Page 219 of Keeping Kasey
I laugh and look back at the bright flowers woven into the arch. “I didn’t mean to stay out here for so long.”
As soon as he’s within reach, Logan scoops me up and sets me on his lap. If he wasn’t covered in sweat already, having me on his lap will certainly do the trick, but I don’t talk him out of it.He’s far more comfortable than the bench, and I relax into him as he wraps his arms around me.
“You can spend all the time you want out here,” he whispers. “You know that.”
“There’s a lot to do before tomorrow, and I should be inside helping.”
“Don’t worry about tomorrow. Isabella has everything under control. All you have to do is show up.”
“I think the bride has a few more jobs than that.”
He kisses my cheek. “There isn’t a wedding planner on this planet who would take this more seriously than Isabella has. Trust me, beautiful. She’s got it.”
“Hmm. Then maybe I will stay out here a little while longer.”
“Good. I could use some time out here, too.”
We don’t do much talking after that. We take in the elegant vines and vibrant flowers, woven in the most intricate and breathtaking way. The base—a wooden structure made from trees native to our yard—is shaped like a half-dome. The inside is fully shaded, thanks to the flora covering every inch of the arch.
The dome isn’t deep, but it isn’t meant for anyone to go inside. Its one job is to shield the engraved stone that rests in the center, buried beneath the ground just enough to prop it up and easily read its inscription.
Angel Consoli
Loved and missed
Every minute of forever.
Delicate flowers are etched into the stone, softening its melancholy symbolism with a touch of beauty. Flowers, stones, and a small fountain decorate the area, with matching chairs placed on either side of the bench.
Logan surprised me with this garden a few months ago—as soon as it was warm enough for the flowers to bloom. He consulted world-renowned landscapers and gardeners forguidance, but he was determined to build the entire thing himself. His pride in completing this project was almost as heartwarming as the garden itself.
It’s my favorite place in the world.
I considered having the ceremony here tomorrow, but quickly dismissed the idea.
Marrying the Consoli boss isn’t as easy as creating a legal certificate for us—although sometimes I wish it were.
Our wedding is currently a three-hundred-person event, and that was after heavy cuts were made. The guest list isn’t important to me—the only thing I care about is finally becoming Mrs. Consoli—but it is important to Logan. The family boss’s wedding is the event of the year, and apparently, everyone wants an invitation.
If I’d asked, Logan would’ve canceled the entire thing and had the ceremony in our living room with only immediate family, but I didn’t ask.
I knew when I said yes to Logan’s proposal that I wasn’t just marrying him, but accepting the role of a boss’s wife. While it doesn’t exactly come naturally to me, I take pride in the position. I’m excited to show everyone thatI’mthe woman standing at Logan’s side.
So, a big wedding it is, and the small enclosed garden isn’t large enough to accommodate everyone invited, but it’s just as well. This area isn’t meant for them.
It’s private, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Six months was a fast turnaround for such a large wedding, but it feels like it’s been years since I said yes to Logan in that hospital room.
In that time, the Consolis have become my family. Elise and Isabella are the sisters I never had, and James and Damon take being brothers very seriously, making it a point to tease or annoy me whenever they can. I’ve gotten to know Rachel and Ryderwell, and I absolutely adore their kids. Dominic is exactly what I imagine Logan was like as a young boy, and Lyla is the sweetest girl. Moreno and I have a tolerate-hate kind of relationship, but we put up with each other well enough.
I even reached out to my mother to meet for the first time in years. She was pleasantly surprised to meet my fiancé, who behaved like a gentleman despite the grudge he’s held against her since learning about our past.
My soon-to-be husband also made it a point to compensate Mark’s family. The police department determined his death was the result of a carjacking gone wrong—and I suppose it’s a version of the truth. While he’s never said the words out loud, I know Logan feels guilty about Mark getting mixed up with the Diazes in the first place, and the compensation is his imperfect form of atonement.
And tomorrow, I will officially be the wife of that perfectly imperfect man.
I planned on walking myself down the aisle, but after months of experiencing Damon’s brotherly affection and protection, it felt right to ask him to give me away.
