Epilogue
Theresa took a deep breath as Margo zipped up her wedding dress. Margo stood behind her and looked over her shoulder into the mirror. "You're beautiful, Theresa."
"Do I look fat? Marco feeds me far too well. I've been doing yoga, but he's an excellent chef."
Margo chuckled. "No, you don't look fat. You're incredibly beautiful."
Theresa smiled. "Thank you."
She took a deep breath and turned to Margo. "I never thought this would happen for me."
"He's a lucky man to have you, Theresa. Just as lucky as you are to have him."
"Thank you."
The door burst open and Effie Karason, Marco’s sister and the youngest in the Karason clan popped into the room with the enthusiasm of a toddler with a new balloon.
"He's ready. Good Lord Almighty, we never thought the man would settle down. Our mamma and papa are smiling down from above on this day."
Effie stopped as her eyes landed on Theresa. "Oh my goodness, you're beautiful!"
Theresa and Margo both laughed. She'd met Effie earlier this week when Marco's family came into town, and she was a burst of energy.
Theresa held her hands out to Effie with a smile. "Thank you."
"Oh damn, Marco's gonna bust when he sees you."
Margo laughed and so did Theresa. "I'd prefer he didn't bust, but thank you very much."
Someone knocked on the door and Effie turned in a swirl of light blue as her dress flowed around her and opened the door.
"Hi, my name is Izzy Payton from Petal Pushers."
Effie stood back and held the door open as she announced. "Petal Pushers is here. I like that name. Why is it most of the businesses in town have names like The Bookkeepers? The Insurance Agents? I swear there's no imagination here."
Izzy entered the room with two white boxes stacked on top of each other and Margo rushed to help her. Izzy thanked Margo, then turned to Effie. "I didn't get to name my business because my father did when he started the business. But, it keeps people from having to guess as to what your business is, doesn't it?"
"I suppose." Effie seemed to shrug it off and moved to open the boxes of flowers. Izzy opened the second box and pulled out Theresa's bouquet. It was stunning. A water drop shape held white roses, blue daylilies, carnations, and blue ribbons. Effie's bouquet was a small cluster of white roses and blue daylilies with shorter blue ribbons. The men's boutonnieres were blue roses. Marco's was a white and blue rose. They'd purposely kept things simple and sleek, and she was happy. There wasn't a flurry of preparations after their engagement last month; they simply invited Marco's family because Theresa didn't have anyone left in her family. They also invited their friends here in Blossom Springs. Simple. Elegant. Private.
Izzy picked up the box of boutonnieres and stepped toward the door. "I'll go find the guys and get their boutonnieres pinned on. Where are they?"
Margo directed Izzy to the office downstairs. The women had taken over the private room upstairs to dress and get ready.
Theresa wasn't sure what to do from here. She checked her watch and saw they had ten minutes to go. She was afraid to sit down because her dress would wrinkle. She felt fortunate to have found this dress on short notice. She and Margo went shopping and as if it were meant to be, they found this stunner on the rack. It was a figure-fitting white dress with lace overlay. Sheer sleeves and lace embellishments. And she felt beautiful in it. Her hair was pinned up on her head with a few curls framing her face. Her diamond ring had to be taken to the jewelers this week to have the wedding band soldered to it and she felt naked without it all week. She'd grown fond of looking at the glittering ring on her finger.
She inhaled deeply and Margo chuckled. "Soon."
"I know. This waiting is the worst. If he's ready, we should get on with it. We can stand around for the rest of the day."
Margo laughed and pulled her phone from her purse. "Hey, handsome. Are the guys ready? The bride is."
"Okay. I'll tell her."
"The men are ready and for the record, Marco's sick of standing around too."
Theresa grinned.
Effie clapped her hands. "Okay, let's go get my brother a wife."
Theresa and Margo both laughed, and the ever-exuberant Effie hustled out the door without waiting for instructions.
Margo stared at the back of the door for a moment, then asked, "How old is she?"
Theresa chuckled. "She's a lot, isn't she? The house has been incredibly busy this week. She's twenty-seven."
"And none of the brothers are married?"
