by Vivian Arend
He paused and listened. Feminine voices and laughter carried up to his ears, but they were far enough away he figured he was safe.
Zach was just about to lift the hatch when his phone vibrated in his fingers. Julia was calling him.
He sat back and answered. “Hey, love. What’s up?”
“Why are you whispering?” she asked.
“I’m afraid somebody will take my phone away because I’m not allowed to talk to you until the wedding, or some such superstitious nonsense.”
She snickered. “You need to get your phone checked. There’s some sort of weird echo going on. And I’m sorry about the no seeing each other business. That’s all Petra’s fault, by the way. Your little sister is a bossy fart.”
“This we knew. Have she and Lisa decided to take over the world yet?”
“Never mind that. Where are you?”
He glanced around at the darkness. “A little out of reach at the moment.”
“I need to know,” she insisted. “Or I will in about ten minutes. Keep your phone on.”
And then she hung up.
Well. That was weird. Zach pushed away the questions he had and focused on the task at hand. He listened again then carefully lifted the board out of the way, revealing the bathroom at the end of the second-floor hall.
A moment later he had manoeuvred his way to the ground and closed the attic access.
He cracked open the bathroom door the slightest bit, peeking into the hallway.
Motion zipped back and forth between bedroom two and three at the top of the stairs, his mom and Karen traipsing back and forth with armfuls of flowers.
The room he wanted was situated three paces to the left…
He waited until the hall was clear then made his move. Rapidly darting to door number one, he slipped inside and turned—
The room was empty. Julia’s wedding dress lay on the bed, all shiny white with tons of buttons. He’d seen a picture of it earlier and was already dreaming about undoing said buttons later that evening.
Which reminded him of the picture she’d given him last New Year’s Eve. The one from her boudoir shoot—although the only similarity was she’d been wearing a nearly see-through white tank top…
Bad memory to think about if he didn’t want to get all heated up with no time to do anything about it.
There were flowers, and a veil, and her shoes, but definitely no Julia.
He pulled out his phone, dialing her up and hoping his whisper wouldn’t be overheard. “Where are you?”
This time she laughed. “I was looking for this sexy guy I met in Vegas, hoping I could get him to show me a good time. Only he seems to have vanished.”
What the hell?
Before he could demand an answer to what was going on, Josiah’s deep rumble took over Julia’s phone. “I’d suggest you get down to the cottage ASAP. Take the direct route, though. Finn and the other guys can only distract the ladies for so long.”
He hung up.
Zach shook his head. Sneaking out to give Julia a final I love you message had become far more complicated than expected.
A cheer went up from outside, and he glanced out the window to discover Cody had brought up a horse-drawn carriage. All the ladies had rushed out and were doing something with flowers—
He moved. Peeking into the hallway once before sprinting for freedom. Down the hall, leaping stairs. Dashing through the kitchen and out the sliding doors so he could race to the cottage next door.
He didn’t stop until he was in the living room, where a pair of arms wrapped around him, Julia’s laughter filling the space.
He caught her by the waist and lifted her, squeezing tight as her eyes sparkled at him. “You sneaky woman. What are you doing out of lockdown?”
“Look, baby. I’m not the one acting like a stealth agent. I sashayed down the stairs like a lady. When no one was looking,” she admitted.
They grinned at each other, and then her hands were cupping his face. Sweet emotion was written all over her. The sweetest of emotions—because what they felt for each other had grown stronger over the past months.
“I wanted to see you one more time before we got married,” Julia said. “I wanted to tell you how amazing you are. How good you’ve been to me, and how every single day, I’m so grateful you agreed to be my pretend boyfriend.”
Laughter swelled inside him, but Zach had to share his own truth. He gave her a quick kiss, though, because he couldn’t resist. He damn near spoke against her lips because he almost couldn’t pull away. “I’m so glad you chose me. No matter what, I’m going to make sure you know how much we belong together. How much you mean to me. Even if you are kind of sex-crazed.”
A sharp snort escaped her, and she covered her mouth with her fingers before grinning hard. “Your fault.”
“I couldn’t be prouder,” he admitted before softening his voice. “But it’s never just sex. Not with you. It’s love.”
She licked her lips, and he went in for a serious kiss. A wholehearted promise of what would come later. Not just that day, but next week, next month.
Next year, until the end of eternity.
Somebody coughed. Finn. “Time to get ready. I’m afraid your mom’s waiting outside,” he warned with a sheepish grin.
Julia stepped back, giving Zach’s fingers a final squeeze. “It’s okay. I’ll sweet-talk her into not scolding you until after the honeymoon.”
“Just don’t let her start giving you advice of what to do while on our honeymoon,” Zach warned as the door closed behind her.
He turned back to face his friends as Josiah walked into the room to join them.
“Are you ready for this?” Josiah asked.
Ready for Julia to become his officially, albeit for the second time? This time he was going to remember every moment of it. “I can’t wait.”
What a difference. By now they’d watched the video of their Vegas wedding enough times that contrasting that event with what waited before her was natural. Part of the entertainment tonight would be showing that video to all their friends and family who had gathered.
