of damage.
The news said he’ll be eligible for parole in seven years.
Chelsea said she hopes he gets pimped out for cigarettes.
I can’t say I would feel bad if that happened.
The new setup for the National Discovery show is working out perfectly.
Once a month, Riggs and Ash leave for about a week, give or take a day or two.
When they’re gone, Elsie and I go shopping.
She took me to Paris during their last trip.
I joked to Riggs that I look forward to when he’s off on his adventures now.
Elsie and I are already like sisters, which is nice since Rhonda lives in Hollywood. After today, I guess we really will be.
My dad isn’t here. Big surprise there. Keegan and Josh are pretty upset about it, but I’m not. I expected as much after he didn’t show up for Mom’s funeral.
Drury Lane Bakery made our wedding cake. Strawberry-rhubarb. What else would it be in Sweetbriar Hollow?
The organ music starts, and a thousand butterflies take flight in my stomach. This is it.
Elsie takes a step back. “You look beautiful.”
“Ready?” Rhonda asks.
I nod as Rhonda pulls the veil over my face. When I turn and step out of Sarah’s house, Keegan and Josh are there to walk me down the aisle.
“You look good, sis,” Josh says.
“Thanks. Whatever you do, don’t let me fall.”
Keegan takes my other arm. “Not a chance. We got you.”
I think half the town is here as we walk the white carpet between rows of people sitting on white chairs.
Riggs and the priest are waiting patiently for me under a large arch covered with flowers.
Rhonda, Elsie, and Chelsea quickly take their places as my bridesmaids.
Ash looks good in a tux, even though we all know how much he hates wearing it. Who else would be the best man today?
Riggs looks good in a tux, too, like make-my-knees-weak good. He had only one request—that I wear my red lingerie tonight. I was going to get something new, but he insisted on it. Whatever makes him happy.
Keegan hands me off to Riggs, then takes a step back. My heart pitter-patters and I can hardly believe that the guy I met in the snow while wearing a bikini is the same guy standing in front of me now.
The priest walks us through our vows then Riggs slips a silver band on my finger that matches the diamond ring he gave me when he proposed.
Then he lifts my veil and looks into my eyes.
“God, you’re beautiful. I feel like the luckiest man alive.
” To my surprise he cups my face. We didn’t rehearse any of this and I think he’s just being emotional, which I totally get.
“I love you, Maddie, more than anything. You’re everything to me and you always will be. ”
I almost melt. We didn’t plan on saying anything. He was just supposed to kiss me, but this was… better.
Before I can respond, the priest raises his voice. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
It’s the kiss of all kisses.
Everyone erupts in applause. People are shouting their congratulations. It’s loud and fun and I want to pinch myself. How can this be real?
I take it all in for a moment, then turn to my husband. “Riggs.”
“Yeah.”
“I love you too.”