Feeling my cheeks blush, I turned to my father who was glaring at Noah. Pointing a finger at him, my father said, “You’re only borrowing her, Noah.”
Noah nodded and said, “Yes, sir. Got it.”
My father pointed again. “I know people, who know people who will take you out.”
Noah’s eyes widened as he slowly nodded his head and said, “Yes, sir. You’ve mentioned that a time or two.”
Grandpa Mark let out a chuckle as he said, “Paybacks. Oh man I love paybacks.”
“Oh Lord help this family.”
My eyes snapped over to Pastor Roberts. I hadn’t even seen him standing there. Letting out a chuckle, I wondered how Colt ever talked this poor man into doing another one of our family’s weddings.
My eyes then caught the little teal and brown bench I’d found at an antiques store in Fredericksburg. It had been in the front display window of Wild Flowers. Turning to Noah, I asked, “What’s the bench for?”
Noah’s eyes moved to it as he smiled and took my hand. Alex and Libby helped with my dress and train as I sat on the bench. I was looking back at everyone and my heart was overcome as my eyes looked over my friends and family. Matt sat next to my mother holding a painting that was wrapped up in wrapping paper. I lifted my hand and waved to him as he waved back and shouted. “Hey, Grace! Want to go fishing?”
Grinning, I said, “I’d love to, but we’ll have to wait a few days.”
Matt gave me a thumbs-up and said, “Okay, Grace!”
As my eyes scanned everyone sitting, I saw my grandparents . . . all of them . . . smiling back at me with tears in their eyes. I saw my friends and family as they each looked upon me with loving eyes.
My eyes soon found Emily and her husband. They had flown in a week ago to spend time with Noah and me. Emily’s hands rested on her swollen belly. She was six months pregnant with twins. She wiped a tear away as her husband, Mitch, took her hand in his.
Finally, my eyes focused back on Noah. He was standing in front of me with the goofiest smile on his face. He peeked over to Alex who walked up and pointed to my bouquet as she said, “Can I trade your bouquet for something else?”
She was holding her hand out for my bouquet. I held my flowers away from her and said, “Hell no.”
Laughing, she pulled out a single sunflower and held it in front of me. My heart felt as if it had skipped a beat as I sat there staring at the sunflower. Slowly reaching up for it, I handed her my flowers as she winked and stood back in line next to Libby.
Glancing back to the front, I let out a gasp as I watched Noah sit on the ground as Will handed him the teal guitar Noah had bought off the street vendor.
Tears flowed freely now and I didn’t give two shits about my makeup. Noah was bringing me back to the day I knew my heart would forever belong to him.
Best. Day. Ever.
Noah
A lump formed in my throat as I watched Grace begin crying. Meagan let out a gasp as I heard her say under her breath, “Thank God I used waterproof mascara!”
Chuckling, I shook my head as I dragged in a deep breath. I couldn’t believe what I was about to do. Not only was I about to speak in front of everyone, I was also going to sing to my beautiful bride on our wedding day, but in front of everyone else as well.
Clearing my throat, I dug deep inside and found my voice.
“Once upon a time, I met a beautiful princess. She ran into me so hard, she knocked herself down to the ground.”
Small chuckles played around me as I watched Grace smile even bigger.
“If only she had known, I was the one who was knocked off my feet. But she got up, dusted herself off and quickly walked away. I stood there like a fool and watched her leave. Then I ran into the beautiful princess again. This time, I was smart enough to get her number.”
Everyone laughed again as a small sob escaped Grace’s lips as she shook her head at me.
“It was hard winning the princess over. It was obvious; she’d been hurt before. I wouldn’t give up on the idea of us though. We spent countless nights texting back and forth. At the time I thought it was odd she didn’t tell her friends about me, but I soon learned this was her way of keeping me just one step away from being too close.”
Grace wiped her tears away as she pressed her lips together. “But I made a promise to myself—I wouldn’t let her go. She pushed me away and for a brief time, I was a stupid fool and let her. Until one day, she ran into me again. Third time is the charm my mother always said.”
Small giggles let out around me as I stared into Grace’s eyes. “I knew this time, I was not ever going to let her push me away again. I loved this girl and I knew I had loved her from the first moment she ran into me. Knocking us both off our feet.”