The service was beautiful. The pastor gave a speech about how a marriage ceremony isn’t about two people making vows and committing to each other—as that’s already happened one way or another before the ceremony—but about the community accepting them as a couple. When the pastor spoke about love withstanding even the toughest trials, I found myself turning to Easton, only to find he was already watching me. Our eyes locked as the pastor spoke about the patience of the heart and reward of love, and Easton smiled. A private smile just for me that made my heart race and my knees go weak.

The reception is a small gathering—or as small as anything with my family can be—but everyone is seated at tables on the back patio that overlooks the lake. Molly hired her chef from the banquet center to do the cooking and brought some of her waitstaff out to serve us. There’s no microphone when I stand to give my speech, and I’m grateful for that. The worst thing about having an English degree is that when people ask you to give a speech or write a letter, they have really high expectations. At least if I screw this up, my voice won’t be amplified.

I smile at my new sister-in-law. She’s flushed and glowing, holding Brayden’s hand and her son Noah on her lap. She truly looks like this is the happiest day of her life.

I lift my glass. “Molly, I always wanted a sister. You probably don’t know this, but it wasn’t until the little hellion that is my brother Levi turned three that Mom announced she wasn’t going to have any more children. Before him, she’d intended to continue popping out babies until her body wouldn’t cooperate anymore. While I understood why Levi would make even my most-patient mother tap out of the child-raising business, I was crushed.”

Everyone laughs, and I wink at my mom, who shrugs like Can you blame me? Levi doesn’t look too offended. He knows the story.