At five minutes after two, with the sanctuary filled to the brim with guests, the long-anticipated wedding ceremony began. The bridesmaids had gathered in the foyer, doors to the sanctuary closed until the appropriate moment. When Mrs. Frazier gave the go-ahead, the processional got underway. She swung the door open and the bridesmaids entered, one by one.

I led the way, my heart in my throat as I took one calculated step after another. To think I’d once fretted over being the last in line. It had never occurred to me that I’d be the first to make an entrance. What was it the Bible said about the first being last and the last being first? I almost giggled now, thinking of the irony.

Next came Brianna. Then Gillian. Then Cassie. Finally Sienna stepped into the sanctuary. Of course, her low-cut gown caused quite a stir among wide-eyed guests. I turned my focus to Phillip and his groomsmen, who stood in a perfect row at the front of the church.

Okay, so the groom looked a little wobbly. Nauseated, in fact. But when the back doors of the sanctuary opened a second time to reveal his beautiful bride, Phillip’s expression shifted from fear to deep, pure love. And joy. I could see the excitement behind the tears in his eyes as he watched my gorgeous, wonderful sister make her way down the aisle on our father’s arm.

Looked like my dad was a little misty too. As they neared the front of the church and the pastor asked, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” my father could barely spit out the words, “Her mother and I.” He managed, and then took a seat on the front row next to Mom and Grandma Nellie. Mama once again dabbed her eyes with a tissue. I glanced at Mr. and Mrs. Havenhurst on the other side of the aisle. Phillip’s mother appeared to be smiling through her tears, too—a sincere smile. Perhaps she finally realized just how happy her son was to be marrying my sister. The look of sheer bliss on Phillip’s face was all the proof anyone could ever need, after all.

Our pastor welcomed the guests and the ceremony got underway, but I found myself distracted as the best man gave me his signature wink. I felt my cheeks grow warm. I gave him a warning look, but it didn’t stop him. This time I shook my head and nodded slightly toward the bride and groom. Derrick finally focused on them . . . thank goodness.

My gaze shifted from Derrick to the other groomsmen standing in line behind him. Like me, Tyler was at the end of his row. Wow. He looked pretty spiffy in a tuxedo. With his face clearing up and his hair neatly combed, I almost didn’t recognize him. Then again, he looked a little uncomfortable in the bow tie. He tugged at it, a pained expression on his face.

I tried to focus on the happy couple, but found myself completely distracted. Memories of my sister flooded over me as they said their “I do’s.” The two of us swimming at the neighborhood pool. Vacationing at Disneyworld with our parents. Mission trips with our youth group. These images planted themselves in me, but I did my best to push away the tears.

The tears could not be held back, however, as Crystal and Phillip had their first kiss as a married couple. And the emotions only intensified when the pastor introduced them as husband and wife. The congregation gave a cheer as the new Mr. and Mrs. Havenhurst turned to face them, then headed up the aisle.

Sienna and Derrick linked arms and headed up the aisle after them. Sienna seemed a little subdued, and I briefly wondered why. Then Gillian and her partner, followed by Brianna and hers. Tyler and I met in the middle. He gave me his arm, flashed a comforting smile, and we walked up the aisle last. I didn’t have a care in the world, nor did I feel less than any of the others. In fact, thoughts about me didn’t enter into it. I was far too busy focusing on my sister and Phillip, who were standing in the foyer, kissing.

A few minutes later the foyer filled with happy wedding guests, who offered their congratulations. I allowed myself to be pushed to the edge of the crowd, pressed away by the ever-growing throng. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone. I found myself standing right next to Derrick, who slipped his arm around my waist.

“That went well.” He drew me close.

“Mm-hmm.” I snuggled up to him, loving the scent of his cologne. “Loved every minute.”

“Oh, but the fun is just beginning. Remember, you promised me a dance.”

“I did. I hope your feet are ready for the pain I’m going to cause.”

He laughed and then turned his attention to Tyler, who called out to us to join the rest of the wedding party. We still had a handful of pictures to take before leaving for the reception. The photos would forever mark my spot as the end-of-the-line bridesmaid, but I didn’t care. Not one bit. All that mattered now was celebrating the happily ever after of my sister and her new husband.

But, I admit, I was pondering the possibilities for a happily ever after of my own. Just as soon as we wrapped up the photoshoot.

The photographer had obviously done this a time or two. She corralled us into position after position, taking one photo after the next. I couldn’t help but notice that she angled Sienna to hide the Double-D’s. Mostly, anyway. Oh well. We would laugh about them later. Maybe.

When the photo shoot ended, I rode with the other attendants to the River Oaks Country Club. Phillip’s father had rented limos for the whole wedding party and, despite my earlier reservations about feeling out of place in a hoity-toity world, I enjoyed the ride immensely.

“A girl could get used to this.” Cassie giggled as she leaned back against the seat. “Don’t you think?”

“I do.” Brianna opened a can of soda and poured it into a glass of ice. “They can chauffer me around any day.”

I glanced over at Sienna, who remained quiet, gazing out the window. Her silence threw me a little. “Didn’t you think the wedding was gorgeous, Sienna?”

