Chapter Twenty-Three
My mom and dad looked absolutely adorable standing at the altar as they recited their vows. I glanced at Billy, who was dabbing his eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Lady and Lucky were sitting by my parents. Lady was the flower girl and Lucky was the ring bearer, and they had taken their roles very seriously.
The dress I’d chosen for my mom from the bridal shop looked absolutely amazing on her. She’d swept her silver hair into a loose bun, and her blue eyes were sparkling with tears.
When my parents arrived this evening, they were speechless to see so many of their friends and family here to celebrate them, but what they didn’t understand was how much they’ve touched every single person’s life who was here.
My dad always went above and beyond for anyone who needed a helping hand and my mom was exactly the same. I couldn’t even count how many times money was lent—really given—rooms and meals were shared.
As my father repeated the last of his vows, the pastor recommitted them as husband and wife to a crowd of festive cheers and applause. My parents turned around to face us all, and my father winked at Billy and I before heading down the aisle with his lovely bride.
I glanced at my sister who was wiping away a couple tears and I held in a giggle. She liked to act like this stuff didn’t get to her, but she couldn’t hide forever. She was a sucker like the rest of us.
“So now where do we go?” Billy whispered as my mom and dad walked by.
“This is the real deal. The wedding reception is next. Wait until you try the cake.”
He smiled and squeezed my hand. “This was so amazing of you to do for your parents.”
“I just hope I have kids who appreciate me this much someday.”
“Kids, huh?” His eyes sparkled with an intensity I hadn’t seen before.
“Yeah, kids. Lots of them.”
He looked a little dazed as we followed the rest of the guests into the next room over where the reception was already getting into full swing. Sylvia had already rounded up my parents to explain the next steps as we all filtered into the room next door.
“Does that scare you off?” I whispered as we walked into the winter wonderland.
“Nope.” He grinned. “I was just wondering when we could start trying.”
I laughed as he brought me into a deep embrace.
“I’m serious. When can we start?” His lips touched right behind my ear and a delicious quiver ran down my spine.
“Probably not here, but one step at a time.”
He took a step back and held my hand up. “Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?”
“Flattery will get you everything.” I smiled just as Sylvia announced Mr. and Mrs. Bailey’s entrance into the room.
The entire crowd turned to watch my parents glide into the room, and my heart melted on the spot. I couldn’t imagine a better anniversary gift. The two of them looked like teenagers again as they held each other tightly, and everyone tossed white rose petals at them.
They made their way over to me with my sister, tears in everyone’s eyes.
“I can’t believe you and your sister pulled this over on us.” My mom gave Stacy and me a big hug, while my dad was busy squeezing Billy.
“You girls really outdid yourselves.” My mom let go, but quickly brought us in for another hug. “We have a wonderful family.”
“Yeah, we do,” Billy said smiling, and my entire world felt right.
My parents and sister left to mingle with the guests while the dinner began to be served.
“We should go grab a spot. I’m starving.” I pulled him toward the table my parents would be sitting at. It was a table set for two and next to it was the one for my sister and me.
Just as we sat down, dinner was served and it was as delicious as I remembered.
Dina, who had designed my mother’s wedding dress, made her way over and I quickly stood up for a hug. We’d talked so much over the last few weeks as we figured out how to get the sizing right without my mom knowing that I felt like I’d known her for years.
“The dress is beautiful. Thank you for everything you did for us.” I smiled, Billy’s hand not leaving mine.
“Absolutely.” Her eyes landed on Billy and then back on me. “If you should ever need a dress, you know where to find one.”
“I wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else,” I promised, glancing at Billy to see if that made him nervous.
It didn’t.
I gave her another hug, and she wandered off into the crowd as my parents took a seat and began eating dinner.
Before I knew it, they were dancing to their first song and my mother eventually tapped Billy’s shoulder to invite him out with her. I laughed, knowing she’d wanted to do that since she’d met him. Next, my father helped my sister and I out to the dance floor to some Billy Joel and I had to laugh. My dad always loved his eighties music, and he seemed to be in heaven as he spun his two daughters all around the dance floor.
Eventually, I found my way back to Billy just as the garter and flower bouquet tosses were announced.
“You’ve got to go out there,” my sister whispered, nearly pushing me toward the group of seven or eight woman huddling around my mom.
“Not without you,” I said, pulling her with me.
Sexy music began pounding through the air as all of my mom and dad’s friends began clapping and hollering. I couldn’t even imagine what their wedding must have been like.
But the next thing I knew my dad had circled my mom who was in a chair, flipped up my mom’s dress, and went in for it with his teeth. My cheeks flamed red as he went after the garter and their friends went wild. My dad stood up victoriously with the lace hanging from his teeth and all my sister and I could do was laugh.
The single men all rushed to the floor and as my dad got spun around until he was just dizzy enough, he threw his hand behind him and let go of the flying ivory lace. It was like slow motion as I watched the garter fall right into Billy’s hands. He looked as shocked as anyone as he stood there holding the garter.
“That’s my future son-in-law,” my dad hollered, and I realized he might have had a little more to drink than I knew.
Next, all the single women, including my sister and me, flooded the dance floor. They spun my mom around slowly and got her in position.
My heart was pounding. Billy already got his lace. It was my turn for the flowers.
As the countdown began, I got in my position and waited for the bouquet to sail in the air. When I least expected it, my mom let go of the beautiful white rose bouquet, and it spun through the air toward us all.
Instead of all the women clamoring for it, they all dove out of the way as the roses landed directly in my hands. I spun around to see my mom and dad grinning, and I realized they were always one step ahead of us.
Billy rushed onto the dance floor and spun me around, kissing me like he’d never kissed me before.
“I think this is a sign,” I whispered, clutching the bouquet.
“From the moment Lucky dove into the food truck, I’d say we’ve had one sign after another. Wouldn’t you?” He put me down and turned me toward Lucky and Lady who were nestled together under the cake table, and I knew my life couldn’t get any luckier. I’d found the man of my dreams, and he came with the perfect Lady for my Lucky.
Life was good and I couldn’t wait to see what the world offered us next, but it didn’t really matter as long as I had Billy by my side.
Billy turned to face me. “I’d ask you to marry me, but tonight’s about your parents.”
His lips found mine, and I melted in his arms to the music playing in the background.
And it was in this moment that I realized love really was based on luck. It wasn’t easy to find the exact right person at the exact right moment in life, but it when it happened there was nothing else like it. To be in love was the luckiest feeling in the world, and I was truly, deeply in love with Billy Sanderson.