Because they had only dated weeks when Dylan proposed, they decided on a long engagement, marrying in the spring. Harmony wanted this marriage more than anything.
And inside her wedding shoe was something new, a coin proclaiming 335 days clean and sober. Because she was determined to succeed. She had three very good reasons, three people she couldn’t let down.
As they stood in the fellowship hall of the Dawson Community Church waiting for the ceremony to begin, she smiled at this family that had become hers. And the family she already had that loved her.
Lila was her maid of honor, of course. Lila with her beautiful smile, a smile she’d been using on Bryan Cooper for the last week. Bryan, who’d finally come home from South America, to his mother’s delight.
Heather was a bridesmaid, along with Sophie, Eva and Mia.
Sometimes Harmony had a moment that took her by surprise, when sadness crept up on her. She thought of Amy, and how Amy would have been there, in a pale pink dress, her blond hair framing her face.
But a little bit of Amy was with Harmony. She wore a necklace her friend had given her years ago. A cheap BFF necklace. Best Friends Forever.
But Harmony knew her friend would have been happy to witness this moment, to see her friend clean and sober, to see her happy.
It was a bittersweet thought.
She blinked away tears as her mom came through the door, a smiling woman with blond hair and blue eyes filling with tears.
“This is a no-cry zone,” Heather warned with a shake of her finger.
“I can’t help it,” Olivia Cross sniffled. “I wish my sister was here to see.”
“She wouldn’t come. But I’ll send her pictures.”
“It’s almost time.” Olivia hugged her tight. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And thank you for not giving up on me.”
“You’re my daughter. I couldn’t give up.”
Then it was time. They walked down the hallway to the front of the church. The bridesmaids went first. Harmony stood waiting, her hand on her dad’s arm.
“I love you, Daddy.”
He cleared his throat. “I love you, too. This is what you want, right?”
“It’s what I’ve wanted all my life.”
“I have a gift for you. That little place down the road. It’s your ranch now. Yours and Dylan’s.”
“Thank you so much,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her dad pushed a handkerchief in her hand and she dabbed her eyes.
“I’m going to be the bride that got married with raccoon eyes.”
“You’ll be the prettiest bride ever,” her dad whispered back.
“You have to say that, you’re my daddy.”
“Yes, I am.”
The music started and they began their trip down the aisle. She smiled at Dylan. He had turned to watch her, that cowboy of hers. But today he wasn’t a cowboy. Today he wore a suit. He’d shaved. And just looking at him made her heart do a funny dance.
He was her cowboy. Her man.
As they went down the aisle, she smiled at Granny Myrna whose ring was on her left hand. Myrna had explained that this ring with the pink stone had been an anniversary gift from her husband, Milt. That made it even more special. Cash and Callie were at the front of the church, the ring bearer and flower girl.
There were several flower girls, actually. Callie was joined by Jackson’s newest daughter, just adopted six months ago from Texas. Next to her was Keeton and Sophie’s daughter, Lucy. She was just barely three and she knew how to wrap everyone around her little finger.
Harmony’s dad handed her over to Dylan with warning look. “Take care of my girl.”
People around them laughed. Dylan smiled at her and her knees went a little weak. He reached for her hand even though Wyatt Johnson had told them to wait until he gave the command to take her hand. Dylan ignored him.
They repeated their vows, holding hands and waiting for that special moment at the end, the moment they had been waiting for now for seven months.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Wyatt said. And then he didn’t say more. Dylan shot him a look and Wyatt laughed.
“You may kiss the bride.”
He gathered her up, crushing her beautiful dress in the process, but she didn’t care. She cared about this man. She cared that when he held her, she felt stronger.
“I love you, Harmony Cooper.”
“I love you, too, Dylan Cooper.”
They hurried down the aisle with bubbles blowing around them. As they stepped outside, fireworks blasted through the night sky.
It was a very happy ending.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from SECOND CHANCE SUMMER by Irene Hannon.