Page 22 of After this Summer (Seasons in Montana: Summer #11)

BEAU

“ H ey, I gotta borrow the groom for a sec,” Jesse says with a look I can’t quite read.

Looking down at my watch, I frown. “We’re about to start.”

“Yeah, but this is important.”

Without another word, he turns and walks back down the hall, and with a quick glance at Lake, Merrick, Sawyer, and Jensen, I follow him.

Heading out the front door, we snake around the house, winding up on the side of the house near the kitchen.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to just?—”

“Don’t move,” Jesse says seriously.

“Jess—”

“Don’t. Move.” He smirks and I’m about to argue when the sounds of the back door and footsteps greet my ears.

“Thanks, Jesse.”

“Remember this when it comes time to paint!” he yells and I chuckle, listening as Indie’s footsteps get closer.

And then stop.

“You there, Heartthrob?” Her voice is soft but there’s a hint of excitement too as she holds out her hand.

“Yeah, Stunner, I’m here,” I tell her, clasping my hand in hers, both of us staying on our respective sides of the house.

“I need to tell you something.”

“I got bad news for you if you’ve got cold feet,” I tease. “You’re already legally mine in the state of Montana.”

She laughs softly, her fingers squeezing mine.

“I want to marry you for real, Beau Sterling. When I walk down the aisle, I want you to know there’s nothing temporary about the way I’m feeling.

” Without thought, my body leans forward, earning me a death grip and a little squeak. “No! You can’t see me!”

Chuckling, I sag back against the house, my eyes watering with her admission.

“I want to marry you for real, Beau Sterling.”

“I want to marry you for real too, Indie Kade.” Swallowing hard, I add, “It was never temporary for me.”

“I know,” she says dryly. “It just took me a little while to catch up, and hey, you didn’t even need the last ten weeks.”

“What changed?” I ask, looking out at the rolling hills I grew up on, the mountains in the distance and the sky the most perfect shade of blue.

“You’re my favorite part of the day. You’ve never rushed me to figure anything out—just anchored me to you so I had a place to come home.

And you’ve loved our baby from the second I told you.

I saw it in your eyes then and I see it when you look at me now.

I’m terrified, Beau, but I don’t want to do this with anyone else. ”

“I—”

“Save it for the ceremony, Heartthrob. I want to see you when we finally get to say it.”

“This might be the best day of my life, Stunner.”

“And just think…it’s barely noon.”

INDIE

“I know that he loves you,” my father says as we wait for the processional music, as my hand smooths the lapel of his suit jacket. “But do you love him?”

“I do, Daddy, and I know this isn’t the way you wanted things to happen for me but?—”

He presses his palm against mine, our hands resting over his heart.

“I’ve seen a lot of things in my day, good and bad, and there’s no right way when it comes to makin’ a life with the person you love.

Be good to each other, honest and kind, defend them fiercely when they’re down, and never take the small moments for granted.

” Brushing a tear from my cheek, he smiles. “Think you can manage that?”

“Yes.”

“Then I think it’s time.”

Offering me his arm, we walk slowly down the grassy aisle, a smattering of chairs on each side filled with Beau’s family and mine as a soft melody plays through the speakers.

Beau stands at the front with the officiant we hired.

I’m pretty sure he waived his fee after Beau’s father offered to smoke some meat for him.

It’s not all that different from Blackstone Falls, honestly.

My father shakes Beau’s offered hand, before kissing my cheek and giving me to my husband—the one I married because I felt I needed to but now the one I never want to live without.

“Be good to each other,” my father repeats before nodding once and turning to take the seat next to my mother.

It’s the perfect day, the sun shining and the breeze dancing through the flowers and the trees.

“I love you,” I mouth to Beau, my heart skipping a beat as the widest smile spreads across his face.

“I love you,” he mouths back, his eyes never leaving mine as I bring his hand to my belly, our little one just as excited for the day as we are.

Our little family.

Beau was right; this is definitely the best day of our lives.