However, destiny had a different path laid out. Aaron’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in Fallujah left Lila shattered, her dreams and future hopes with Aaron disintegrating in an instant.
Losing someone you loved that much changed your entire life…especially when your spouse was also your best friend. In those early days, she’d felt completely lost and paralyzed, even when making minor decisions. The bed felt huge…and she hugged his pillow for comfort. Comfort that never came. She didn’t feel she could possibly survive. But deep down she knew she had no choice.
And she had survived. She’d gone on without Aaron. She’d raised their baby daughter, got a job, and paid the bills. She’d planned birthday parties and played Santa. Nights melded into an ever-changing mosaic of frightened vigil by a fevered child’s bedside followed by anxiously waiting for the tardy return of a fledgling teen driver stretching her wings. Somehow, by the grace of God, she did what had to be done.
Still, the void never went away—as she was poignantly reminded today.
Another car pulled in drawing Lila’s attention back to the present. She recognized Earl Dunlop, a large, gruff man—a confirmed bachelor who ran the county snow removal fleet in the winter and served as the chapel’s custodian. After checking her makeup in the rearview mirror, she climbed out of the car, smoothed her dress, and headed inside.
“Where have you been?” Capri demanded the minute Lila opened the door to the dressing area. Her friend pointed to her watch. “I’m even here on time. What’s up with you being late?”
“Mom was up all night studying,” Camille announced in her defense.
Charlie Grace peeked from behind her camera mounted on a tripod. “It doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”
The morning sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows of Moose Chapel, casting a mosaic of colors across the wooden floor. The air was filled with a palpable sense of giddy excitement and a hint of floral perfume.
Reva stood in the center of the tight, yet cozy, bridal room adorned with vintage décor. She turned, her face filled with emotion. “This is a dream…a day I never expected would materialize,” she admitted. Her eyes grew moist.
“Don’t start that,” Lila told her, grabbing a tissue from the box on the nearby table. She dabbed at her friend’s eyes. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”
Charlie Grace, Lila, and Capri fluttered around her like a trio of joyful butterflies, each one meticulously attending to different aspects of Reva’s preparation. Charlie Grace tested the aperture on the camera and then moved to adjust the intricate folds of lace on Reva’s veil before clicking off a few shots.
Lila double-checked the emergency kit—Band-Aids, sewing materials, and the like—just in case someone stepped on the hem of Reva’s dress and caused a rip. Capri, with her infectious laughter, set the mood by turning on a playlist she’d stored on her phone—some of their favorite songs from high school. As Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” played, she grabbed Camille’s hands and broke into a dance move that made everyone giggle.
In the corner of the room, Lucan, Reva’s newly adopted toddler son, was a spectacle of cuteness in his miniature suit. He discovered his reflection in the floor-length mirror and was conversing in a babble only he understood. Every so often, he’d utter a phrase that resembled something coherent.
Suddenly, he turned and pointed to Reva. “Mommy pretty dress.” He pulled on his tie. “Big tie.”
The room erupted in laughter, and Reva, looking every bit the radiant bride, scooped Lucan into her arms, peppering his cheeks with kisses. “Yes, my love. Your tie is very big and very handsome, just like you!”
Charlie Grace captured the moment on camera, declaring, “Too precious for words.”
As they continued their preparations, the women shared stories and memories, their laughter and chatter creating a symphony of happiness. Charlie Grace handed Reva her white gloves. “Remember when I married Gibbs, and he forgot the ring?”
Lila nodded, the corners of her eyes crinkling with amusement. “I sure do. We had to send your dad racing to Gibbs’ place in that old blue truck of his to grab it. The ceremony was delayed by a half hour.”
Reva shook her head. “I can’t believe he forgot it.”
“Too bad he also forgot his vows,” Capri muttered under her breath.
Charlie Grace gave her a playful shove. “Maybe so, but it all ended well. He married Lizzy, and they have a new little boy. I have our sweet Jewel and hunky Nick Thatcher.” She smiled. “It’s all good.”
Capri reluctantly nodded. “You got the better end of that stick. Gibbs never deserved you.”
Charlie Grace waved off her comment. She handed Reva a small, blue ribbon, a last-minute ‘something blue’ to weave into her all-white rose bouquet. “For luck, and love…always.”
Despite the light mood, a wave of emotion washed over Reva, her eyes glistening with tears of joy. Her friends quickly enveloped her in a group hug, their bond unspoken but as tangible as the wedding gown she wore.
Lila looked around at the group of friends, her voice soft but firm. “We’ve been through so much together. High school, heartbreaks, late-night gab sessions, and now this. Our friendship is such a gift.”
Reva nodded and wiped at her cheeks. “The very best kind of gift.”
Lucan broke from Reva’s hold and toddled over to the door. “Weddy, set, go!”
Laughter filled the room again, and Reva knelt to bring Lucan to eye level. “Yes, my heart. We’re ready. Let’s go get married to Kellen.”
With a final round of touch-ups and lipstick reapplications, the women were ready. They formed a procession, with Lucan leading the way, his steps small but determined.
