Penni gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s not every day you get married.”
“I still can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”
Hearing the music begin, Penni and she walked to a massive oak door. Gathering all her courage, Jewell nodded at the dark-suited chapel parishioner to enter the wedding area with Penni following down the short aisle.
Jewell tried not to frown at the people inside. They had paid for a private ceremony with only Rory, Jackal, Penni, and her. Who were all these people sitting in the seats? Jewell counted at least twelve as she made her way to where Rory was standing next to Jackal. Were they people waiting for their own ceremony to begin?
It suddenly clicked in her mind who they were as the minister began the ceremony.
The ceremony was short, and it wasn’t long before Rory was sliding a wedding band onto her finger. Turning to the cheers from the audience, Jewell leaned into Rory as he took her arm.
“You read their letters,” she said achingly.
“Don’t be angry. I—”
“I’m not angry.” Swallowing hard, she braced herself for the meetings to come. “You did what I didn’t have the courage to do. That’s what husbands do.”
She let him lead her forward to the group of people waiting.
“Jewell, I’d like to introduce you to Devon Aldridge and his wife, Capri,” Rory introduced a waiting couple.
After she shook their hands, the Aldridges moved aside to show a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties.
“My name is Tristan … I have—”
“You received … my son’s heart.” Jewell was barely able to get the words out.
The young man standing in front of her looked at Rory for permission. “May I kiss the bride?”
“Yes.”
Her knees almost gave out when Tristan leaned forward to place a kiss on her forehead, just like Michael used to do.
“Thank you for saving my life.” When he stepped away, a woman in her forties took his place, which Jewell recognized instantly.
“In the most painful day, any mother has to endure, you didn’t let me get turned away from talking to you. Despite your grief, you listened to me beg for my son’s life. If the tables had been reversed, I don’t believe I would have been able to be so compassionate. I can only imagine the love Michael was showered with on his short time on Earth. Then you went on to share the gift of his life with others to prevent them from experiencing the same anguish. Because of you, I never had to learn how painful it is to lose my son. You carried that burden for me. You carried that burden for all of us. We wanted to be here for you so your son could share the day with you. Rory told us you have a hard time reading our letters, and none of us will ever be able to express our true gratitude to you, whether the letters were read or not. Nothing we can say will lessen your grief over loosing Michael, but we wanted to know you’re a part of each of our families. You have four grandmothers, six grandfathers, three mothers, two fathers, four brothers, ten sisters … and anytime you need us, we will be there. We all didn’t want to overwhelm you, so the rest of them are waiting outside to send you off.” The woman stepped forward to place a kiss on her cheek. “God bless you, Antonia. May your life be filled with the happiness you have returned to us.”
Jewell looked at the crowd gathered around her then up at her husband. Desperately holding back her tears, Jewell held on to Rory’s arm as they walked outside.
As they came down the steps, the large group slowly gathered around Rory and her to congratulate them.
The joy they showed for them was genuine and heartfelt. They had needed the opportunity to thank her. In a way, it brought closure, which had begun when they had become sick. It brought closure for her also. She was able to put to rest the regrets she had for disconnecting Michael from the machines.
Jewell cleared her throat. “Thank you all for coming today. We were just going to a restaurant to eat when we finished here. I would love for all of you to join us.”
The overwhelming response they gave her lightened the teary atmosphere.
“Let me call the restaurant and get us a few extra tables.”
Smiling, Jewell stepped away from the crowd to take her cell phone out of her purse. Pushing the number she wanted, Jewell put the phone to her ear as she watched the happy faces several inches away.
“Hello, Jewell!”
“Hi, Rider,” Jewell spoke in the phone.
“Congratulations. Shade told us you were getting married today. You didn’t even give us enough time to get there.”
“It was spur of the moment.” She didn’t trust herself yet not to try and convince Rory to go back to Treepoint with them. Distance away from them had taught her they had become her crutch, and she was still learning to walk on her own.