by Juliette Poe
Colt and Darby got married in a much different fashion. He hadn’t planned a big flashy engagement in front of the family the way Jake had with Laken, but Darby later gave me all the details of how it went down. Colt did it over a special dinner he had cooked for both Darby and Linnie, her daughter. He proposed to them at the same time, even gave them both rings. Darby’s was a classic diamond solitaire, while Linnie’s was gold with three tiny blue sapphires in the middle.
They chose not to do a formal wedding. Instead, they eloped to Disney World and took Linnie with them. None of us felt cheated at not being able to attend, particularly when we saw the photos of how happy everyone was. No one can go wrong with getting married at the happiest place on earth.
As for my wedding, Deacon said I could have whatever my heart desired. We could do a church wedding, elope to an exotic country, or have it at Chesty’s for all he cared.
But I knew exactly what I wanted. Like my twin, I had always envisioned how I wanted to get married. I wanted it to be outdoors, even though I ran the risk of bad weather. But I had a good backup plan that wasn’t needed as it turned out to be perfect outside today. Sunny skies, white fluffy clouds, and temperatures hovering in the upper sixties.
I’m getting married in one of the prettiest places to the best man I know.
♦
My dad escorts me across the thick green grass, which has been strewn with purple wisteria petals. The sound of the water lapping against the lake shore is music to my ears. There’s a gorgeous blue heron wading along the reedy bank and two Canada geese swimming in the middle.
My dream wedding venue. The lake on Mainer Farm where I spent much of my childhood swimming and fishing. It’s surrounded by clusters of oaks and pines with a picturesque dock Lowe had just rebuilt that holds a trusty rowboat we all use to try to catch the wily Ol’ Mud—the biggest, meanest catfish around.
As we traverse the aisle, white folding chairs are filled with rows of friends.
Billy Crump, who makes the best peach moonshine in the state and his dad, Louis, who owns Crump’s grocery store. Floyd sits next to Morri, who wears a bright yellow three-piece suit with a white fedora on his head adorned with a single yellow embroidered lemon in the center. Jason Miller, who owns the gas station and wine shop, sits next to his sweetie, Della, who owns The Reader’s Nook, the local bookstore. They had a lovely wedding at the local train depot. I had considered that for my venue, but only briefly. Then there’s Sissy Givens who owns Lady Marmalade’s—the funky consignment shop on the north end of the courthouse square. Eustace Roop, who owns an organic farm in Milner, sits next to Sheriff Ollie Brown. My best friend, Penny, is beside her aunt Muriel, beaming at me with pure happiness.
Rows and rows of friends. It goes on and on. Seems like everyone who’s anyone is here.
At the front sits my family. Pap invited Mary Margaret Quinn, who owns Aunty Q’s—an antique shop—as his date. He’s been sweet on her for a long time. Then there’s Trixie, Ryland, Colt, Darby, Linnie, Lowe, Mely, and Jake, who sits solo because his wife is my matron of honor.
The next generation of Mancinkus kids sit next to my mom, who is sniffling in her hanky but smiling through the tears at her husband as he walks me down the aisle.
And just up ahead… almost there.
The beautiful white pergola Deacon built for me with his own two hands for our wedding. For some reason, I had always imagined getting married under one draped with wisteria. It’s beautiful, and the best wedding present he could’ve ever given me. The purple flowers flowing over the top and down the sides smell heavenly.
Under the pergola is Judge Winston Edward Bowe, who will perform the civil ceremony. To his right stands my twin sister Laken, ready to hold my bouquet, which is nothing more than fresh-cut purple and white irises from my mom’s garden tied with white silk ribbon. To Judge Bowe’s left stands my fiancé, Deacon, looking incredibly hot in a tuxedo. He’s wearing it specifically at my request because it was something I’d always envisioned. He even offered to shave the scruff off his face, but I demanded he keep it the same exact way. Beside him stands his father, Frank, who is still very functional, despite a slight worsening in his condition, and was able to attend our wedding to act as Deacon’s best man.
In the rows opposite my family sit his stepmom and stepsisters, along with their jerk husbands and the kids. I was impressed they all made an effort to come to our wedding because even though Deacon has been in closer contact with them over the months we’ve been together, I am sad to say the emotional gap between them has not lessened all that much.
No matter. Deacon has fit into my family quite nicely.
It all happens exactly as I imagined. My dad deposits me right into Deacon’s waiting arms after giving him a meaningful clap on the shoulder and a well-intentioned look that says, “She’s yours to care for now.” He gives me a gruff kiss on my cheek before going to join my mom and the other wedding guests. I hand my flowers off to Laken, then turn to face my soon-to-be husband.
I’m so proud of him and all he has become just so he could stay here in Whynot and make a life with me. When he read my diary, it hadn’t taken long for Pap to get Deacon’s head screwed on straight so he could realize his happiness was right here with me. He and Pap actually spent the majority of the day doing a lot of business wheeling and dealing.
It turns out that Pap made Deacon an offer for him to buy Chesty’s. Pap said he was ready to unload it to a trustworthy person. Not long after, he told me he had a feeling Deacon would be a permanent member of our family sooner or later, so it seemed like the right thing to do.
I can honestly say I never had an interest in running Chesty’s, but I sure have an interest in my soon-to-be husband’s happiness and fulfillment. And he loves running that place. The best part is it makes pretty darn good money for a small-town bar, so we’re going to be able to start building our dream home in the country sooner rather than later. It’s more than I could have ever imagined.
Deacon takes my hands in his, eyes traveling up and down me ever so slowly as he takes in my wedding dress. It’s exactly how I had envisioned with off-the-shoulder sleeves and delicately embroidered lace on the bodice and skirt. When his gaze lifts to meet mine, he says, “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
A shudder runs up my spine, my body’s physical reaction to the absolute truth in his words. Deacon genuinely thinks that about me, and I sure as heck think the same thing about him. I’ve never felt more beautiful in my life than when I wake up next to Deacon, hair all over the place and horrible breath, and yet he says those same exact words on a daily basis.
“You’re totally gorgeous yourself,” I say with tiny giggle. “And I love you very much.”
“I love you back, darlin’,” he croons as his hands squeeze mine.
Then we both turn to face Judge Bowe so he can recite the words that will bind us together forever, putting all legalities in the same spots as our hearts.
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About the Author
Juliette Poe is the sweet and swoony alter ego of New York Times Best Selling author, Sawyer Bennett.
A fun-loving southern girl, Juliette knows the allure of sweet tea, small towns, and long summer nights, that some of the best dates end sitting on the front porch swing, and that family is top priority. She brings love in
the south to life in her debut series, Sex & Sweet Tea.
When Juliette isn’t delivering the sweetest kind of romance, she’s teaching her southern belle daughter the fine art of fishing, the importance of wearing Chucks, and the endless possibilities of a vivid imagination.