Page 75 of Vanishing Point

But Vididbuy Magnolia a ridiculously frilly flower girl dress. And they had to wait a few weeks still, to get their parents out to Bent. Her mother couldn’t—wouldn’t—make it, but Dad and Suze did. Vi was more at peace with that than she’d ever been.

Thomas could get around and do most things for himself, though he pushed harder than he should. To take care of Mags, to help with whatever wedding things.

And still, she appreciated the time. Where he didn’t have to work, and they could sort out how this all wouldgo. It wasn’t as if they agreed on everything, but merging their lives felt more natural than anything she’d ever done.

Because this year had given her perspective she’d desperately needed. To stop and be grateful for every good thing.

And she had so much good.

On the day of the wedding, she got ready in her old bedroom at the Young Ranch. She was wearing a simple white dress, and she didn’t need a lot of fussing to get into it, but still, Audra, Rosalie, Franny and her stepmother all packed into the bedroom and helped her get ready, passing Mags around.

“He was such a skinny thing,” Suze kept saying, as if she couldn’t quite believe that fifteen years later Thomas might have grown up. “I just can’t get over it.”

Vi smiled every time. Because sometimes she still saw a glimpse of that skinny teenager in the amazing man he’d become. And she loved them both. Always would.

Once she was ready, they headed outside.

Audra and Rosalie had set up a simple archway, some chairs and a runner down the middle of the chairs to create an aisle. For the past few days, Vi had taken Mags out to do a couple trial runs. Her daughter liked playing with the flower petals more than anything, but Vi knew she wouldn’t do that at the wedding.

The chairs were full now with her family and his. Andtheirfriends. Because the world Thomas had built for himself had folded her and Mags into it. Everyone but Magnolia and her father took their seats as Vi got ready to walk down the aisle.

Thomas stood under the pretty floral arch, waiting for her. Wearing a suit. A big grin on his face.

Vi crouched to Magnolia. “Okay, Mags, do you remember what to do?”

“Tata!”

Vi laughed. “Yep. Throw your flowers and walk down to Tata. Slowly.”

She let Magnolia go, and just as Vi had suspected, Mags did not walk slowly or throw flower petals as they’d practiced over and over. She just ran for it. Right to Thomas. Who scooped her up into his arms.

He only winced a little.

Then her father walked her down the aisle. “I always liked Thomas,” he whispered.

Vi laughed in spite of herself. “No, you didn’t.”

“Well, I didn’t hate him,” he grumbled. And he led her right to Thomas under the arch.

“Hi,” he said, and she thought about that moment outside the general store all those months ago. When she’d been at her wits’ end, a completely different person.

And all she’d really needed was this man in her life again. Now here he was. Hers. Forever.

“Hi,” she offered.

Then they turned to the minister, who gave a short introduction and led them through their vows to become man and wife.

It would take some time to get through the red tape, but by the end of the year, they’d all be Harts.

But it didn’t really matter. Not names or paperwork. They were each other’s, no matter what. A family.

And that was what she told him, promised him in their vows. While he held her little girl.Theirlittle girl.

Becausethiswas the life she deserved. And she’d fought for it. Always would. For him, for Mags, for herself.

Always.

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