Page 39 of Over and Above (Mount Hope #4)
One Year Later
Eric
Strains of classical music filled the large barn on Jonas and Declan’s property, filtering back to the small room where we were waiting. The space had likely been a tack room of some sort decades ago. Jonas and Declan had no plans for horses or livestock and had converted the barn into an event space. The concrete floor was swept clean and twinkling lights hung from the rafters. The decor played into the barn’s origins with rustic rope, weathered wooden frames, saddles, and spurs prominently featured.
“I can’t believe today is really here.” Maren exhaled hard, shaking out her dress yet again. “We made it.”
“We did.” My voice came out thick. My emotions had been running high all day. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Maren fluffed the train of the long-sleeved, ivory gown. Its old-fashioned styling with pearl buttons down the back and a high neckline fit the western air of the barn and decor. And it was also perfect for Maren. She looked like the profile on an antique cameo brooch, timeless and elegant.
“I continue to say a cape would be an appropriate accessory.” Wren cast a critical eye on the dress, stopping to smooth out a fold Maren had missed. “What’s a Valentine’s wedding without a cape to keep you warm?”
“Thank you.” Maren groaned. “Now I’m worried about freezing.” She whirled toward me. “Are we going to freeze?”
“The barn has multiple heaters for you and the guests.” The heaters had been part of months’ worth of discussions, but I was happy to reassure her yet again.
“Good.” Maren peered out through the cracked doorway. “There sure are a lot of guests.”
“Maybe stop looking.” Wren adjusted the vest of their suit. The vest was a green, quilted brocade, more of that old west styling, along with a bolo tie that Wren couldn’t stop fiddling with.
“Easy for you to say.”
“It’s almost show time.” Rowan glided into the room. Like Wren, he wore a suit, but his vest was purple, and the suit was more smartly tailored. “Where’s my favorite niece?”
“Ro!” Destiny clapped her hands from her spot on John’s lap in the corner.
“That’s right, genius baby.” Rowan lifted her up. What a difference a year had made for our baby. From newborn to toddler, complete with a giggle for Rowan. “Are you ready to do your part?”
“I can’t believe I agreed to this plan.” Wren picked up the wicker basket of flower petals. No one trusted Destiny to wobble her way down the aisle on her own. While she could take unsteady steps, she was still largely in the cruising stage of holding on to hands and objects for balance. Wren had volunteered to accompany the baby down the aisle. “Only for my sister.”
Fresh tears welled up in Maren’s eyes when Wren said sister. “You’re a beautiful flower person, Wren.”
“Is my tie straight?” John asked as he stood from the chair.
“Actually…” Rowan sounded like he was about to make a joke, so I elbowed him none too gently. He gulped. “Yes. You look great. We all do.”
The music shifted to the piece Maren had chosen for the procession.
“There’s our cue! Places!” Rowan readied himself to walk out first, followed by John.
“I’m so glad I asked you to accompany me.” Maren took my arm. There had been much debate about vows and traditions. Maren didn’t like the idea of being “given away” but did want my moral support, for which I was grateful. “I might fall over otherwise.”
“You’re doing great, honey.” I patted her hand. “Breathe.”
Rowan and John reached the front of the barn, where they took their places opposite Diesel and two of his friends. Jonas stood up front as well. He’d been moved to tears when Maren asked him to officiate. Jonas leaned in, saying something to Diesel that made him smile. Diesel had kept his hair dark after losing the bet over Magnus and me, and he also wore a western-style tux with his vest featuring both green and purple swirls.
“Our turn.” Wren set the baby down, taking a second to adjust the flower basket before reaching for Destiny’s tiny hand. But Destiny was having none of it. Having spotted Diesel, she broke into a run, her first real run. Wren trailed helplessly behind, petals flying everywhere.
“Dada!” the baby yelled as she reached Diesel, who swung her into his arms. “Dada!”
Next to me, Maren laughed so hard she could barely speak. “Just like we planned it.”
