Page 47 of One Little Chance
The rest of the crew turned to see us.
“Next week? Is this really happening?” Pat nearly shouted as Jordan and I walked up.
Sarah’s eyes were wide. “I thought your text message was a joke at first!” She bit her lip. “But then when I thought about it, it actually makes perfect sense.”
“You said in your message you guys already got the location?” Jenna asked, holding a plastic cup to her mouth.
I nodded excitedly.
Orlando hung an arm around my shoulder. “I’m Brother of Honor, right?”
“We decided on that when we were kids,” I said into his shoulder. We pulled apart, misty-eyed. “I have to have you there beside me.”
“So this is happening,” my mom said, as the music came to a stop. “You’re getting marriedin a week.”
“This is happening,” I whispered. The Christmas music faded away, and the countdown began. Our Sweet River mayor held a red button in his hand.
“We have a week to plan a wedding.” She covered her face with her hands.
“A Christmas wedding,” Sarah added. “I love it.” She sighed wistfully.
“Three, two,” people shouted while Jordan slipped his arms around my waist from behind, tugging me against the warmth of his chest on this cold night.
The crowd cheered, “One!” and just like that, the twelve-foot tree was lit with glowing, multicolored lights in the center of downtown. The orchestra began to play “O Christmas Tree,” as everyone clapped and cheered.
I hadn’t felt so sure in a long time that I was exactly where I wanted to be.
Chapter 22
DECEMBER 19TH, 2023
Itook Jenna, Sarah, Pat, my mom, and of course, my man of honor, with me to try on wedding dresses.
“I’ve heard the best things about this place. I even follow them online,” Sarah said as we pushed open the glass door to the shop. She’d been the one to send me the name of this shop, the Blushing Bride, and told me she’d made an appointment.
When deciding to plan my wedding in a week, I’d forgotten about the tiny detail of finding a wedding dress in a week. My wedding crew consisted of our family members: Pat and Mom were on the guest list, Orlando was our DJ and food guy, Sarah and Jenna were handling flowers and décor, and everyone filled in any other need that arose.
One of the last needs: the dress. I felt thankful for Sarah refusing to let me let it fall between the cracks—shaking her head vehementlynowhen I joked that I could always just wear a big white fluffy coat and earmuffs.
“I’m thinking I want something that leans into the wintry, Christmas feeling of December,” I explained to the stylist.
“Oh, and you said you wanted beaded detailing,” Jenna added, reaching her hand to mine and giving it an encouraging squeeze.
I nodded.
The stylist, Cleo, a younger woman with big brown eyes, pursed her lips and said, “I have a couple of dresses that I think might be perfect.”
She walked away, and I looked to everyone finding their seats around the trio of mirrors. Mom was already tearing up as she had been for the past few days, and I hadn’t even tried on a single dress yet.
“Mom!”
“I’m okay. I’m okay,” she sniffled. “I just still think of you in your dress-up tutus and messy ponytails, and now here we are…buying a wedding dress.”
Now nearly everyone was sniffling.
Only Orlando, who was sipping one of the free flutes of champagne, had dry eyes.
“Do you guys like the flower dress we picked?” I asked Jenna since her daughter was our flower girl. We’d tried on the dress last night, but I wanted to double check she liked it.
