My bridesmaids cooed when Maddie reached me. She was in a white dress too, with a soft fern green satin sash, her blonde curls tamed by the flower halo.

Naomi kissed Zeke goodbye after he handed her the flower basket. “You might want to hang on to this until it’s time,” he said. “She’s going to be good at dodge ball, I can already tell.”

“I’ll take it,” Carly said to Naomi with a smile.

“Oh, thank God,” Naomi said, pushing it toward Carly.

Zeke kissed Naomi one more time before stepping outside to join the groomsmen.

“Mama,” Maddie said in her sweet voice.

“You’re beautiful, baby. Okay,” I said, dabbing my under eyes with the back of my hand. I took my cascading bouquet of wildflowers from Carly. “I can do this. We can do this. Let’s do this!”

My friends stepped outside the log cabin as a group, lining up in order in front of me as we waited for the processional.

Billie Eilish’s "Come Out to Play” began to filter through the trees.

“That’s my cue,” Ellie said, walking first.

After Ellie, Falyn turned the corner to walk down the aisle, then Naomi, Stavros, Hailey, Caroline; then it was Carly’s turn. She handed Maddie’s basket to her.

“Follow me, darlin’.” She winked at me. “See you at the top, sugar.”

“Mama?” Maddie said.

“Follow Miss Carly and throw your flowers! Show Daddy how good you are.”

She grinned then waddled after Carly.

I knew Maddie was making her way down the aisle even though I couldn’t see her because of the oohs and ahs from the guests. Then, I knew she’d made it down the aisle because the bridesmaids’ song faded and Landon Pigg’s “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” began.

The audience turned to watch me step out from behind the trees and vines. An audible gasp filled the forest around us, but I barely noticed, seeing Trex at the end. Once his gaze fell on me, he covered his mouth and took a step back. Harbinger patted his shoulder.

Trex’s side was filled with his family and old war buddies, and my side with locals and hotel employees and their families. They were there out of love, to witness one of the best days of our lives, but I could only see him. He beamed in his light gray suit, his blue eyes glossed over.

Hailey held Maddie, Harbinger’s sons stood next to their dad as ring bearers, and I leaned down to kiss them all on the cheek before handing Carly my bouquet.

Reverend Lewis began to speak, but his introduction was drowned out by Trex’s whispering.

“You are the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen,” Trex said, squeezing both my hands in his.