"Do you see anybody from work here, Mary?"

Roger looked back over the crowd, taking the handkerchief that once served as his pocket square and using it to dab the sweat from his forehead. Though I didn't need to turn around to prove my assumptions, I still followed his gaze. I glanced over my shoulder and scanned the crowd of smiling faces as they found their seats on either side of the aisle. We were the only ones that needed to be directed to the right side of the deck, which was the bride's side of the aisle. I knew there wouldn't be anyone else.

"No," I said with a sigh. "Like I told you before, I highly doubt anyone else in the office even got an invitation." My voice dropped and a slight frown pulled at my lips. I turned away from the other guests, all of which were Hereford Hills residents, and focused on the altar ahead of us. "She wasn't particularly close with anyone at work and she's been gone for two and a half years now. The world moves so fast in our business. For most of my coworkers, it could have been a decade ago. They've all but forgotten her."

"You sure?" He turned back to face me, his eyes wild with desperation. "You're positive?"

"Oh, come on, Roger." I rolled my eyes, but also wore a bemused twist on my lips. "Even if someone was here, no one is going to think less of you. Just do it already."

"That's what you say, but you forget how Gerald Mortimer was ridiculed for six months after showing up to the Layton's gala wearing a beige suit." Still, his hands made quick work, pulling his tie from his neck and unbuttoning the top of his shirt so his skin could breathe beneath the oppressive summer sun. "Why'd it have to be in August? Or better yet, doesn't this town have a hall or something that this could have been in? With AC?"

"One," I said, holding up a finger before my husband, "it's in August because it's a slow time for them. The summer crowd is tapering because the school year is starting in a couple of weeks. And two..." I paused and took a deep breath, turning to face the sprawling lawn before us. A smile spread across my lips, my eyes dancing over the swaying trees, hazy mountains, and bright blue sky. "And two, Roger, how on earth could you expect them to hold their wedding inside a church basement when they have this in their backyard?"

"Mary, I'm beginning to think I've got you trapped in the city." He chuckled before reaching a hand up to wipe more sweat from his face. "I think we've come out here four times since Lyn moved."

"It's been six," I corrected him, before quickly amending my statement. "Well, six for me. I came out by myself shortly after Madelyn—and it is Madelyn, Roger. I don't know how many times I've had to remind you of that. Anyway, after she put in her two weeks' notice, I came out the first chance I got to make sure she was okay out here. Then there was the fall harvest trip, our anniversary, the family ski trip, Christmas, and that quick weekend when I came up to help her with the wedding planning."

"Oh, right." He massaged his chin as his eyes rolled up in recollection. "I spent the entire time working, and you were off pretending to be the mother of the bride, so I kind of forgot."

I blushed at his statement, a bit of heat rising to my cheeks thanks to a mixture of resentment and guilt. Had I overstepped my bounds? Had I inserted myself where I didn't belong? I wasn't naïve. I could tell how my persistent attempts to welcome Madelyn into my family grated on her, but it killed me every time I watched her leave to spend another holiday alone. Now, however, she had a family. She had Jordan, she had friends, and she had this town. Was I only invited because she felt obligated to?

"Jordan, she's all dressed up and ready to go. I told you she'd be fine."

I looked up at the sound of Rebecca's voice. I'd only met her twice during my stays at the Hound and Sparrow. She'd interned there while getting her degree in hospitality services. Still, despite the minimal time we'd spent together, she left a lasting impression. I knew it was her voice even before I spotted her with Jordan, standing a little ways from the flower-covered archway set up upon the deck.

They were some distance from where the chairs were arranged and no one else perked up at Rebecca's declaration. However, we sat in the front row on the side closest to them and I leaned over so I could pick up Jordan's hushed response.

"Are you sure she's okay?" He scratched the back of his neck and looked up at a pair of windows on the top floor. "She won't admit it, but she's been tense for the past few weeks. Every time I ask if I can help with something, she gets this weird smile on her face that honestly gives me the creeps—just something about how wide and empty it is. Then she tells me she's fine, and she finds some spot to scrub for the hundredth time instead of talking to me."

