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Nola was fussing with her dress and tugging at her veil. Both were simple, short and white, her homage to a formal wedding. She’d always planned to be married in her mother’s gown, but that was no longer an option, and with only two weeks to plan…
Tate knocked, opened the door then stopped and took a deep breath.
“Oh, wow.”
She looked up at him in the mirror.
“You’re not supposed to see me ahead of time.”
“I felt the need to break a rule,” he said softly.
She turned around and then clutched her hands against her middle. There were tears in her eyes.
He frowned. “Are you sad?”
“Happy tears for sure. So let’s do this.”
He laughed, grabbed her hand and headed out the door.
An hour later a priest named Father Michael was pronouncing them husband and wife, and their two witnesses, Wade and Cameron, were waiting for their chance to kiss the bride.
Nola had known moments of joy in her life, but nothing like what she was feeling now. It was as if fate had dragged her through hell backward just so she would appreciate how perfect the rest of her life was going to be.
“You may kiss the bride,” Father Michael said.
And Tate did, over and over, until Nola’s head was spinning and their witnesses were grousing about it being their turn.
Nola could see her reflection in Tate’s eyes when he stopped. She looked as happy as she felt.
“Hello, Mr. Benton.”
He smiled.
“And hello to you, too, Mrs. Benton. Are you ready for this life?”
“Am I ever,” she said, and threw her arms around his neck.
The new scar on the back of her arm pulled, but she ignored it. Pain belonged to the past.
“My turn,” Wade said, and kissed her soundly, then handed her off to Cameron.
“Congratulations,” Cameron said, and kissed her, too.
Then they both shook Tate’s hand as they teased him, Wade wanting cake and Cameron announcing they should name their first child after him.
For a few seconds Nola stepped back, watching these three men who had become such an important part of her life, and realized that, for better or worse, they were part of her new family.
“There’s cake at the house,” she announced.
“I am so there,” Wade said.
“Like we didn’t know that,” Tate said.
“Are you going on a honeymoon?” Cameron asked.
“No, we’re going house-hunting,” Nola said. “One with a room big enough for my studio, so I can paint pictures while you three chase bad guys, and when you come home, I will feed you and love you all.”
Tate took her in his arms.