Elle stood on the church steps, waiting to fulfill her duties as Maid of Honor. So far, she'd averted a minor crisis when Veronica was hit with a bout of hay fever (thank you, antihistamine), kept her sister's train out of the toilet when nature called, and managed to avoid her mother who kept shooting guilt-inducing and we need to talk, young lady looks her way.

And, most importantly, Elle fought thoughts of Justin like a silk-clad Samurai. The moment one inkling, one teeny-tiny thought about him tried to cross her mind, she sliced and diced that thought until she no longer needed to bawl her eyes out or wail like a banshee.

It was going really well.

Or, she hadn't dissolved into a pool of pitiful yet, which Elle considered a resounding success.

At the moment, she was waiting with the bridal party for their cue to enter the church.

Lucy fluffed her veil away from her face, pawing at it like it was an over-eager octopus.

“Water,” she said. “I need water.“

Elle rushed to her sister. Lucy’s eyes were tight and her breaths were coming fast.

Becky Lee moved in like a vulture. “You don’t look so good,” she said to Lucy. “Bless your heart, are you getting cold feet?”

“Becky Lee,” Elle said, her voice sharp. “Could you get Lucy a glass of water, please?”

As soon as Becky Lee was gone, Elle turned to her sister.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “What can I do?”

Lucy shook her head. “I don’t know. I was fine … then I wasn’t. What in the hell am I doing?” She pushed back her veil with an annoyed swat. “Marrying Smith? Forever? I hate the way he chews, it sounds like a cow mulling over cud, hand to God. He leaves his clothes tossed everywhere. And, and! When his parents start talking politics I have to bite my tongue to keep from going insane. I can’t even tell you who they voted for in the last election. It makes me sick. What if Smith turns into his parents? Oh, God. What if I turn into our mother?” Lucy spoke in a quick, frantic rush, her voice growing higher and higher. “What was I thinking?”

Elle rubbed her sister’s back. “You were thinking that you love him,” Elle said. “It makes all that other stuff go away.”

Lucy studied Elle. “Is it enough, though?”

Elle thought about it. She thought of how she’d forgive all of Justin’s faults—and the man was no angel—if it meant she could just be with him every day.

“I think so,” she told her sister. “He’s got his faults, but we all do. I don’t think marriage is about being perfect. It’s about finding someone to go through life with, someone who you want to be with for the perfect moments, but for the really crappy ones too.”

“Since when did you get so smart?” Lucy asked.

“Since I had my heart broken, I think.”

They shared a watery laugh.

Becky Lee returned with the water. Lucy took grateful sips. She seemed steadier, less panicked.

Lucy pulled Elle into a tight hug. “I am so grateful for you,” she said. “Thank you for being here.”

Elle hugged her sister back, fighting back a sudden rush of emotion. “You don’t need to thank me. From now on, I’m here for you. Whatever happens.”

Lucy smiled.

Then Elle gave her sister a serious expression. “There’s just one thing,” she said. “The cow-like chewing? I don’t even know where to start with that. Y’all might need therapy.”

Lucy laughed.

"Elle." While Elle and Lucy had been talking, Caroline made her move. Lucy gave Elle an apologetic look before leaving for one last makeup check.

Beneath the harsh morning sun, Elle noticed new lines fanning from the corners of her mother's eyes and mouth. Something was different, though. Elle tried to put her finger on it, then realized: Caroline's usual look—part-warrior, part-socialite—was still in place, but doubt filled the corners, like water seeping in after a storm.

"Mother," Elle said.

“Your father won’t speak to me until I talk to you,” Caroline said without preamble.

“Okay,” Elle said slowly. “So talk.”

Caroline huffed, then smoothed down her hair. ”I wanted to apologize,” she said. “I lost my temper and said things that were uncalled for. It was unladylike and … I was disappointed, but I shouldn’t have been so hard on you. I never meant to make you feel that you needed to lie to me.”

Elle wasn't sure how to reply.

"I only wanted what was best for you girls."

"You wanted what was best for you," Elle said.

"No," Caroline said emphatically. "Marrying your father gave me the things I wanted my entire life. That's what I wanted for you."

Elle shook her head. "But the parties, the people—what about all of that?"

Caroline sighed. "Maybe I got lost along the way," she said, her voice soft. "It started because I love you girls, and I wanted you to be safe and secure. Surely you understand?"

