Chapter Thirty-Nine
ABBY
Abby stood before the full-length mirror in her bedroom, in awe of her reflection. And a little dazed. Before Logan, she never imagined she’d wear a wedding dress again, let alone one so close to perfection.
For her first wedding, Donnie’s mother had talked her into choosing an extravagant ballgown with a sweetheart neckline, corseted bodice, and a full, flouncy skirt that rivaled Cinderella’s. While she’d looked beautiful, she hadn’t felt like herself.
This time, she wore a vintage tea-length dress with a fit and flare cut in the most gorgeous white silk satin. She gave the skirt a little swish, loving the way the lightweight fabric swirled around her bare legs.
“You belong on the cover of a bridal magazine,” Nadia gushed.
“Maybe an issue printed in 1954,” Abby countered with a good-natured grin, although she appreciated the compliment.
“You look stunning, dear,” Verna murmured from over her shoulder. In the reflection, her motherly gaze glistened with unshed tears.
“If I look half as good as you did on your wedding day, I’m happy.” Abby turned to embrace her. “Thank you,” she whispered, determined not to cry and smudge the makeup Nadia had meticulously applied.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to pass along my dress to you, the daughter of my heart.” Verna’s voice quivered, and before they both broke down in tears, she cracked a smile. “Besides, the only thing from my wedding that might still fit is my veil. And maybe my shoes.”
Abby laughed, grateful for the levity. She’d opted to go without a veil, leaving her hair in soft waves around her shoulders. And she’d nixed her shoes, too. She wanted to feel the warm sand beneath her feet as she walked down the aisle, connecting her to the place she’d quickly called home.
“Okay,” Nadia said thoughtfully as she studied her wedding day checklist. “We have something old.” She gestured to the dress with her ballpoint pen, then flashed a sheepish smile, adding, “Sorry, Verna. No offense.”
“None taken, my dear. Although, I prefer the term vintage, like a fine cheddar cheese that gets sharper with age.”
Abby suppressed another laugh. Considering Verna’s orange-tinted curls, the comparison couldn’t be more fitting.
“You’re definitely sharp as a tack,” Nadia told her sincerely before returning to her list. “Okay, next we need something new.”
“This lipstick is new.” Abby admired the petal-pink hue that made her lips look a little fuller.
“I have something better.” With a conspiratorial smile, Nadia handed her a small box wrapped in pale gold paper.
“What’s this?” Abby untied the cream-colored bow.
“It’s from Logan.” Nadia’s dark eyes twinkled.
Eagerly, Abby tore away the paper and lifted the lid. Inside, she found a shimmering mother-of-pearl hair comb. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, mesmerized by the way light danced off its iridescent sheen.
A pretty notecard nestled beneath the comb. Abby slid it from the box and read the printed front.
A gift for the woman full of motherly love and wisdom, who is both nurturing and strong, and reflects light to those around her.
Just beneath the artfully printed script, Logan had handwritten a single word.
Ditto .
Abby smiled. Her almost-husband: a man of few words but unlimited affection. Her heart soared at the thought of marrying him in mere minutes, muffling the melancholy thoughts of Max lurking just beneath the surface.
Nadia swept a few strands of Abby’s hair away from her face, skillfully securing them in place with the comb. “Perfect. Something old, something new. Now you need something borrowed.”
Abby studied her reflection, noting her lack of adornment apart from the comb and simple stud earrings. “I don’t have anything borrowed.” Technically, the dress didn’t count, since Verna had insisted she keep it.
“Hold that thought.” With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Nadia reached into her purse and withdrew a rectangular wooden box with intricate engravings. “I’d like you to borrow these.” She flipped open the lid, revealing two gold bracelets dotted with dainty pearls and tiny, delicate bells.
“Nadia, they’re gorgeous! Thank you!” Abby eagerly slipped one on her wrist, but Nadia smiled and shook her head.
“They’re anklets. It’s tradition in India for the bride to wear them when she walks down the aisle. The gentle tinkling sound represents the joy she brings into the marriage.”
“Oh, that’s lovely.” Verna moved closer to admire their exquisite, graceful design.
Abby met Nadia’s gaze, her throat cinching with emotion. “These are yours, for your wedding someday, aren’t they?”
“Yes, but I want you to wear them first.”
“I can’t. They’re too special.” Abby placed the anklet back inside the box and passed it to Nadia.
“Please. It would mean so much to me if you’d wear them.
” Nadia set it back in Abby’s hands. “I admire you so much, Abs. Watching you this past year, everything you’ve overcome, the way you’ve chosen joy in the midst of heartache, the way you and Logan have worked through so much together.
