Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“The next time your lips touch mine, you’ll be my husband.”
I don’t get to reply before her grandparents join us. “You kids ready?” her grandpa asks quietly. Her grandparents are the only two who know what’s really happening today. Well, outside of Edith from the pharmacy. She hasn’t told anyone that we’re aware of, but when we see her around town, she gives us a knowing look, accompanied by a smile.
“We’re ready,” Ellison answers.
“I feel like we’ve barely seen you in the last few months,” her grandma tells her.
“That’s what happens when you retire and travel the world,” Ellison teases. “I feel like you’re barely home before you’re gone again.”
“We’re going to cut back,” she tells her.
“Don’t you dare,” Ellison warns. “You worked your entire lives. Enjoy this time together. Travel, be gone, see the world, and when you need a break, you come back home to Magnolia Ridge. You’re always here for the big stuff. That’s what matters. We know that if we need you, you’ll come home. Today, I need you.” Ellison glances up at me. “We need you.”
“I’m thrilled that you kids were able to find your way back to one another.” Her grandma smiles kindly.
Ellison decided not to tell her grandparents or her sisters about the letters, at least not yet. She’s still processing the fact that her mother played a huge role in our separation, and she needs time to do that. I’m sure she’ll tell them eventually, and if not, that’s okay. What matters is that we did find our way back to each other, and after today, she’ll be my wife. Everything else is just background noise. Pieces of the past that led us to today but are no longer essential to our future.
The sequel to our story starts today.
“You two need to go get dressed,” her grandma tells us.
Ellison’s smile could light up all of Tennessee. “We’ll be quick,” she says, tugging on my hand and leading me around the side of the house. Once inside, we move quickly down the hall to my old bedroom.
“Have you decided yet?” I ask, stripping out of my clothes to get into my dress blues.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to wear it. Not because of her keeping the letters from me, but I want us to have something of our own. We’re building something new, something stronger, and I don’t want anything from the past to taint that.”
“Baby, wearing her dress won’t taint that.”
She nods. “I know, but my gut tells me not to wear it. If my sisters want to when they get married, they can. I bought something I love. I want to feel like me today.”
“You can wear a burlap sack, and you’d still be the most beautiful bride Magnolia Ridge has ever seen.”
“I already said yes,” she teases, pulling her tank top over her head.
“Fuck, warn a guy, Ells,” I say, letting my eyes roam over her body.
She laughs, a beautiful musical sound that fills the room. “You’d better get moving. We have a wedding to start.”
“Yes, ma’am.” We both work on getting ready, and I keep my back to her. I want that moment. When I see her for the first time. We’re walking down the aisle together, so this is it. I finish getting dressed and sit in the chair at the desk, facing the wall.
“What are you doing?” She laughs.
“I’m waiting until you’re ready. I want the first look at you, but I don’t want it until you tell me you’re finished.”
“Copeland James, are you trying to make me cry? I just touched up my makeup.”
“You don’t need it anyway,” I tell her. She doesn’t. She’s naturally beautiful.
“Not helping.” She laughs.
I listen as she finishes getting ready, and finally, she says, “You can turn around.” Standing, I slowly turn, and my heart skips a beat. She’s got her hair pulled back, just the top and sides, and the rest is in soft waves down her back. Her makeup is barely there and flawless. Her big blue eyes are shining as she watches me take her in.
“That dress—” I nod my approval. It’s a lace number that is high around her neck, sleeveless, tapered at the waist, and stops just above her knee. To top it off, she’s wearing her worn-out scuffed cowboy boots. The ones I bought for her for Christmas the year before I left for the Marines. “You still have those?” I ask, my voice betraying me, cracking with emotion.
“Yeah, they’re my favorite still today. I don’t wear them often anymore, but today seemed fitting.”
“I got you something.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the new ring. “I know you said you wanted the original, but this one, it’s fresh, kind of like the dress,” I tell her. Her left hand trembles as I slide the two-and-a-half-carat diamond halo ring onto her finger.