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EMERY

“The limo is here.” Four little words never incited such panic and rushing about, but it was time to go. True to Ava Quinn’s character, everything about this wedding was timed to the last second.

She must arrive at the church at three o’clock as the tower bells rang, emerging from the limo with Dad, walking up the stone steps, into the foyer, and down the aisle as the organist played “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” In a twist of tradition, the bridesmaids would follow.

The ride from the house to the church was forty-five minutes with ten minutes to spare for unexpected delays. Yesterday Caleb and Emery drove the route four times with Ava while she made notes.

“If the limo driver goes too quickly , I’ ll have him slow down. If we arrive early , we’ ll go around the block. If nothing else , I’ll be the first bride in history to walk down the aisle a minute early.”

Dad and the wedding planner were equipped with walkie-talkies to ensure everything was in sync.

Yet now the limo had arrived, and no one moved for the door.

“Come on, we’re going to be late.” Emery peeked in the family r oom to find Dad facing the giant paned window overlooking the upper deck. Dressed in a black tux with a white tie, his silver hair trimmed and styled, he rocked back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back.

Emery locked her arm with his. “The limo is here. You okay?”

“I was just thinking about your mom.”

“Mom? Why?”

“I don’t know. Feeling sentimental. When you were born, we’d tuck you in bed between us, marvel at how beautiful you were, and dream of your future. Where you’d go to school—”

“—as if any place but Ohio State was an option.”

“What career you’d choose. We imagined the man you’d marry.

Your mom had mother-of-the-bride dreams while I held your little hand, tearing up because in twenty or thirty years I’d be giving you away.

Yet we’d just brought you home.” He peered at her.

“I didn’t get a chance to do that with Ava and Elianna. ”

She set her head on his shoulder. “Mom would love the family we made with Joanna and the girls. It took moving away and a few prods from Ava for me to realize it.”

“And Caleb?” Dad said.

“Yeah, him too.”

“Is he the one? You know the Boyfriendinator would be thrilled to have him as a son.”

Emery laughed. “Then you should let him know.”

“Doug, honey, Ava’s about to come down.” Joanna pressed her hand on Dad’s back. She wore a silvery pink sheath gown with crystal-studded heels, her hair in a French twist with tendrils looped around diamond drop earrings.

Joanna glanced toward Emery. “Thank you for all your help. That dry run to the church—”

“It’s what sisters do. We really should be going.” Emery headed upstairs for the clutch Ava gifted the bridesmaids. Passing her o ld room, she met Ava in the hall. “Va-va-voom, Ava. Jamie’s going to faint dead away.”

She’d chosen a mikado and tulle gown with a basque waist, square neckline, and cap sleeves. The chapel-length train followed her like a snowy river. She wore the same French twist as Joanna with pearl drop earrings. There was nothing around her neck.

“I’m excited. I’m nervous.” She grabbed Emery’s hand. “Do you think it’s okay to be nervous?”

“I’d worried if you weren’t. But when you see Jamie ...” Her eyes brimmed, finishing her sentiment.

Ava smiled, her eyes sparkling. “He’s wonderful, isn’t he? By the way, va-va-voom to you. Pink is your color.”

“Whatever,” Emery said. But Ava wasn’t wrong. The pink was lovely. Why’d she make such a fuss?

“Girls, we’re one minute off our timetable,” Joanna called up the stairs.

“Go,” Emery said. “I’m right behind you.”

As Ava descended, Emery ducked into Dad and Joanna’s room, retrieving the flat, black velvet box from Dad’s wardrobe. The Force women pearls. She’d thought a lot about this and—

“Mom,” she whispered, “I believe this is right, don’t you? Force women are more than a string of pearls. We’re generous and loving, and I was neither with this family for many years.”

Emery sensed nothing except her heart’s confirmation. She was the Force daughter in possession of the pearls. This was her choice.

She caught Dad and Ava in the middle of the sunshine-flooded walkway.

“Ava, please, wear the pearls for your wedding.” Emery handed the box to Joanna. “Mom, you clasp them on. That’s the tradition.”

Joanna stared at the black velvet. Dad gruffly cleared his throat.

“What?” Ava peered at Emery from behind her veil. “No, no, I can’t. They’re your mother’s and grandmother’s. I understand. I do.”

“We don’t have time to debate, Ava. We’re two minutes off our schedule.

” She glanced at Joanna. “You see, Joanna and I have a deal: to keep my mom’s memory alive whenever and wherever we can.

So you have to wear them—for me, for Rosie Quinn.

You’re not stealing anything from me by wearing them.

Well, I mean, you have to give them back, but—”

Ava brushed aside a rolling tear. “You’re an evil sister for ruining my makeup.”

“Payback for ruining my prom shoes,” Emery grinned with a nod toward the limo. “Hurry, Mom. We’re almost three minutes off the schedule.”

This was the power of love. Conquering those little fears. Healing the hurts. Opening eyes. More than anything, being a family.