Audrey snapped a photo of their reactions to that statement. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Brooke wondered what her face would give away in that captured moment. Would it be nervousness or excitement? Admittedly, the two were neck-and-neck.“Okay, brides. I need you to side-step back behind the door.”
Anna squeezed Brooke’s hand a few times before she finally let go, her warmth disappearing behind the barn door with her.
“Brooke, I’m going to have you and your party stay here while we get Anna back to the bridal suite,” Audrey said, quickly. She followed after Anna’s group, snapping more photos of Anna’s dress, presumably.
Jaqueline waved Brooke’s party over.“Okay, does anyone need anything out of the groom’s cabin?”
Chris, Viv, and Nate all exchanged looks, shaking their heads no in unison before turning their attention to Brooke. She didn’t need anything. Everything she needed in the whole universe had just squeezed her hand.“I’m set,” she said, her voice a little shaky, but she didn’t feel anywhere near as nervous as she had just thirty minutes ago.
“Perfect.” Jaqueline looked around the barn door, making sure that Anna and her party had made it out of sight.“Then I’m going to have you get ready to line up. Wait here for me.”
Nate beamed, taking his place next to Brooke while Vivienne and Christine lined up behind them. Brooke had refused to name either of them her maid of honor. They were in their thirties and this wasn’t Myspace. If things weren’t so weird between Christine and Vivienne it would have been fuel for lots of joking. As it was, Christine had just suggested that they stand in height order and Vivienne hadn’t argued.
Jaqueline returned carrying bouquets of sunflowers and white daisies for Chris and Viv.“Ready?” She asked, one last time.
Brooke nodded, all her nerves and stress melting away. She was ready. Nate offered the crook of his elbow, his smile a mirror to Brooke’s own as she thread her arm through his.
“I’m so happy for you,” he whispered as they started their walk towards the perfect rows of seats, filled with loved ones—friends and family alike.
Somewhere in the crowd sat Augustus and Sybil Kent. Brooke had invited them to the ceremony, but hadn’t asked them to be part of any of the other events. They had seen each other exactly twice since Nate’s wedding. Each time better than the time before. But this was Brooke and Anna’s day. This wasn’t a moment they had any part of helping create and it wasn’t something Brooke would let them take credit for.
The music changed. The Duomo stringed cover of“Wildest Dreams” started to play. The audience all fell silent immediately, heads turned, all eyes landing on Brooke and her brother. Normally, she would have absolutely hated the attention. However, seeing all the people in her life who loved her and whom she loved in return, watching her with such profound, unfiltered joy, made her hold her head higher.
She smiled her whole walk down the aisle, stopping at the front row to kiss Marie-Claire on the cheek. Anna’s mother looked beautiful, wearing a navy blue that matched the bridal party’s dresses. Even that made Brooke tear up. Thankfully, Nate hadn’t been exaggerating when he said he brought several handkerchiefs. He subtly handed her one as they reached the end where Shannon, their wedding officiant, stood. She looked glamorous in a black dress.
“You look amazing,” Shannon mouthed, before Brooke turned to face the audience.
Nate took his spot next to Brooke, standing proudly as her best man. When they were still, the bridal parties filed in, arms linked. Vivienne with Allegra, their messy history long since forgotten, looking like runway models as they glided down the aisle together.
When they separated at the front, Christine and Maddie made their way down, their smiles contagious. Maddie winked at her wife before moving to stand next to Allegra. And then, Anna swept into view.
Brooke’s heart stopped. Time stopped. Everything but Anna fell out of focus. Brooke was thankful for Nate’s handkerchief, because her eyes immediately filled with emotions. She didn’t know a single human could be so beautiful. Anna’s dress was perfect. The top was lacy and form-fitting, the neckline just on the respectable side of plunging. It was floor length, melting into a train in the back. Anna’s sleeves were the same delicate lace as the top. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Brooke worried Anna might be cold. She’d ask her soon enough.
Faster than possible, Brooke could swear her brain was functioning in slow motion, Anna and Nick made it to the front of the aisle. Nick pulled Anna into a quick hug before taking his spot next to her as her best man.
Brooke held her hands out, needing to hold Anna’s in her own. Anna quickly passed her bouquet to Nick so her hands would be free. Their hands shook slightly, both of them too excited for any part of them to be completely still.
Anna’s eyes were filled with tears. Brooke offered her Nate’s handkerchief, which Anna accepted with a happy laugh, wiping under her eyes and passing it back to Brooke.“I love you,” she whispered, her smile lines creasing the edges of her eyes.
“I love you, too,” Brooke whispered back.
Shannon smiled at them both before beginning.“Family and friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love between Anna and Brooke. It’s not often, I think, that a love comes along so patiently or so powerfully. You know, I remember the first time I heard about Brooke Kent. It was through my wife and a story she was telling about Anna.” Shannon paused, smiling at the memory.“It was the least exciting story I think I have ever heard.” She laughed.“Anna had fully been swept off her feet by a regular at her restaurant. A regular who hardly spoke to her, I might add.”
Brooke blushed, thinking back to the first eleven months she knew Anna, at how her heart would race, and her throat would clam up, and she’d barely be able to get out a greeting and her order.
Before she could get too self conscious, Anna squeezed her hands, her smile never faltering.
“And then, one day,” Shannon continued.
They had approved the telling of this part. Most people, by now, knew that they hadn’t really been dating when they went to London. That was too messy a story to maintain. Their engagement had, thankfully, stayed just between them, however.
“One day, Maddie gets a phone call. I’ve never seen her react in such a way. Let’s sum it up to confusion and concern. Probably in that order. Because Brooke here had drunkenly asked Anna to accompany her toEnglandfor her brother’s wedding.” The audience all whooped and applauded.
“Yeah she did,” Mel cheered from the audience.
Shannon let out a laugh.“There was no, hey, can I take you out some time? Or any chance you’d like to grab drinks after this? Not even a request for coffee. No, not Brooke. Brooke jumps straight to fully paid, all inclusive, week long vacations in overseas destinations.”
That got Brooke to laugh. She hadn’t thought of it like that.
