Casey stepped back, appraised the bride, and clasped her hands at her heart. “You look so beautiful,” she said, pushing past the lump in her throat.

“Thank you so much,” Michelle said, her expression heartfelt.

“His jaw is going to drop the second he lays eyes on you,” Sutton chimed in as they finished the final prep in the villa nearest the beach.

There was a soft rap on the door. Sutton and Casey stared at each other with wide eyes. “It better not be Jack. I’ll answer it,” Casey said and opened the door a few inches, peering around the wood to find Michelle’s brother, Davis. “Oh, you’re the only guy allowed in right now,” she said, with a bright smile. Davis flashed a quick grin in return, his piercing blue eyes lighting up his face.

“I have something for the bride,” Davis said. He held a small box and carefully opened the lid.

Michelle gasped when she looked inside, and brought her hand to her mouth.

“It’s mom’s,” he said softly.

Michelle nodded. “I know,” she said as a lone tear slid down her cheek.

“I thought you’d want to wear it. I’ve held onto it for you for this day.”

“I do want to wear it,” she said, holding out her hand so Davis could clasp a simple, thin silver bracelet on her wrist.

Sutton grabbed a tissue and dabbed quietly at Michelle’s cheek.

Michelle held up her wrist. “I love it.”

“And I love you,” Davis said, then wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. Casey looked away, giving them their private moment.

When he pulled apart, Michelle spoke first. “Are you ready to give me away, but not give me away?”

Both Davis and Michelle laughed, and the touching, tender moment had turned to a lighthearted one now. “No one could ever give such a strong, independent woman away. It is merely my honor to walk by your side on this journey,” he said, and it was Casey’s turn to steal away a tissue and bat at the tear in her eye. She loved their approach—Michelle wasn’t anyone’s to give away, but she and Davis had looked out for each other and took care of each other, and it simply felt right for him to be the one to walk by her side at this moment.

They made their way through the resort to the beach, weaving through palm trees and banyan trees, lush and emerald green. The sun was high in the sky, but the breeze that blew off the ocean kept them from sweltering. Soon, they reached the patch of sand where the ceremony was to be held.

Pretty music from a string quartet rose up to greet them. A Brahms Symphony, she recalled Jack telling her, and then he’d made some offhand remark about never catching the end of it the night he and Michelle had gone to the symphony. Casey didn’t press him about what he meant, figuring it was a sexy inside secret between bride and groom.