For the fourth time in five minutes, Lauren adjusted the circles of baby’s breath and white rosebuds atop Sam’s head. “This isn’t right, Sam. I told the florist I wanted miniature white rosebuds, not regular rosebuds. These are too large and…and…oh, dead, I wanted everything to be perfect.”
Sam smiled, stretching her arms around the woman who’d be her sister-in-law in just a few more minutes. “Everything’s beautiful, Lauren, in spite of the rosebuds.”
“But it’s not, Sam. The ribbons and bows lining the aisles were supposed to be shell pink but they’re peach instead. The caterer made crab puffs with imitation crab instead of making crab quiche with the real thing.” She sighed. “I don’t understand how so many things could go wrong, especially in Palm Beach.”
Sam kissed Lauren’s cheek. “Wrong would have been no wedding at all.”
“That’s true.”
“Wrong would have been red ribbons and bows lining the aisles, carnations in my hair, and pigs-in-a-blanket for hors d’oeuvres.”
“Who would ever plan something like that?”
“Me, more than likely.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“I would. Never in a million years would I have thought about releasing butterflies at the end of the ceremony, and you know I would have picked a white miniskirt from How Tacky instead of flying to Paris to have a gorgeous gown like this custom made.”
“It is beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It’s all beautiful, but I’m afraid I’m going to ruin everything when I pass out halfway down the stairs.”
Lauren adjusted the wreath about Sam’s head one more time. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, Samantha. Trust me. I’ve been through this twice and I’ve never passed out.” She put her fingers to her lips, deep in thought. “I’ll tell you what. If you think you are going to faint, give me a sign, like…oh…fanning your face, and I’ll make sure Jack rushes up the stairs to catch you. That would make everything perfect—and oh-so-romantic.”
Suddenly the music started. The time had come. After two months of preparation, two months of falling ever more deeply in love, she was finally going to be Mrs. Jack Remington.
“Remember, Sam,” Lauren instructed. “Walk slowly, and don’t go until you’re sure I’m at the end of the aisle. This is your wedding, and I don’t want anyone looking at me when they should be looking at you. And one last thing. When you meet my mother after the ceremony, don’t feel intimidated and whatever you do—don’t call her Lady. She’s a little upset with the Lord right now and doesn’t want anyone reminding her that she married the little twit. As for my dad, he brought two big-chested blondes with him because he couldn’t decide who he could be without for a few days.”
Sam caught Lauren’s fingers and squeezed them. “There’s one more thing, Lauren.”
“Oh, no. Did I forget something?”
“No, I just want to say I love you.”
Tears glistened in Lauren’s eyes. “Me too.”
Without another word, Lauren swirled her gown around her, positioned her bouquet at exactly the proper angle, and transformed from wedding planner to elegant matron of honor, gracefully walking down a pink-marble staircase. Sam studied every move she made, until she caught sight of Beau, leaning on crutches, proudly watching his dad.
Jack stood out in the crowd, tall, handsome, and beaming like he’d never been happier. His gaze traveled from his son, to his sister, to the top of the stairs. Sam stood in a shadowy alcove, but he found her. She watched his chest rise and fall as he smiled, and she blew him a kiss as the “Wedding March” began.
Taking a deep breath, she clutched the bouquet of white rosebuds in front of her. “Break a leg,” she whispered, and stepped into the light.
The guests rose from their chairs and turned. All eyes, all smiles were on her.
She belonged here, and she felt wonderful.
Most of the faces she passed were nothing but a blur of strangers, and then she saw Tyrone, giving her two thumbs-up. Maryanne clutched the arm of the man next to her and pointed excitedly at the diamond ring on her finger. Fay and John Atkinson had flown from their ranch to Palm Beach for the occasion, and both of them were in tears. Finally, she saw Crosby. He stood in the very front row, looking curmudgeonly dapper in a tux. When she smiled at him, he pulled a red-and-white bandanna from his pants pocket and put it to his eyes.
No one could have asked for a more perfect wedding.
The most perfect part came when Jack stepped forward and tucked her hand around his arm. His smile warmed her heart, and calmed all her fears. “I love you,” he whispered, and when they knelt in front of Mike, who stood just beyond an archway of ivy and white roses, Jack pressed something cool into her hand.
With Mike looking down at them, with a room full of people hushed and waiting for the ceremony to begin, she opened her palm and found a sparkling crystal star. There were tears in her eyes when she looked at Jack, and he caressed one away from her cheek. “You told me once you wanted to touch the stars,” he whispered. “I’m going to give them to you every day of your life.”
Her lips trembled. “I love you.”
He kissed her, long before he was supposed to. “Forever.”
Mike grinned, opened his Bible, and began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered today, in the sight of God…”
Through the haze of words, laughter, and tears, the only things clear to Sam were the smile in Jack’s eyes, the touch of their hands as they exchanged simple gold bands, and the sweetness of Jack’s lips when he lifted her from the floor and kissed her, giving her a memory she would never forget as long as she lived.
The applause rang out all around them as Mike introduced them as husband and wife. And when the butterflies fluttered about, Sam turned to the opened doors that looked toward the ocean and the cloudless sky. There were millions of stars out, but one seemed to shine brighter than all the rest.
Sam couldn’t help but smile. Oh, Mama, I can just imagine what you would say right now.