Page 45 of Write Me For You

June

“ J une…” my mama said as she finished buttoning me up and stepping away.

I stared in the mirror at my reflection.

I wore a white dress that clung to my frame.

It was fully lace, with a high neck and long sleeves.

Patterns of feathers were woven into the lace.

It was perfect. The bridal store had even made me a headscarf made of the same material, with crystals sewed in it to give me a little sparkle.

It was my vintage dream.

A makeup artist had heard about our wedding from Neenee and had come to the ranch to do my makeup, giving me soft smoky eyes and a natural pink lip.

I’d never thought of myself as pretty, but looking at my refection now…I finally did. I couldn’t wait for Jesse to see me. I lifted my left hand and ran my fingers over my ring—Mamaw’s ring.

The wedding had been pulled together in just three short days.

Neenee had handled almost everything, telling the local community near the ranch about our nuptials and many reaching out to help.

The bridal store had donated the dress, and a catering company was currently setting up in the formal dining room, where we would eat afterwards.

A party-planning company was making a dance floor in the grand hall.

I liked to think Mr. Owens would have approved of our marriage too.

He never got to see his daughter marry; she died too young.

A throat cleared behind me. I turned, and my daddy stood there in a tux. My lips wobbled as his eyes softened seeing me in my dress.

“Do you like it?” I asked, smoothing my hand down the delicate lace.

“June,” Daddy whispered, and he had to wipe at his freshly shaven face.

He walked up and took hold of my hand. His breathing was shaky, as he said, “I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful in my life.”

“You look real handsome, Daddy,” I said, and fixed a yellow rose on his lapel. “Have you seen Jesse?” A flutter of nerves gathered within me. I wasn’t nervous in a bad way. If I could have, I would’ve run down the aisle and become Jesse’s wife that very second. I wanted this so badly.

“He’s good,” Daddy said. “He’s already at the chapel.” Daddy playfully rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure he got ready there last night and has been waiting for you by the altar ever since.”

I smiled so wide my jaw ached as I raised a brow at him. “Is he wearing his Longhorns cap?”

My daddy laughed. “Darlin’, if he’d have been wearing that too-worn cap, I would have pulled it from his head and burned the damned thing to ashes.” Daddy still hadn’t gotten over how Jesse had worn it to propose to me.

I laughed, and Daddy sobered. “He looks great, darlin’. He’s just waiting on his beautiful bride to arrive.”

“Then let’s go,” I said, and I linked my arm in my daddy’s.

Mama kissed my cheek. “You’re the most stunning bride I have ever seen,” she said, then straightened her shoulders. “I’ll get to the chapel and see you both in there.” Mama kissed Daddy, then left us alone.

“Shall we?” I said to my daddy.

I went to move, but Daddy stepped in front of me. He met my eyes, and a lump lodged in my throat at the mixed emotions I saw there. “June. I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life,” he said, his voice breaking on the last word.

“Don’t make me cry, Daddy,” I said weakly.

He flicked away a tear on my cheek with his thumb. “Let me say this, baby, please.”

I nodded. I had to give him this moment.

“Me and your mama, we waited so long to have you. Kids, they just weren’t in God’s plans for us, or so we thought. So when we found out your mama was pregnant with you, you were all our wishes come true.”

I breathed deeply and slowly, trying to keep myself from falling apart.

“We were never able to give you a sibling, so instead we tried to give you the world. We loved you as best we could, darlin’.

You are the bravest, sweetest human on earth, and it has been an absolute privilege to be your father. ”

“Daddy…” I said and couldn’t stop the tears.

“Today, walking you down the aisle to the boy I’m pretty sure God designed perfectly for you…well, baby, it’s the greatest honor of my life. And for as long as I live, I will cherish it. I will always cherish you for showing me what unconditional love is and making all my dreams come true.”

I threw my arms around his neck and held him close. I couldn’t imagine how hard this moment was for him and my mama.

Pulling back, I laughed weakly at us both. “We’re a mess.”

Daddy shook his head. “You’re perfect, darlin.”

I took a deep breath and checked my face in the mirror.

It was okay. The makeup artist had done a good job of making it waterproof.

Turning back to my daddy, I said, “In case I never get to tell you, you and Mama have been the most precious people in my life. I have loved every second of growing up with y’all.

