Mr. Scott appeared and helped me to my feet. I rolled my eyes at him, knowing he—and most of our families—had been listening just outside the room. After I was standing, he left us alone, and June was staring up at me like I was her everything.
“There,” I said, heart melting at her beaming face. “I made it off the floor.” I placed my hands on either side of her face, then moved in to kiss her. June’s lips were soft, and I tasted her tearsas they cascaded down her cheeks. They mixed with mine, but none of them were from sadness. I was so full of happiness that I thought I’d burst.
When we broke apart, I pressed my forehead to hers. “You’re going to be my wife.”Wife.Never had a word sounded so perfect.
“I love you,” June said, and I studied every part of her face.
“How does a wedding in three days sound?” June watched me, questions in her gaze. “Pastor Noel has agreed to marry us.”
“In three days?” she asked, eyes wide.
“I thought we’d better move fast, seeing as how we don’t have the luxury of time,” I joked, and June fought a smile. “Or else our wedding might just turn into a funeral.”
“Jesse!” June said, shaking her head in admonishment. But the glint in her eyes showed me she was enjoying my dark humor, despite it perhaps hitting too close to home.
“Three days sounds perfect,” she said.
I wanted to walk to the chapel now and make it happen. But I also knew that June had dreamed of her wedding her whole life, and if there was one thing I wasn’t selfish about, it was June’s happiness.
“Can we come in now?” Chris shouted from the doorway. “Your parents are about to barge in you if you don’t say yes!” We turned and laughed at our family and friends waiting in the doorway.
“Yes!” June said, holding her left hand up to her mom and dad. “I’m getting married!” Mr. Scott scooped June up in his arms. “You get to walk me down the aisle, Daddy,” June said, and Mr. Scott’s eyes closed.
“I know, baby. I cannot wait,” he whispered, opening them again and staring adoringly at his daughter.
Mom hugged me, and Lucy and Emily ran straight to June, forgetting about me entirely. “Can we be your bridesmaids?” Lucy asked my fiancée.
My fiancée.
Emily hit Lucy on the arm. “You have to ask nicely! We talked about this!”
I laughed, and as June’s eyes met mine, there was no more fear, no more pain, just happiness reflecting back at all of us.
“Of course you can,” June said to the little monsters. “Who else would I have? You’re going to be my sisters.” Those words were an arrow to the chest. Lucy and Emily jumped on June, screaming in excitement.
For the first time since I’d been told I was on palliative care, I wished time to go faster. I couldn’t wait for three days from now to get here.
I couldn’t wait to be able to call my Junebug my wife.
CHAPTER 28
June
“June…” my mama said as she finished buttoning me up andstepping away.
I stared in the mirror at my reflection. I wore a white dress that clung to my frame. It was fully lace, with a high neck and long sleeves. Patterns of feathers were woven into the lace. It was perfect. The bridal store had even made me a headscarf made of the same material, with crystals sewed in it to give me a little sparkle.
It was my vintage dream.
A makeup artist had heard about our wedding from Neenee and had come to the ranch to do my makeup, giving me soft smoky eyes and a natural pink lip.
I’d never thought of myself as pretty, but looking at my refection now…I finally did. I couldn’t wait for Jesse to see me. I lifted my left hand and ran my fingers over my ring—Mamaw’s ring.
The wedding had been pulled together in just three short days. Neenee had handled almost everything, telling the local community near the ranch about our nuptials and many reaching out to help. The bridal store had donated the dress, and a catering company was currently setting up in the formaldining room, where we would eat afterwards. A party-planning company was making a dance floor in the grand hall. I liked to think Mr. Owens would have approved of our marriage too. He never got to see his daughter marry; she died too young.
A throat cleared behind me. I turned, and my daddy stood there in a tux. My lips wobbled as his eyes softened seeing me in my dress.
“Do you like it?” I asked, smoothing my hand down the delicate lace.
