“You will do nothing of the sort or so help me God, I will hunt.you.down,” Bailey threatened.
“You’d have to catch me first,” Caroline challenged and tossed the box she was holding at Bailey.
The cell phone’s ring broke up the horseplay. Caroline scrambled around desperately trying to locate the sound until Bailey pointed toward the couch. Caroline dived over the couch and pulled the cell phone out from under a throw pillow.
“Hey, Tray.” Caroline raised her eyebrows as Bailey waved hi and grabbed a box. “We’re just packing up the car now and then we’ll be on our way.” Caroline nodded her head against the phone. “Yep. I know. I can’t wait! I’m so excited!” A smile spread across her face. “Thank you so much for letting me stay with you. I know, it’s just…I know. I love you too. See you soon!”
“We should go,” Bailey reminded her, pointing at her watch.
With one last long, deep breath, Caroline tossed her blue duffle bag’s strap over her shoulder and reached for her brown leather suitcase. Bailey held the last two boxes as they turned for the door.
Caroline paused in the doorway to look around the old apartment one last time. Her eyes followed the walls down the hallway and stopped on the photographs that hung there, sans frames. She saw an old photograph of herself and Bailey from high school that made her smile.
“Goodbye, San Francisco,” she whispered as excitement flowed through her. She longed to see Jackson’s face and couldn’t wait to be back in New York City.
“Let’s go already!” Bailey’s voice echoed in the stairwell outside the apartment door.
Caroline turned, her heart racing with anticipation, and headed out the door.
Epilogue
Caroline was lost in thought. She could hardly believe it had been three years. It seemed like ages ago…like when she tried to remember her life before Jackson. Of course she remembered everything, but the memories didn’t hold the same feelings any more. The drama, the hurt, and the pain she had caused…were all now deeply rooted in the past, a past so distant that it almost felt like another lifetime.
The last Caroline had heard, Clay was rapidly moving up the corporate ladder and was doing well. Apparently, he had recently proposed to his co-worker, Gina. Caroline smiled to herself, thankful that Clay had finally been able to find happiness.
She looked at her reflection in the antique mirror that hung on the dark wall and adjusted wisps of her hair one last time. In the mirror, she saw the reflections of Tracey and Bailey smiling from ear to ear. She grinned back at her two best friends, and thought about how stunning they both looked in their knee-length black cocktail dresses, remembering the fun and silliness that they’d shared while shopping for them. Caroline stood up, adjusted the layers of her long white gown, and walked toward her bridesmaids. She slipped an arm around each of them, wanting to give them each one last hug before the ceremony began.
“You look beautiful, Care,” Tracey said, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Not as pretty as us, but you’re a close second.” Bailey winked.
Caroline laughed. “Well, we can’t all be the super hot bridesmaids…someone has to be the bride.”
Caroline glanced down at the ring on her left hand. A stunning, heart-shaped diamond nestled inside her fiancé’s design. Her heart fluttered against her rib cage with excitement and joy.
“Better you than me—that’s for sure.” Bailey elbowed Tracey. “Right, Tracey?”
Tracey picked up a tissue and leaned toward the mirror, dabbing at her eyes. “Oh definitely. I don’t want to marry Jackson.”
“Hey!” Caroline frowned for a second, then laughed.
Tracey turned and brushed Caroline’s veil from her shoulder. “Are you ready to do this?” she asked.
Caroline’s face brightened. “I can’t wait to do this!”
Bailey handed Caroline a bouquet of white tulips and opened the large wooden door. She peeked out and called, “She’s in here, Mr. W,” and Caroline’s father stepped in and gently took his daughter’s hand.
As the music began to play, Tracey and Bailey walked slowly into the sunlight, while Caroline waited patiently behind. Tracey linked her arm in Tommy’s as they walked down the makeshift aisle; Alex and Bailey followed close behind.
The music transitioned and Caroline fought off the butterflies that flapped wildly inside her. Her dad leaned over to kiss her cheek, and whispered, “You ready?” Caroline nodded and gave him one more squeeze before tucking her arm through his. They walked through the old barn doors and out into the warm glow of the setting sun.
Friends and family stood in rows filled with white wooden chairs, heads turned toward the bride and her father. Caroline smiled at a relative who waved shyly, and continued the slow walk down the grassy aisle strewn with petals. Colorful gerbera daisies were tied to the chairs that lined the aisle, mirroring the bright flowers that dotted the meadow in the farmland.
Her eyes followed the colorful petals up to the altar, where he stood.
The sight of Jackson in his black tuxedo nearly took her breath away. Even through the long-sleeved shirt and tuxedo jacket, she could still make out the shape of his well-toned arms and broad shoulders.
Caroline’s gaze locked onto his and everything else disappeared—she heard no sounds, saw no faces. There was only the blue of his eyes looking soulfully into hers.
She suddenly realized that she had never felt more at peace in her entire life, had never felt more comfortable, or felt more “right” than she did at that very moment.