“Quit fidgeting.” Violet smacked Rob’s arm. “I’m trying to get your tie straight.”
“I can’t ever make them look right.” Rob frowned and fidgeted again.
“Hence the reason I’m redoing it. Now be still.” She redid the tie and stepped back. “You look pretty good.”
“Pretty good?”
“You know, for a brother.” He actually looked strikingly handsome. And happy. He’d had a silly grin plastered on his face all day.
“How much longer?” He paced away from her and glanced out the window.
“Ten minutes.”
“It seems like it’s taking forever.”
“Hey, I tried to keep you busy all day.” And she had. Rob had helped her set up all the chairs and fix the arbor. He’d set up the cake table and Rose had decorated it, along with tying all the bows on the chairs. She could hardly remember what they’d done before Rose came to the cottages. She was always such a help, and she’d become a dear friend to them.
He paced from the window to the reception desk and back to the window. “Now?”
She laughed. “Come on. Let’s go on outside. You’re driving me crazy.”
They stepped out onto the deck, and she turned to him. “You know you’re one lucky guy, don’t you?”
“I know it. I’m so lucky Evelyn said yes to marrying me.”
“Yes, you are, but I meant you’re so lucky because you have me as a sister.” She grinned. “Come on. Let’s get you up front to the arbor and wait for your bride. I take my responsibility of best man seriously.”
She took his arm, and they walked out into the courtyard filled with family and friends. She looked up at her brother, beaming with happiness. So Rob had finally found his one and only. She couldn’t be more pleased for him. Her heart filled with happiness for him. For both of them.
They went up by the arbor and stood there, side by side, waiting for Evelyn.
Evelyn stood in the green cottage at Blue Heron Cottages getting ready for her wedding. Violet had graciously offered the cottage to her to get ready. She should feel nervous, but she didn’t. She felt calm. Confident. Sure of this decision. Glad they hadn’t waited.
“Stand still. Let me get this button,” Donna admonished her, then stepped back. “Oh, Evie. You look beautiful.”
She looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The light lavender dress was lovely. Just the right amount of simple and fancy.
“Mom, you chose the perfect dress. It looks wonderful on you.” Heather got up from the bed. “And those purple shoes are perfect.”
She glanced down at them, wondering if they were a bit too much. But she’d fallen in love with them and they looked nice with the dress. And they were flats, so she didn’t have to worry about walking in the uneven courtyard.
Violet had gotten lavender ribbon to tie bows on the chairs, and Heather had picked out a bouquet of white flowers mixed with tiny lavender ones for the cake table. Her wedding bouquet was a simple bunch of mixed white flowers with a lavender ribbon winding through it.
Melody had baked a wonderful cake and added real lavender sprigs to the top. She couldn’t believe so much had come together so quickly this week. Though, she shouldn’t be surprised. The Parker women knew how to make things happen.
“You did a great job with the makeup, Heather. I can hardly see my bruise.” She looked closely in the mirror again.
“You look beautiful, Mom.” Heather came over and hugged her.
“Are you ready for this?” Donna asked. “It’s just about time to go out.”
“I’m so ready. You’ll need to let me take your arm, though. I don’t want to use the crutches, and I’m still not totally steady on my feet.”
“I’ve got you. Don’t you worry about a thing.”
Livy and Emily poked their heads in the door. “You guys set? I’ll get the music started if you are,” Livy said.
“Everyone is here.” Emily danced around, whirling with energy. “And you look beautiful, Evelyn.”
“Thanks, Emily.”
“I think we’re set,” Donna said.
Livy and Emily left, and soon the music filtered into the cottage. Donna turned to her. “Let’s do this.”
They stepped out of the cottage and into the courtyard. Heather walked up the aisle first. Evelyn and Donna waited at the end of the aisle. She looked down the aisle and saw Rob standing there, looking impossibly handsome and very happy. Her heart fluttered in her chest and joy flooded through her. This is what she wanted. What she knew was right. Rob was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Facing life’s challenges and sharing life’s joys.
She nodded to Donna. “I’m ready.”
She walked up the aisle on Donna’s arm and took his hand as she reached the arbor. He leaned over close to her. “You look beautiful.”
They said their vows in front of friends and family as the sky put on a fabulous display of color. And just like that, she was married. A grin spread across her cheeks as she walked back down the aisle on Rob’s arm. Mrs. Bentley. She liked the sound of it.
They cut the cake and then mingled with the guests, trying to make sure they said hi to everyone. Her mother came up, dressed impeccably as usual, and hugged her. “You look lovely, Evelyn.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“It was a great ceremony.” Donna walked up and handed her a glass of champagne.
Heather came up beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Mom, I couldn’t be happier for you. Rob is a great guy.”
“I am, aren’t I?” Rob came walking up with Violet by his side and laughed.
“And modest.” Violet shook her head. “Good luck with this guy, Evelyn. You’re going to need it.”
Evelyn looked at Rob and smiled, her heart swelling with emotion. “I won’t need any luck, which is good, because I already used up all my luck finding Rob.”
“I’m the lucky one.” He leaned down and kissed her gently, then held up his glass of champagne. “To my beautiful bride.”
“To Evelyn,” the Parker women said in unison, raising their glasses as they gathered around her.
“To the last Parker woman to get married,” Evelyn said, raising her glass.
“Hey, what about me?” Emily asked.
“You’re way too young,” Livy immediately answered. “To the Parker women.”
They all clinked glasses, and she looked around at all their smiling faces. Her family. Her new husband. As far as she was concerned, life was absolutely perfect here in Moonbeam.