Then he lowered himself to one knee.
Murmurs and cries came from the crowd, but Sassy shut them all out. Every single one of them. She had waited seventy years to see the man she loved on his knee in front of her, and Graham was all she wanted to focus on.
“Sassy McGrath, I was sure my heart had died before you walked into the rose garden that day. I was sure I would never feel it beat with anticipation again. But you breathed new life into me with your vibrance and your strength. You gave me hope.”
“Aww!” Rose and Dahlia were closer. Sassy could hear them, but she couldn’t look. She couldn’t take her eyes off this man.
“Life is too short to wait when you’ve found the love of your life.” Graham took her hand in his. “So I’m asking you here, in front of our community, to be my wife.” He held up a ring. A beautiful ring with the diamond embedded in the center of delicate golden rose petals.
“You could get married in the garden,” Ollie cried.
A few people laughed.
Sassy cried. And then laughed with tears running down her face. “That is a mighty fine idea.”
“Is that a yes?” Graham’s poor knee had to be aching by now.
“Yes, my darling.” Sassy tugged on his hand so he would stand and kiss her. Right now. Here on the stage in front of the whole town. “That is my wholehearted yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Rose
It’s snowing!”
Rose rushed into the kitchen in a full-blown panic. “It can’t snow in September! It’s too early!”
“Honey, in Colorado it can snow whenever it wants to.” Sassy sat perfectly still in the kitchen chair while Mags and Dally fussed over her hair and Lillian sat in front of her, touching up her makeup. Maya was busy walking around, taking pictures from all different angles.
“No talking,” Lillian reminded Sassy. “I’m almost done outlining your lips. We don’t want you looking like a clown for your wedding now, do we?”
“Your wedding!” Rose ran to the window. There had to be six inches of snow on the ground. “It’s snowing on your wedding day. We’re supposed to have the ceremony outdoors in the garden.” This was going to be a disaster. “I don’t understand. Yesterday, it was seventy degrees.”
“We could always call the church to see if it’s available,” Mags suggested, adding another curl to Sassy’s hair.
“Absolutely not.” Their aunt pushed the lip liner away from her mouth. “Graham and I are getting married in that garden come hell, high water, or a foot of snow. That is where I want my wedding, and that’s where it will be.”
“Snow makes everything pretty,” Maya insisted, fluffing her beautiful orange flower girl dress.
“Right. Okay.” At least the nine-year-old could be the voice of reason. “Everything will be okay.” Rose flipped through the notebook she’d put together while she’d planned Sassy and Graham’s shotgun wedding. After their engagement, they had no time to lose, her aunt had said. So they’d managed to plan the entire thing in just over a month. “I’ll send out a text alert telling all of the guests to bundle up and wear their boots.” Ugh! Snow boots at a wedding. “We won’t need the chairs from the museum.” Everyone would have to stand for the ceremony. “And since Colt is helping set up at the garden, I’ll text him and let him know to stop by Graham’s house to grab your coat on his way to pick us up.”
Sassy had moved in with Graham a couple of weeks ago, but she’d spent the night once more at her old house with Rose and Mags and Dally and their mother since it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. They’d made the most of Sassy’s last night as a bachelorette by reminiscing and watching old home videos while they overdosed on ice cream. It had been the perfect way to send their aunt off into married life.
“Now that everything’s decided, I’m going to finish your makeup,” Lillian informed Sassy. She added a few swipes of the blush brush and smiled. “It certainly didn’t take much. You’ve always had radiant skin.”
“You look beautiful.” Dally stood back and admired the bride.
Rose joined her sister and snapped a picture on her phone. “You’re the most stunning bride I’ve ever seen.” Sassy positively glowed with happiness.
“Oops, one more minor adjustment.” Mags smoothed out one of the natural-looking curls she’d put into Sassy’s long red hair and added another squirt of hairspray. “There. Now you won’t have to worry about your hair getting in the way of the kiss.”
“Honey, nothing is getting in the way of that kiss.” Sassy held up the hand mirror and turned her head side to side as though admiring their work on her hair and makeup. “I’ve been waiting for this day for fifty years. Twice I thought I had found the man I would marry, and I lost them both. But Graham…he was worth the wait.”
She set down the mirror and stood, smoothing out her lovely dress, which happened to be the same color blue as a clear Colorado sky. As maid of honor, Lillian wore a honey-yellow gown, while Rose, Dally, and Mags all wore varying shades of green. Her aunt was adamant that her wedding would be full of colors, just like the garden. Not that it would matter now. They were all going to have to wear coats. Rose cringed. And probably hats and gloves too. But this was Sassy’s wedding, and they would make the best out of whatever happened.
“Okay, people, we need to get moving.” She glanced at the clock on the oven. “Colt will be here to pick us up in approximately ten minutes.”
“He’s already here,” Maya informed her. “I saw him outside.”
Rose’s heart lifted. He was there. It had only been twenty-four hours since she’d seen him, but it could’ve been a year for how much she’d missed him. “Start getting your coats on.” She waved everyone out of the kitchen and led the way down the hall into the foyer, where she hastily pulled on her coat and hat so she could get a few minutes alone with her man.
