Page 117 of Unexpected Entanglement

The wedding officiant asked, “Who gives away this bride?”

“I give myself to him,” Meredith answered with a smile.

“As I give myself to her,” Sam replied.

Rowan took in how right that sounded. She had a fleeting thought about being an orphan now and not having her dad to give her away. He would never walk her down the aisle, but when the time came, she’d make sure she gave herself to someone worthy of her.

As the officiant opened with a short rendition of Meredith and Sam’s love story, Rowan couldn’t help but scan the crowd’s edges. A waving motion caught her attention, and she stopped, only to see Richard smiling at her. Disappointed, she merely nodded once and turned her attention back to the wedding couple.

But as if her gaze was a magnet attracted to its opposite charge, it zeroed in on the person she was searching for. On the outside of the first row of the groom’s side, Chris stood in a custom-tailored blue suit, looking like she’d never seen him before.

Her lungs filled with air as their eyes met.

There he is.

Chris smiled appreciatively at her as his eyes took her in from the top of her head to her toes. He was making her warm with only a look. She still couldn’t understand how he did it. She was also still trying to understand how easy it was to trust today to him so she could be there for Meredith.

That’s because you know you can rely on him. Because he has your back.

Rowan’s heart constricted as she realized what she was feeling.

“Marriage is about love and more. It is about feeling safe, knowing that you can rely on your partner every step of the way. It is about feeling secure knowing that you possess the strength to be the best versions of yourselves with the help of one another. And it is about building a life together, a partnership, rooted in love, trust, and perseverance,” the officiant said.

The words struck a chord within Rowan as emotions churned inside her. She glanced away from Chris and focused her weeping eyes on the couple. She let the tears stream down her cheeks as Meredith and Sam said their vows to each other.

People cry at weddings all the time. She had expected to cry. She just hadn’t expected to cry from a broken heart.

The wedding ceremony had gone off without a hitch.

Chris was relieved now that the party was in full swing. After enjoying the main courses of roasted lobster pasta and beef tenderloin with port reduction sauce, the guests had hit the dance floor, following the customary bride and groom’s first dance.

“I think we’re almost in the clear, Boss,” Jane said. She and Walt flanked his sides as they watched the bride and groom dance with their friends.

“Almost. We still have the cake cutting and dessert,” Chris said.

Walt consulted his clipboard. “That’s happening in fifteen.”

“You know, I had fun working this wedding. It’s the most laid-back wedding I’ve ever been to. I refused to do weddings because I can’t stand bridezillas,” Jane said.

Walt laughed. “OMG. I have a story about a groomzilla at a wedding my ex-boyfriend was in.”

“I’m sure that’s fascinating, Walt,” Chris cut in with a chuckle. “But we should prepare for the cake.”

“What do you take us for?” Walt said. “All done, of course.”

The light dimmed slightly, and the fast-paced dance music faded into slow jazz. The DJ announced in his deep voice, “The bride and groom would like to invite all the couples in the house to join them on the dance floor. Let's come together in love, folks.”

Jane nudged Chris. “Aren’t you going in there?”

“What?” He glanced at his event manager.

“Yeah, Boss. Aren’t you engaged?” Walt reminded him.

Shit. He and Rowan didn’t discuss this.

Couples, older to younger, started walking onto the dance floor.

“Your fiancée is at one o’clock by the cake,” Walt informed.

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