Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Well, you have a big decision to make, I hope you’re happy no matter what you choose. I know all too well how hard it is to live with your choices.”
She leaves the room, and I lean back, pushing away from the desk. My hand rests on my belly, and I wonder about the life inside me.
There are so many unknowns. All of then hang on what will happen when I finally tell Declan, which I still have to do. My ultrasound is in less than a week, and it’s time for us to face our future, whatever it may be.
All of this is weighing me down, and I’m tired.
I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to conceal my pregnancy either. I’m out of the first trimester, which is what all the books say is the dangerous period of a pregnancy. There’re no more reasons to avoid telling him.
“I think we should sell the farm and go where we’re wanted,” I say down at my stomach. “It’ll be hard, but we’ll have your aunt and grandma close. I can’t stay here, as much as I want to.” A tear slips down my cheek. “I love your daddy so much, little one. I would give anything for him to choose us, but I don’t think he will.”
With that thought in mind, I send an email back to Milo, telling him I’m going to accept the offer.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sydney
“You look absolutely gorgeous,” I tell Ellie as I stand back to look at her. She’s truly glowing. The sun is just starting to fall behind the tree line, and Connor is out there waiting for her.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married already. It feels like I’ve been with him forever, and now we’re really going to be husband and wife.”
I smile at her and hold back the tears. “I’m so happy for you, Els.”
“I couldn’t have gotten to this point without you. Your friendship is everything to me.”
The tear falls, and I pull her into a careful hug. “I love you guys. You both deserve to be happy.”
She laughs and then fans at her eyes. “I don’t want to cry.”
There isn’t a doubt in my mind she won’t be able to hold back once she sees Connor and the barn.
All the Arrowood brothers are in town and have worked extra hard to pull off a few surprises for Ellie.
“Are you ready?” I ask her.
She nods. “I am.”
We head outside to find the sky painted in reds and oranges. Everything is so pretty, and joy fills my heart for my friend. She deserves to marry the perfect man on this perfect day.
Hadley comes running over. “I put the petals down, like you said, and now I’m here because you told me to come back.”
She crouches and then cups her daughter’s face between her palms. “I love you, Hadley.”
“I love you too, Mommy.”
“Are you happy?”
Hadley nods. “You look pretty. Are you happy?”
The smile on Ellie’s face is wide and full of love and hope for her future. “I am so happy. I love your daddy very much.”
“Me too. He’s the best. I have the best mommy, daddy, best friend, and now I’m going to have a sister or a brother. Can we go now?”
My hand is over my mouth as more tears fall. Weddings are always emotional for me, but add the fact that it’s Ellie’s wedding in a barn, there wasn’t a chance I wouldn’t lose it.
Ellie looks back to me and nods. It’s time.
“All right, Hadley. You’re going to walk your mommy down the aisle after I go. Okay?”
Hadley stands a little taller and squares her shoulders. “I’m ready.”
Yes, they are. They’re ready to go on to the next chapter of their lives, as am I.
The music cues, and I make my way into the barn.
The back door is open, offering a picturesque background for the ceremony, and there are lights going from beam to beam all the way across the inside. Flowers are everywhere, white with hints of yellow and Ellie’s favorite color: pink. The guys hung paper lanterns all throughout it and it’s truly breathtaking. As I walk down the path lined with petals, I smile at guests. Some of Connor’s friends from the military, teachers from Ellie’s school, Devney and her boyfriend, and then my eyes find the Arrowood brothers.
Connor stands there, hands clasped in front of him, brimming with a nervousness I can’t remember ever seeing in him before. When my gaze latches on to the man behind him, the rest just fades away.
There is Declan. In a black suit with his dark brown hair trimmed just a bit shorter than it was the last time I saw him. He watches me make my way toward him, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same.
This could’ve been us.
It should’ve been us.
My stomach is in knots as I keep my feet going, wishing I was in the white dress and Declan was standing in front of Connor. I would’ve loved him with everything I am. I do now, but it isn’t enough. Declan and I are the tragic love story.
The tears that had ceased when I started walking fill my vision again, but I push them down. I won’t cry, not tears of sadness today.
Today is for joy. Today is for Ellie. Today is for goodbyes.
“Dance with me?” Jacob asks me.
“What?”
“Dance with me, Syd.” He gets up and walks over, hand extended.
Connor and Ellie just finished their first dance, and now Declan is dancing with her. Jacob stands there, waiting with a sly grin.
“All right,” I say and allow him to lead me to the dance floor.
Last time I saw Jacob, his head was shaved for a role he was playing in a movie, and thank God, it’s grown back. “You look good.”
“So do you.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Jacob
