The current was swift today, and the air was crisp. December in Whiskey Ridge could be unpredictable from year to year. Thankfully, it felt more like a cool Fall day than Christmas time.

In a few days, kids from all over town would be waiting up for Santa, but Emmy wasn’t thinking about that. Instead, she was looking around at all of the most important people in her life. Her mother, Debbie, Deke, Lola, Billy, Nash, and yes, even Brick.

She stood there in her white gown, feeling the breeze blow her hair. The deck of her little rental house was one of her favorite places on Earth, which is why she and her new husband would be living there instead of Brick’s large house.

“I can’t believe you’re my wife,” Nash whispered in her ear as he slid his arms around her from behind. They looked down at the rock where they’d taken their vows just an hour ago. It had been everything Emmy had ever imagined.

“And I can’t believe you’re my husband,” she said as she sank further into his embrace.

“Hey, don’t be starting to honeymoon until we all leave, okay?” Billy joked as he walked up behind them.

“I can’t promise anything,” Nash said with a laugh. “I mean look at her in this dress.”

Emmy pulled back and twirled around as she laughed.

“I think the point of the honeymoon is to keep her out of any dress, brother,” Billy said.

“Billy, quit being vulgar!” Anna said as she walked up and slapped him on the arm. Billy chuckled before lifting her off the ground and planting a kiss on her forehead. Emmy had never seen him happier and expected a wedding announcement from Billy in the immediate future.

After all, weddings were becoming a regular thing in the Collier family. Brick and Lola had gotten married in November in the pavilion at the square, and they were about to hit the road again.

Billy and Anna were living at Brick’s house, mainly to take care of it but Emmy was much happier in her little home by the river. It just fit her and Nash. Their happiest memories were just outside of their window.

“Congratulations again, you two,” Lola said as she joined everyone on the deck. “You looked beautiful, my dear.” She pulled Emmy into a hug, as she always did.

“My baby was a beautiful bride, wasn’t she?” Pauline said. She and Lola had become fast friends lately. Lola had lunch with Pauline anytime she and Brick were back in town.

“Thank you, Momma.”

“Hey, where’d everybody go?” Brick asked as he walked outside. He and Emmy had slowly worked on forging a new relationship and leaving the old behind.

It occurred to Emmy that this was the perfect wedding for her. Small, cozy, intimate. And all the most important people in her favorite place on Earth.

“Hey, Emmy, can I talk to you for a minute?” Brick asked. Nash looked at his father as if he was questioning what was going on. “It’s okay, son. I promise.”

“It’s fine,” Emmy said, shooting a smile at her new husband. “He is my father-in-law, after all.”

Everyone walked back inside, leaving Emmy alone with Brick as the sun started to set over the water.

“First, I want to tell you how happy I am that you and Nash finally ended up together, Emmy. He adores you, and we’re so happy to have you as a real part of our family now.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate you saying that.”

“And I hope you’ll take this in the spirit in which it’s being given.” Brick pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Emmy.

She slowly opened it and pulled out a piece of legal paperwork. “I don’t understand. What is this?”

“Well, that’s the deed to this home.”

“What?”

“I hope I didn’t overstep, but I know how you and Nash love this place. So I bought it, plus the acreage around it in case you want to expand one day. Of course, I put it in your name, Emmy.”

Emmy stared at him for a moment. “Why did you do this, Brick?”

“Because we’re family, and believe it or not, I love you like my own daughter, Emmy. And if you want to live here, I don’t want there to ever be a chance you’d lose this place.”

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you…”

“There’s one more thing.”

“There’s more?”

“You won’t be hearing from your attorney or any collection agencies in regard to your ex-husband anymore.”

“What?”

“I might be an old country boy at heart, but I know how to negotiate. I know how to lean on people. And I wanted you to have a fresh start, Emmy. I hope you don’t mind that I may have interfered just a tad.”

“Brick, this is too much,” she said.

“Emmy, we have history, and it wasn’t always good. Just take this as my way of trying to make up for what I said and did back then.”

Emmy instinctively hugged him. “Thank you so much, Brick.”

“Everything okay out here?” Nash asked as he walked up.

“Everything is perfect,” Emmy said, beaming as she looked up at him. And everything was perfect.

“I’ll leave you to it. Congratulations, son. You’ve got a good one here,” Brick said as he squeezed his son’s shoulder and walked back inside.

“What was that all about?” Nash asked.

“Long story. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Later, huh?” Nash said as he pulled her close and pressed his lips softly against hers. “Got any plans for right now?”

Emmy peeked around his shoulder and looked through the sliding glass doors leading into the house. “Well, since the only person that seems to be left is your friend Deke, I’d say that our immediate plan should be to push him down the front stairs, lock the doors and get this honeymoon started.”

“Ooooh, Mrs. Collier, I do like how you think!” Nash said, planting kisses down her neck. “Oh, Deke… can you meet me on the front porch?”

Emmy stood on the deck and watched Nash usher his friend out the front door. And as she turned and looked at the river below her, she imagined that one day her children would play in those same waters and maybe even jump from those same rocks, and she smiled.