Page 45 of Accidentally Mine

Rebecca

T wo months later…

A string quartet played Pachelbel’s Canon as I slowly walked up the aisle of the small church in Southie, rose bouquet in hand. I couldn’t keep tears from spilling over as I set eyes on the man standing in front of the altar, waiting for me in his dark tuxedo.

And his gorgeous dark eyes were only on me. Strong. Steadfast. Unwavering.

It was a beautiful cool autumn day, and the clouds had parted this morning to reveal luxurious blue skies that made it perfect for a wedding.

I approached the altar and gave Brent a smile before taking my place on the left side of the priest, facing the back of the church.

It was hot in the beautiful floor-length satin dress I’d chosen, and I was worried that, at any second, sweat would start pouring from my armpits to create dark splotches on either side of it.

It had rained a little earlier, which had added a little frizz to the gorgeous updo Aunt Marie’s salon lady had worked so hard on.

Aunt Marie and I hadn’t been able to find a something-blue anywhere, and when I’d texted Brent in a panic over bringing us bad luck, he’d reminded me we already had it, the blue of my eyes that matched hers being the best luck we could ever hope for.

I had a hell of a long final paper due for one of my architecture classes at BC, but today?

Today reminded me that none of the little dumb things mattered.

Today was all about love.

Love that came when you least expected.

Love that completely changed everything.

Love that endured.

The sweetest, most powerful emotion on earth.

The organ started to play Wagner’s wedding march.

I sniffed as I watched my Aunt Marie appear in the back of the church in her white wedding dress.

Yes, my sixty-four-year-old aunt was wearing white, and a veil, and had gone the whole nine yards with the planning of this soiree.

When she’d gotten married to my Uncle Hugh, they’d eloped against both their parents’ wishes, and she’d never had the chance for the wedding of her dreams.

And now, she was having it. And it was amazing.

The pews were packed with friends and well-wishers, all of them watching her as she slowly made her way down the aisle.

Most I didn’t know, but there were a few familiar faces.

Claudia, for one, and her new boyfriend, Cole, who was also a forensic accountant, and a published novelist. They made a dashingly handsome couple and were obviously crazy about one another. Just another match made in heaven.

Sitting behind them was a group of boys and their parents, the ones Brent had met that day in South Boston when he’d gotten lost in a run-down neighborhood.

He’d since started a youth center that catered to the families in the area—a place where they could spend their time on sports and activities that also gave down on their luck families a hand up.

I wiped more tears away as Marie marched closer to the altar. I’d never seen my aunt look happier or more beautiful.

As she approached us, I looked at Ernest, standing beside Brent, beaming at his new bride. He’d lost weight and was very handsome in his tuxedo, but the best man was who really took my breath away.

Brent smiled and winked at me. I grinned so hard I thought my face would break.

As they said their “I dos,” I silently mimed along, imagining saying the words to Brent.

Looking deep into the eyes of the man I loved with my whole heart and pledging my life to him.

I couldn’t imagine anything I’d rather do.

Some day. Some day, this will be us.

It felt so good to think of a future, when only a year ago, I’d thought I was doomed to spend the rest of my life alone, in a city where I knew no one. Now, I was surrounded by so much love, my heart wanted to burst inside my chest.

After the kiss—which went on so long that a few people in the pews cleared their throats—the newly married couple began to walk down the aisle. Brent took my hand and we followed, and he didn’t let it go for more than a minute the entire night.

Most of the reception was a blur of champagne bubbles, dancing and laughter.

All I knew was that Brent looked amazing in a tuxedo, his best man speech about future and love was perfect, and my face hurt from smiling so much.

Not just for the pictures, but because I was so happy.

Happy to finally have a place. A place I didn’t have to run from.

A place right by Brent’s side. There was nowhere else in this world I’d rather be.

Before Marie went off for her honeymoon—a week in Italy, a country she’d always wanted to see—she held the red rose bouquet over her head and waved it wildly from the stage. “Who’s ready?” she screamed, looking right at me. “All the single ladies in the house! Come at me, girls!”

“You’d better get out there,” Brent said, nudging me. “I’d hate to see what would happen if you disappointed your aunt. She might miss her flight.”

I grinned for about the millionth time that evening. “Yeah. You’re probably right. That would be ugly.”

I made my way to the dance floor. As I did, Marie noted my position, counted to three, and then threw the bouquet directly at me. There was no contest. It practically fell into my hands. Then she came down from the steps and hugged me tight.

“Poor Ernest thinks he married Miss Right!” she said to me, in a whisper that everyone could hear. “He doesn’t know my first name is Always. Now, on to the wedding night sex !” She shouted that last part loud enough for people in Maine to hear.

