by Lucinda Race
“Ah, Mom.” A flush of pink dotted his cheeks. He got that from her.
“Grampy’s going to give you lunch, and then when I get home, I’ll help you with your bow tie.”
“Can’t Grampy and I go over to Poppi Price’s house with all the other guys?”
“Ask Grampy, but I’m sure he’ll be okay with that.”
Owen did a fist pump and said, “Yes!”
With a shake of her head, Peyton went in search of her dad. He was reading the newspaper in the family room and appeared to be the picture of calm. “Hey, I just checked on Owen. He wants to go over to Sam’s and have you two hang out with the guys.”
“That’s not a bad idea. I’m sure the kids are there and he’d be occupied.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She turned to leave and then stopped. “Jack makes me very happy.”
He stretched out his hand to her and got up. “I’m glad, honey.” He took her hand and gave her one last kiss. His voice was thick with unshed, happy tears. “We’ll meet you at the church.”
He left the room and she did a slow three-sixty turn. All the pictures on the walls documented her life from the first time Mom had carried her into this house. Pictures of Owen lined the walls too. Today she was going to be walking out the door, and her home would be with Jack and Owen, a new life.
Mom called, “Peyton, come on! We’re going to be late.”
Taking one final look, she smiled. “Coming.”
Cars dotted the church parking lot. Peyton took her small tote bag from the back of the car, and Mom picked up the garment bag that was lying over the back seat in her SUV. They walked in through the back door of the church, pausing in the hallway. Controlled chaos was in full swing.
Liza looked beautiful in an aubergine-colored gown with short sleeves and a ruched front. She clutched her clipboard to her chest and pointed to an empty box on the table. “Where are the boutonnieres for the groom and the groomsmen?”
A girl from the florist handed her a flat white box and pulled the lid off.
Liza smiled. “Let’s get those across the hall, please. Mom, would you find the photographer and have her take a picture of you pinning Jack’s on? Oh, and Owen’s too. That’ll make a cute picture.”
“Consider it done.” Sherry flashed Peyton a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry; I’ll make sure they’re ready.”
“Thanks, Sherry.”
Kate wore a long sheath the same color as Liza’s. It had a square neckline, which enhanced her tall, slender frame. She had taken charge of the tote and garment bag and gestured for Peyton to follow her into the adjoining room. “I have everything set up in here, including a plate of sliced fruit and cheese in case you want to nibble on something.”
Tessa piped up, “Don’t forget the bubbly!” Her gown graced one shoulder and featured a sweeping skirt.
Anna beamed and swished her long skirt. It flowed below a rounded neckline. “Do we look like you had hoped?”
Peyton swallowed the lump in her throat. These women were sisters to her. They had all worked together so today would be something she would remember for the rest of her life. “Better!”
Mom touched her arm. Her eyes were bright. “It’s time to get the bride dressed.”
Kate nodded. “It is. Peyton, the next time this gaggle of girls sees you, you’ll be ready to take a long walk down a short aisle.”
Peyton’s dress was a long creamy white gown that had three-quarter-length lace sleeves and a floral lace overlay with a full sweeping skirt and a long train. The sweetheart neckline would show off the Brien family aquamarine necklace perfectly.
She tossed aside her yoga pants and button-up shirt. Kate and Mom held the dress so she could step into it. The zipper was on the side, and once secured, Peyton smoothed the fitted bodice and positioned the emerald-cut gem above her heart. Kate set her matching pumps on the floor and Peyton stepped into them.
Mom held her veil up. “Peyton, can you sit while I double-check the comb in your hair?”
Instead, she kicked off her shoes. Mother and daughter were now the same height.
Her mom secured the comb in her hair, and Peyton swept her bangs out of her eyes with a spritz of hairspray. She checked her makeup one last time and then slowly turned to Kate and Mom. “How do I look?”
Peyton’s mom placed a hand over her heart. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Radiant, in love, and very happy.”
Peyton hugged Mom. “I’m good”—she laughed—“except for my shoes.”
Kate said, “I’ll check with Liza to see if we’re ready to start this party.”
“Thanks, Kate.”
After she left, mother and daughter had a few moments alone. She handed Peyton a small cream-colored hanky. The embroidered flowers in one corner were dark purple. “Here’s another something old. It was my grandmother’s.”
Peyton tucked it up her sleeve on the underside of her arm. “I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done for me,” she began. “I hope that someday I’ll be a mom as amazing as you.”
“You already are.” She kissed Peyton’s cheeks. “No one deserves to be happy more than you.”
“Don’t make me cry,” she whispered. “I don’t have time to fix my makeup.”
“You have a hanky,” Mom reminded her with a tear-filled smile.
Kate poked her head in. “Peyton, we’re all set if you are.”
She stepped into her shoes and accepted the cascading deep-purple and white rose bouquet from Kate. “You go ahead. I’m right behind you.”
Kate and Mom stepped through the door. She pressed her hand to her stomach in hopes of calming the butterflies dancing inside. With one last look in the mirror, she was ready.