Elle nodded slowly. She did understand. But Elle also knew that path wouldn’t necessarily lead to happiness for her.

"I understand," she said.

Her mother offered a wobbly smile. "Oh," she said. "Good. Your father said you would, but I had my doubts."

"Are you two going to be okay?" Elle asked. She had heard her parents bickering at the rental house after the rehearsal dinner and was certain they'd spent the night in separate rooms.

"I have some making up to do," Caroline said.

Elle looked at her mother anew.

"Don't look so shocked. Your father is a good man, and he made me see certain things ... things I'd rather not acknowledge. But we will work on it. Together."

On an impulse, Elle pulled her mother into a hug. Caroline bristled, and it was more of an air hug than a real hug, but it was progress. "I'm proud of you," Elle said into her mother's ear.

Caroline pushed back, wiping her eyes delicately. "Enough of that," she said. "We have a wedding to get to."

The church bells rang—as if in response to Caroline's demand—and the bridal party bustled into action. Elle was about to turn back to the church when something—someone—caught her attention. A tall man with broad shoulders and a beat up baseball hat strode toward the church. His glasses glinted in the sunlight.

Justin.

* * *

Justin walked up to the church steps and stopped below Elle. She was radiant. Her cheeks were tinged pink and her eyes bright. He paid no attention to the gaggle of shiny women watching him approach with over-made eyes and stiff hair. He wasn't there for them. He was there for Elle.

A wave of nerves made him pause.

The moment he stopped, she said, “What are you doing here?”

Justin could tell she was trying to play it cool. Her tone was icy, but the tremble in her voice gave him hope. Enough to make him want to take a risk.

“I needed something,” he said, his voice rough. He took the first of the church steps, then stopped. "You, Elle," he said. He took another step. One closer to Elle. "I needed you."

A feminine voice sighed, loud and dramatic.

Elle swallowed. "But you said—”

"I was being an idiot."

“Well, I knew that. I wasn’t sure you were aware.”

Another step.

He’d had a long night to think things over. He’d spent it at Oak Bramble’s viewpoint. Alone. Watching stars spread across the sky, then dawn break in the morning.

Justin had left Elle the night before full of anger and self-righteousness. She’d hurt him. Worse, she could do it again.

Over and over he played their conversations in his mind and tried to understand the two different sides of Elle.

Then he realized: there was only one Elle.

She was imperfect, but she was doing her best.

And he loved her.

He lowered his voice so only she could hear. “You’re mad, and you have every right to be. What you said last night … it scared me. I lashed out at you and I’m sorry.” He took a deep breath. “Will you forgive me?"

Elle's eyes glistened. “Of course I forgive you," she said, almost in a whisper. “I love you, remember? But don’t do it again.”

Justin stopped two steps below Elle. “Never,” he said. He took another deep breath, then risked it all. “I’m ready to be with you if you’ll have me. I’m in love with you, Elle.”

She blinked rapidly like she was fighting back tears.

“You know who I am,” he said. “I’m no prince charming, but I’ll do my best to give you what you want.”

Elle sighed. Beside them, a mere twenty paces away, the bridal party watched and gave a collective sigh.

Elle's laugh was a beautiful thing. “I don’t want anything but you,” she said. Her smile was bright and wide.

Justin stepped up until his eyes were level with Elle's. He placed his hands on her face and asked for permission. "May I kiss you?" he said. His voice sounded like sandpaper, but she didn't seem to mind.

"Please," she said.

Before he moved in, he said, “So you’re okay living in the toolshed, then?”

Elle laughed. “Oh, hell no.”

They were both smiling when he kissed her. Behind them, the bridal party erupted into happy noises. The church bells pealed and Justin held on to Elle, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.

"Come on," Caroline said, bustling the group into order. "We've a wedding to get to."

Elle and Justin broke apart.

"You can sit in the back," Caroline said to Justin. She eyed him up and down with a pointed look.

"I'm not dressed for it," he said.

She nodded. "True. But you'll do."

Beside him, Elle stiffened in surprise.

"Thanks, Mom," she said.

Caroline gave a swift, perfunctory nod before bustling into action.

Elle turned to Justin. "I'll see you after the wedding, okay?"

"Plan on it."

As he climbed the steps to the church, he heard Caroline say, "At least you found a wedding date."

Elle's laughter followed him into the church.