She stepped outside before anyone else and found Colt shoveling a path for them to the Suburban he’d borrowed to bring them all to the ceremony. Because of course the man was shoveling. Even though they’d been dating for a month, his thoughtfulness continued to surprise her.
“Morning.” He leaned the shovel against the porch and met her on the stairs, giving her a good once-over. “You’re looking sexy today.”
“I’m wearing a down coat.” Rose could never hide her smile from him. He seemed to draw it out with his very presence.
“And you make a down coat look real good.” He leaned in to kiss her, moving his hands to her hips and then around to her lower back, holding her close.
“Gross.” Maya stepped out onto the porch, followed by Lillian, Mags, Dally, and then Sassy. “You’re not the ones getting married today,” her niece reminded them.
No, sadly they were not.
Colt said nothing, but his smile seemed to hide a secret. After kissing her once more, he released Rose and hurried to the SUV to retrieve Sassy’s coat.
Yet again his thoughtfulness had come through. She hadn’t needed to worry about texting him. He knew Sassy would need her coat.
Colt slipped past Rose and helped her aunt get the jacket on before offering his arm to her aunt. “Madam Mayor, you look beautiful.”
“You clean up pretty well yourself,” Sassy teased peering up at Colt. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you in a suit.”
Rose had never seen him in a suit, but yes, it fit him quite nicely, accentuating his broad shoulders and trim physique. His hair still had that seductive unruliness about it, but he’d styled it with gel. Desire rolled low through her belly and heated her right up.
But Sassy. They were focusing on Sassy right now. And their mission was to pull off the perfect snowy fairy-tale wedding. “Let’s get going. We don’t want to be late.” She marched to the SUV with Colt escorting Sassy behind her. They all piled into the car, trying to keep their dresses and makeup and hair intact, even with all the warm-weather gear on.
“I think snow on your wedding day
is good luck,” Lillian said, peering out the window.
Rose stared at the frozen landscape as they drove onto the highway. “It does give the world a magical look.” With everything frosted over and sparkling, it wasn’t exactly what she’d envisioned when she’d planned the perfect fall wedding, but the snow would only make this celebration more memorable.
“It will the best day of my life,” Sassy said dreamily.
“Yes, it will be.” Rose would make sure of that.
Guests had already arrived and were standing in a cluster in front of the arbor and podium Colt had helped Graham set up the day before.
They parked on the other side of the museum, out of sight of the garden, and then piled out of the car, lining up in their assigned order for the walk down the sidewalk aisle. Rose handed Maya the lipstick she’d stashed in her coat pocket. “Want some?”
“Heck yes!” The girl glanced at her mom. “Is it okay?”
“Sure, honey.” Dahlia helped her apply the lipstick and then refreshed her own before handing it back to Rose.
“This is so much fun!” her niece bubbled, nearly spilling her basket of rose petals.
Rose felt giddy too. Everyone she loved was here. Sassy was about to start a new life with the man she adored. There was nothing better than a wedding.
Music from Moe’s band started to float toward them—giving them their cue.
“This is it, everyone.” She took her place in line behind Mags. “Maya, you’re leading the way. We’ll follow you.” She double-checked to make sure they were in the right order—Maya, Lillian, Dally, Mags, her. And then Colt would walk Sassy down the aisle. “Okay, sweet girl.” She gave her niece the signal.
The processional started in front of the museum, and then her niece turned down the sidewalk that led into the garden, just like they’d practiced. Graham was waiting underneath the arbor joined by his two adult sons, Ike, and Grumpy. Eric stood in the center, ready to preside over the ceremony with little Luca strapped to his chest, the baby’s face barely visible from under his coat.
Rose walked slowly down the aisle, smiling at everyone who’d braved the elements to be there.
Ollie waved like crazy from the front row. “Hi, Maya! Hi, Mom! Hi, Auntie Mags and Rose!”
“Hi, buddy.” She gave him a wink before taking her place under the arbor and facing the crowd.
Moe started a violin solo, creating the perfect serenade for Sassy as she walked toward them. Her aunt’s face beamed, and Colt grinned like a proud son.
Tears started to roll freely down Rose’s cheeks and didn’t stop once through the entire ceremony. Graham and Sassy said their vows with love and conviction, not taking their eyes off each other once, even when Ollie asked loudly how much longer this was going to take.
When Eric pronounced them husband and wife, Graham kissed Sassy with a heartfelt tenderness to the chorus of cheers and whoops.
The ceremony ended with hugs and well-wishes, and then they all crowded into the museum’s main hall, where they ate and danced and toasted in a whirlwind celebration before sending the happy couple off on their honeymoon.
With the town council on cleanup duty, Rose walked out of the museum hand in hand with Colt. “That was the best wedding I’ve ever been to, but I’m ready to go home.”
“I’m ready too.” He pulled her in closer against his side. The snow had stopped, and the sun was peeking out from behind the gauzy clouds, making everything sparkle.
Colt opened the passenger’s door for her and helped her climb into his truck before sliding into the driver’s seat next to her. “I’ve known Sassy a long time, and she’s never looked happier,” he commented as they drove through town. He shot her a sideways glance. “I’ve never been happier either.”