And…” My breathing hitched, but I managed to say, “And even from heaven, I will miss you. So very much.”

My daddy held me then, and I soaked in every moment. Eventually he pulled back. “We had better get you married, baby,” he said, voice hoarse.

I linked my arm with my daddy’s, and we walked down the hall to the chapel.

Neenee was waiting at the entrance, and she gasped when she saw me.

From behind her, Lucy and Emily came barreling toward me, and I melted at the sight of them in their little white dresses.

Both had baskets full to the brim of yellow rose petals.

Susan was watching them, so Cynthia could be with Jesse inside the chapel.

Emily and Lucy stood before me. “Y’all look so adorable,” I said, and was met with two very proud faces. My heart skipped when, in their eyes, I saw Jesse looking back at me. Their blond hair was curled and clipped up with flowery barrettes.

“You look real pretty, Junebug,” Lucy said, and warmed my heart.

“Thank you,” I said, and Susan came and took their hands.

“You do, darlin’,” she said and kissed my cheek. “That boy in there is gonna be so overawed when he sees you.”

Neenee gave a nod to the pianist at the front of the chapel, and my favorite piece of classical music, “River Flows in You” by Yiruma, began to play. Susan guided the girls down the aisle, and Neenee took my hand.

“You look beautiful, June.” She gave me a kiss on my cheek and said, “Count to twenty, then come on through.”

Neenee went inside the chapel, and I began my countdown. When my daddy looked at me and mouthed twenty , we stepped forward and rounded the corner. The intimate chapel was full of our friends from the trial and their families who were staying at the residence.

Yellow roses were gathered at the end of each aisle. A white carpet led the way to the altar, and at the very end, I knew Jesse stood with Chris by his side. I hadn’t looked up yet though, not wanting to see Jesse until I’d made it to the end.

I passed Silas, Toby, Kate, and Cherry. All of them were watching with smiles on their faces. Their mamas and daddies and siblings were there too. The nursing staff were there, out of their scrubs and dressed in their finest. Even Dr. Duncan gave me a nod as I passed.

My eyes landed on Cynthia in the front pew, and I fought back my own tears when I saw her cheeks were wet, but her smile was adoring and wide.

I hadn’t known her long, but I loved Jesse’s mama so much.

She had raised Jesse to be the man he was today.

Even if I’d never met her, I would have known she was a good person to have made such a beautiful soul.

I would have loved her for giving me the gift of my soulmate.

My mama took my hand as I passed and squeezed it. Suddenly, I stopped walking—on a chair all to herself, Emma’s pretty face smiled up at me from a large photograph. A single yellow rose was laid before her.

Leaning down, I kissed the tips of my fingers and touched her cheek, my chest aching with how much I missed her.

I just knew it had been Chris who had placed my best friend front and center at my wedding.

Emma would have loved this. She would have been my bridesmaid too.

I hoped that, wherever she was, she was looking down and cheering us on.

I stood and gathered myself. Then, I reached the end of the aisle. I closed my eyes and, on the count of five, opened them and looked up.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw that standing before me was the most handsome boy in existence. My daddy turned me around and pressed a kiss on my cheek. Reaching out to Jesse, he shook his hand and then went to stand beside my mama.

Pastor Noel stood before the altar, patiently waiting.

Jesse held out his hand, and the moment I slipped my hand into his, one heart meeting the other, total peace drifted over me, a sense of rightness.

I didn’t understand why my life was being cut short, I would never understand how someone with Jesse’s spirit was being deprived of a long life.

But in that moment, I knew we were meant to be husband and wife.

I let my gaze rove over every part of him. He wore a black tux that fit him to perfection—I giggled when I saw his head was free of his cap.

Jesse must have seen my amusement, as he leaned in and whispered, “I thought your daddy would kill me if I wore it, so I didn’t dare. I didn’t want to forfeit the few weeks I have left.”

I squeezed his hand, his joke for my ears only. But then Jesse’s humor faded as he stepped to me and said, “Wow…you’re beautiful.” I threw back my head and laughed until I felt giddy with joy.

That was the first thing Jesse had ever said to me. It seemed apt that, as we stepped into our new life as husband and wife, it would start the same way.

