Rachel’s eyes met her brother’s, and Josh noticed there were tears in them as she made her way closer to where they were standing. Watching them both closely, Josh wondered what exactly was going through Rach’s head as she moved over to stand on the left side of the aisle.

Her eyes finally met his, and Josh smiled at her, trying to reassure her everything would be okay. He felt like she needed it and wasn’t quite sure why, but before he could think on it too long, the crowd was oohing and aahing over the next person that appeared.

Josh turned and found it hard not to do the same.

Making her way down the aisle in a much shorter version of Rachel’s dress was Shelly Monroe. Georgia.

Her hair was pulled half up and back from her beautiful face, and the rest was left in a halo of soft curls around her shoulders. Josh assumed the clip holding it back was the same silver-and-diamond-looking one that Rachel was wearing.

However, that wasn’t what kept him entranced. It was her eyes as she was making her way up to the front. They were locked on his. She had glanced at Mason once, but then she had looked to him and had not faltered since.

Josh felt his heart thundering in his chest, almost feeling like this was his own damn wedding. As Shelly reached the front and went to stand beside Rachel, he turned to look at her and watched as she winked at him. Josh smiled and suddenly felt like he was back on even ground. Ahh, there’s the Man-Eater.

He needed to let her know tonight how he really felt. He needed her to be aware that he wasn’t aiming to make her anything other than a permanent part of his life. The thought that she would not want to hear it terrified him.

All of a sudden, everyone stood, and the music continued to play as Magdalena O’Donnell and her father made their grand entrance.

Josh had to admit that as he watched her move closer down the aisle to Mason, who was now watching his bride with a look that was complete and utter adoration, he could one-hundred percent appreciate the reasons for getting married.

The woman who was walking toward her groom wasn’t the Lena they all knew and loved. This was a woman who was radiating so much happiness and love as she made her way toward her man that it was like they were all seeing her for the first time. Her gaze never left Mason’s as she moved closer, and the complete unfettered love in her eyes was absolutely mesmerizing.

When she finally reached Mason, Josh watched as his usually smooth-talking friend just stood and stared at the woman in front of him. Her father let go of her hand, and Lena finally smiled up at her fiancé, greeting him softly.

“Hi.”

Josh chuckled, and so did the rest of the crowd behind them.

Mason shook his head, and then blinked once. “Hi.”

Finally, the pastor made a little coughing sound and stated, “If everyone could please be seated, we’ll begin.”

Josh heard all the chairs shuffle and watched as everyone took their seats. He turned toward Rachel and Shelly and smiled at them both. Shelly gave him a radiant one in response, and Rachel smiled, but it felt strained.

Josh then turned back to face the bride and groom who stood before the pastor. Just behind the pastor, a small table held a beautiful spray of tulips and an equally impressive vase of sunflowers, each representing the people in their lives that could not be here.

“Dearly Beloved. We are gathered here in the presence of God and this company so that Magdalena O’Donnell and Mason Langley may be united in holy matrimony,” the pastor began.

Josh watched as Lena looked up at Mason and gave him a shy smile. His friend must have winked or done something equally as smooth because she ducked her head bashfully and blushed a little.

Yep, Mason has his groove back now that he has Lena in his sights.

“Who here gives this woman to this man?”

That was when Lena’s father stated, “Her mother and I do with our deepest blessing.”

Mason turned and looked at his new father-in-law. “Thank you. I’ll take care of her.”

“We know, son,” he told Mason and then sat down.

The crowd went quiet as the pastor announced, “The bride and groom have opted to say their own vows over those traditional ones we all know. So, when you’re ready, Mason.”

Josh watched as Mason reached across to take Lena’s hands in his own.

Lena wasn’t wearing a veil, and her hair had been pulled back into a sweeping side bun that was elegantly pinned at her neck. As she looked up at her husband-to-be, Josh thought she was probably one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, not including, of course, the woman just beyond her right shoulder.

