“Yes, you are,” Shiloh replied, her smile gentle and warm.
Rachel felt her cheeks flush. “I was talking about the dress.”
“I know you were.” Shiloh's grin widened. “But it's the woman inside the dress that holds my heart.” She paused, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Seeing you in your mother's dress, the one that I wore when I married Edward, makes me realize how we've come full circle.”
Rachel's hands stilled on the fabric. The weight of that truth settled over her… how far she’d come. How much she'd survived. How much she’d grown.
“Would they be proud of me?” The question came out shaky, vulnerable in a way Rachel hadn't expected.
“Oh, my beautiful girl.” Shiloh turned to face her fully, taking Rachel's hands in hers. “You're smart, kind, brave. You're a teacher who changes lives every day. Your parents would be beside themselves with pride and awe at all you have done and who you are. Just like I am.”
Rachel couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She turned and threw her arms around Shiloh, careful not to crush her dress, and let herself cry. From the moment her parents died, Shiloh had become everything to her… mother, champion, protector, hero. The person who'd chosen to save them both, who'd had the courage to leave when staying meant losing everything.
“You've given me everything,” Rachel whispered against Shiloh's shoulder.
“And you've given everything to me, as well,” Shiloh said, her voice thick. She pulled back and held Rachel's gaze, then leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I am so proud of the woman you've become.”
A knock on the door interrupted the moment. The wedding coordinator popped her head inside, her expression apologetic but firm. “Okay, mother of the bride. It's time for you to be escorted into the sanctuary.”
Rachel and Shiloh exchanged one more look. Their gazes locked, and smiles trembled as hasty words of love passed between them without sound. Shiloh squeezed her hands once more and walked gracefully out the door.
Rachel took a deep breath and let it out slowly, pressing her fingers beneath her eyes to catch any stray tears. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry through the entire ceremony, but that resolve was already crumbling.
Another knock sounded, and the door opened to reveal Joseph.
He looked handsome in his dark suit and tie, his light brown hair tinged with gray at the temples now, trimmed neatly. But it was that easy, warm smile he'd always given her that made her heart squeeze.
Joseph walked straight to her, and Rachel reached out, clutching his hands.
“My God, Rachel,” he breathed. “You are an absolute beauty. You remind me so much of Shiloh when we got married.”
Rachel remembered that day years ago. She'd been fifteen, standing in this very church, watching Shiloh walk down the aisle toward Joseph. It had felt like a fairy tale then—the happy ending after so much fear and darkness. But now, standing here in her own wedding dress, Rachel understood that this was the real fairy tale. This was the moment all those years of growing up, of healing, of becoming herself had been leading toward.
“Joseph.” Her voice trembled. “I need to say something.”
“No—” He shook his head quickly.
“I have to say this?—”
“No, you don't, sweetheart.”
“Yes.” Rachel's grip on his hands tightened. “You need to let me say this.”
His jaw worked, but he gave her a small nod.
Rachel took a breath. “I still have memories of my parents. I remember my dad's laugh, the way he used to call me his little scholar. Every little girl wants to have her daddy walk her down the aisle. And even though I don't have that today, I want you to know that I consider myself so lucky and so blessed that it's you who has the honor.”
Tears sprang to Joseph's eyes, but Rachel pushed forward, needing to get the words out before her own tears made it impossible.
“I was lucky to have a wonderful father,” she continued. “And then when he was gone, I was so lucky to have Edward as my next father figure. I didn't think I could be blessed like that twice. But then you came into our lives, and you chose us. You chose Shiloh, and you chose me. Having you as my father figure for all these years has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. So while my real father and Edward aren't here, I can't think of a better man to give me away today.”
Joseph pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his eyes, his shoulders shaking slightly. When he finally looked at her again, his expression was full of such fierce love that Rachel felt her own tears spill over.
“I was a man searching but not really knowing what I was looking for until you and Shiloh came into my life,” Joseph said, his voice rough. He paused, his grip on her hands tightening. “And while I hate like hell to be giving you away today, I can do it because the man you're marrying is a man that I trust and respect as much as anyone I've ever met. So while today is exciting, just know that a little part of my heart breaks.”
Rachel laughed through her tears and dabbed under her eyes with the handkerchief Joseph handed her. “Well,” she said, trying to lighten the mood, “you'll get to do this again with Rebecca someday.”
His and Shiloh’s daughter was bright and spirited. Joseph rolled his eyes dramatically, but his smile was warm. “Oh, don't remind me. That's years away, and I'm already dreading it.”