Grady’s smile widens, melting my heart into gooey bits at how in love with him I am. Whenever I think, “Geez, Marnie, in love much?” my heart answers by falling even more, as if love is this infinitely expanding universe that I’ll never stop falling into.

“Shall we begin?” Christie chimes in softly, looking somewhat nervous but sweetly official in his 1950s veiled hat and elegant kimono.

“Okay?” Grady asks me.

“Okay.”

We face Christie but keep our arms wrapped around each other. Christie smiles and relaxes into his sweet words about cherishing love and each other and being grateful for every second. I lean my head on Grady’s shoulder, and he kisses my forehead.

A small wooden box holds our rings. He shows me both together, wedged into their velvet casing. His is a simple gold band, thick and gently engraved with intertwining leaves, reminding me of the trees around the swamp. Mine is more delicate, rose and yellow gold, interlaced with leaves and gems—one main diamond, many smaller ones, and the rest multicolored.

“Ruby for your hair,” he says as he slips it on my finger. “Sapphire for your eyes. Emerald for luck.”

I laugh. “It matches my dress.”

“I knew it belonged to you the second I saw it,” he tells me.

I smile, sliding his ring onto his finger. “Strong and dependable, just like you. I love you, Tripp Grady Tripp.”

He laughs. “I love you, Mrs. Marina Tripp.”

“Mrs. Strange-Tripp,” I correct with a shrug. “I’m embracing the combo. It’s been a strange trip, after all.”

We kiss, gentle and sweet at first, but it turns into more when he lifts me, crushing me against him and laughing as he swings me around. Our family laughs with us.

Our reception lasts hours with dancing, eating, and, yes, even game-playing. Gorgeous bursts of happiness follow the main one.

Grady and Luke doing The Thing with Christie as honorary drummer (who knew?).

Marigold confessing that she hopes Peter asks her to marry him soon.

The late arrival of Marty Tripp—Grady’s globe-trotting-for-the-good-of-mankind younger brother.

Lena, Ben, Ruthie, and her friend Adam, arriving from Saddletree Farm and Bakery Café with the most decadent dream cake ever—shaped like a pirate ship, of course.

Mom, telling me that Wade asked her on a date, and she wanted my blessing before saying yes.

Gil, hitting it off very well with Ivy.

And finally, a breakthrough.

“They say things happen in threes,” Elena says, casually motioning toward Tamsyn and Willow before giving me and Grady a not-so-subtle wink.

Carmela chuckles. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful for the cousins to be in the same class at school?”

“A triple baby shower,” Tamsyn coos, rubbing her slightly extended belly.

“Hell, yes,” Colin chimes in. “One big party instead of three sounds great to me.”

“Enough with the baby pressure,” Mom says, eyes cutting in my direction. “It’s their wedding day.”

“Amen to that!” Mack says.