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Back First Comes Love Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

So here we are. Amelia’s coming too—she put Dylan to bed, then joined us at our house in time to leave—as is Mrs. Wilder, Jake’s mom. I suspect she put Jake to bed before coming too. And I could use a bit of sleep too after a sleepless night on the long flight from London, but I guess the wedding shopping adrenaline’s running strong in my blood because I don’t feel as exhausted as I should.

Nonetheless, when the shopping assistant at the wedding store asks me if I’d like a glass of champagne while she shows us some options, I ask her for a double shot espresso instead.

I choose six of the dresses she presents us and leave my audience comfortably settled in plush settees to go change into the first one. The assistant helps me pull it on and pins it at the back to make it fit. When she’s done, she gently grabs me by the shoulders and turns me toward the mirror. I blink.

For a second I’m overwhelmed. This is it. I’m getting married. Once the initial shock wears off, I stare at the dress more closely. It’s a romantic design made of tulle and Chantilly with a layered skirt. And the bateau neckline is decorated with gemstones. It looks good. But I don’t feel any special bonding with it.

I go out to see what the others think.

I’ve barely walked out and my mom’s already in tears. Everyone else seems close to joining her, and even Kassandra’s usual swagger is a bit subdued. The shop assistant seems to be the only one aware of my indecision; she squeezes my hand and asks me if I’d like to try some other options. I nod and follow her back to the fitting room.

For the second dress, things go more or less the same: ooohs and aaaahs all around, tears from everyone but me, and a definitive no on my part.

But the moment the shopping assistant pulls up the zipper of the third dress, I know we’ve found a winner. Finally, tears well up in my eyes, and I take a minute to stare at my reflection before going out to the others. The assistant gives me a knowing nod and leaves me alone in the fitting room to have a private moment with The One Dress.

The gown’s in a plain white fabric, with no decorations, beads, or ruffles. It’s sleeveless with a bateau neckline and an A-line silhouette. The skirt has some volume and, I discover with delight, side pockets. I swirl to look at the back where a beautiful line of delicate buttons traces my spine. I wipe a few tears from my cheeks and walk out of the room, beaming.

***