Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
In the last four and a half years since they’d been together, she’d been working at her father’s law firm as his office manager, had moved into Reese’s home he’d purchased on the edge of town a couple of years ago, and was about to marry the man she considered her best friend. To say she’d never seen herself quite in this situation was an understatement. Placing a hand on her belly, she felt a bit nauseous.
Butterflies filled her stomach, her palms were slightly damp, and her heart was beating so fast she thought it might burst from her chest.
“You’re going to do great, but it’s time now,” Ginny said, smiled once more, and took her hand to lead them out of the room and to where the ceremony was being held.
As soon as Lake stepped off the landing, she saw her father waiting for her, his smile wide and clear emotion on his face. He looked so sharp in his black tux, and when he pulled her in for a hug, she had to hold back from crying.
“I have this for you,” her father said as he pulled back and produced a silver, delicate looking necklace. It had a tiny sparrow on the end and a pearl on either side of the bird. She knew right away it had been her mother’s. “I gave this to your mom for our first anniversary, and I know she’d want you to have it. I wanted to give it to you sooner, but then thought maybe this moment would be perfect,” he said through tears. “I hope it’s the right time anyway.”
Lake started really crying then.
“No tears, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the forehead again. “Are you ready, baby girl?” he asked softly, pulling her back to smile down at her.
Lake inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Her dad wiped her stray tears away, and she nodded. “I am.” They turned and faced the double closed doors with ushers on either side, waiting for their cue to open it.
Then the music changed, the sound of shuffling on the other end of the doors alerting her to the fact the guests were rising, and it suddenly became even more real than it had been moments before.
The doors were pulled open, and there she was, about to walk down the aisle and marry the man of her dreams. It sounded so fairy tale-like, but then again it was exactly how it had all turned out.
Once they made it down the aisle and her father gave her away, she stood on the podium amongst her family and Reese’s, her emotion not able to be held back. She cried happy tears, but then again so was Reese. While the officiant read them their vows, all she could do was stare at Reese.
He lifted his hand and wiped her tears away, and there was this hushed sigh that came from the crowd.
“Do you, Reese Tyler Jordan, take Lake Elisabeth Heart to be your wife?”
“I do,” he said and grinned.
“And do you, Lake Elisabeth Heart, take Reese Tyler Jordan to be your husband?”
Lake smiled up at Reese. “I do.”
Another five minutes of motivational speaking about being married, cherishing each other, and always loving the other, and the officiant turned them around to face the crowd watching them.
“I’m proud to announce Mr. and Mrs. Reese Tyler Jordan.”
Their family stood, everyone smiling and clapping, but Reese pulled her in for a hug, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and said softly, “This is the first day of our life, baby, and I’m going to make sure it’s so good for you.” He pulled back, cupped her cheeks, leaned down, and kissed her. “It’s just you and me now, Lake. Just you and me,” he repeated himself, more softly this time.
Her heart was still beating so fast, her excitement and anticipation filling her. She cupped Reese’s hand that was on her cheek. “But it won’t be for long.”
He looked confused at first, and that made her smile bigger, made her tears come a little faster.
“What?” he whispered, sounding a little shocked.