There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he was right.
And it didn’t even bother her that her parents would know she was pretty much going home with him for the sake of sex.
“I can’t wait.”
Epilogue
Three months later…
“You look beautiful.”
Blushing, Haley ran her hand over her dress before smiling up at Sydney. “Thanks. I love this dress and I’m really glad Mia talked you into letting me wear it.” She and Mia were wearing matching plum-colored dresses, and while her best friend looked beyond stunning, her niece suddenly looked very grown-up.
Unable to help herself, she reached out and gently cupped Haley’s cheek. “You know, you look so much like you mom. Especially right now. And I think she would have loved seeing you all dressed up and being a bridesmaid with her.” Tears stung her eyes as she spoke and immediately saw her niece’s eyes well up. So before they both ruined their makeup, she knew she needed to lighten the mood a bit. “Although I’m sure she would have agreed with me and put you in the more modest, junior bridesmaid dress I originally picked out.”
That did the trick because Haley let out a soft snort of laughter as she shook her head. “Probably, but I would have gotten Mia to reason with her too.” They both grew silent and it was a long moment before she spoke again. “I really wish Mom was here. She used to talk about how she couldn’t wait for you to get married.”
“Really?”
Nodding, Haley explained, “I remember her always saying how she hoped you would see for yourself how wild marriage and kids really was.”
Her own laughter was out before she could stop it. That was such a Tracy thing to say. “Yeah, I think she was being a little snarky there. Whenever I’d talk about how hectic my life up in Boston was, she used to tell me I had no idea what hectic really was. I used to tease her that she had it easy because she had your dad there to help and then she’d laugh and laugh and laugh.”
That, in turn, made Haley grin. “She was always poking at Dad to help out with more of the everyday stuff around the house. And then when we moved here and bought the house, she used to get a little crazy because it wasn’t getting done fast enough.” She paused. “Trust me when I say that my dad was not handy like Kyle. I still can’t believe all the stuff he got done on the house.”
“He’s definitely good with his hands…”
“Ew! Aunt Syd, please!”
“What?” she said, suddenly realizing what she said and how her niece had taken it. “I meant the work he did!”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
There was a knock at the door before Mia opened and peaked inside. “Mind if I come in?
Smiling, Sydney replied, “Of course not. Where’ve you been?”
“Out in the lobby mingling with everyone.” She smiled at Haley. “Your friend Janie and her family just showed up.”
“Cool! Aunt Syd, can I go out and say hi?”
“Of course. But don’t be too long.”
“Thanks!” she called out as she raced out the door.
“You know, you’re all giving me a lot of material to work with here,” Mia commented.
Checking her reflection in the full-length mirror, Sydney smiled. “I don’t see how. Everyone you’ve met is deliriously happy, in love, and most of them are either pregnant or trying to get pregnant. You write thrillers and mysteries where someone always ends up dead.” Turning, she gasped. “Why would you consider killing one of us off? That’s awful! And on my wedding day?”
Mia walked over and smoothed the train of Sydney’s gown. “That wasn’t what I meant.”
“Then you seriously need to explain yourself because…wow.”
“I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a new pen name and writing something…lighter. Something a little romantic with a lot less…”
“Murdery stuff?”
“Exactly.”
“Well…I guess that could be a good thing. So why don’t you?”
“Because I have to finish the books I’m contracted for. As it is, the renovations on the house are starting in two weeks and I don’t know how I’ll work with all of it going on.”
“Trust me, you get used to it.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Mia said as if she just remembered. “Kyle was here working on your place when you first started working with me.”
“And look how well that turned out,” Sydney said with a grin. “Any chance of you being attracted to your contractor?”
“Um…he’s around sixty, going bald, and has a huge beer gut.”
“My question remains.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.”
“Well, just go into it knowing it’s going to be loud and a little disruptive, and you may have to adjust your writing habits.”
“Ugh…you know how much I hate change and chaos.”
“Then you really should have waited to start the work on the house.”
“Too late now…”
Haley came walking back into the room and Sydney couldn’t help but smile at how beautiful she looked.
“Pastor Steve wanted me to let you know that they’re ready. Grandpa’s on his way back.”
“Thanks, Hales. You ready for this?”
“Heck yeah! I look awesome!” She smiled at Mia. “Thanks, Aunt Mia. I appreciate you convincing Aunt Syd that I can wear something a little more sophisticated than those kiddie dresses she had picked out.”
Mia walked over and hugged her. “No problem. I think you’re going to steal the show.”
“No way. It’s Aunt Syd’s day and look at her! She looks like a princess.”
“Do not make me cry,” Sydney said, trying hard to keep her tears at bay. “I still can’t believe I’m getting married today and that we pulled it off in such a short amount of time!”
“You were motivated,” Mia stated. “Plus, you seem to have a team of wedding professionals in the family.”
“What…?”
“From everything I heard at the rehearsal, it seems like the Jones family has had quite a lot of wedding activity in the last year or two. And clearly they know how to get things done.”
It was true.
“They’re all amazing and now they’re our family too, right Hales?”
She nodded. “It’s so cool, Aunt Mia. They include me in everything, and I get to babysit for Eli and Asher, and soon Courtney and Dean’s baby will be here and after that Hunter and Violet’s baby…it’s going to be so crowded when we all get together, but Grandpa Dominic says that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
There was a knock on the door and Haley went to open it.
“Um, Haley?” Mia asked.
“Yeah?”
“I know that’s your grandfather, but can the two of you give your aunt and me a minute?”
“Okay, but don’t be long! Everyone’s waiting!”
Once Haley was out the door, Sydney turned to look curiously at her friend. “Everything okay?”