“When I first sat down to write these vows, I had no idea how I was going to explain just how much I love you, Lena. Life isn’t easy, and anyone who tells you it is, well they’re lying. Life is hard. It gives you good times, and it gives you extremely bad times. You and I have had our share of both. We’ve each struggled through pain and loss individually, and then just last year, we struggled again—together. To me, that is what life is all about. It’s about finding someone—you, Lena—to help me when I need it the most. To guide me out of my darkest moments and to bask with me in the lightest ones.” Mason paused, and Josh watched as a tear slid down Lena’s cheek. “My mother loved you very much, and I know that she is sitting up there front and center, watching this wedding with the biggest smile on her face.”

Josh heard several quiet sniffles in the background. Behind Shelly, who was gently wiping a tear away from her cheek, Rachel stood clutching her flowers with tears falling gently down her face. She seemed immobilized as Mason ended his vows.

Mason continued, “You walked into my life, and now, I never want to walk alone again. Magdalena O’Donnell, will you marry me and make me the happiest man on the planet?”

A pin could have dropped,reverberating noise throughout the room. It was that quiet.

Then, Lena began.

* * *

Shelly watched through blurred eyes as her friend gripped Mason’s hands and started her own vows. Although, how she could manage after Mason’s was a miracle. Shelly didn’t think there was a dry eye in the place.

“I would marry you every single hour of every single day for the rest of my life. Before you, I didn’t know how to live. Oh, I went through the motions of having a life, but it was all for show. I was broken in here,” Lena told him and raised one of Mason’s large palms to her heart.

She held onto one of his hands and kept the other one pressed close to her chest. She took a step closer and looked up at him.

“You have given me so much I can’t even begin to express how deeply my love runs for you. Your strength and sensitivity, your complete love of your family, and your absolute perseverance and stubbornness are just some of the many things I love and adore about you, Langley. You taught me how to accept things I never could have without you, how to forgive myself, and give permission to my heart to open up and love again. Your happiness and joy of life is so strong that it left me no other option but to let you in to warm up my soul, which had been cold for so long.” Lena paused, and then firmly and loudly said, “I would be honored to marry you, Mason Langley. Will you please marry me?”

Shelly watched as Mason tugged Lena forward, and she was pretty sure only those standing up close to them heard him whisper.

“Just try and stop me.”

Then, he laid the sweetest, most passionate kiss Shelly had ever witnessed on his bride.

* * *

Three-and-a-half hours later, the reception was in full swing. There had been photos upon photos and so much food had been eaten that Josh felt like he was going to explode. He’d hardly had one moment to himself all night, and he certainly hadn’t had a chance to talk with Shelly.

Every time he turned around, she was off getting another photo with the bride. Then, when he thought he could finally catch her, Lena’s parents had started talking to her, or someone from their work had pulled her aside. He was starting to think that he wouldn’t get the opportunity he so desperately craved.

Glancing around the reception area, Josh saw Shelly near the makeshift bar. Standing, Josh was about to make his way to her when he saw Rachel sitting at her table by herself, watching everyone dance.

He had seen Mason chat with her and pull her into several dances. Rachel had smiled and moved to the music with ease, but there was something off. Josh headed toward her table, finally deciding to find out what it was.

“Hey there,” he said as he pulled the chair out beside her.

Rachel looked over to him and smiled. “Hey, Josh. Nice night, huh?”

Josh relaxed into his chair. “I’ll say. Have you ever seen a couple so stupid over each other?” he said, hoping to get a laugh from her.

However, instead of the usual burst of joy he would get from Rachel with the colored hair, he got a small grin from the new Rachel with the black hair.

“They seem very happy,” she told him.

Josh leaned toward her, reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder. She looked over at him, and Josh couldn’t help but see the raw emotion that was welling in her eyes.

“You don’t,” he whispered.

“I don’t what?”

“You don’t look happy,” he explained quietly. “In fact, every time I see you I feel as though you look sadder.” Josh watched as she straightened her spine and blinked her eyes, trying to hold back the moisture forming there. “What’s going on, Rach? You haven’t been yourself lately.”