My ears rang. I beamed at her, shaking my head. I’d gotten pretty used to my aunt and Ernest bouncing horrifically inappropriate jokes off of one another. I didn’t think there was a happier or better-matched couple in all of Southie. Didn’t stop me from blushing around them, though. All. The. Time.

“Have an amazing time, Auntie! I’ll miss you,” I said, but I knew I’d be right here, waiting for her when she got back. That was the next best thing. Being here, in the city I loved, with the people I loved, doing what I wanted, and I didn’t have to run away anymore.

Tugging on the bustled train of her white dress, my aunt motioned at someone behind me, and barked out an order at me. “Stop staring after me. I set you free of your shackles, bridesmaid, I no longer need your assistance. Go get that man!”

I saluted her as she and Ernest headed for the limo, wondering if she wanted me to tackle Brent on the dance floor. Yep, that seemed like just her style. He was looking very tasty in that tuxedo, and I’d had more than a few glasses of champagne. It could be arranged.

As I pulled rose petals from a tiny bag made for this occasion and rained them down on the happy couple while they made their way through the crowd, Brent appeared behind me, tie loose, a five o’clock shadow appearing on his strong jaw.

He cocked an eyebrow at me. God, did he get more gorgeous every time I saw him?

“Can I just say something, for the record?” he asked, sweeping his gaze over me as he drew me forward and nuzzled my neck. “You look damn hot in that gown. I’m looking forward to taking it off you tonight.”

The crowd followed the couple out to the parking lot, taking the noise with them. I held up a finger. “Play your cards right, mister,” I said, giving him my best ambivalent look. “Because I might have seen you dancing with another woman.”

He raised an eyebrow, smirking at me, those dark eyes settling on mine in a way that made my whole body tingle. Butterflies in my stomach? He made my whole body feel like a freaking butterfly farm. I blushed as I watched the limo pull away out the front picture window.

He shook his head. “The minute I laid eyes on you on that highway, I haven’t even been able to even look at another woman that way.

In fact, do you know that I’d jump you right now if we were alone?

” He pointed toward the reception hall. “Keep in mind, we haven’t slow danced together yet, Cinderella.

And I’m dying to get my hands on your ass. ”

I tried not to melt into a puddle on the floor, but my knees felt like they didn’t exist. “I plan to remedy that. Because my ass is dying to get in your hands.”

“Good.” He extended his elbow to me.

We walked inside at a leisurely pace. Before we got to the reception hall, though, he stopped in front of a wall of windows overlooking the many twinkling lights of the boats in Boston Harbor, and turned to me.

“Nice bouquet,” he said, touching the petals of my aunt’s bouquet that I still clutched. “And nice catch.”

I shrugged and brushed a little shock of hair off his forehead. “Well, she threw it right at me. It was either catch it or eat it.”

He plunged his hands into his pockets. “Ah. You made a good decision.”

I opened my mouth to say something witty, about how he made a good decision, choosing me as his date. But only a second later, I realized that he was sinking to one knee.

Sinking to his knee and digging into the pocket of his tuxedo.

When he freed his hand and revealed a small, square, red box, my whole body began to tremble.

His voice was that low rumble that made my knees weak. “Ready to make another one?”

He lifted the small velvet box up to me and took my hand, his face suddenly serious.

I mouthed, You’re joking, right?

He shook his head slightly, a smile breaking out on his face .

He lifted the lid on the box. “I know you and I have spent a long time feeling bad about the past. You’ve been ashamed of yours, and I spent too much time worrying about how I could be a full person if I didn’t remember mine.

But when I met you, I realized that the past is insignificant except for the places it leads us, and the person it makes us.

What matters is what we are now, and what we will be in the future.

And what I am now is totally, crazy in love with you. Do you love me?”

Tears burned my eyes. “Yes.”

He winked at me. “Good answer.”

We both laughed, and I’d never heard such joy in all of the universe.

He grew serious again. “Rebecca, you became mine by accident. Now, be mine on purpose. Will you marry me?”

I wiped the tears from my eyes and nodded at the amazing man holding a diamond solitaire that winked at me, like the lights blinking and twinkling in the dark ocean backdrop. “Yes!”

As he stood and pulled me into his arms, and kissed me silly, I thought of the first time we’d met. That terrible, frightening, fateful night when everything in my life went to hell. His life had nearly ended that day, and mine had until I returned to Boston and faced the past head-on.

He was right—our pasts had shaped our present and future together. Anything else not quite so life-altering might not have carried us here, to this perfect moment. In each other’s arms, the future Mr. and Mrs. Brent McKee.

So truth be told?

No regrets. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

THE END