July
Five Months Later…
There is a slight breeze blowing into the suite where we’re getting ready through the balcony doors, causing the sheer curtains to flutter in a way that relaxes me. I tighten my silk robe and take a sip of my coffee before running my fingers over the envelope Gemma just handed me.
The dusty blue envelope matches our custom stationary and color palette for our wedding today, and I get caught admiring the way my name looks in Bennett’s chicken scratch handwriting.
Butterflies erupt in my belly as I open it to find a letter he wrote to me. We agreed to write each other letters to open on the morning of our wedding, and it’s something I’ve been looking forward to most.
To my blushing bride (because I know you’re blushing right now),
I know we’re going all-out traditional with everything today, but I just had to let you know that last night was the worst night of sleep I’ve had in months because you weren’t by my side.
Even though we’re already technically married, I’m happy that we’re doing the big, traditional celebration today with our friends and families present. I can’t wait to have the entire world know that you are mine and I am yours.
Your grandfather gave me another sage piece of advice a few months back for our wedding day, and I thought I’d share it with you now since he unfortunately couldn’t be here with us today. I can’t tell you how sorry I am that things took a turn with his health so quickly; I just hope that when we get back, he’ll enjoy the videos and photographs we share with him.
Joseph’s advice to me was something I hadn’t heard before. He suggested we take a moment to ourselves during the reception, just the two of us, to soak in the moments and gravity of this day. I think a part of him knew his health was declining, so he took me aside and told me this after our elopement. He said that his favorite moment from his wedding day with your grandmother was when they took a walk outside their reception hall together after their first dances were done, and they talked about their favorite moments from the day thus far.
So what do you say, Scar; will you take a walk with me as the sun begins to set behind the Eiffel Tower and tell me all of your favorite details from our wedding day?
I’ll be seeing you soon, baby girl.
All my love,
Benny Boy
I set the letter on the table, and choke back a sob threatening to escape. My emotions have been all over the place since we had to make the tough decision to have my grandfather receive round the clock care as his dementia rapidly progressed.
Gemma is beside me in a flash with a tissue, rubbing my shoulders in a soothing way.
“I love you, Scar. I’m so happy that you found Bennett. And I know that Pop Pop is so proud of you and happy for you too.”
“Thank you, Gems. I’m thankful I found him too. And I love you more.”
“I’m serious, Scarlett. Ever since he came into our lives, you’ve been lighter. It’s like he took one look at the weight of the world you carried on your shoulders and decided right then and there to help take on the load. Look, I know the two of you started out as some agreement—I overheard the two of you talking about it a month or so after he proposed. But I can tell the love the two of you share now is more real than any love story I’ve ever seen.” Gemma’s pale green eyes shine with sincerity.
I take a deep, stuttered breath, still consumed by the emotions brought on from his letter, but I’m also shocked to find out she knew about our agreement for months now and hadn’t said anything.
“There isn’t a more perfect man to have brought into mine and Gunner’s lives. You did an amazing job raising us on your own for so long, and I’m just so incredibly grateful that you now have a partner to stand by your side, to lean on when you need to, and to love you unconditionally through the good times and bad.” Gemma wraps me in a tight hug I hadn’t realized I needed so badly.
Squeezing her tight, I rub my hands up and down her back. “When did you get so wise beyond your years, Gemmy?”
With the loss of our parents and her diagnosis, she had to grow up a lot quicker than most kids, and my heart aches at the realization.
“Not sure, but someone must be doing one heck of a job raising me,” she says, winking as she pulls out of my embrace. “Here,” she says, handing me another tissue, “you’ll ruin your makeup.”
“I think it’s a little late for that. But I’m sure Walker can touch it up for me. She’s a magician when it comes to hair and makeup.”
We walk into the other room to find McKenna, Dakota, and Alexa have joined us and are taking their turns having Walker help them get ready.
“Alright ladies, do we understand our assignments for today?” I turn and ask them once Gemma has left the suite to give Bennett his letter from me.
“Are you sure you want to do this? Poor fella isn’t going to know what hit him,” Dakota drawls in her southern accent.
“Positive. And make sure you get video evidence of his reaction since I won’t be there to see it,” I tell them.
McKenna chuckles at his expense. “Poor fella is right. I can’t wait to watch him drown in his misery. Happy wedding day, Benny Boy!”