“You look real handsome too, baby,” I said, and Jesse leaned in for a kiss.

A throat cleared and we broke apart.

“That doesn’t happen until the end, son. But I’ll let it slide this one time,” Pastor Noel said, and our friends and family chuckled.

“I couldn’t help it,” Jesse said, then cupped my cheek. “Have you seen my girl?” I felt my face blaze, and when Jesse gave me a playful wink.

When the laughter died down, Jesse took both of my hands in his and Pastor Noel began the ceremony. It was a sermon full of joy and hope and about soulmates finding each other.

When the time came for vows, Jesse and I had written our own.

Jesse went first. “Junebug,” he said, and I caught the telling rasp in his voice.

“If someone had told me months ago that I would be here right now, marrying the girl of my dreams, I would never have believed them.” He gave me a lopsided smile, and said, “But from the very first day I bumped into you in the hallway, you’ve had my heart. ”

I replayed that day so clearly in my head. Because I had felt the same way. One meeting, and butterflies had invaded my chest.

“We didn’t know the outcome of the trial; we didn’t know if we would even have a chance at life.

” The room was silent, the topic heavy. “And although it hasn’t gone the way we had hoped, today, you are the fulfillment of a dream I didn’t know I had.

And I wouldn’t change our story for anything in the world.

If all we have are the next few weeks as husband and wife, then I will call our marriage a triumphant success. ”

I held back my emotion as best as I could, but my hands shook and my lips trembled.

“You are the love of my life, and I’ll stand by your side for whatever time we have left on this earth and wherever we go next.” I nodded in agreement. “I love you, Junebug.” Then Jesse lifted his hand and formed it into a fist. I laughed a watery laugh, as he said, “Group two for the win.”

I tapped his fist and then Pastor Noel turned to me. “June, please say your vows.”

Pushing away my nerves, I focused entirely on Jesse until the rest of the room fell away and it was just us two.

He brought my hands to his mouth and gave them each a kiss, his forest-green eyes locked on mine.

“Jesse,” I said, making sure I spoke clearly and strongly.

“My dream was always to be a writer. I wanted to write a love story—the greatest love story ever known.” I smiled and looked to my mama and daddy.

“My parents have the best marriage I’ve ever seen.

They have loved each other since their teens, and I wondered if I’d get a love like that.

” I swallowed. “When I was told I had terminal cancer and that the treatment wasn’t working, I was sure I never would. ”

“June,” Jesse said, whispering my name as he felt my pain.

I stepped closer and put my hand on his cheek.

Jesse leaned into the touch. “Then I came here to get a second chance at life. I came here to heal and get better, so I could go into the world and find that love.” I shook my head.

“I didn’t know I would find my great love on a ranch just outside Austin.

I didn’t know my soulmate would be the cheeky football player who was staying next door. ”

Jesse smiled wide at that.

“The truth is that I wanted a great love and I wanted to write about it. And I have. But what I didn’t realize was that the greatest love story I could ever know is the one that I was going to live. Through the ups and downs, through the rough and the…well, rougher.”

Everyone chuckled at that.

“Jesse Taylor, you have swept me off my feet. And although we won’t have long together, like the burned-out star four thousand light years away, our love will shine bright long after we’re gone. Because you and I were meant to be. Jesse and his June. Forever.”

A tear fell down Jesse’s cheek. It fell onto the petal of the yellow rose on his lapel.

“You hold my heart in your hand, and I hold yours in mine. For eternity.” Taking his example, I held up my fist. “Group two for the win.”

Jesse laughed, then bumped his fist with my own.

“We’ll now exchange the rings.” Pastor Noel said, and then we slid our rings on the other’s finger never breaking our gaze.

“It is my absolute pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife,” Pastor Noel said. “You may kiss.”

Jesse moved forward like he couldn’t wait one more minute to seal our marriage with a kiss, only he paused at the last second and turned to my daddy to say, “You might want to look away, sir.”

Chris whooped in encouragement as the crowd broke into applause. And then, I was consumed by Jesse’s lips on mine, making us one in front of family, friends, and God.

We were married.

He had officially tied his soul with my own.

I was Mrs. June Taylor.

Nothing had ever felt so good.