“I feel the same way.” Rose held his hand while they drove back to the inn—to the place they were making theirs.
He parked close to the porch and then hurried around to her door, opening it and lifting her into his arms.
Rose laughed while he carried her up the stairs and then across the threshold into the house, kissing her the whole way.
Marigold came bounding to them, jumping and yipping as though she wanted in on their game.
“It’s okay, girl.” Colt gave her a good scrub behind the ears, and she calmed right down.
He set Rose’s feet on the floor, and they shed their coats and boots, kissing their way into the living room with Marigold at their feet. Rose would’ve kept moving all the way to their bedroom upstairs, but Colt stopped. “Remember how you said you wanted to do some work on the house?” he murmured, his lips still close to hers. “We should start now.”
“Um…” She worked her hands up his chest. Talking about renovations wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind for tonight. “Maybe we can talk about that tomorrow…”
The man seemed to ignore the suggestion, breaking away from her and walking to the wall that separated the living room from the kitchen. “Let’s do it. Let’s take out this entire wall and open up the kitchen to the living room.”
The prospect of a design project momentarily distracted her from her urgency to get him into bed. “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.” It would be beautiful—all of the light coming in from the living room windows…
“We should start now.” Colt went to the closet and brought back a sledgehammer, offering it to her. “Go ahead, whack the wall.”
Seemingly bored with all of the chitchat, the dog retreated back to the couch and curled up.
Rose laughed, but it quickly became apparent he wasn’t joking. “Really? You want me to whack the wall? Right now?”
“Really.” He bounced his eyebrows with a look of enticement. “It’s fun. You’ll love it.”
“But I’m still in my dress.” She looked down at the simple fitted gown she wore. “These aren’t exactly work clothes.”
“That’s no problem. Just take a swing.” He nudged her to the wall. “Trust me. Hit it right here.”
“Okaaaayyyy.” Rose lifted the sledgehammer and swung it into the wall, cracking the drywall.
“You have to hit it harder than that.” Colt snuck behind her, reaching his arms around so they were both holding on to the sledgehammer. He helped her raise it up, and they swung it together, this time breaking all the way through.
“There we go.” He released her and stood back.
“What’s that?” Rose moved closer to the hole they’d made. There was a box hidden inside, taped to one of the studs. And it had her name on it. Eyeing Colt, she pulled it out and opened it, finding a smaller box. A ring box. “Colt?” Her knees started to buckle.
“I didn’t want to steal Graham and Sassy’s thunder before the wedding.” He took the smaller box and got down on his knee. “But I couldn’t wait much longer.”
“You hid a box in the wall?” Rose laughed while a few tears escaped. How had she missed that? “When? Where was I?”
“You’ve been a little busy with Sassy’s wedding plans.” The man opened the box, revealing a diamond solitaire ring, and gazed up at her with tears in his eyes too. “I knew the second you walked out of that pond, all dripping wet and passionate, that I couldn’t wait anymore. I’ve waited for you all these years while I built a life for myself. But now I want to rebuild everything with you. Not just this house. I want to build a family and a life with you. Marry me, Rose. I don’t want to rush you—”
“This is perfect.” Rose cut him off and sank to the floor with him. “The perfect time. The perfect moment.” With only the two of them—and Marigold—dreaming about what was to come at the place they both loved. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.” She kissed him. “Yes.” There were no reservations, no hesitations. She may not have known it, but she’d been waiting for Colt her whole life too.
Discover Your Next Great Read
Get sneak peeks, book recommendations, and news about your favorite authors.
Tap here to learn more.
Reading Group Guide
A Letter from
the Author
Dear friends,
Thank you for reading The Summer Sisters! When I finished writing Home for the Holidays, I just knew I had to continue with Sassy, Rose, and Dahlia’s stories in another book. Each of these characters has touched my heart in a different way, and I hope they’ve touched your heart too.
One of the things I love the most about this story is the courage these three women display as they step into something new and unknown. Rose left behind her life in Savannah to renovate an inn. Dahlia moved her children to a new state so she could pursue her dream of working with her sister. And Sassy determined that she wouldn’t let her age or her health concerns stop her from taking on an exciting new role in the town she loves. Their journeys aren’t without questions and doubts and heartaches, but they don’t let those things stop them from going after what they truly want in life—meaning, purpose, love, and faith in themselves and in each other.
I have always believed that the most growth comes when we step outside of our comfort zones and embrace something new. But in order to do that, we all need someone cheering us on—supporting, inspiring, and encouraging us. It is the bonds between Sassy, Rose, and Dahlia that make them each brave. The truth is, we need each other. Our connections are where we find hope and happiness and strength. Spending time with Sassy and Dahlia and Rose made me treasure the connections I have with my family and friends even more. I hope their story inspires us all to pursue our dreams while holding on to what is most important.
All the best,
Sara
Questions for Readers
Sassy, Rose, and Dahlia are at very different places in their lives. Did you find yourself relating to one of their situations more than the others? Which character would you most want to spend some time with at Grumpy’s coffee shop?
The Summer Sisters (Juniper Springs Book 2) Page 28