by Laura Scott
She didn’t follow. “I think they like me, and I know they want you to be happy.”
“Are you seriously telling me you haven’t noticed their matchmaking attempts?” Jonas asked incredulously. “They weren’t subtle.”
She laughed. “Okay, yes. I did notice. So what? It was sweet.”
“So, I hate proving them right,” Jonas continued. “After getting success with us, they’re going to let loose on my brothers when they show up. I’m telling you, it’s going to be full-on pandemonium.”
“Are you seriously saying you won’t enjoy watching them turn their tricks onto your brothers?” she asked with feigned innocence.
Jonas threw back his head and laughed. Bella thought his laughter was the best sound she’d ever heard.
Epilogue
Jonas held his head up high as he walked down the aisle with Bella toward the gazebo where Dalton waited. With Bella at his side, he didn’t need crutches or canes.
They were partners, leaning on each other to get through each day.
Bella had suffered a mild form of PTSD after her close call with Aaron Campbell. Garth had let them know that her car had indeed been tampered with and that news, along with Aaron’s confession was enough to put him away for a long time.
Jonas had been glad to be there for her. After the entire story about how Aaron had put the wrong antibiotic on the surgical field, her boss from the Battle Creek VA offered her the chance to return to her previous job, but she’d refused. Hackbarth had also called to apologize, and she’d reluctantly accepted his offer of writing a reference on her behalf. Which worked, as she just accepted a position at the Zablocki VA Hospital in Wisconsin.
Jonas applied for a position as a security guard at the same hospital and had an interview coming up next week. He knew he needed to keep up his physical therapy if he wanted to land the job.
Painting brought him the peace he’d been searching for, but spending time with Bella was even more cathartic. Still, his best work of all was the portrait he’d done of Bella right here in the gazebo. Somehow, he’d managed to capture love shining from her eyes.
Love for him. All broken, bruised, and battered parts of him. He still couldn’t believe his good fortune.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as they took their seats in the front row on the bride’s side of the gazebo.
“Thank you,” she whispered back.
When the family was seated, including his brothers, Jemma and Garth walked down the aisle together, taking their positions as Best Man and Maid of Honor. Then Jazz came down the aisle with their oldest brother, Jake, who’d flown in from Ireland to be there. He’d arrived with a pretty brunette named Brianna Murphy, which of course had the family curious as to their relationship. Jazz’s eyes locked on Dalton’s, and Jonas thought he noticed a telltale dampness in Dalton’s eyes as he gazed at his bride.
Jazz and Dalton’s wedding ceremony was simple yet heartfelt. When it came time to exchange vows, Jazz went first.
“Dalton, I feel so blessed to have you in my life.” Her voice broke, and Dalton tightened his grip on her hands to support her. “I promise to be faithful and honest as we share our lives together. I promise to always love you, no matter what life throws at us.”
Dalton smiled when it was his turn. But then he dropped his head, then glanced out at the crowd gathered at the gazebo. “I swear I memorized my vows, but the minute I saw Jazz, my mind went blank. No worries, I have a backup plan.” He pulled his phone out of his tux pocket, which made everyone laugh.
Dalton glanced at his phone, put it back in his pocket, then took Jazz’s hands again. “Jazzlyn, I wasn’t looking for love or a family when I met you. I built walls around my heart, unwilling to let anyone in. You managed to bulldoze right past them, and I will be forever thankful for your stubborn determination. I promise to always love you and to put you and our family first in our lives.”
There was a poignant silence before the officiant spoke up. “It’s my pleasure to introduce Dalton and Jazz O’Brien. Dalton, you may kiss your bride.”
Dalton drew Jazz close while the rest of their family and friends hooted and hollered. Jonas thought he’d never seen his sister so happy.
After the ceremony was over, Jonas sat on edge of the gazebo drawing Bella down next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder as they gazed out over the magnificent sunset dipping low over Lake Michigan.
It was difficult to fathom that he’d only known Bella for a little over a week. She was so much a part of him that he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
He decided not to wait any longer. Taking the small ring case out of his pocket, he turned to face her. “Bella, I love you more than I can express with mere words. You’ve brought sunshine and laughter back into my life. Will you please marry me?”
“Oh, Jonas.” She barely glanced at the ring, her blue gaze clinging to his, her hand resting over his heart. “Yes. Yes, Jonas, of course I’ll marry you!”
He smiled and placed the small sapphire ring on the fourth finger of her left hand, then drew her close for a long kiss.
“Jonas?” Bella asked when they finally came up for air.
“Yes?”
Bella smiled. “Would you mind if we got married here, at The McNallys’ Bed and Breakfast gazebo? From the moment I arrived here as a guest, I felt as if I’d come home. Most of that is because of you and your family, not the structure itself. I know we can’t live and work in McNally Bay, but I’d still love to get married here.”
“I think Jazz and Jemma would be upset with us if we didn’t,” he assured her. “They love you like a sister.”
“You have a wonderful family.” Bella rested her head on his shoulder again.
“I love you, Bella,” he whispered against her hair. “And home is wherever we are as long as we’re together.”
“I know.” She put her hand over his heart again, and he covered it with his.
Together. For as long as they both shall live.
Would you like to read Jesse and Carla’s story next? Click Here!
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed To Laugh, the third book in my McNally Family Series. I wanted to highlight not just Jonas and Bella’s story, but the siblings from previous books as well. I couldn’t wait to give you a glimpse of Jazz and Dalton’s wedding!
Reviews are very important to authors, so I hope you will take a moment to leave a review about To Laugh on whichever retail site you purchased the book from. I also love hearing from my readers and can be found at my website, www.laurascottbooks.com, or on Facebook Laura Scott Author or on Twitter @laurascottbooks.
The next book in the series is To Honor, featuring Jesse’s story. I’ve included a sneak peek of the first chapter for your reading pleasure.
Sincerely,
Laura Scott
