Page 64 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

Her sister beamed at her with the goofiest expression on her face that Steph had ever seen. Faith was a lot of things, but goofy wasn’t usually one of them. “I know I’ve been acting a little strange today.”

“A little?” That was an understatement.

“Can you trust me for a few more minutes?” Faith ignored her. “Please?”

Faith didn’t wait for an answer, but instead looked over Stephanie’s head and spoke to her parents. “She’s all yours.” And then she turned and jogged down the path toward the cabin.

Steph stared after her for a minute, and turned to look at her parents. Her dad had a smile on his face, but looked nervous. Her mother was once again crying and dabbing at her eyes.

“What is going on?”

“Come with us, pumpkin.”

Her dad held out his arm and she took it. The trail wasn’t big enough for all three of them to walk side by side, but as they reached the edge of the clearing, it opened up and her mother came to her other side and took her free hand. And that’s when she saw it.

Or more specifically, them. A small crowd of people lined the path to her cabin and her beautiful deck that looked over the creek. Her favorite place.

And there, on the deck, was Travis. He was dressed in dark jeans, a button-up shirt, and his cowboy hat.

Her heart flipped in her chest.

She looked down at the gorgeous bouquet in her hands and the pretty sundress that Faith made her wear.No. Way.She looked up again and blinked.

From somewhere behind Travis, Tink barked and, a moment later, the fluff ball bounded down from the deck toward her, a bright-pink ribbon that matched her flowers tied to her collar. Nick, who stood near the stairs, caught the dog before she could get too far.

Steph looked to her dad, first. “Really?”

He nodded. “We really like him, kiddo.”

She looked to her mom, who was only crying harder. She squeezed Steph’s hand. “He’s a good one,” she managed to say.

“But only if you want to, pumpkin,” her dad said. “Your call.”

“But…how…did you…”

So many unanswered questions…all of which she let trail away as she let her gaze travel across the gathered friends and family and all the way up to the porch and Travis.

He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. His eyes met hers, even across the distance. He shrugged just a little and his lips twitched up into the cocky grin she’d fallen in love with.

“Well,” her dad urged. “Are we doing this?”

Stephanie smiled and nodded. “Absolutely.”

ChapterSixteen

Although he wassure that the waiting and wondering whether he’d be able to pull it all off was going to be the death of him, when Travis saw the love of his life emerge from the woods holding the flowers, dressed in a white sundress, he was sure his heart would stop right then.

She was gorgeous.

She was there.

He waited and then, she was smiling. And walking toward him.

His heart raced as Stephanie’s parents walked up the stairs with her between them. He waited patiently, never taking his eyes off her as they each hugged their daughter before stepping away and leaving her in front of him.

“Hi,” he said simply.

“Hi.”

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