Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea, because I sure could use that drink now.

“You’re a stunning bride,” Mama says and pats my hand. “You chose the perfect dress.”

I smile and look into the mirror, surveying the simple style. It falls to my ankles. There is no train. I figured that with an outdoor wedding, it would just get mucked up, so I went with a simple, mermaid style dress, but it’s all lace, and rather than white, it’s a light, barely-there shade of pink. The neckline is heart shaped around my breasts, and lacy straps hold it all up.

“The shoes are the best part,” Charly says with a grin and passes me the black lacy Louboutin shoes that the girls all gave me as a wedding shower gift. The heels are high, and thankfully the aisle is the brick path in front of the house, between the massive oaks, so I won’t sink when I walk to my groom.

“I think the whole package is pretty great,” Adam says from the doorway. None of us heard him come in.

I grin and turn around and hold my arms out at my sides. “What do you think?”

“I think Declan’s going to faint dead away when he sees you,” Adam says as he walks to me, wearing khakis and a white button-down.

“You look very dignified,” I say and play with a button on his chest.

“I’m just relieved you didn’t make me wear a tux,” he replies and glances around the room. “Do y’all mind if I have a few minutes with her?”

“It’s about time for you to walk down the aisle anyway,” Gabby says. “So just come on down when you’re ready and we’ll get this show on the road!”

The girls all file out and close the door behind them, and Adam sighs as he takes me in, from my hair to my shoes.

“Nice shoes.”

“This is why we’re friends,” I say, trying to keep it light. “Because you understand the importance of shoes.”

He smirks and nods his head. “Okay, before I walk you down the aisle, I want you to tell me. Why Declan?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why, out of the billions of men in the world, did you choose to marry him?”

I frown and blink at Adam. “Are you saying I shouldn’t?”

“Not at all. I just want to know, before I hand you over to him, what it is about Declan that makes you ready to commit to him for the rest of your life. That’s all.”

“Well, aside from the whole I love him thing…” I reply and chew my lip, thinking.

“You’re eating your lipstick off,” Adam says with a smile.

“Damn it. Don’t let me forget to put it back on before we go down.”

He nods and waits. “It’s really pretty simple, Adam. I can’t imagine my life without him. He fits. Every part of him fits into my life, as if he was a puzzle piece that was missing. He’s the only piece that will ever fit.” I shrug. “He’s just… mine.”

“Okay.” He smiles.

“I want you to feel this someday,” I murmur quietly and Adam immediately shakes his head. “I know, you don’t think you want to settle down with one woman, but I hope that someday you meet a girl that just fits you, and you know that you’ll never be the same.”

“It’s a romantic thought.”

“It’s much more than romance,” I reply. “And I think I get now why Daddy never really got over losing Mom. She was his piece, and when he lost her, he just couldn’t deal with it.”

Adam frowns and looks down, then back up at me. “You’re in such a better place now, Cal. When I think of where you were when you moved back home more than a year ago, to now, it’s like you’re a new person. You’re you, but you’re…”

“Better,” I reply for him and he nods.

“You are. You were always great, but you’re better.”

“And Declan is the piece that makes me better, Adam.”

Adam grins and pulls me in for a big hug, clinging to me. “I’m so happy for you, Cal. Really happy for you. I like him, and I couldn’t love you more if you were my sister by blood. So, thank you for letting me have the honor of walking you down the aisle.”

“There’s no one else I’d rather have do it,” I reply. “And speaking of, we’d better get down there.”

“Put your lipstick on,” he says and steps aside to watch me primp.

“Okay, I’m ready.” I grab the bouquet of pink roses and cala lilies that were my mother’s favorite and lead Adam out of the room and down the stairs.

It’s evening. The sun is just beginning the set, sending a riot of color through the sky. The trees are adorned with white lights, and pink fabric that matches my dress is draped among the limbs. Tables are set up for eating later, and for now, enough white chairs are gathered in a semi-circle for just Declan’s immediate family, my Uncle Bernie, and Adam to witness the ceremony.

I wanted a very small wedding, and that’s what Declan and his family are giving me.

Adam takes my hand, loops it through his arm, and escorts me down the steps of the porch and down the brick path as a simple piano version of When A Man Loves a Woman that Declan recorded plays on the sound system.

I can see his family, all smiling, some wiping at tears, watching me make the journey to my man, but all I can see is him.

He’s in black slacks and a white button-down, tucked in, with a blue tie that belonged to his father. But it’s his eyes, holding mine, that I can’t look away from. He’s saying everything with those eyes: I love you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Thank you for being mine.