"Oh Jordan," said the young woman as if she was already well-versed in the art of love and life, "everyone gets cold feet before a wedding. She's a strong woman. She'll get over her jitters. Just remember, she loves you. She'll be here."

"I'm..." He sighed and turned to his intern with a placating smile. "I'm not worried about her leaving me at the altar. Even if she did, I know it wouldn't be because she didn't love me. It's just..." Again he looked to the window and I read the worry in his face that the blissfully ignorant Rebecca was blind too. He then turned back to face her and his shoulders loosened. The hunch in his back, however, showed it was because of resignation rather than acceptance. "You say she's fine?"

"Yes, she's fine," said Rebecca, before pulling him into a hug. "She looks beautiful and I'm going to cry my eyes out."

Jordan laughed, and they continued to talk about how preparations were going with the tent and dance floor over on the other side of the house, but I didn't pay it much attention. I heard enough.

"Don't do it," said Roger half-heartedly as he pulled out the wedding program and used it to fan himself.

"I'm going up there." I stood up, piling my clutch and program onto his lap.

"I know you are, but I wanted to make sure I got my warning in so that if this goes badly for you, I can say I told you so."

"I don't care if she gets upset. She should not be up there alone before her wedding. I'd rather she brush me aside and tell me off than sit here wondering if she is crying by herself in that room."

"I know." He planted a kiss on my cheek before giving me a nod of acceptance. "That's why I love you."

I returned his affection with a smile and gave his hand a squeeze before taking a deep breath and marching off towards the house with resolve.

I entered through the wide double doors that guarded the deck from the lounge. Inside, a few straggling guests grabbed their programs and left gifts on the designated table. Whenever their gaze flicked over to me, they noticeably bounced in surprise before quickly recovering and offering me a genial hello. I gave them a nod in return and mentally laughed at Roger's assertion that I was trying to claw my way out of the city. It took them seconds to identify me as an outsider. Everyone knew everyone here, and I much preferred the anonymity granted by the bustling city. That didn't mean, however, that I didn't enjoy drinking in the stunning views and quiet lifestyle every now and again.

Leaving the curious stares behind me, I found the foyer and headed up to the top floor. I wasn't completely familiar with the building, but if I had to guess where Madelyn was preparing herself, it would be the master suite. Having stayed there a couple of times, I didn't have any trouble locating the door. Then, with a deep breath, I gave it a few quick knocks.

"Rebecca?"

Her voice was low and hoarse, but that failed to hide the hopeful tinge in her tone. I prayed she wouldn't be disappointed when she found out her friend was back amongst the guests and waiting for her grand entrance.

"Madelyn, it's Mary." I swallowed down a lump of tension and licked my lips. "Can I come in?"

"Oh, um, one moment Mary. I just need to..."

She never finished her thought. I heard some shuffling around, the rasp of fabric rubbing together, and what sounded like the blow of a nose into a tissue. Then the door crept open.

"Hi Mary, I'm so glad you could make it. How can I help you?" She didn't open the door all the way, instead she hid behind it, with only her face peeking out through the gap. However, that was all I needed to know my fears were true. She tried her best, the dear thing, but mascara bleeds so easily with tears yet stubbornly ignores attempts to wipe it away with a tissue.

"Madelyn, you don't help anyone on your wedding day. It's me that's come to help you. Please let me in."

She bit her lips and stared at me for several minutes before dropping her head and stepping aside so I could make my way in. With the door open, I saw the piles of tissues in the trash can, though several remained balled up and scattered upon the bedspread. She tried to snatch them up, but we both knew I'd already seen them.

