Page 114 of Love or Leave

The bridesmaids immediately engulfed him, all cooing over how handsome he was, and he lapped up the attention, making sure everyone saw his fancy pocket square and the boutonniere his Uncle Ethan had pinned to his lapel.

"Adam gave me this, Mama," he said, holding out a thick white envelope. She hadn't even noticed he was holding something. "He said to give it to you."

She took it from him with a smile. "How did you like hanging out with the boys?"

Ben smiled. "It was fun. Max gave me cookies and orange juice."

She laughed and opened the envelope, then fought off a fresh wave of tears as she read the first line.

Dear Chelsea,

I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I planned a honeymoon for us—for the three of us. We leave tomorrow morning. Don't worry about a thing. Our bags are being packed right now, and the jet's at the airport waiting for us. We can leave whenever you want.

Can't wait to kiss you,

Love A.

P.S. Ben will tell you where we're going.

"Holy crap," Chelsea said, looking up with tears in her eyes. "Adam booked us a honeymoon."

"Where to?" Natalie asked.

She looked at Ben. "Where are we going, buddy?"

Ben’s expression broke into a broad smile. She'd never seen her boy so happy.

"Disney World!"

Chelsea laugh-cried as she sank down and pulled him into a tight hug. How had she found someone she loved so much, who also loved her son?

Willow came in close and peeked at the card. "Oh, my God. He's amazing."

Jae nodded. "He really is."

Chelsea stood and wiped her eyes.

"Ready to go make this official?" Natalie asked.

Chelsea flushed with happiness. "Absolutely."

Cara handed them each their bouquets, and they headed for the door.

Adam stood at the front of the Fireplace Room and tried to figure out what to do with his hands. He wasn't sure he'd ever been so awkward before.

Well, maybe when he proposed.

The air buzzed with excitement and warmth, and the crackling of the birch wood in the hearth behind him filled the room with a woodsy smell.

It mixed with the scent of roses and dandelions—yes, dandelions—in the floral arrangements that lined the aisle and mantle behind him. He'd never forget the florist's face when he insisted on dandelion boutonnieres.

He smiled and relaxed slightly at the memory of her losing her shit as he happily signed the order to pay an obscene amount of money to have “a common weed,” as she called it, specially grown and brought in for a winter wedding.

She'd tried to talk him out of it, saying they'd wilt after an hour, which was a good point. But that just made him buy enough boutonnieres to have fresh ones on his lapel all day.

He looked out at the sea of familiar faces—his uncle cracking a joke in the front row, his dad ignoring his uncle and beaming proudly, Denise dabbing under her eyes with a tissue even though nothing had happened yet.

Everyone was there. Everyone who could be. And those who couldn't were with him in spirit.

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