“It’s ridiculous.” Jules shakes her head and sighs in exasperation as the rest of us chuckle at her. “You should be wearing a beautiful dress.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Sam smiles and pulls Jules in for a big hug. “It doesn’t matter what I wear, Jules. I could be in ratty old pajamas and it wouldn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m marrying Leo. He’s the best part. Not what I wear.”
“Except the shoes,” Stacy says fiercely.
“The shoes are always the exception,” Sam says with a wink.
“I’m so happy for you,” Jules says with a hoarse whisper. “We all know what you and Leo have gone through, and no one deserves to be together more than the two of you. Natalie will make lots of babies for you to spoil.”
“Yeah, I will,” Nat agrees with a grin.
“What are you doing about vows?” Meg asks. “Knowing Leo he’ll want something original.”
“We already wrote them.”
“You did?” I ask. “You’ve barely seen each other today.”
“We did it in the cab on the way to get the license. He writes songs for a living. This was a breeze.”
“I can’t wait to hear them,” Nic says with a sigh. “It’s all so romantic.”
“When do you think you and Matt might get hitched?” Brynna asks.
Nic looks surprised by the question, then just shrugs. “No idea. Eventually, I’m sure.” She bites her lip as if she’s thinking about it for the first time. “There’s no rush.”
“Okay, ladies,” Sam announces and begins stripping out of her casual clothes. “I’m getting dressed and getting married.”
“Want me to touch up your hair?” Stacy asks.
“Yeah, can you make it all messy and cool like that night when Will proposed to Meg?”
“Absolutely.”
Sam, Brynna, Stacy and Nic all file into the bathroom to primp. The rest of us went to our respective rooms earlier to change into something nicer than jeans and tank tops, although I’m beginning to think it wasn’t necessary.
Not if the bride’s wearing leather pants.
Lucy sits beside me and takes my hand in hers companionably. “How are you, darling girl?”
“I’m great. This weekend has been a blast.”
“It sure sounds like it,” she says with a chuckle. “I’m glad. You all needed it. A little play time is good for the soul.”
“It is.” I smile at the kind woman beside me. “Were you shocked when Luke called?”
“Between you and me? No.” She cranes her neck to see into the bathroom. The noise is echoing in the vast space as the girls chirp and giggle.
“I’m surprised it took this long,” Meg adds as she falls into a deep-cushioned couch and sips her soda.
“Sam’s stubborn,” Nat says. “I knew it would happen eventually, but I thought he’d have to work at it a little harder.”
“I’m just thankful that Elvis isn’t officiating,” Jules says as she reapplies her lip gloss. “Are you almost done in there?” she calls into the bathroom.
“Coming!” Stacy calls back.
“Okay, who wants to place bets on who cries first during the ceremony?” Meg asks.
“Neither are going to cry,” I reply with a smirk. “They’re both too badass for that.”
“Have you ever heard the song “Sunshine”?” Meg asks. “Leo wrote that for her. They wrote those vows together. There will be waterworks.”
“I’m not betting against that,” Nat replies.
“Me neither,” Jules agrees.
“He wrote “Sunshine for her”?” I ask with a sappy grin on my face as Meg nods. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Still wanna bet?”
“Hell no.”
“We have to go!” Nat yells back to the bathroom.
“I’m ready!” Sam comes walking down the hallway on her high red shoes, those black pants hugging her every curve and that white lacy tank is absolutely stunning, showing off her pierced navel.
Her hair looks messy in a classy, rocker way and her blue eyes are shining above blood-red painted lips.
“You’re magnificent,” I whisper and feel my eyes fill with tears. “Oh, Sam.”
“Oh, my sweet girl,” Lucy sniffs as she stands to hug Sam. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Come on,” Meg says with a sniff. “Let’s put my brother out of his misery and get you two hitched.”
Sam smiles triumphantly. “Let’s do it.”
***
This might be the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen. And it’s in Vegas.
Amazing.
This particular wedding chapel offers an outdoor garden option. It’s evening, just past sunset. We are sitting in ornate white iron chairs facing an arbor, covered in white twinkling lights.
“You’re gorgeous,” Mark whispers in my ear.
“Wait till you see your sister,” I reply with a smile.
“It’s a different kind of gorgeous,” he says and brushes his knuckle down my cheek. “You take my breath away, M.”
I take his hand in mine and kiss his palm softly.
We’re all here. All of the Montgomery siblings and their significant others. Nat and Luke, Mark and I. Jax and Logan. Even Leo’s band and their families are here, smiling and anxious to get this show started.