"So," I started, not sure how to proceed when Madelyn looked like a rabbit ready to bolt. Where exactly she would run to was up for debate and the lack of an obvious exit was probably why she remained small and compact in the center of the room, her eyes tracing the floorboards and her fingers picking at her recently painted nails. Taking a deep breath, I closed the door behind me, blocking her only escape, and then braced my fists against my hips as my back straightened and my jaw clenched. "Okay, let's start with cleaning up your makeup. After that, why don't you tell me who exactly your bridesmaids are, so I can grab them by the ear and drag them up here."

"I...I don't have any bridesmaids." Her words were lost behind her hiccups and she slid onto a small stool before burying her head in her arms, which she crossed over top her vanity.

"Surely, that's not true," I said, my words tight as my heart clenched. "What about Rebecca?" I walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, before doing my best to kneel in my pencil skirt so I could get at her eye level. "She was up here helping you earlier, right?"

"I... I mean... aren't bridesmaids supposed to be these women that you've been close to all your life? That you've grown up with?" She took a breath, her words wet with tears. "Rebecca is almost ten years younger than me and I'm her boss. Plus, I've only known her for a couple of years and..."

"And she went down to tell Jordan how beautiful you look, how strong you are, and how she's going to cry her eyes out because she's so happy for you."

At this, Madelyn turned her head and blinked away a few tears, but said nothing. So I continued.

"She's your friend," I said with a smile. "I don't know her very well, but I know she would have felt honored to be your bridesmaid."

"It, however, would have only reaffirmed to everyone down there that I don't have anyone outside of this town to call my own." She sniffed and fought off a fresh set of tears that threatened to break free. "I know this sounds ridiculous, but I thought I'd actually feel less lonely if I didn't have a bridal party. I mean, the only way I could have one was to fill it with people I met through him. Isn't a wedding about two families merging as one? Right now, it just feels like I'm inserting myself into his and being absorbed in instead of creating something new from two unique lives. Does that make sense?"

"I think it does." I rose from my crouched position and shook my legs out, finding my knees not as resilient as they used to be. Fortunately, Madelyn didn't take my departure as an insult and instead pulled herself away from the vanity and turned to watch me in the center of the room. With her eyes made large in the sheen of her unshed tears, she looked like a lost puppy begging for a home. She wanted comfort. She wanted me to tell her she was wrong, but I couldn't.

"I wish I could tell you that those people out there are just as much yours now as they are Jordan's and, I mean, they are..." I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck as I looked to the floor. I wasn't sure how to say this without it hurting, but sometimes there was no way around it. Sometimes exposing the wound was the best way to let it heal. "But we both know they came here for Jordan. They may be as eager to celebrate you as well as him, but I know there's no way around the fact that they were all originally his family and friends."

I bit my lower lip, uncertain if I should continue, but no new tears fell. Instead, she pinched her lips to conceal her frown and gave her head a stiff nod.

"But that doesn't mean you're alone," I continued. "Sure, they started off with him, but you can claim them as your own by winning them over with your own charm and personality. They may have initially spent time with you because of him, but at some point, they'll start wanting to be with you because you are you. And I'm sure some of those people down there already feel that way."

Madelyn turned to the window, where she could see the people sitting in their seats, waiting for the ceremony to start. I glanced at the clock on the wall and I felt certain someone would tear up the steps any minute to figure out where Madelyn was, since we were almost five minutes behind schedule. I think the only reason no one had done so yet was because Jordan likely wanted to give Madelyn the freedom to collect herself for what had to be a bittersweet ceremony for her.

"You know, Jordan initially wanted us to do a courthouse wedding." She sniffed before grabbing a tissue and wiping her nose. "But I was the one that was adamant we do a traditional white wedding. He has so many friends and family here, I couldn't deny them this moment. I wanted them to celebrate. I wanted them to get together and party in our name. And I thought I was prepared to stand there alone at the altar without a parent to give me away. But as we got closer and closer to today, and his parents were so busy stopping by to help set things up and chatting about what uncle to keep away from the wine and which cousin was likely to smash the cake before we could cut it, I realized I didn't have anyone to share those family moments with. I was a spectator watching his."

