Updated Dec 29, 2025 • ~6 min read
Wedding planning, Tessa discovered, was a special kind of torture.
“I thought you said small,” she said, staring at Rose’s list.
“This IS small. Only eighty people.”
“Rose, that’s not small. That’s a medium-sized event.”
“It’s family and close friends. Everyone who matters.”
Julian snorted from the couch. “Define ‘matters.’ Because half this list is people I’ve never heard of.”
“They’re business associates,” Rose explained. “Liam’s investors. Julian’s clients. People who—”
“People who don’t need to be at my wedding,” Tessa interrupted gently. “Rose, I love you. But Liam and I want simple. Intimate. Just—just the people we actually love. Not a networking event.”
Rose’s face fell. “But dear—”
“Thirty people. Maximum. That’s—that’s me, Liam, Leo, you, Julian, our college friends, and that’s it. Backyard ceremony. Casual. Easy.”
“But you deserve a beautiful wedding—”
“And I’ll have one. Because the people I love will be there. That’s what makes it beautiful. Not—not the guest count or the fancy venue or any of that.”
Rose looked at Julian for backup. He shrugged. “It’s her wedding. Let her have what she wants.”
“Fine. Thirty people. Backyard ceremony.” Rose sighed dramatically. “But I’m still making the cake. Four tiers. Fondant flowers. The works.”
“Deal.”
After Rose left to “consult with the caterer” (for a backyard wedding with thirty guests), Julian turned to Tessa.
“You good? With all this? The wedding. The—the everything?”
“I’m great. Why?”
“Because a year ago, you were hiding across the country with a secret kid. Now you’re planning a wedding. That’s—that’s a big change.”
“The best change.”
“And you’re sure? About Liam? About—about forever?”
“Completely sure.” She looked at her ring. “He’s it for me, Jules. Always has been. I just—I just was too scared to admit it before.”
Julian was quiet for a moment. Then: “He’s good to you. To Leo. I see that now. And I’m—I’m glad you have him. Have this. You deserve to be happy, Tess.”
“So do you. Speaking of—when are you going to settle down? Find someone?”
“I’m too busy being Uncle of the Year.” He grinned. “Besides, watching you two is exhausting. I need a break from romance.”
“Liar. I saw you talking to that woman at Leo’s birthday party. The teacher. You were flirting.”
“Was not.”
“Were too. What was her name? Madison?”
Julian’s ears turned red. “We’re not talking about this.”
“Oh, we’re definitely talking about this. Come on. Details. Did you get her number?”
“Tessa—”
“You did! You totally did!”
“I hate you.”
“You love me. And you’re going to tell me everything about this Madison person or I’m uninviting you from my wedding.”
“You can’t uninvite me. I’m the best man.”
“Liam hasn’t asked you yet.”
“He will. We’re best friends again. Obviously I’m the best man.”
“Not if you don’t spill about Madison.”
Julian groaned. “Fine. Yes, I got her number. Yes, we’ve been texting. No, it’s not serious. Happy?”
“Deliriously. When’s the first date?”
“This weekend. Dinner. And before you ask—no, you cannot help me prepare. I’m perfectly capable of dating without your interference.”
Tessa grinned. “This is amazing. My brother’s dating again. The world is healing.”
“Your brother never stopped dating. I just—I just haven’t been serious about anyone in a while.”
“Because you were too busy being mad at me and Liam.”
His smile faded. “Yeah. That didn’t help.”
“But we’re past that now?”
“We’re past that. I’m—I’m happy for you, Tess. Really happy. You and Liam—you make sense. And Leo deserves both his parents. So yeah. I’m good. We’re good. Everything’s—everything’s good.”
“I love you, Jules.”
“Love you too. Even when you’re annoying.”
“Especially when I’m annoying.”
He threw a pillow at her. She threw it back. And just like that, they were kids again. Twins. Best friends. The way they were supposed to be.
That evening, Tessa and Liam lay in bed, going over wedding details.
“Flowers?” Liam asked, checking his list.
“Wildflowers. Whatever’s in season.”
“Food?”
“Taco bar. Everyone loves tacos.”
Liam laughed. “We’re having tacos at our wedding?”
“Why not? They’re delicious. Easy. Fun. Very us.”
“Okay. Taco bar it is. Music?”
“Playlist. No DJ. Just—just good music we actually like.”
“Colors?”
“Do we need colors?”
“Apparently. Rose asked three times.”
Tessa thought about it. “Blue and white. Simple. Clean. Easy.”
Liam made a note. “Photographer?”
“Julian knows someone. His girlfriend’s roommate or something.”
“Julian has a girlfriend?”
“Maybe? He’s going on a date this weekend. With Leo’s preschool teacher.”
“Madison? She’s great. Good for him.”
They continued down the list. Officiant. Vows. Rings. Ceremony timeline. Every detail mapped out, simple and perfect and exactly what they wanted.
“This is really happening,” Tessa said when they finished.
“Having second thoughts?”
“Not even a little. Just—just amazed. A year ago, I couldn’t imagine this. Couldn’t imagine—imagine being this happy. Having everything I wanted. And now here we are. Planning a wedding. Building a life. It’s—it’s surreal.”
“Good surreal?”
“The best surreal.” She kissed him. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Two months. Then you’re stuck with me forever.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
They made love slowly, sweetly, full of promise. And afterward, Tessa lay in Liam’s arms, her ring catching the moonlight, and let herself believe it.
In two months, she’d be married. Be Mrs. Tessa Thorne. (Or Tessa Brooks-Thorne. They were still deciding.)
She’d have everything she’d ever wanted. Everything she’d spent years running from.
And this time, she was ready. Completely, totally ready.
For forever.
The next two months flew by in a blur of planning and preparation.
Leo practiced walking down the aisle. Rose made centerpieces. Julian confirmed his date with Madison (who agreed to come to the wedding as his plus-one).
And Tessa found her dress. Simple white sundress. Flowing. Elegant. Perfect for a backyard ceremony.
“You look beautiful,” the saleswoman said.
Tessa stared at herself in the mirror. She did look beautiful. But more than that—she looked happy. Really happy. The kind of happy she’d spent years performing but never actually feeling.
“I’ll take it,” she said.
She sent Liam a picture. Just the dress on the hanger. Not her in it.
His response was immediate: Beautiful. Like you. Can’t wait to marry you.
Two weeks, she texted back.
Counting down every second.
Tessa smiled at her phone, then looked back at her reflection.
This was real. This was happening. In two weeks, she’d marry Liam Thorne.
The man she’d loved for years. The father of her child. Her—her everything.
And she couldn’t wait.
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