Happily Ever After by Jennifer Gracen

Author:Jennifer Gracen [Gracen, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-26T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Several months before, it had taken a long discussion and half a bottle of whiskey when Abby told her parents she wouldn’t be getting married in a church. She’d sat them down and, despite their misgivings, got them to understand she wanted to be married out on the beach. Outside, by the ocean, with nothing above her but the sky.

Her dad had growled. Her mom had frowned. But, as always, they’d listened to her and ultimately come around to supporting her unequivocally.

“You better pray it doesn’t rain,” Jesse had said. “Or you’ll wish you did it the traditional way, with a roof over your head. Marrying an untraditional guy, now this . . .” He sighed and shook his head, then wagged a finger at her in mock exasperation. “Whatever you want, that’s how it’ll be.”

Abby had hugged her father tight. “You’re still gonna walk me down the aisle, right?”

His grizzled expression had softened at that. He’d reached up, touched her cheek, and said with pride and deep affection, “You kidding? Been waiting to do that since the day you were born. No one on earth could stop me.”

Now, as Abby stood in the resort, fully dressed and waiting, she placed her hand in the crook of her father’s arm and said, “I’m so glad you’re here with me, Dad.”

He smiled down at her. “Nowhere else I’d be, sweetheart.” He straightened the jacket of his navy suit, then leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. “I can’t get over you. You look like an angel. A princess. All those unearthly beautiful things. Really.”

Jesse McCord didn’t give mushy compliments often. She was moved. “Thank you.” She drew a shaky breath and tried to stay calm over the fluttering of her heart.

“Abby.” Her father spoke quietly. “Listen. I, uh . . . just wanna say, I know you two are going to be good. In your marriage. Pierce is all right. I gave him a hard time at first, sure. He deserved it.”

Abby snorted out a giggle. “You were brutal.”

“I’m a man with two daughters, that’s my God-given right,” he said without apology. “But I’ve gotten to know Pierce pretty well, and you were right. He’s a good man. Got his rough edges, but . . . hell, so do I.” Jesse cleared his throat. “I’d take you out of here right now if I thought you needed me to. You know that, right?”

She blinked at him. “I don’t need you to. I love him, Dad.”

“I know. I said if I thought you needed me to. Just reminding you how I’ll always, always have your back.”

Her throat tightened a bit. “I know that, Dad. Thank you.”

“You’re fine. He loves you. From what I’ve seen, he probably loves you a little more than you love him, and that’s a good thing. He’s good to you, and he’s always gonna be good to you. Besides, I’ll kill him if he’s not. So don’t be nervous. Enjoy everything today.” He patted her hand on his forearm.

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