My eyes widened as my father walked up and stood next to my mother. “Mom! Colt wants to marry me. Of course I’m up for a road trip.”

Wrapping his arm around my mother’s waist, my father chuckled. “Jessie, she’s been home for two weeks, I’m sure she’ll be fine. Where are you going, Lauren?”

Glancing over to the clock, I blew out a breath of air. Colt would be here soon. “Vegas, and I really need a white dress, Mom.”

My mother’s eyes began to water. I was slightly stunned they didn’t seem more shocked. “You’re eloping,” my mother whispered as she placed her hand on the side of my face.

“Yes!” my father said with a fist pump as my mother turned and gave him a horrified look.

“Scott! Our baby girl is wanting to run off to Vegas and get married.”

Looking at my mother and then me, my father shrugged his shoulders. “What? We knew they were going to be getting married soon, they both said so, and why can’t they elope?”

Placing her hands on her hips, my mother gave my father an angry look. “Scott Reynolds, you just don’t want to plan a wedding.”

Laughing, he looked at me and winked. “Nonsense. I’ll throw them the biggest reception ever thrown in Mason County.”

Throwing myself at my father, I whispered, “Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for being so understanding.” Pulling back, he kissed me on the forehead.

“You’ll always be my little girl though.”

Nodding, I whispered, “Always.”

“Wait. Wait just a second. I can’t . . . I mean . . . well—” Closing her eyes, my mother turned from me. When I heard her sniffle, I placed my hand on her arm.

“Mom?”

Turning to me, she wiped her tears away. “It’s just I always dreamed you’d be walking down the stairs on your father’s arm and getting married here, surrounded by your family and friends.”

My eyes burned with the threat of tears. “Mom,” I whispered, “that’s your dream, not mine. The only thing I want is to start my life with Colt, and this is what we both want.”

Nodding her head, she wiped her tears away. “I know, Lauren. Will you at least let us throw y’all a reception?”

Quickly wiping my tears away, I smiled. “I’d love that. But what I’d love even more is if we could raid your closet for a white dress!”

Smiling, she took me by my arm and led me to her bedroom. Glancing over my shoulder I said, “Daddy, when Colt gets here, will you keep him entertained?”

Giving me a wicked smile, he chuckled. “Oh for sure. I have a few things I want to talk to my future son-in-law about.”

Getting ready to protest, my mother pulled me into her room and headed to her closet.

Pushing some dresses out of the way, my mother smiled as she said, “I have the perfect dress!”

My stomach began flipping and dipping in every possible way imaginable as I thought about marrying Colt. My mother pulled out a white strapless lace dress and held it up in front of me. It was beautiful. The length and style of the dress was perfect. “Oh, Mom this dress is perfect.”

Tears began to build in my eyes as I attempted to hold them back but couldn’t. Turning to my mother, I lost it when I saw the tears rolling down her face. Pulling me into her arms, we both cried. “Lauren, I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

Squeezing my eyes shut tightly, I mumbled, “I know.”

Taking a step back, I held the dress up and shook my head. There was something about it. It was so simple, yet elegant. Colt is going to love me in it and I bet my boobs are going to look amazing!

“You know, when you were little, you used to put this dress on and line up all your dolls and teddy bear. Your father used to have to walk you down the aisle and then pretend to marry you to your Prince Charming.”

Looking down at the dress, I smiled. “Oh my glitter! I remember that. Mr. Snuggles used to always be my Prince Charming.”

Letting out a giggle, I looked at my mother who had a stunned expression on her face. She slowly brought her hand up to her mouth and let out a small sob. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

Laughing, she dropped her hand and gazed into my eyes. “Lauren, do you remember who gave you Mr. Snuggles?”

Stopping to think about it, I looked away. My breath caught as the butterflies fluttered in my stomach when it hit me.

“Colt,” I whispered.

My mother placed her hands over her mouth in an attempt not to cry again. With a disbelieving voice I attempted to tell the story of when Colt gave me the bear. “It was in our place, the treehouse, for my seventh birthday.”