Page 57 of Fern's Date with Destiny
Cody blinked.“What ring?”
A colourful string of Irish curses filled the air.
“Oh,” Cody said, fighting a grin.“Thatring.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box.
Chance went quiet as Cody flipped it open.Inside, the simple band gleamed—a slim braid of white gold, nothing flashy.
“Fern is happy just being with me,” Cody said, voice low.“But I want it official.I can’t do much about what my body might do a year from now, or in ten years.But if I marry her, I can protect her the best I can and make sure her financial future’s secure.”
Chance looked up, expression unguarded.“She doesn’t care about that, you know.”
“I know.”Cody closed the box.“But I do.”
Chance nodded slowly.“You don’t have to do any of it alone, Cody.You and Fern.You have all of us.”
Cody swallowed, the knot in his throat too big to speak around.
Yeah.
For once, he knew it.
They stood there while the storm thundered, the house rang with laughter, and the sweet smell of wet prairie grass rose in the air.
In that moment, Cody realized he wasn’t waiting to be whole anymore.
He already was.
It pouredon Rose and Chance’s wedding day.
Not a soft, romantic drizzle.A full-on, sideways-blowing, windows-rattling prairie storm.
Fern had watched the clouds drench the land all morning, hoping and pleading that the weather gods might have mercy long enough for the ceremony to take place in the backyard garden as planned.
But the heavens had other ideas.
When she finally gave up and climbed the stairs to the primary bedroom at their childhood home where Rose was getting ready, she found her sister standing at the window, rain pelting the glass in sheets, a blissed-out smile on her face.
“You’re gorgeous,” Fern told her honestly, stepping close to adjust the delicate ringlet resting on Rose’s smooth black hair.
“I’m wet,” Rose said, grinning wider as she gestured to her tear-stained cheeks.“I’m probably going to stay wet all day.”
“You’re radiant,” Ivy corrected from her perch in the corner, a teacup balanced on the arm of her chair.She looked pale but content, the edges of her fragility smoothed by quiet satisfaction.“You’re all so beautiful.”
“Even me?”Tansy piped up, flopping dramatically back into the upholstered chaise.Her casted leg stuck out at a ridiculous angle.“Because I’m only wearing one pretty shoe.”
Fern snickered.“You’re beautiful, even if your July first was a bit more exciting than mine.”
Tansy nodded seriously and didn’t deny it.“I’ll take the broken leg, though, because it came with a happily-ever-after for more than just me.”
Rose turned from the rain with a soft laugh, cradling her bouquet like a talisman.“Weather aside, it still feels perfect, you know?”
“It is perfect,” Fern said, fiercely.“Every bit of it.”
For a moment, they were all quiet, four women linked by love and a thousand shared memories.
Tansy reached out and wiggled her fingers.“Four Fields sisters.A whole bouquet of happiness.”