That had been wild and impulsive. A mistake that turned out to be everything she’d ever wanted. Today was planned and solid. Yet equally sweet and infinitely more memorable because of the people joining them.
Julia rested her arms on the railing of the deck, stealing peeks toward where the chairs and wedding bower waited. “Soon?”
“Don’t worry. Zach is not running away. Josiah has firm orders to keep his feet nailed to the front of the stage until it’s official.” A noticeably pregnant Lisa slipped beside her, curling an arm around Julia’s waist. “A couple more cars showed up, so we figured we’d let everyone find seats before starting the processional music.”
There was already a big crowd. Not only everyone she and Zach worked with at the Red Boot ranch, which started official operations in the spring, but all the people Julia had worked with at the fire hall the previous year.
Add in all the family members, between the Colemans and the Sorensons—Julia had never expected to have this many people in her life who all wanted to celebrate with her.
Karen appeared on her other side, adjusting the short veil attached to the tiara resting in Julia’s hair. “You look happy,” she said.
Julia straightened, twisting until she could see her sisters at the same time, Tamara as well, coming up the stairs to join them. “I have something to tell you.”
The three of them tucked in close. Mirror images of each other and yet so unique. Karen had softened over the past year, and Julia was sure it was because Finn had been her constant champion. Karen had learned to take what she needed to be happy, and Julia had learned a lot from watching her older sister deal with past hurts.
Tamara’s sturdy love had been offered and accepted in so many ways over the past months. Julia had spent tons of time with the Stone family, discovering they had their own strengths and weaknesses, but at the root of it, rejoici
ng that they were always there for each other.
And Lisa? Lisa had become the best friend Julia hadn’t known she needed. Although her sister’s mischief was a trifle more curtailed these days. Even now Lisa adjusted her stance, hand falling to the round swell of her seven-months pregnant belly.
Suddenly Julia wondered: what would her sisters see while looking back at her? Hopefully a woman who was learning the ultimate truth. Acceptance started within. Joy spread outward, and love expanded like multiplication tables gone wild.
Julia had spent nine months accepting the truth that Zach loved her unconditionally. That no matter what they needed to learn, they could do it together.
That family was a miracle.
She held her hands forward, her fingers instantly caught by her sisters. “People say being in the right place at the right time is all about luck. And I suppose one thing did lead to another, in a way. But walking into Silver Stone the day that Tyler was born was more than luck. It was breath into lungs and blood into veins. That was the day I was born into this family, as well, and I can never explain to you how sweet that is.”
Dammit. She should’ve done this yesterday, because her eyes were getting wet.
“You don’t need to explain,” Tamara said softly.
Karen and Lisa nodded in agreement. “Nope. We pretty much know what you’re talking about.” Karen squeezed her fingers.
Lisa’s hand was back on her belly, where even now another new life had begun. “We can never replace the years we missed, but we’re going to enjoy every single day going forward.”
Another truth. Julia took a deep breath. “Thank you for being my big sisters. I love you.”
Arms surrounded her, squeezing her tight. Holding still in that sisterly bond formed not just by blood but by choice. They hadn’t needed to welcome her in, but they had, and their decision had changed her world.
The music picked up in the background, and suddenly Petra was there. “Okay, darlin’. It’s time to get my brother his just rewards.”
Another favourite person in her world. Julia stepped back and accepted the tissue her almost sister-in-law offered. “You realize I’m going to find somebody from the ranch for you to fall in love with,” she warned. “You need to move closer to Heart Falls.”
“Ohhh, now there’s a good idea.” Lisa stepped away from Tamara. “Hey. No hitting the pregnant lady.”
“No matchmaking,” Tamara scolded.
“One wedding at a time,” Karen said as she winked at Julia. “At least this year.”
Her sisters led her down the stairs to the sturdy boardwalk path. Red Boot ranch now had a dedicated area to host weddings, and while this wasn’t the first to be held there, it was the first for their family.
Julia glanced down the long row past all of the waiting guests. Past her future mother- and father-in-law, who were equal parts wonderful and embarrassingly terrible, just as Zach had warned. Past all of Zach’s sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Past where Tamara slipped ahead to rejoin Caleb and the rest of the Stone family who had come to be a part of the celebration.
Julia’s gaze stuttered to a stop, her feet as well, as she spotted the Elvis impersonator at the edge of one row. He lifted a hand and dipped his chin, and she outright giggled.
Her gaze snapped forward to where Zach stood at the front waiting for her with Finn at his side, Josiah as well.
Zach grinned. He knew why she was laughing.
“You got this?” Karen made a few final adjustments to Julia’s dress.
“I do. I really do,” Julia said firmly, focusing back on her sisters. She squeezed Lisa’s and Karen’s fingers one last time.
As her sisters started slowly down the aisle, Julia turned to where George Coleman stood waiting.
Another adjustment over the past months. She and her father were learning what kind of relationship they wanted. She didn’t need someone to protect her, and she didn’t need someone who treated her like a little girl. None of the Whiskeyteers did.
It hadn’t always been easy, but between her and her sisters insisting he listen as well as speak, George Coleman had begun to change. His growth had been encouraged and influenced by Finn, Josiah, and Zach as well.
