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She held my head to her chest and cried right along with me.
63
Mara
Confession: I crashed a wedding.
I wishedairplane seats were more comfortable. And that cars didn’t have center consoles.
As we made our way back to Emerson for Tess’s wedding, I just wanted to be near him, to hold him and make up for all the time we’d lost. But instead, we held hands, we kissed. He told me about the weeks leading up to Tess’s wedding, and I told him about how much I loved writing for TV.
And when my eyelids grew too heavy to continue speaking, he held me against his chest and let me sleep. I only woke when the airplane had landed and he gently kissed me awake.
We hurried through the airport and went to his car he’d left in short-term parking. I’d worn a dress since we wouldn’t have time to stop at my house and get ready, so we drove straight to the clubhouse at Emerson Trails. It was situated at the edge of the woods that walking trails wound through and was so beautiful with floor-to-ceiling windows framed by dark wood.
He pushed open the door, and I gasped at the sight inside. It had been decorated with poppy mallows and daisies. The combination of fuchsia, white and yellow was so stunning yet understated, just like what I knew of Tess and Derek. People milled about, finding their seats for the wedding, but Jonas pulled me down a hallway at the back of the building, toward the dressing rooms.
His dad stood at the end of the hall, probably getting ready to take his daughter down the aisle.
Jonas called, “Dad!”
Cade turned, a frustrated look on his face. “Where the hell have you—” His jaw dropped open. “Mara?”
I grinned, running toward him and hugging him tight. “Sorry I held up your son!”
He laughed, holding me back. “You hold him up all you’d like, sweetheart.” He pulled back, taking me in. “We missed you like hell. Please tell me you’re back together?”
I looked at Jonas, who seemed just as happy as me and his dad. “We are.”
Cade hugged us both. “I swear this is the best day of my life.”
“Mine too,” Jonas and I said at the same time.
The dressing room door opened, and Tess and her mom came out.
They both looked between the two of us, and Tess started screaming. “OH MY FREAKING GOD, YOU DID IT, JONAS!!!”
I grinned at her, jumping up and down. That was exactly how I felt.
Mariah, who looked absolutely beautiful in her mint-green dress, came and took me in her arms, just like her husband had. “I knew you’d be back. You two were meant for each other.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held her. “We all were.”
The five of us were teary eyed as I stepped back and said, “I’m so sorry, Tess. This is supposed to be your day.”
She shook her head. “It’s all of ours. It’s a celebration of love.”
A woman in a deep plum pantsuit came closer and said, “I’m sorry, but we need to get down the aisle. The groom’s getting a little nervous.”
Tess giggled. “We have forever together. He can wait a few minutes.” She hugged me tight again and said, “Save me a dance at the reception?”
I laughed. “Of course.”
Jonas extended his arms for his mom and me, and we took them, walking toward the ceremony space. As we walked in, I saw Birdie and Cohen sitting a few rows back from the front. When she saw Jonas and me together, her mouth fell wide open.
“Talk later,” I mouthed. We’d have so much to cover at the reception.
But the great part, just like Tess said, was that we had forever.