now."
"I know." She sighed dramatically and lifted her hand to her forehead.
He nodded to the preacher as he lowered Annie back to a standing position. "Go ahead, Pastor. Do your thing."
Over the audience's ongoing laughter, the minister ended the ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bresland.
The music began and the wedding party filed down the aisle in reverse order. They stopped right at the last row of chairs to allow the photographer to capture the moment for the album. Maybe she'd order a copy of this picture too. She regretted having no photos of Cody from their first time together. She didn't want to make the same mistake again. They would have to take some pictures after the guests departed with the whole wedding party, but getting through that would be a piece of cake compared to the reception. There she wouldn't be standing a few feet across from Cody. No, this time, they would be sitting next to each other and, more importantly, have to dance with each other. She sighed, unsure of how much more time she could remain in close proximity to Cody and not melt into his arms and kiss him senseless.
CHAPTER SIX
The decorations at the country club demonstrated a perfect blend of the newly formed family. The dark navy blue and red represented the patriotic sentiment running deep in both Melodie and Daniel. Tiny sprigs of pink and white suited Annie to a tee. Though not traditionally paired colors, Evelyn couldn't help but admire how well they balanced and provided a complete picture. If she had to portray her world right now, shattered stained glass would be the chosen medium. The picture she'd painted for everyone to see had been a mirage. Now that the colors were destroyed, everyone could see into the vulnerability of her soul through the transparent and broken pieces.
A warm hand on her lower back pulled her from the negative thoughts. "Hey, you okay?"
The deep timbre of Cody's voice caressed her raw nerves and lulled her back to safer ground. "Just a long day." Long year, long life.
"Soon it will be over, and you can get some rest. Now it's time to find your smile and pretend we're famous as the cameras start flashing. You know the tradition to kick off the reception. The wedding party gets introduced, then the parents of the bride and groom, and finally the happy couple themselves. It's all part of the pomp and circumstance."
She exhaled slowly and fought the urge to lean against his solid frame. She managed to avoid it throughout the entire photoshoot after the wedding, but she had to admit the will to fight against their natural attraction decreased every minute she stayed in his presence. "If I ever get married again, I'm going to skip the dog and pony show. Mel is such a hopeless romantic."
He shrugged. "Loving someone is hard and making it last even harder. The wedding is a way to celebrate life and love before all the hard work really gets started."
No question he'd been raised in a far more loving and supportive home than she and Mel had been exposed to on a daily basis. "Is that optimistic realism or realistic optimism?"
Cody extended his arm as the doors opened and the announcement of the wedding party began. "Depends on the day." He smiled and whisked them through the open doors as their names were called. Time to perform.
Though she'd managed to eat a respectable amount of the food, her stomach remained in knots. Right before the cake was cut, she and Cody would be expected to give their toasts. Her breath hitched as Cody turned and leaned into her slightly, his breath a whisper across her cheek. "I know weddings aren't your thing, but are you sure you're all right? It's almost time for our toasts. You ready?"
Before she could answer, the now familiar sound of silverware tapping a glass repeated, prompting the bride and groom into yet another kiss. She avoided rolling her eyes in front of a hundred or so guests by turning toward Cody.