Page 27 of One-of-a-Kind Bride (Home to Texas #1)

T he next afternoon, Taylor opened the door to Coop and Cassie. Coop was in his work clothes, Cassie in her jeans. “I think this young lady needs some assistance getting ready for the wedding,” Coop said. “Seems someone promised to do her hair.”

Taylor grinned. “That would be me. Hi, Cassie. Are you ready?”

Cassie put her head down. “I guess so.”

Taylor gazed into Coop’s deep blue eyes, her heart as full as it’s ever been. She wondered if he could see a difference in her, in the way she was looking at him. Was the evidence of her love written all over her face?

Coop winked as if to say Cassie would be all right. And then Taylor knew he hadn’t picked up on her newfound emotions. His concern was for his daughter. As it should be.

“Did you bring your special necklace?” she asked.

“Sure did.” He took a jewelry box out of his pocket and slipped it into his daughter’s hand. “Here you go, Cassie. I know you’ll take good care with it.”

“I will, Daddy.”

Cassie met Taylor’s eyes. “You’re going to wear yours, right?”

“I sure am.” Taylor put out her hand. “Ready? I’ve got an idea of what to do with your hair. I think you’re gonna like it.”

She looked at her dad and when he nodded, she took Taylor’s hand. “Go on, Cass. You’re gonna do fine, honey. Just like you did at rehearsal yesterday.” He bent to kiss Cassie’s cheek. “Dad’s gotta get ready for the wedding too. Grandpa and I will see you both at the church a little later, okay?”

Taylor put her hands over Cassie’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about a thing. Us girls, we’ll be just fine.”

Cassie finally cracked a smile and Coop gave them both one last look before he left.

“We have a couple of hours, Cass. The other girls are getting their hair and makeup done right now downstairs. Let’s start on your hair. And then we’ll both get dressed. How’s that?”

“Okay,” Cassie said, her mood brightening a bit.

They entered the house and she took Cassie upstairs where Taylor set out all her grooming paraphernalia. Hair straighteners, blowers, curling irons, combs and brushes took up most of the counter space.

She began brushing Cassie’s hair. “I love your long hair, Cass. I think we should leave it down in the back. You don’t mind if I do your hair like mine, do you? Here, I’ll show you.”

Taylor parted her hair down the middle in the front and began braiding Cassie’s hair on each side.

Then she connected the braids in the back to make one longer braid, all the while leaving the rest of her hair to fall softly down her back.

It took a few tries to get the hairdo just right, but when she was done, she handed Cassie a mirror to look at it from all sides. “What do you think?”

She smiled. “It’s just like yours.”

“Yep, that was the plan. And we all have a little tiara of fresh flowers to go in our hair. Here we go,” she said, placing the headband of baby roses onto her head. “It’s just right, Cassie. You look very pretty.”

Cassie was quiet, but she kept glancing at herself in the bathroom mirror, and with each glance, her acceptance seemed to grow.

“Time to put your dress on. You haven’t been feasting on big ole chocolate bars every day, have you?”

Cassie chuckled. “No.”

“Okay, so the dress should fit you just right.”

Taylor took the dress off the hanger in her bedroom and handed it to Cassie. “Need some help with this?”

Cassie shook her head. ‘I’ve got it.”

Taylor stepped away for a few minutes to put on her own maid of honor dress.

When she returned to Cassie, she found her wearing the flower girl dress and looking like a princess.

She didn’t make mention of that though. She had to tiptoe around her compliments, so Cassie wouldn’t feel self-conscious.

Before she could say anything at all, Cassie turned to her. “You look pretty, Taylor.”

“Oh, sweetheart, so do you, but wait a minute, we did forget something.”

Taylor opened the jewelry box sitting on the counter and found a stunning ruby and diamond necklace there. She handled it with care and walked over to Cassie. “Here, Cass. Let’s put this on you.”

Cassie began to smile, a little bit nervously, and after Taylor latched the clasp, they both stared at the necklace through the mirror. “Cassie, this is very special. I love it on you.”

“Me too.” She fingered the piece carefully. “Daddy said my mommy would think I’m a big enough girl to wear this.”

“Oh, Cass, I think so too.” She placed her hands on Cassie’s shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. She whispered in her ear, “Super flower girl powers.”

Cassie grinned and nodded.