But what that meant here and now was that when her father held out his arm, she willingly slipped her fingers around his elbow. Joy was truly present in being able to have her father as a part of this day.
Tamara’s daughter Emma and Zach’s niece Rita walked ahead of them, tossing leaves instead of flowers. It was pretty and perfect. There was more than a bit of laughter when little Beau shook the pillow he was holding, the one with two rings tied to its surface, complaining loudly when he couldn’t figure out how to make them fall.
It was family—oh, so much family.
But when they reached the front, it was all Zach. Everyone else could have vanished as far as she knew. Julia stared into his blue eyes and saw nothing but love.
They must’ve had the wedding ceremony, but it passed in a blink. Thank goodness somebody was recording it, because she would have really hated having her only memories be the ones from the Mile-High Chapel video.
They stood side by side on the deck post-wedding, Zach’s fingers tangled around hers, firm and sure. He dipped his head and brushed his cheek against hers, murmuring in her ear, “I love you.”
The instant shiver felt wonderful. She turned, linking her fingers behind his neck. “I love you too.” She glanced out at the crowd preparing for them to open gifts. “I don’t see Tony. I thought he was going to be here.”
“He sent his regrets.” Zach lifted her fingers and kissed them. “When I talked to him yesterday, he said his kids are down with the flu. He offered his congratulations and reminded me we have an appointment in two weeks.”
“Okay.” She curled against his side a little tighter. Therapy continued, with Zach joining her every other time. The fact that he’d begun meeting one-on-one with Tony every now and then had just been one more confirmation that Zach truly was perfect for her.
Pamela Sorenson clapped her hands and gestured people forward. “Bride and groom, come sit in your seats of honour.”
It felt a little strange to spend time on presents, but considering the number of people who had travelled a fair distance to be there, at the last minute they’d decided to accept gifts while everyone was still around.
A lot of the presents were pictures, which thrilled Julia. Images from Zach’s years growing up. Ones of her sisters during their Whiskey Creek days. A beautifully framed image of her mother that made Julia smile.
Pamela and Zachary presented her with a soft cotton sack.
Julia blinked for a moment before reaching in and pulling out two smooth stones etched with ZACH and JULIA. “Our own blessings bag. Thank you.”
“That’s the starter set,” Pamela teased. “When you start having kids, we’ll add their names. Now, since conception and pregnancy—”
“And we have the extended version for you, as well.” Zachary Senior interrupted his wife, with a wink for his son and another much larger sack in his hand. “My etching tool got quite a workout. You know how many people are in our family now?”
A quick glance around the room said so, so many.
Not having wrapping paper on the gifts made everything go quicker as friends and family continued to come forward with small tokens. Hanna offered Julia a hug as Brad shook Zach’s hand, then they passed over a ceramic cookie jar. Brad’s big arm cradled his and Hanna’s three-month-old baby boy easily.
As they neared the end, Petra came forward, arms loaded with three fancy metallic tins. “That’s a bit overboard, isn’t it?” Zach teased his sister.
“Not from me, bro. I found them over by the music station. There are no names.” She popped them all on the table in front of Julia. “Maybe someone had to leave early?”
Julia picked one up, examining it carefully. A pretty rural scene in pastoral colours graced the si
de. “Maybe.”
Zach picked up another, and something rattled. “Cookies? I like cookies.” He popped off the lid and peeked inside. An instant later he slammed the lid shut, grinning up at the crowd. “No cookies. We’ll just put these aside. Thank you, whoever the gift is from.”
Julia couldn’t resist. She lifted the lid on her container to discover it was full of brightly-coloured condoms. Amusement filtered upward like bubbles in her belly. She leaned toward Zach. “Your mother?”
For a moment he paused.
Laughter swelled suddenly. Zach pointed across the lawn to where Lisa, Tamara, and Karen were hanging on each other and laughing themselves silly.
One, two, three tins…
Oh, dear. “Um, yeah. I’m not sure what’s up, but there’s probably a good explanation.” Julia winked at Zach. “We’re well stocked, that’s for sure.”
He grinned.
“That’s it,” Petra announced. “Time for the dance.”
“Wait, one last present,” Julia said, reaching under the table and pulling out one more picture frame. “For you.”
She offered it to Zach facedown.
He took it with a grin, flipped it over and burst out laughing.
She’d framed a how-to image for “How to Replace a Roll of Toilet Paper.” It included the clear instructions for the roll to go under, not over, because “the more economical usage of tissue is encouraged.”
Zach placed the frame on the table then pulled her to vertical, guiding her to the middle of the dance floor. “You win. After a year of battling it out, TP style, I admit defeat. Henceforth, all our rolls shall be loaded your way.”
Julia wrapped her arms around him as the first strains of music rose on the air. Elvis strummed his guitar and sang softly, as if just for them.
“Love Me Tender?” Julia sang in Zach’s ear.
Her husband, her heart, swirled them in a circle as he hummed along to the music. They fit, and after a year together, it wasn’t random chance or even solid determination making this thing between them work.
They’d chosen each other, and that’s why they would never let go.