"You're going to make your own family now," I said, before catching myself and quickly adding, "that is if you want to, you know, have a family larger than you two. Not to say you two aren't your own family like you need a chi..." I cleared my throat and looked at her from the side of my eye. Thankfully, I found her smiling up at me. I realized that's the first smile she'd given me on a day that was supposed to keep her grinning from start to finish. Finding some courage in her bright eyes, I continued. "And, you know, family means a lot of things. I know your blood relatives are gone and sadly, there's nothing we can do about that, but family just means someone who will always be there for you, who you can rely on, who cares about you, and..."

"Mary," she said, interrupting my jumbled words before rising from her seat. "Why did you come here? I was never that nice to you at work, but you never gave up on me."

"Oh well," I said with a little laugh in my throat, "you were no worse than my daughter. I was used to being pushed away, but I can't help but worry."

"You came here all on your own after I moved." She took a few steps over so we didn't have the entire room between us. "No one else even bothered to send a followup email after wishing me well. And it was you that planned my goodbye party." She paused, her smile wavering as some more moisture collected along her eyelids. "And then, I don't know why, I just... A few months ago when I felt so bogged down with everything, you were the person I knew to call and you came without hesitation. You were there with me, picking out my dress and chauffeuring me from one vendor meeting to the next. You took care of me when you had no reason to. Why is that?"

"I... I don't know," I said with a fragile smile. "I just care about you, Madelyn. Maybe it's just the mother in me, but I simply couldn't bear to see you alone and if you needed help, I wanted to give it. I just couldn't leave you be without knowing you were okay. It's just... The thing is, there will never be a time in which I will feel confident in letting you be. I know I should. I know I have no right to hover around, but I just can't leave you, Madelyn, and until you forcibly remove me, I'm going to keep coming back."

I smiled as I felt a tear careen down my cheek. This was why Roger groaned every time I saw a stray cat in an alleyway. I didn't know how to let go and let things be. However, despite all, Madelyn was still smiling at me, so I went and put my whole heart on the table. "But you know, even if you threw me out and told me never to come back, I'd probably still be watching you from afar. Ready to return if you ever needed me. I hope you don't hate me for it."

At this, her composure broke, and she threw herself towards me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and burying her face in my neck.

"Mary," she said in between sobs, "would you hate me if I asked you something that's really personal and probably out of line?"

"Of course I wouldn't," I said, returning her embrace. "Especially since you don't hate me for not leaving you alone."

"Would you... would you walk me down the aisle?"

Madelyn's body tensed after she released her request out into the world, unable to draw it back in again. It didn't help that my whole body went stiff as a board as well. I'm not even sure my heart continued to beat.

"I'm sorry." She pulled away, stumbling over to the vanity to grab a couple more tissues. "I shouldn't have... That wasn't right of me..."

"Of course, I'll do it," I said, desperately trying to maintain control of my words. "I'd do it in a heartbeat so long as this is what you really want."

She stopped pulling tissues out of the box and turned to face me with large, stunned eyes.

"Y-yes," she answered, shaking her head as she sorted through her words. She took a deep breath and gave her whole body a shake before continuing. "I know I've been a bit rebellious with you, but every time you offered me a place at your table, I didn't feel so alone. I wouldn't accept it. I thought I was better than that, but the day you came to visit me here for the first time, I realized just how grateful I was to have you. I haven't had much family, but standing here now, I realize I've had you this whole time. Even if we aren't blood, you're that piece of me that exists outside of this town, that is here for me and no one else."

She bit her lips to keep them from trembling. After a few breaths, she continued. "I know I'm not your daughter, but..."

"You're my daughter now." I wrapped her in my arms before she could deny me. "And I know I'm no replacement for your mother, but I hope you will find it in you to look to me if you ever need anything. I'm here for you, Madelyn."

With that, she got out the last of her tears and we just stood there together while everyone else waited outside in the uncomfortable heat, eager to see what had become of their much awaited bride.