Then Taylor retrieved her mother’s necklace and fastened it around her neck. “There, now we’re both ready for the wedding. Shall we go check on Julie? She might need our help.”

Cassie took Taylor’s hand and they walked downstairs to see how the bride-to-be was faring.

*

At the church, Taylor kissed her uncle Zachary and turned to give Julie a gentle hug before the procession began. “Be happy, Jules,” she whispered. “I’m so excited for you.”

“I’m excited too,” Julie bubbled. Was there ever a more thrilled bride?

Then Taylor took her place.

When the music began to play, Lindsey started down the aisle and, after several beats, Nicole made her walk too, each bridesmaid taking measured steps.

Taylor came next and she sighed. This was it.

Julie was getting married and the time had come to make that maid of honor trip down the aisle.

She did so as gracefully as she could, smiling and glancing at the guests in attendance.

Miguel, his brothers and father were waiting patiently in the front.

As Taylor reached the altar she stared into her father’s light green eyes.

Looking very reserved up there, staunch and ready to marry his niece, her father gave her a playful wink.

Taylor grinned and then turned toward Cassie, who was ready to make her walk.

She took her job as flower girl very seriously.

When their eyes met, Taylor fingered her heart necklace and Cassie reached up to do the same.

It was a special moment between the two of them, like they had a secret no one else knew about.

Which indeed, was true. Then Cassie started down the aisle, her head held high, her steps careful as she tossed multicolored flower petals onto the white aisleway.

That-a-girl, Cassie.

Taylor took her eyes off Cassie just long enough to find Coop seated in the second row.

Dressed in a black tailored suit, his shaggy dark hair groomed and making a slight flip at the neck, he looked devastatingly handsome.

Her breath caught in her throat, but it wasn’t his appearance that stole her breath, it was the deep, dark look of pride in his eyes, watching Cassie make her way down the aisle.

The unabashed love he had for his daughter was evident on his face.

Taylor found that father/daughter bond incredibly appealing.

And for a moment, she ached to be included in that bond.

But she refocused on the ceremony because once Cassie made it up the aisle and took her place with the bridesmaids, it was Julie’s turn.

The first bars of the wedding march rang out and announced the appearance of the bride.

Everyone rose from their seats and turned to face the back of the church.

Julie was magnificent in ivory and lace and her mother’s pearls.

Oohs and ahhs were breathed out as she began her walk down the aisle.

Happy tears formed in Julie’s eyes, and that was all Taylor had to see.

She wept silently, joyously, and took a quick second to brush her tears away with her index finger.

Her heart was full, seeing Julie so happy.

Miguel joined her at the altar, shaking hands with her uncle Zachary and then clasping Julie’s hands in his.

Taylor’s dad spoke eloquently about love and marriage, and Taylor let his words sink in. She’d been focused on her career and hadn’t allowed anything to interfere, like a love life, but now as the ceremony was taking place, she realized what she wanted. What meant most to her.

And if her father’s speech wasn’t enough, the vows Miguel and Julie spoke to each other completed the ceremony and two had become one right before her eyes.

*

The reception was held at The Arbors of Draeger Ranch, an event venue in the midst of peach orchards, lending a breathtaking natural backdrop.

Tables and chairs were set up, along with fine white linens and stunning hydrangea arrangements were placed as centerpieces.

Caterers were busy making dinner for seventy-five guests and a DJ was supplying predinner music on an outdoor dance floor.

“Dad, the ceremony was beautiful. You put your words together with such grace and humility.”

“Thank you, Taylor. I wanted this one to be very special.”

“It was.”

“And speaking of special, Julie wore your wedding gown to perfection. I didn’t miss the gasps from the wedding guests when Julie first appeared. You are very talented, Taylor. It’s nothing new, but seeing Julie in something you designed is the icing on the cake.”

Rarely did Taylor get the chance to see her designs in action during the actual wedding, so her dad was right, this one was super special. Because it was Julie and also because Taylor could witness the bride in one of her designs in real time.

“Thank you. I’m pretty happy about how it turned out. I’m sort of a perfectionist.”

“And it shows, honey.”

A short time later, dinner was called. Taylor sat at the head table along with the rest of the wedding party, being paired up with Mr. Alberto Herrera. She and Miguel’s father made light conversation during the meal and afterward it was time to dance.