Page 41 of Beck & Coll

“You’ve surpassed me, Ma,” Bailey said, shaking her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’re an angel.”

“My girls.” She tried hugging all of us at once, which was something she did often but never succeeded at.

There was a knock at the door.

“Alisha,” Marjorie, the event planner, called out before entering the room. She smiled at our mother. “Don’t you look simply divine? It’s time for the first looks and the pictures with your groom-to-be.”

“We’ll see you at the altar,” Church said, as our mom followed Marjorie out of the room.

I looked around for Beckham, finding him on the porch of the chapel, looking out at the horizon. I went behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Look at that view,” I commented as I peeked around his body. The sun was strung low, and all of the foliage around the chapel was vibrant with shades of red, orange, brown, yellow, and green. “I love it here.”

Beckham turned around and took me into his arms, before kissing the top of my hair. “Fall will always be my favorite time of year.”

“Why? Because you met me during the Fall?” I teased.

“Yep. The Fall brought you to Jackson Falls, toManor at Sienna Sunset Resort, and to me.”

He lifted my hand and kissed the three-carat diamond engagement ring he’d placed there four months earlier.

“Thank you for taking a chance on me… on us.” He kissed my lips. “I can’t wait to marry you next month under the autumn sky.”

I stood on my tip toes and attached my mouth to his, kissing him deeply. When we broke apart, I stared into his warm brown eyes.

“I can’t wait for forever.”

The End