Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Only because it was you who gave me the idea, under this very tree, to write happy kids’ books about farms and farm animals.” Everyone here has a place in my stories. Even that death-defying rescue of Bokmaster made its way in.
“What are we doing over here? Secret trysts before it’s even midnight?”
We both jump at the sound of Thaddius’ grandma’s voice coming from behind him. Somehow, she went from jiving away on the dance floor to ninja grandma and snuck her way over here.
“This is one good party,” she says. Her hair is soaking wet, a gray mass of curls now gone completely flat and wilted. Her dress looks soaked through, too, drenched with the humidity of the hot summer night and from all that dancing. “Even both your mothers are getting along. And everyone else too. Everyone is happy. This is the happiest wedding that was never supposed to happen that was always supposed to happen that I’ve ever been to.”
God, it hurts when I smile again. The cheeks. They can’t take any more of this.
Her grandmotherly eyes sweep over my dress. I wanted something twenties inspired, with silk and lace. I had it custom-made in Seattle since Thaddius’ grandma knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who could make costumes and dresses, and they agreed to give it a try. I was never all that worried about the experiment going wrong because we got engaged over a year ago, which left us lots of time to plan. As soon as I graduated, the night I moved from my apartment out to the farm, Thaddius brought me out to this tree. We had a midnight picnic just like that first time, although it was earlier in the day then, but there was sheep cheese and crackers, and he officially asked me if I would spend the rest of my life with him.
I said it was a good thing we never wrote up a contract saying that we officially wouldn’t. And then, of course, I said yes.
The dress looks like air, with lace and pearls. Thaddius’ grandma gives me the softest smile. “You look beautiful, my darling. Simply stunning. With your hair down like that, all golden and curly, you look like a fairy standing under this tree.”
Thaddius’ arm slips around my waist. “She looks like the strongest, funniest, most beautiful woman in the world.” He kisses the top of my head. “You look like a woman who hoped and laughed and never gave up on me. All the glitter farts and rainbows included. You look like my wife. My Nina.”
Thaddius’ grandma isn’t like other people. She doesn’t mind the mush one bit, and she also doesn’t give us a second of privacy. “Are you going to toss your bouquet soon? Because I came over to request that the married stipulation be dropped. I’m planning on catching the bouquet myself, never mind all the tosh that I’ve been a bride for decades now. It’s never too late to renew the romance.” She wriggles her hips like I just saw her doing while she was dancing. “You know, put a little bounce back in the mattress.”
It's a good thing I learned to perfect a game face around Thaddius’ family a long time ago. They’re much more open and direct than mine are, and while it can be hilarious, there are literally almost no boundaries with them.
Filters? What filters?
My bouquet is sitting on the ground under the tree because I didn’t know what to do with it when I walked over here. I should have left it on the table, but it felt a little bit like I’d be abandoning it. Thaddius picked these flowers for me early this morning. Wildflowers. They don’t last long, and they’re looking a tad wilted now, but a vase of water would probably set them to rights.
I bend and gather the flowers, then walk over and give them to Thaddius’ grandma—my grandma now too. Then, I open my arms and hug her hard. We’re both teary-eyed and sniffling after a few seconds.
“Thank you for making this happen,” I tell her. “It might have been the most scheming, oldest of notions, and it might have been the craziest plan. It might not have worked out with the generation you wanted or gone the way you thought it would go, but thank you for tearing up the contract and giving us a chance to choose. Thank you for always being the best of friends, you and my grandma, because that brought us together. In so many ways, this day wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for you both—you and my grandma.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” I’ve never seen Thaddius’ grandma go full-on into tears, but it looks like the dam might burst at any second. She slowly starts to unwrap the ribbon holding my bouquet together, but I don’t ask her what she’s doing because I trust her. She splits the flowers carefully into two piles, nods at me, and then walks back over across the yard.