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Sienna’s heart was full. The room buzzed with anticipation. Escorted by their husbands, Lauren, Harper, and Rachel were first down the aisle. Zoe and Stone’s sister, Trinity and cousin, Avery were the other bridesmaids. They were escorted by Connor, and two cousins from Charleston, John Bennett and Victor Bennett, the actor. Sienna held the esteemed role of maid of honor and Stone’s brother, Cole, was the best man.
Although his cousin, Jackson, was one of Stone’s best friends, he was sick of being in weddings. He’d opted to stay in a church pew. Jackson was the acting mayor of Forest Hills. Sienna was surprised to see he’d brought his assistant, Meisha Merriweather, as his date. What was up with that?
Lauren and Ethan’s children were the flower girl and ring bearer. Kia was adorable in a magenta chiffon dress. It matched the color of the dresses the bridesmaids were wearing. With a tiara on her head and gold slippers on her feet, she carried the puffy crinoline gown like a queen. The adult women wore floor-length, one shoulder dresses with ruching across the chest and a chiffon cape over the skirt from the waist to the hem. Sienna’s dress had a halter top. That was the only difference between hers and the others.
Stone was the epitome of class and sophistication in a navy, single-breasted, three-piece custom tux made from a luxurious, jacquard, brocade fabric that matched little Ethan’s. He looked anxious. Impatient, in fact. But the organ music changed, the guests stood, and the back doors of the sanctuary opened to reveal Addison and his expression shifted to one of deep, pure, adoring love. Sienna saw joy dance in his eyes and then behind the excitement, there was the wet sheen from tears. Addison was so blessed. She had found true love with Stone Bennett. Who would ever have predicted he could be anyone’s happily-ever-after man?
Admiration shone in eyes and sincere smiles played on the lips of every person Sienna could see for rows and rows. She raised a handkerchief to her own eyes and dotted the corners. Addison made her ascent slowly, carefully, skillfully until their Uncle Derrick helped her reach the front of the sanctuary. They didn’t have much family. Uncle Derrick had flown in from Florida with his wife and adult children—Leela and Chelsea Ingram.
Opting not to wear a veil that covered her face, Addison’s stunning beauty was magnified by her expertly airbrushed makeup and the bliss that simmered below the surface. A crown with a long veil was secured to the back of her head. Addison’s dress was the whitest satin she’d ever seen, and Sienna had seen a great many couture dresses. It was sleeveless with a chiffon overlay from the waist down. The fitted cut clung to her curves like she’d been born in it. On the right side just below her heart was a small piece of brocade fabric that matched the pattern in Stone’s. She looked like a princess. Sienna had never seen such a beautiful bride.
Memories of Addison as a child floated to her mind. They included images of her parents. Sienna imagined they were in heaven looking down at their daughter. Not that they wouldn’t have smiled at any of the other’s weddings, but they were quick nuptials, beautifully pulled together but fast, whereas Sienna and the wedding planner had nearly seven months to put together this event for Addison.
Sienna fought not to cry real tears, as did her sisters. She could see them willing themselves not to cry. They all held out, but then their eye ducts let go when Pastor Rory pronounced them married and Stone stepped forward to kiss Addison. And what a kiss it was—long and hungry and passionate and everything that Stone was. He made the children blush.
The congregation stood and the celebration of their union began immediately with cheering applause and adoration from those too refined to do more as the couple followed by Sienna and Cole and then the rest of the wedding party headed up the aisle to the main foyer of the church.
It was done. Her sister had not only married one of the wealthiest men in the world, but she’d also married for pure, unadulterated love. She looked at Lauren and Rachel and Harper. The Bennetts, their childhood neighbors and teenage friends had become the men that won each of their hearts. Sienna was happy for them, but she wondered, what of her own life?
Her work was rewarding. She truly enjoyed every job she took, but with each success she added to her ever-growing resume, loneliness found its way into her bedroom at night when the project ended. There was no one to celebrate with—no one to love her or even like her—as it were these days. She tried hard to push the yearning from her mind, but there were nights when the fight not to wallow in her sorrow was more than a notion.
Zoe’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “The photographer wants us for the pictures.” Sienna pushed my pondering aside. Keeping everyone on task was her job. She joined her family for the photoshoot and everything else that was to come on this abundantly, beautiful day. Four out of six of the Ingram girls were married. Her day was coming. As much as she loved her brothers-in-law, her choice would not be from the Bennett bloodline. They had enough of that.