began. “We are gathered here today to unite this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Lacy peeked at Bennett. He winked at her. She smiled shyly into the pink roses and baby’s breath bouquet clutched in her hand.
“Do you, Kermit Kahonachek, renewing your vows with your bride of seventy-five years, take this woman, Katrina Kahonachek, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do!” Lacy’s great-grandfather’s voice rang out loud and clear as he gazed at the woman who’d been his lifelong soul mate.
“And do you, Katrina, take this man, Kermit, to be your lawfully wedded husband, until death do you part?”
Great-Gramma reached over and took her husband’s hand. “You bet I do. I’m not going another seventy-five years without him in my life.”
“Then I now pronounce your vows renewed. Kermit, you may kiss your bride.”
Lacy’s heart swelled with emotion as she watched her great-grandfather draw her great-grandmother to him and kiss her soundly on the lips. Pride, joy, happiness, and hope pressed against her chest.
A cheer went up from the crowd.
Lacy gazed at Bennett to find his eyes fixed on her face. Eyes brimming with love. Her breath ceased in that fine moment. She saw them together many years down the road with their own family clustered around them as they celebrated their own seventieth anniversary by renewing their wedding vows.
“I’m ready to throw the bouquet,” Great-Gramma announced several minutes later. “All you single ladies gather around.” She winked at Lacy and nodded.
Lacy’s unmarried cousins and sisters assembled in a clump along with CeeCee and Janet. They all grinned and waved.
Great-Gramma turned her back to the crowd and launched the bouquet over her head.
It spiraled into the air.
A dozen pairs of arms reached upward, scrambling for the prize. Despite being disadvantaged by her small stature, Lacy was determined to grab that bouquet. She leaped up.
Gotta catch it, gotta catch it.
If anything, the thunderbolt had taught her a valuable lesson. Never take tradition lightly. Come hell or high water, she and Bennett were going to be the next ones married in this clan.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw a streak of white. Someone or something moving faster than greased lightning dashed forward.
And snatched the bouquet.
With a bleat of triumph, Frank Sinatra trotted away, the bouquet firmly between his teeth.
The crowd roared with laughter.
“Hey!” Lacy shouted. “You come back here! That’s my bouquet, you ornery critter.”
Old Blue Eyes trotted faster, ribbon streams breaking loose from the bouquet and flying behind him.
“Faint, you son of a billy goat.” Lacy fisted her taffeta bridesmaid gown in her hand to keep from tripping over the long skirt and launched herself after him.
“Hang on, there.” Bennett took her elbow as she passed him.
“Let go. I’m getting that bouquet one way or the other.”
He peered at her, laughter illuminating his face. “You don’t need the bouquet, Lacy. Let Frank Sinatra have his lunch.”
“But I want to be the next one married,” she insisted.
“You will be.”
She blinked at him. “Is this a commitment to a wedding date?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh?” She melted against him and placed a hand on his chest. “Do tell.”
“A year from today. Same time, same place, same guest list, with a few additions.”
“Like your parents?”
“Yes.”
“Will you be ready? Are you sure?”
“Cupcake, I’ve been struck by the thunderbolt. As you well know, there’s no denying it. My residency will be finished. We can start looking for a place to set up my clinic. However, I do have one requirement.”
“And what is that?” Lacy asked, gazing into the eyes of her intended.
“Frank Sinatra is to be banned from our wedding.”
“Or served up as cabrito pate.”
“Either, or.” His grin widened. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?”
“Not in the last five minutes.”
“Or how much I love you?”
“Hmm, you might have mentioned it.”
“Well, it’s time to make sure you thoroughly understand.” He squeezed her tighter, and his eyes misted with unshed tears of joy. “Without you, Lacy Calder, nothing in my life has meaning. You’re the whipped cream on my strawberry shortcake; you’re the morning star in my sky; you’re the tomato plants on my balcony.”
“No kidding?”
He turned his face to the sky, then grinned and shouted. “Hear me world, I love Lacy.”
Her pulse slipped through her veins. Everything she’d ever dreamed of had come true. She’d found her soul mate.
Only one more thing would make her world complete, and that would be for CeeCee and Janet to find the same kind of love she’d found in Bennett’s arms. She sent a silent prayer to the