Carol had been sitting in her bedroom, getting her hair and makeup done for the last two hours. She couldn’t wait to see what they’d donetoher.
“Finished,” her momexclaimed.
“Let’s go into my bedroom,” Madison said. “There’s a full-lengthmirror.”
As they moved into the other bedroom, Carol caught the first glimpse of her reflection. She gasped. She really did look like a Christmas bride. They’d swept most of her hair into a very loose bun on top of her head, while leaving lots of ringlets to brush her shoulders. A crown of baby’s-breath and white roses sat in front of the bun. Madison had worked magic with some craft wire and theflowers.
Carol loved the soft glow Madison had managed to create with the makeup. Her skin had never looked this amazing before and she vowed to find out all of Madison’s makeupsecrets.
Kate walked into the room andgasped.
“You look amazing! You’re just missing one thing,”shesaid.
“What?” Madison asked as she stepped back to survey herhandiwork.
“Something borrowed,” Kate replied as she opened her hand to reveal a sparkling diamondnecklace.
“Oh, I couldn’t,”Carolsaid.
“You’re just borrowing it,” Kate replied as she secured it aroundCarol’sneck.
“Am I too late?” Rachel asked as she walked intotheroom.
“No, you’re just on time,” Katereplied.
“I brought you something blue.” Rachel held up a blue and white lace garter belt. “It’s also something new, so we have thatcovered.”
“And the necklace is something old,”Katesaid.
As Carol looked around the room, she fought backtears.
“I don’t know how to thank you,”shesaid.
“Oh, we’ll find a way,” Madison saidplayfully.
“We’re going to be sisters,” Rachel said. “You don’t need to thank us foranything.”
“Yep,” Kate said. “We’re family now. Well, almost. The boys are getting restless, so we’d better getgoing.”
As the first strains of the wedding march carried up the stairs, Mack walked up to hand her a bouquet of pink and whiteroses.
“Don’t ask where they came from,” he said with a grin. “It will ruin the mystique of my flowersuperpowers.”
“Thank you.” Carol smiled as she took thebouquet.
“Ready?” Mackasked.
“Ready.” She turned to her mom, looped an arm through hers, and together, they walked down thestairs.
They stopped at the end of the aisle, allowing everyone to quickly take their places. While she waited, Carol gazed into Hank’s eyes. He stared at her with so much joy that her bear did somersaults in herstomach.
Calmdown,bear.
She took her time traveling the short length of the aisle so she could look at the faces of everyone gathered to celebrate their love. She never wanted to forget their expressions of joy andhappiness.
When she reached the front, her mom gave her a kiss on the cheek before turning to sit next to Rachel’s mom. They’d known each other less than twenty-four hours, but they were already forging afriendship.
As Hank took her hand, he gave her a smile warm enough to heal her soul. She knew he’d never abandon her and that he’d love her for the rest of his life. It was more than she everwanted.
