Page 58 of Wish For Me

“They did?” I peer over her shoulder at the empty spot on the seating chart.

“There was some advertising emergency at the label, Henry needed to fly out this morning.”

“Hmm. You know, I’m not a hundred percent certain she’ll be happy about this news.”

Mom looks over at me, surprised. “Really?”

“I saw her with Peter during that Capture the Flag game. I’m pretty sure they don’t hate each other as much as they want people to believe.”

Mom waggles her eyebrows. “Interesting theory.”

I flip my hair over my shoulder. “You know I’m always right about these things. I called Alex and WyattandRose and Leo before they even knew how they felt.”

She bumps her shoulder into mine. “The only one you were clueless about was you and Bodhi.”

I laugh. “Good point.”

“We really should get your dress on.”

I feel a thrum of excitement. It feels like I haven’t seen my dress in forever. Alex insisted on handling the final steaming for me and she hasn’t let me try it on the hundred times I’ve asked in the last few weeks, insisting it will make this moment more special.

When we get back to the farmhouse, the other girls have already started changing into their bridesmaid dresses, which sets off my crying once again. Luckily the waterproof mascara is holding up well, because I don’t think there’s anything I can do to keep from crying happy tears today.

My mom and Presley help me get into the dress and there’s a chorus of sighs andawwswhen I finally have it on. “I’m too pregnant for this,” Eva says, wiping under her eyes. “You look like aprincess.”

“She looks like a snow queen,” Vega argues, smoothing out one of my curls. I decided to leave my hair down and curly today, knowing Bodhi will like the way it cascades over my shoulders under the veil. “I’m so glad you went for all this sparkle,” Vega continues. “It’s perfect for the new theme.”

I look at myself in the mirror, feeling my breath catch. I do look like a snow queen. The beading on my fitted bodice sparkles under the lights. My skin looks paler than usual, stark against my dark hair. There’s a delicate little tiara on top of my curls, the same one my mom wore for her wedding.

I’ve never felt more beautiful in my life.

Everything seems to move very fast after that. The photographer Aunt Karen found to replace the original one comes back—she was here earlier taking getting ready photos before going to get shots of the boys. She actually has me step out of the dress again so she can get a picture of my mom and sisters helping me into it. She goes through every combination of people I requested, making sure there are shots of me with all of my cousins, my sisters, my cousins’ wives, Bodhi’s mom and sister, Aunt Karen, my mom, and Alex.

I take a lot with Alex. This is a day the two of us daydreamed and pretended about since we were little girls. I’d thought she might be more upset about her hurt foot but honestly, she just seems really, really happy. Way happier than I’ve seen her lately.

I lean in to whisper in her ear when the photographer is getting a shot of us. “Make sure you tell me about it later, okay?”

She looks over at me, confused, and I smile. “Your news. I’m going to want to hear all about it later.”

She blinks as tears fill her eyes and manages to smile. “Okay.”

I hear the camera click as we look at each other and I know it’s going to be one of my favorite pictures.

Finally, it’s time to head over to the ceremony site. Which means I get to put on the gorgeous white velvet cape I made for myself once we switched the venue. I feel a little giddy as Alex ties it for me. Now I really look like a snow queen. We make our way across the lawn, the girls huddling in their faux fur stoles. There’s a little tent set up at the side of the house for us so we’re not freezing in our dresses while we wait our turns to walk down the aisle.

The first person I see when we get to the tent is my dad. He’s pacing around nervously, fiddling with his bowtie. My momtsksand goes over to adjust it and his eyes meet mine over the top of her head.

“Uh, oh,” Rose mutters behind me. “Uncle Reed is going to lose it.”

But he keeps it together. He comes over to hug me, seeming a little timid, like he’s afraid he’s going to wrinkle me, but he holds me a little tighter when I go to pull away. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs in my ear. “You look just like your mother.”

I grin up at him. “That’s my favorite compliment.”

Suddenly the wedding planner comes bustling into the tent, looking stressed. “There’s a slight delay,” she says, her voice a whole lot too bright, and my stomach drops.

“God, what happened now?” Presley asks, then slaps a hand over her mouth.

“Now?” I ask, but Liz, our planner, waves her hands.