Theresa shook her head. "Nope. They seem great, but they have a family tendency to be loners. Except Effie. She says she's just picky. Her exact words are pickier than shit and I have big-ass brothers who won't let me take crap from any man."
Margo laughed and Theresa shook her head. She'd been hearing this all week. She told Marco that one day Effie would meet "the one" and that would be the end of it. She'd be head-over-heels, and those big-ass brothers would need to deal.
Izzy stepped back into the room with a pretty smile on her face. "It's time."
Margo nodded to Theresa. "Ready?"
"Yep."
Marco
Marco listened to his older brother, Brock, tell a story about a time when he was in Fallujah clearing a house. He'd heard this story before and right now, he wanted to focus on marrying Theresa, but his younger brother, Devin, seemed completely interested in the story, so Marco politely listened. His mind wondered what Theresa looked like right now.
Jace entered the room. "The bride is ready. How about the groom?"
Marco nodded. "The groom is also ready."
Jace nodded. "Perfect, let's go get you married."
Marco chuckled and followed Jace from the office. Brock and Devin were behind him, still chatting about his mission. He loved his siblings. They didn't see each other often, maybe two or three times a year. But he sure was ready to have their house back and quiet again. And he wanted Theresa to himself. Effie badgered her constantly about everything. What did she do all day while Marco worked? Did she like dogs? Did she think they'd have kids? What would they name them if they did? It went on and on every day. Theresa was exhausted and he felt bad for her. He'd sprung his family on her and she never complained. But the wear was beginning to show. Tonight, they were heading to a hotel where they'd spend their wedding night quietly and he'd get to enjoy his new wife.
They ascended the stairs to the upper dining room and walked out to the upper deck. Theresa had asked to be married where Marco had proposed. Mason and Carley married up here and she thought it was a beautiful setting. He agreed with her. They asked Jace and Margo, who were eager to have the wedding at the Sandbar, and what a beautiful wedding it would be.
He stepped onto the deck and took in the view. Izzy Payton from Petal Pushers had wrapped the railing in white and blue flowers. The tables had been moved away for the ceremony and would be brought back for the reception. He and his brothers took their places at the front of the deck, where the minister stood. He looked out onto the small intimate crowd they'd gathered to witness their wedding today and his heart filled with appreciation for their presence. Sid and his wife Grace were here. Quinn and Hanna. Mason and Carley as well. Their counselor, Devin came with his wife. Of course, his brothers and sister were here. That was all he needed.
The music started playing. Jamie Hart agreed to play the guitar and sing a solo for their wedding and Theresa was ecstatic. He sat at the back of the deck and as he played the wedding march. Jamie smiled at Marco and he nodded.
Margo walked down the aisle first, followed by Effie, who chattered all the way down the aisle. He grinned and shook his head. That girl could talk.
The music grew louder, and Theresa stepped from inside. Her long dark hair was piled high on her head. The long white lacy gown she wore fit her perfectly. She looked like a princess walking toward him. The bouquet she carried was both simplistic and elegant.
She didn't wear any jewelry, and he couldn't wait to slip her wedding ring on her finger. He'd noticed her looking at her finger this week and frowning. She missed her engagement ring.
Her eyes locked on his and he couldn't have looked away from her if there was a hurricane approaching. His bride. His present. His future. And she was breathtaking.
Finally, the minister said, "You may exchange rings."
He slipped her eternity band soldered to her engagement ring on her finger and her eyes glittered with moisture. She looked into his eyes, "They're beautiful."
He grinned. "They don't shine as brightly as you do."
She slipped the gold band on his finger. It had five small diamonds embedded in the band and he instantly loved how his hand looked with a wedding ring on his finger. The ring that signified Theresa was his wife, and he was her husband.
The minister said, "You may kiss your bride."
He didn't hesitate. He kissed her sweetly, then he kissed her again. Her hand cupped his cheek and she kissed him. He grinned.
The minister then introduced them. "Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Karason."
Their friends and family clapped. His brothers hugged him tightly while Margo and Effie hugged Theresa. His heart was filled with love today. He'd work hard to keep it that way for the rest of their lives.