“Hmm?” She looked away from the window. “What?”

“The wedding,” I repeated. “It was beautiful.”

She shrugged. “Yes. It was great. I’m sure even Phillip’s mother would agree. I know she’s given Crystal kind of a hard time.”

“Well, I thought it was great.” My heart flooded with emotion as I glanced from one bridesmaid to another. “I’ve loved every minute of getting to know you all better. I don’t want this to end.”

“Interesting.” Sienna turned back to the window. “Because I can’t wait for it to be over.”

“You don’t mean that. I think maybe you’re just sad and a little confused right now.”

She shrugged again and continued to stare out the window. When we arrived at the country club, we were all staring out the window.

I’d heard about the River Oaks Country Club for years but had never seen it for myself. Now, as the driver swung the door of the limo open and offered me his hand, I stepped into a whole new world. The gorgeous front doors were majestic in size. Gorgeous. I could barely breathe as I took it all in.

A man in a tuxedo greeted us, and we took a few cautious steps into the grand foyer. “Are you here for the Havenhurst reception?”

I nodded, unable to speak as I gazed upward at the massive chandeliers, in all of their crystallized beauty.

“This way, please.” He gestured down the hallway to our right and we walked as a group until we came to the reception hall. There simply were no words to describe its beauty.

“Wow.” Cassie’s eyes widened. “This is . . . wow.”

“Wow is right.” I stood completely dumbfounded by the place.

Off in the distance a band played country tunes, my sister’s favorite. The heavenly aroma of food emanated from the buffet table to our right. I pushed away the “sixty-five dollars a head” speech rolling around in my brain and made up my mind to relax and enjoy myself.

A few minutes later my parents arrived with Grandma Nellie close behind. As they were seated, she carried on and on about the beautiful room. “This place!” She gestured to the hall chandeliers, also dripping with crystals. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Me either. But I think Crystal is going to have the time of her life. This is perfect for her.”

“She deserves this.” My grandmother’s eyes flooded with tears. “You, too, precious girl. You deserve this, and so much more.”

“Aw, thank you, Grandma Nellie. Maybe someday.”

“Maybe someday . . . soon.” She nodded toward Derrick, who stood nearby, talking to one of the groomsmen. “Remember, sometimes the Lord—”

I put up my hand and laughed. “Don’t say it. Don’t say it.”

At that moment, the deejay announced the arrival of the bride and groom. The guests rose and greeted them with applause, and then the band began to play.

I stepped away from my family’s table as Crystal and Phillip took to the floor to share their first dance as husband and wife. In that moment, as I saw the two of them together, all concerns about my sister’s happiness faded away. Phillip couldn’t take his eyes off her, and she returned his gaze, a blissful expression on her face.

“They’re a perfect match.”

I turned when I heard Derrick’s voice and then nodded, a lump rising in my throat. I managed to speak above it as I said, “Yes, they are.”

Derrick slipped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “I’m just waiting for all the designated dances to end so I can spin you around the dance floor.”

“Did I forget to mention that I’m a terrible dancer?”

“Sure you are.”

“No, really. I’m terrible.”

“You said you were terrible at baking, too, and you made some pretty amazing cookies.”

“Your mom made those.”

“Well, sometimes all it takes is someone leading the way.” He gave me a knowing look. “You can follow and learn the steps.”

“So you’re good at dancing?”

“No.” He laughed. “I was kind of hoping you were so you could teach me. But I know enough to fake it.” He leaned close, his voice lowering. “And honestly? I won’t be thinking about my feet. If you’ll dance with me, I’ll just be thinking about how lucky I am.”

Okay, someone had better pinch me, and quick. What had I done to deserve a guy like this?

Before I could give it another thought, one of the wedding guests approached Derrick. “Dude, you’re Derrick Richardson.”

“I am.”

“Could I have your autograph?”

“Of course.” He signed the guy’s wedding program. This started a group of fans gathering around him, just as my father took to the floor for the father-daughter dance. Derrick continued to sign autographs as Phillip and his mom shared a dance, but he finally managed to turn everyone’s attention back to the bride and groom, who opened the dance floor to all of their guests.

“Finally!” Derrick slipped his arm around my waist again. “I thought this moment would never come. Let’s hit the floor, Southpaw.”

I took a couple of steps, but a troubling thought caused me to stop just short of the dance floor. “I’d love to dance with you, Derrick, but before I do, I think I need to take a spin with a different partner. Do you mind?”

“A different partner?” For a moment Derrick looked offended—until I pointed to Tyler, who stood against the wall, looking lost and a little overwhelmed. “Ah. Great move, Southpaw. Show the guy how to trip the light fantastic.”

“I’ll show him how to trip, all right. Over my feet, is more like it.” The belly laugh that followed must’ve startled the prim and proper woman to my right. She turned to give me a stare, straight down her nose. Oops. Almost forgot where I was. People probably didn’t belly laugh at the River Oaks Country Club.

“Promise you’ll save the next dance for me?” Derrick asked.

I nodded and then stood on tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. “I promise.” Then, with a song in my heart, I headed over to Tyler, extended my hand, and offered him the first dance.