Peyton stood next to Dad, who looked exceedingly handsome in his dark-gray tuxedo. He wiped his eyes and looked straight ahead. Liza had ushered everyone out into the vestibule and the organ was playing the wedding march. One by one, the Price women walked down the aisle.
In a happy twist, Owen had asked if he could escort his grandmothers to their seats. Once they were down the aisle, it was Kate’s turn. When she reached the altar, the music changed. The guests stood up and Dad offered the crook of his arm to Peyton. He gave her a heartfelt smile.
“Are you ready?”
She kissed his cheek. His aftershave teased her nose. “Yes, Dad. I am.”
She took her first halting step. Her eyes sought Jack and found his. The aisle seemed to be too short. Her blood was humming and her heart flipped.
Jack was absolutely heart-stoppingly handsome. The dark-gray tuxedo was molded to his tall, lean, muscular frame. A lavender rose in his lapel drew her gaze to his smile and those dimples. Her knees grew weak just looking at them.
He held out a hand as she took her final steps toward him. Dad placed her hand in his and waited as they turned to take their first step to the altar. Owen stood on the altar, looking adorable in his matching tux and flower. He stood tall, so much like Jack. He waved to Peyton and grinned. “Hi, Mom.”
She blew him a kiss. He pretended to catch it and put it in his pocket. Where had he learned that? Her not-so-little man was full of surprises.
The pastor asked the congregation to be seated. He smiled at the couple. Before he could begin, Jack leaned toward her and said, “You are so beautiful.”
“You look pretty handsome yourself.”
As the pastor moved through the ceremony, Peyton’s eyes kept drifting to Jack. She couldn’t believe this day had finally come. She was marrying the best man she knew, and the only man for her.
“Now, we’ve come to a point in the ceremony where we’re going to light the unity candle. But we’re doing things a little differently. As you may have noticed, we have three tall tapers and in the center is the unity candle.” Pastor smiled at Owen. “Are you ready?”
Owen stepped in between his mom and Jack. “Yes, sir.” His voice carried in the small chapel.
Peyton took a lit candle and handed it to Owen, and th
en she took her candle and Jack took his. Three tall white tapers glowed.
“Today we join together one woman, one man, and one son to create a family.”
Together Peyton, Jack, and Owen blended the flames and the unity candle burned bright. Applause filled the church.
“It’s my pleasure to introduce, for the first time, Jackson, Peyton, and Owen Price!”
Jack leaned over and pulled Peyton into a sizzling but quick kiss, and then he pulled Owen close with one arm and slid the other around Peyton’s waist. Holding his bride and son close to him, they turned to face their family and friends.
Owen did a fist bump with Jack and proudly announced for all to hear, “I’ve got a mom and a dad!”
Peyton looked at Jack. Before they kissed again, she whispered to him, “All my dreams have come true.”
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The End
Thank you for reading Jack and Peytons’s story. I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did, please help other readers find this book: Please leave a review now!
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Keep reading for a sneak peek of:
Vintage, Book 4 in the Crescent Lake Winery
Available October 2021
Featuring loyal Leo Price and the talented Stephanie James
And don’t forget to Pre-order
For the love of hotrods and heart throbs…
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Leo Price loves classic cars. He opened a successful, classic car restoration company and skipped working in the family wine business in the Finger Lakes. But more important to him than business, is family, primarily his twin sister and her two sons. A wrench is thrown into his life when he meets the beautiful Stephanie James and as a bonus, she knows how to keep an engine running.
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On the worst day of her life Stephanie discovers Leo and his two nephews in her car restoration shop. It wasn’t bad enough she had just become an orphan but the kids knocked over a display and broke a very special car model. A sweet memory of when she had built it with her dad. Returning to the small town of Black River for six months she needs to put the business on a steady path and return to her life on the West Coast.
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When Steph realizes someone is stealing from her business it could threaten her plans to keep her father’s legacy alive. And then there’s Leo, dating him gives her ideas about what life might be like if she stayed or is it possible he’d leave his roots in the valley and follow her?
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Thank you again for reading Blush, book 3 in the Crescent Lake Winery.
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I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did, please help other readers find this book:
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Love to read?
The Crescent Lake Winery Series 2021
Blends
Breathe
Crush
Blush
Vintage
Bouquet
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A Dickens Holiday Romance
Holiday Heart Wishes
Holly Berries and Hockey Pucks
Last Chance Beach
Shamrocks are a Girl’s Best Friend
It’s Just Coffee Series 2020
The Matchmaker and The Marine
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The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy
Old and New
Borrowed
Blue
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The Loudon Series
The Loudon Series Box Set
Between Here and Heaven
Lost and Found
The Journey Home
The Last First Kiss
Ready to Soar
Love in the Looking Glass
Magic in the Rain
About the Author
Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of romantic fiction. As a girl, she spent hours reading and dreaming of one day becoming a writer. As her life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction articles, but she still longed to turn to her true passion: novels. After developing the storyline for the Loudon Series, it was time to start living her dream. Clicking computer keys, she has published nine books.
Lucinda lives with her husband Rick and two little pups, Jasper and Griffin, in the rolling hills of Western Massachusetts. Her writing is contemporary, fresh, and engaging.
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