Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Everleigh's mother straightened her veil, then adjusted the laces that ran up her back. “You look beautiful,” she said.
“Thanks.” Everleigh grinned broadly, unable to contain her happiness.
After everything that had happened recently, she felt both terribly nervous and excited.
Knox and Everleigh had decided to keep things small, and though she sensed her mother was a little disappointed, she had offered to host the wedding in the backyard.
It seemed appropriate somehow, breaching the distance between Everleigh's house and Knox’s.
Her mother stepped back and examined her with a critical eye, fussing with the lacy material that fell in soft waves around Everleigh's legs. “Good thing you're doing this now. Much longer and you wouldn't fit into your dress.”
Everleigh snapped her head her mother’s way, feeling her mouth drop open in shock. “What?”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Don't give me that. How far along are you?”
“About twelve weeks,” Everleigh admitted, still a little rattled that her mother had figured out she was pregnant. “How did you know?”
Her mother lifted a brow. “Please. I'm your mother. This”—she waved a hand Everleigh's way—“is way more than just a wedding glow.”
“Does Dad know?”
“Good Lord, of course not.” Her mother's eyes widened. “Just don't forget to stop by in a few weeks to give us the good news. I'll pretend to be surprised.”
Everleigh couldn't help the shocked laugh that fell from her lips.
Her mother had never spoken so frankly before.
She couldn't help but wonder how differently her life would have turned out if they had talked like this when she was younger.
She shook the thought away. It didn't matter.
She was exactly where she was supposed to be: ready to walk down the aisle to meet her best friend and the love of her life.
Her mother stepped forward and took Everleigh's hands in hers. “I'm so happy for you. I never should have pushed you to marry… last time.” She faltered a little, trying to avoid saying Fletcher’s name.
“I understand,” Everleigh said softly. “You were just trying to protect me. You did what you thought was right.”
Tears welled in her mother's eyes. “If I'd only known...”
“Stop.” Everleigh shook her head. “No one could have predicted how that would turn out. I was married to him for years and never expected it. He had everyone fooled. Don't blame yourself.”
“I'm just glad you two found your way back to each other.”
Tears pricked at Everleigh's own eyes. “Me too. I can't imagine my life without him.”
She let out a little laugh as she dabbed the moisture from her eyes. “Okay. No more, or we're going to ruin our makeup.”
Sierra popped her head in the open doorway. “Hey, ladies, how's everything coming?”
“Perfect,” Everleigh's mother chirped, adjusting the veil one last time. “She's all ready to go.”
Leaning in, she air-kissed Everleigh's cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you,” Everleigh whispered.
Her mother disappeared, headed for the backyard, and Everleigh turned to face Sierra. “Everything ready?”
“You bet! Thanks for letting my sister work your wedding.”
“She did a beautiful job,” Everleigh assured her, “especially on such a constrained time frame.”
Sierra’s sister, Serena, was an event planner trying to get her business off the ground, and Everleigh was more than happy to hand over the reins when Serena had pitched her idea.
“I just came to let you know it's almost time to start.”
Nerves fluttered in Everleigh's belly, and she shook out her hands. “Why am I so nervous?”
“I have no idea,” Sierra said as she glanced out the window. “If that man was waiting for me, I'd have pounced on him weeks ago to make sure he didn't get away.”
Everleigh couldn’t help but laugh. It was true.
Sierra turned back to her, a sweet smile on her face. “I’m happy for you. For real.”
“Thanks.” Everleigh pulled her into a quick hug, then drew in a deep breath as she glanced at the clock. “Guess it’s time to go.”
“You’ll do great.” Sierra smiled encouragingly. “I’ll meet you down there.”
With one last glance in the mirror, Everleigh made her way down the stairs. Her father waited for her at the bottom, a wide smile on his face. He held his hands out to her and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Everleigh smiled back, and he eyed her critically.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “I know it sounds odd, but… I’m just ready to get it over with already.”
Her father nodded knowingly. “I think I know what you mean.”
The music started up, and Serena approached, a smile on her face. “You ready?”
Everleigh grinned. “Let’s do this.”
Her nerves ratcheted up with each step that brought her closer to Knox, and finally, her father pressed one last kiss to her cheek at the end of the aisle.
Knox’s eyes darkened as she stepped toward him, and he pulled her into his arms. Not wasting a moment, he bent and pressed his lips to hers. Claps and hoots filled the air, and a smile broke over Everleigh's face.
Knox lifted his head, eyes glued to hers, one thumb sweeping over her face as he studied her. “I’ve been waiting to make you my wife since I was twelve years old.”
Love filled his dark gaze, and Everleigh fell headlong into it. This moment had been a lifetime in the making, and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.