"Madelyn?" We both jumped at the sound of a new voice, which was followed by a light knock on the door. "It's Jordan. Can I come in?"

I watched as Madelyn's eyes went wide, surveying the tissues all over the room before grimacing upon catching sight of her face in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to step into my new role.

"Jordan," I called, striding over to the door, "you best not come in here. You know it's bad luck to see the bride before a wedding."

"Who?" He paused for a moment and then continued. "Mrs. Wendell?"

"That's right, now I need you to go back downstairs and tell the guests that there's just been a bit of a makeup emergency and that we need more time to fix it."

"Right, okay," he said, his voice losing some of its trepidation as he began to understand the situation.

"Also," I said, pausing to glance back at Madelyn, uncertain if I should cross this boundary. However, she was my adoptive daughter now and if she were my real daughter, I wouldn't have hesitated to do what I needed to do. So I turned back to the door and finished my command. "Also, I need you to go grab the Maid of Honor."

"Maid of Honor?" he asked, the fear slipping back into his voice.

"Rebecca Walsh, of course. Tell her she needs to get up here to help with the makeup. Also, see to it that she has a bouquet. Do you have a Best Man?"

"No," he said, his tone quickly shifting into something confident and eager, "but I have a brother that could easily fill that position."

"Good. Give him the job of sorting out a bouquet. You need to get back down there and wait for your bride."

"Yes, ma'am." And with that, he was gone.

Not long after, Rebecca came in with tears glistening on her cheeks. I reprimanded her for causing her own makeup emergency, but she laughed it off considering I wasn't looking much better. With some quick work, we cleaned ourselves up and made sure Madelyn was the picture of radiant happiness.

As we were fluffing her train and adjusting the pins in her hair, a young man, not much older than my daughter, came knocking. He had a hastily put together bouquet that he arranged by plucking flowers out of centerpieces. It was a bit of a mess, but Rebecca had it straightened out without too much hassle. She even pulled out a lace doily from under a vase and wrapped it around the stems, binding it all together with a thin hair tie.

We made our way down the stairs and Rebecca dashed outside to cue the string quartet to start the music. Everyone rose as I opened the doors from the lounge and then ushered the smiling Madelyn through it.

Then, as we stood looking down the aisle where her blissfully stunned husband-to-be stood, I turned to her, fearful she may back out of our arrangement. It was easy to promise things in the heat of emotions, but now, as she faced the reality of swapping out her parents for a stand-in mother, would she back out?

What I found was a blushing bride with a sweet, confident smile on her face. No words passed between us, but she gave me a nod and I knew there was no going back. Taking her arm, I guided her down the aisle, standing by her side in front of all the people who'd come to see Jordan's wedding. With me there beside her, I reminded them that though we may be outnumbered, Madelyn was not coming into their lives and their town alone. She was her own woman, with her own past, and her own family. She brought all of it to the altar, bringing her own identity to be joined with his as equal parts of a whole.

At the end of the aisle, I gave her a hug and before I could escape, Jordan moved in to embrace me too, just as he would have had Madelyn's real mother been there. I barely made it to my seat before the tears broke past my defenses.

"Well," said my husband in a bemused whisper as I pulled several tissues out of my clutch, "usually, when you take in a stray cat, I don't have to explain it to the other cats. All I have to do is put them in different rooms and close the door. How am I going to explain to our four children that they now have an older sister?"

I blew my nose and dabbed my eyes, watching the officiant profess words of love and family while Madelyn and Jordan smiled with grins so large you could see every tooth. Then I turned to Roger and answered him with an unconcerned pinch of my lips.

"We tell them we have more than enough love to go around, so they can find it within themselves to share." I then straightened myself out, standing tall and strong like the proud mother I had agreed to be. "Also, tell them there's a chance for more Christmas presents. How can they argue with that?"

He shrugged and then we both watched the ceremony in silence, ready to celebrate the creation of Madelyn's new family.