” Her voice hitched, and she gathered a breath before adding softly, “I hope to follow in your footsteps on my wedding day. Sharing these anklets would remind me to walk down the aisle with the same love, grace, and strength that you’ve always shown. ”
Abby caressed the smooth, polished wood, humbled by Nadia’s words. Did her friend really see those attributes in her? She didn’t always feel strong or joyful, but maybe she exuded more strength and joy than she realized?
Moved by her graciousness, Abby embraced her friend, hugging her fiercely. “I’d be honored to wear them. Thank you.”
Carefully dabbing around her damp eyes with her fingertip, Abby sat on the edge of her bed while Nadia fastened the anklets. When she’d finished, Abby stretched out her legs and wiggled her bare feet, delighted by the delicate twinkling of bells.
“Now all you need is something blue,” Verna pointed out.
“I actually have that one covered.” Abby headed for her nightstand, the melodious anklets pleasantly accompanying her every movement.
Her fingertips grazed the small trinket box where she kept Sam’s sliver of sea glass, and her chest squeezed. The heartache over Max’s absence spread over her, sharp and piercing. She closed her eyes, focusing on each breath.
In and out. In and out.
They hadn’t heard a word from Sam since they left, and the silence had become more deafening each day. Eventually, she’d had to face facts: Max wasn’t coming to the wedding, and she needed to make peace with that.
She opened her eyes and lifted the lid of the trinket box. At least she could hold a piece of Max with her, tucked into her bodice. Not glamorous, by any means, but it was the only way she could hold the sea glass close to her heart.
Abby gasped. Where was it?
She quickly scanned the scant contents. Her wedding band and engagement ring from Donnie. The key to Logan’s grandmother’s recipe box. A few keepsakes from her childhood.
But no aqua stone.
A small sob lodged in her throat, stifling her ability to breathe. Max’s absence hurt badly enough, but now she’d lost the sea glass, too?
“Knock knock.” Logan’s clear, grounding voice called from the other side of her bedroom door.
Her heart leaped. They weren’t supposed to see each other before the ceremony, but at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to feel the comforting strength of his presence.
“May I come in?” he asked, cracking open the door a few inches.
Nadia and Verna looked at Abby, who nodded.
“We’ll give you two a minute.” Verna gestured for Nadia to follow her out the French doors leading to the back garden, leaving Abby alone.
“Come in.” Abby turned, her pulse racing as the door eased open.
The instant Logan stepped across the threshold and caught sight of her in her wedding dress, he stopped short. A spark of awe and adoration lit his eyes, his gaze both tender and intense.
Warmth swept through her body. Her cheeks flushed. Beneath his raw, approving gaze, she’d never felt more beautiful.
“Wow, you look incredible,” he said when he’d finally found his voice.
“Thank you. You don’t look half bad yourself.
” In truth, she nearly melted to the floor.
The casual suit in a deep denim hue displayed his lean runner’s physique to perfection and enhanced the blue of his eyes.
Paired with a white cotton button-up, sans tie and shoes, he exuded laid-back sex appeal.
I can’t believe I get to marry this gorgeous man .
“I really want to kiss you,” he murmured in a husky rasp.
“I think it’s against the rules,” she teased, her own voice equally breathy.
“I’m in a rule-breaking mood today.” He stepped toward her, and she surrendered to his strong arms.
His kiss lasted several blissful seconds, soothing the ache in her heart.
When they finally parted, he confessed, “I knew once you walked down the aisle and didn’t see Max standing next to me, you’d miss him all over again. I didn’t want that moment to be the first time we saw each other today. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s more than okay,” she told him, touched by his intuitive, compassionate heart. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Good.” He grinned, then added, “Plus, I wanted to give you this.” He reached into his trouser pocket and withdrew a long gold chain.
Her gaze fixed on the slender pendant of aqua sea glass, and a gasp escaped her lips. “How did you—?”
She couldn’t finish her thought, too enraptured by the beauty of the necklace. A gleaming gold coil wrapped around the pale blue stone like a gilded embrace, securing it to the chain.
“I knew you wanted to keep the sea glass close by today, so I asked Sage to make it into a necklace for you. The gold wire around the stone can be undone, in case you don’t like it.”
“In case I don’t like it?” Abby echoed in an incredulous whisper. “Logan, I love it. It’s stunning.”
He smiled, pleased by her reaction. “May I?” He undid the clasp.
Abby spun to face the mirror, her pulse fluttering as Logan fastened the pendant around her neck. It hung at heart level. She placed her palm over the smooth stone, pressing it close to her chest before turning back around to face him. “Thank you.”
He cradled her face in his strong, steady hand, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Abigail. And I can’t wait to marry you.”
With a playful smile, she swayed onto her tiptoes and whispered, “Ditto,” before stealing a kiss.