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Mitch’s morning consisted of breakfast and drinking coffee. Instead of waiting around for hours, he met John. Then they made a special pilgrimage they had only done once or twice. With a bundle of nervous excitement, they arrived at the cemetery. Each of them carrying a simple boutique of pink and red flowers to set at Hannah’s grave.
At first it seemed wrong, but Ally thought it was a good idea. And Mitch wanted to get his wedding to Ally off to a good start. He’d never let Hannah go completely but it was time to say goodbye. On what would be the most important day for the rest of his life.
John placed his flowers down across her grave and it rested against the tombstone. With his head bent down, he took a moment, with his hands in his pockets and Mitch assumed he was saying a prayer or something really private. Then John whispered, “miss you,” before he backed up.
Mitch gripped his arm in a show of support before he stepped forward and put his flowers against the tombstone, so they were half standing up. Here went nothing, Mitch thought, and he cleared his throat. “Today’s a big day, Hannah. Today’s the day I’m getting married.” He took a breath and glanced up at the sky.
Beautifully blue and not a cloud anywhere. Hannah would’ve loved this day. He remembered her smile and how at the park she’d go running down the hill. Mitch would chase her and those were happy memories. Happy with no grief or sadness. Hannah was at peace and finally, so was Mitch.
“I’m getting married and I’m happy. So happy, girl. You’d love Ally. Her smile. Her joy. And most assuredly you’d love her pie.” Mitch chuckled quietly to himself. “I’ll never forget you, Hann. You brought me so much love. So much goodness and I am the man I am because of you. But I’m really looking forward to life with Ally. A new beginning and Godspeed, a family of my own.”
The one he and Hannah always talked about but never got started on.
Mitch turned and walked back toward John before his emotions overwhelmed him. He listened to John talk about Daisy and their bundle of joy that would be named after her. “You’ll live on,” John was saying, “every time our little girl smiles or giggles at the fair, the first time she meets a puppy, it’ll be like seeing you. Your memory will live on with us. And it’s something we’ll treasure. I wish you had met Daisy.” John chuckled. “You’d think she’s crazy. And she is but I love her more every day.”
As they walked back to the car, a woman walked passed walking Hannah’s favorite breed of dog, a corgie. For Mitch it was a sign Hannah was looking down from above. She was happy for both him and her brother. With his heart full, Mitch was ready to get to the Blueberry Inn.
He was finally ready to get married.
*****
DRESSED IN HIS TUX with the countdown on to the wedding, Mitch paced inside the lobby of the Blueberry Inn. Guests would start arriving at any moment and he was jumping out of his skin. He didn’t think he had been nervous the first time around. Of course, there hadn’t been much but a simple ceremony since he had been so young.
Now, half of Sweet Falls was invited. Everyone they knew would be there. Plus a few rich guests from Hamilton Springs. In retrospect, Mitch was lucky Logan hadn’t insisted on inviting everyone he knew.
“Calm down,” Piper said with a flurry of handwaves. Already dressed for the wedding in a form fitting navy blue dress and her short pixie hair adorned with a blue flower clip. She was always someone who dressed on brand. “You’re making me nervous and you know, that never happens.”
“Sorry,” Mitch swallowed a breath. “People are going to be showing up to this thing, aren’t they?”
“Of course they will. Please try to settle down.” Piper put a hand on her hip and shook her head. “I’m going to turn on some light instrumental music to help sooth your nerves. Music always helps, right?”
“Right.” Mitch didn’t think it would help but arguing with Piper never worked. She was a woman that knew her own mind and he liked that about her.
Piper sauntered into the dinning room with a swing of her hips. The door opened and as Mitch laid eyes on the first guests, music floated in from the speakers. It was quiet, but magical, romantic. Maybe it did calm him. Darn Piper, always right.
Music went out of his mind. Before him on the other side of the door were Patricia and Wayne Turner—Hannah’s parents. Now, he knew they’d be in town shortly after John’s daughter was born but he hadn’t seen them since Hannah had been taken off life support and had passed away. Something neither of them had wanted and took Mitch to court to stop.
He figured they knew he was getting remarried but to show up? Maybe they arrived to wish them well but Wayne was in a suit and Mrs. Turner was in a crisp looking pantsuit. How had they even known when the wedding was? Had John done something?
“Good afternoon,” Mitch said. He sounded like a robot, wooden and clipped. They had taken him by surprise and he didn’t know how to shake it.
Patricia stepped forward and clasped his hand in both of hers. “You look well, Mitch. You do. Other than maybe a little surprised.”
“I just....” Mitch tried to shake off his surprise and the rush of nerves following behind. “I wasn’t....did John....”
Wayne held a blue envelope and Mitch recognized it as one of their wedding invitations. “Ally sent us one with a nice letter. A really nice letter.” Wayne blinked his eyes quickly and his bottom lip disappeared between his teeth.
“We weren’t sure at first,” Patricia said. “She was kind, and so thoughtful in her letter, but we weren’t sure you’d want to see us. We have so much to be ashamed of. The way we treated you. The way we dealt with everything. We were too hurt to see at the time.”
“We’re sorry, son.” Wayne said and placed his hand on Mitch’s shoulder. “Can you forgive us?”
“We know you loved our girl. We know you did the best thing for her. You let her go when we couldn’t. We realized that a long time ago but we were too ashamed to come back and say anything. I’m sorry for that too,” Patricia said with a trembling lip. “We’re so sorry.”
Mitch emotions got the best of him. He cried, openly. He had never expected an apology or for the Turners to understand why he did what he did. The apology meant more to him than he expected healing part of his broken soul. It fractured so long ago, Mitch hadn’t realized he was still carrying that pain around.
They embraced him as if he was still family. “Now,” Wayne cleared his voice, “you’ll have an amazing wedding, you hear? And we’re proud to be here to witness it.”
“I know you and John are still close. Still family and nothing makes us happier.” Patricia wiped her eyes dry, careful around her mascara. “It’s high time we act like family too. And with the new baby on the way any day....we’re moving back to Sweet Falls. We’re ready to finally return home.”
Nothing made him happier to hear. John needed his parents and could anything be better for the Turners other than watching their baby granddaughter grow up. “I think that’s a solid plan. You’ll always be part of my extended family.”
Ally made that possible. Even Mitch had underestimated her capacity to love. It was a mistake he wouldn’t make again.
He showed the Turners toward the backdoor that would lead into the yard. Then Mitch glanced up at the main staircase leading up to where Ally was. He could feel her energy and love, even from the distance. Soon Ally, Mitch thought.
He almost couldn’t wait.