“Exactly.” I beamed at her endless supply of resilience and adaptability as the familiar sounds of the bridal march filled the barn. “Here we go.”
Maren floated down the aisle on my arm. As we walked, I spotted so many of our friends and family. Sean and Denver and what looked like a healthy contingent of Murphys sitting with them, including Declan. Tony and Caleb with Scotty in town as well. A lot of friends we knew through the school, including Tony’s sister, along with Elliot and his many brothers. Tate was there with Tennessee, joined by a huge percentage of our first responder community. Mount Hope had turned out for Maren and Diesel’s big day.
When we reached the front, I released Maren’s arm. She went immediately to Diesel and Destiny, and the moment was so perfect I nearly forgot where I was supposed to sit. I stumbled backward, only to feel a firm hand on my elbow.
“Saved you a seat.” Magnus’s voice was a warm, welcome rumble.
“Thanks.” I sank into the seat next to him, relaxing further as he settled an arm around my shoulders. A year ago, we’d both been cautious with public affection, him more than me. Now, though, I let my head fall against him, taking needed comfort in his embrace and presence.
“Dearly beloved…” Jonas started the ceremony, and I tried my best to stay present for the music, poems, and vows Diesel and Maren had chosen.
All too quickly, however, they were dancing their triumphant way back down the aisle, baby running ahead of them.
“They did it,” I said to Magnus.
“ We did it.” Like mine, his smile was more than a little misty. And he was right. This was a group effort. The wedding planning had been a team effort, as had Destiny’s first year. All the sleepless nights. All the late-night talks and tears. All the shared family meals. Everything had combined to bring us all to this point.
“We did.” I squeezed his hand. “What a year. What a life. Thank you.”
Taking advantage of all the guests shuffling around us, I leaned in for a fast, sweet kiss.
“And hold that pose.” Proving we weren’t as invisible as I’d thought, Rowan fired off a series of photos with his phone. “Father of the bride kisses father of the groom, story at eleven. I’m framing this picture, by the way.”
“Is it awkward that your dads are dating?” one of Diesel’s friends asked as Diesel and Maren rejoined us.
Diesel shrugged. “It would be more awkward if they weren’t.”
“Agreed.” I could no longer imagine a life without Magnus in it.
“And they have to stay together for the dogs.” Wren clomped over in their new boots. In a moment, the photographer would likely need all of us for more photos before the reception started, but at the moment, everyone was still milling about. “Ben and Jerry can’t go back to the carriage house after having the run of the place.”
“They won’t,” I said firmly. Magnus hadn’t spent a night in the carriage house in months, and we’d made his move-in official over the holidays. “I’m sure we’ll find a new renter soon enough.”
“Does the basement miss us yet?” Maren joked. The bigger move was that she, Diesel, and the baby had bought a small starter house in Sean’s neighborhood. Magnus had chosen to use part of his insurance money to help them get the house, co-signing the loan. Like me, he missed the three of them terribly, even though they were only across town, but it had been the right decision for all of us.
“The basement would be less sad with a laboratory upgrade,” Wren offered. “I’m just saying.”
“No lab.” I groaned.
“Aw.” Wren turned their cagey gaze toward Magnus. “Magnus?”
“No lab.” He echoed my decisive tone.
“Darn you and your united front.” Wren scooped up the baby. “Come on, Destiny, let’s find the appetizer table.”
“Not yet. We need more pictures,” Maren said as the photographer, a friend of Rowan’s from high school, summoned us all together.
“Save me a dance later, okay?” Magnus murmured as the photographer arranged us for a family photo.
“I’ll save you all of them,” I promised.
“Deal.” He gave me a smile meant only for me, not the cameras. “I love you so much. How did we get so lucky?”
“We earned it.” I returned his smile and grabbed his hand. He liked to say we were in the phase of our lives called We Deserve This. And he was right. Every heartache, every tragedy, every success, and every loss had all brought us right here to this picture-perfect moment brimming with love where we were all a family at last.