Most women spoke of their dream wedding. Marissa had been speaking of hers since she turned eight years old, according to Mom, anyway. But Kira was different. She’d always hoped to marry the man of her dreams one day, but the wedding part never mattered much to her. Luckily, her sister had been there to “make magic happen,” if she said so herself. And the truth was, she had.

Perhaps Marissa had missed her true calling. Goodbye middle school teaching day in and day out—hello wedding planner.

“Let me see you,” Connie said. “Blot your lips right here.” She shoved a folded paper towel between Kira’s parted lips, and Kira obeyed. Connie and Marlene, owners of CC’s Salon, had come to the Country Quilt B&B over an hour ago and been working wonders on her since.

“Look in the mirror and make sure we didn’t go overboard,” Connie said. “Your sister was adamant about that.”

Kira blew out a slow breath and spun to look in the mirror. Before her eyes landed on her own reflection, she spotted Marissa and her mom in the background, their focus set on her. She grinned, fighting back tears as she noticed the moisture in their eyes.

“No crying,” Marlene said. “It’ll mess your face up.”

But Kira could hardly help it. It had taken a long time to develop the relationship she had with the women in the mirror, and now that she had, it enhanced every beautiful thing about the special day.

“You look stunning,” her mom said with a sniff.

“Perfect,” Marissa agreed. “I knew she should have part of her hair down in back with the twist like that,” she added under her breath. It was like watching Gramps admire his own masterpiece.

At last she flicked her gaze to her own reflection, liking the woman she saw looking back at her. A woman who’d learned to trust herself.

“Well?” Connie urged.

“It’s good,” she said, glad they hadn’t gone overboard on the makeup. “Perfect.”

The group rushed in with oohs and aahs, patting at her carefully to avoid messing up her hair or her dress or her perfectly rouged cheeks.

“Tony’s gonna flip out,” Maria said.

Kira hadn’t even seen her come back in. Earlier, Maria had stepped in with the camera, snapping shots of Marissa and her mother helping her get ready. But she’d taken off to go see how things were going in the groom’s room.

Kira caught Maria’s gaze as the crowd of women cleared. “Is he ready?” Thoughts of Anthony in a tux made her heart sprout wings or feet or whatever it was that made it jump wildly in her chest.

“Oh, he’s ready, all right. He says he’s been waiting for this moment his whole life.”

“Awww …” the women cooed in chorus.

“And he looks unbelievably handsome,” his mother added with a wink.

“Well, let’s get her out there,” Marissa said. She walked over to the doorway of the bride’s room and spoke with Jessie, the owner of the B&B, who’d been helping with the arrangements. Kira would’ve never thought to do a twilight ceremony outdoors, but Marissa and Jessie were convinced that the back patio at the Country Quilt Inn would offer the perfect twilight setting.

The music began, its gentle sound drifting through the windows where Kira awaited her cue. At last, Jessie popped her head through the doorway. “Okay,” she whispered, “your dad’s ready for you.”

Kira stood, took a few steps toward the open doorway, and grinned as her father came into view. He looked a lot like Gramps in the moment, with his thick, dark hair turning silver along his hairline.

“Kira …” He smeared the back of his fist beneath each reddened eye. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dad. You look great too.” He wasn’t a man of many words, but as he took her arm in his, pressing his palm over the back of her hand, she knew he was proud of her. Of the woman she’d become.

She gripped fistfuls of her dress as they made their way out the back exit, an outdoor stairwell that led to the waiting guests. Marissa and Jessie had been right about the setting. So right. It stole Kira’s breath as she took it all in. A cranberry sunset shimmered off the distant pond while industrial-looking light bulbs hung generously throughout the seating area, each light catching hints of the colorful sunset. Tall vases holding white flowers were spread amply throughout the deck. Beside each vase, a collection of photo frames held pictures of the happy couple, each illuminated by a cluster of twinkle lights. Beautiful!

Prior to this moment, Kira hadn’t been able to imagine what it might look like, with things set up the way her sister and Jessie explained. And now she knew why—it was beyond anything her mind could have.

She took in the faces of so many people she knew and loved. New friends she’d made in Cobble Creek. Family. Even her great-aunts in their white hats and lace gloves blotted at tears as Dad escorted her down the aisle. But just ahead … tall and handsome, beside Pastor John, stood Anthony Marino. At a distance, it reminded her of shooting runway photos. The models working to master that look of head-to-toe perfection. Anthony outdid them all.

As she stepped closer, following the trail of white and pink rose petals scattered along the wood planked deck, their eyes met. He held her gaze, a stunned expression on his face, then he snapped his mouth shut and gulped.

Kira grinned, glanced down, and blew out a slow-paced breath. That’s the man I’ll be married to for the rest of my life … She could hardly believe it.

Things moved quickly from that point on. Thank heavens Darcy and Benny volunteered to record the ceremony. As much as Kira tried memorizing every precious word, look, and touch exchanged during their vows, she couldn’t possibly remember it all.

“Go on and kiss your bride,” Pastor John said once the rings were in place.

Anthony reached out and cradled Kira’s face. “My bride,” he murmured, a breath before his mouth took hers.

The men cheered, the ladies oohed and aahed once more, and Kira nearly lost her balance as she sank into a moment she wanted a whole lot more of. In his vows, Anthony promised to cherish her forever. And Kira had done the same. But even forever had to be taken one day at a time. And from this moment on, Kira planned to cherish each day she had with the man she loved.

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Thanks for reading The Snapshot Bride by Kimberly Krey.

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