The next morning they all started getting ready to go over to Wild Creek ranch for a fun filled day. Robbie was the most excited at the prospect of spending the day with baby Andrea. Rihanna wore a lilac one-shouldered gown with the same crystal embellishments on their bodice, just like the other bridesmaids would wear. She fixed white floral hair accessories like the other girls would. The moment she came out of the bedroom, ready in her bridesmaid's gown, Hunter's jaws dropped. He stood up and walked towards her with an excited Robbie following him.
"Mommy, you look like an angel," he said, his eyes shimmering with adoration.
"Thank you, sweetie. You're looking very handsome in this tux," she said, admiring the grey tuxedo that Robbie wore. Hunter had bought it for him from aunt Charlotte's boutique. Hunter cleared his throat with jealousy. Rihanna smiled at him knowingly, her eyes checking him out. He was looking extremely gorgeous in his black tuxedo. She had never seen him in a tux before and she could imagine how he would look on their wedding day. Drool worthy and completely hers!
"What do you have to say about me?" asked Hunter, leaning closer to her.
"Not bad," she said, suppressing a grin at seeing his expression.
"Okay. Same for you then," he shrugged. Rihanna laughed.
"Okay, you look gorgeous, as always. Happy?"
"Yes, very happy. Even you look gorgeous and angelic," he whispered. Robbie got bored.
"Can we go already? I want to see what baby Andrea will wear," said Robbie. They locked up the house and drove over to Wild Creek Ranch. Ember and the bridesmaids were getting ready at Ember's grandparents' house and Rihanna's mom was about to go there with Adelaide and Andrea, Renée and Raine. Aunt Charlotte had arranged for an attendant who was accompanying them to get Ember ready.
"Anna, why don't you come along with Robbie?" said her mom.
Rihanna helped an excited Robbie sit beside Adelaide and Andrea and then climbed into the truck with him. Raine drove them to Ember's house. Later on they all brought a beautiful and ethereal looking Ember decked in her bridal gown to the wedding arch created on the sprawling gardens of Wild Creek Ranch.
The wedding arch was erected at the same place as Rhett's was. Lilac colored tulle and lavender wreaths decorated the arch. The aisle was strewn with lavender sprigs, while the chairs were decorated with white satin bows. Hunter leaned in towards her.
"We will have blush pink roses and tulips interspersed with red roses for our wedding. I'll change the floral decor to the same structure. Anything else you would like for your dream wedding, darlin?" he asked, looking deep into her eyes as if her answer was very important to him, as if he wanted to fulfill every dream of hers.
Rihanna shook her head. "Nothing else. Thank you Hunter. You have taken care of everything to make my dream a reality." His eyes sparkled with love.
"I'm glad, baby," he said, touching his heart and then walking off with a grin, his dimples deepening. Rihanna's heart skipped a beat. Did she see love in his eyes? She was sure that she had. The wedding ceremony started and Rihanna could feel Hunter's eyes upon her throughout the ceremony. The words spoken about the holy union of marriage were special and so were the vows that Rex and Ember took. Hunter's eyes seemed to communicate with hers, promising her to fulfill all of those mentioned and much more. She couldn't look away.
Their wedding was in three days and it would be the most special day of their lives. Hunter had planned for their honeymoon since Robbie was over the moon at the prospect of spending a few days with his favorite baby sister. Adelaide, too, was eager to have him, and so were the other members of the Wilson family. Afterwards, they posed for family photographs.
"Anna, you need to sit with us and decide about what you need for your wedding? What to dismantle or what else to add and so on and so forth?" reminded her mom.
"Yes, and the menu and the cake," reminded her granny.
"Okay, I'll stay back to discuss it. You'll decide on the menu. I'll only decide the cake," said Rihanna.
"What about Hunter's guests?" asked aunt Helen, who was Ryder, Ryan and Renée's mom. She was a veterinary and very busy at either her own clinic or at their dairy farm or with the horses.
"You can ask him," said Rihanna.
"Since I'm your maid of honor, I'll get a blush pink colored dress from aunt Charlotte's boutique tomorrow," said Adelaide.
"Me too," said Renée.
"Even me," said Raine.
Rex and Ember were going on their honeymoon to a luxurious resort at Great Falls, on the banks of the Missouri River, and wouldn't be available for Rihanna's wedding. They walked towards the reception party venue, all the girls excitedly planning their clothes and accessories for Rihanna's wedding.
Rihanna found baby Andrea in Hunter's arms, dressed in a lilac dress with a lavender bow on her head, making baby noises at Robbie, who excitedly jumped up and down. "Say my name Andrea. Say R o b b i e," he said, trying to break it up.
"Go goo," said Andrea, staring at him with her baby blue eyes. She seemed so comfortable in Hunter's arms, as if she'd known Hunter all her life. Rihanna's heart skipped a beat at seeing the three of them. They looked so happy and perfectly normal now. She said a silent prayer to God that her little family always stayed this happy.
"Mommy, can I stay over tonight with baby Andrea?" asked Robbie.
"Not tonight, sweetie. Aunt Adelaide is tired tonight. You can stay three days later. Okay? Now let's eat lunch," she told him and Hunter. Robbie caught her hand and walked with her towards the immense tables where all the guests were accumulated for the toasts and the best man and maid of honor speeches. Hunter followed with baby Andrea, who seemed to like being in his arms.
Afterwards, when the party was over and Rex and Ember had left to go on their honeymoon, the women sat down to plan Rihanna's wedding.
"I hate these elaborate weddings. Ryan's wedding is the best with just an 'I do' and a kiss," said Ryder.
"C'mon, you get married only once. At least you should feel like a queen once in your life," said Rihanna.
"Oh, Hunter will make you feel like a queen every day, won't you Hunter?" Chuckled Ryder. Hunter chuckled, too.
"You bet!" he said as Rihanna blushed.
Hunter wanted to invite Gemma and no one else. He would throw a feast for his employees later at his ranch. After planning for the wedding, Rihanna's mom wanted to have a small homely bridal shower for Rihanna.
"Come home tomorrow for dinner with Robbie. We'll organize a small bridal shower get together for you," said her mom.
"We could hang out in the evening at a pub, Hunter. What do you say?" asked Ryder.
"Sure," Hunter grinned. They both went out to discuss with Rhett and Sawyer. By the time they left Wild Creek Ranch, it was evening. Aunt Katherine had packed a lot of food for them so that Rihanna didn't need to make dinner. They just came home and freshened up. Rihanna fed a drowsy and exhausted Robbie and prepared him for bed. She tucked him in his bed and kissed him on his forehead. He was fast asleep in no time.
Later they had their dinner together, talking about everything under the sun except Hunter's feelings for her, of course. He told her about Carson, who was Robbie's older sibling. He missed him immensely, as he had literally brought them up like his own since the day they were born. It was then that Rihanna decided that if she ever gave birth to a boy, she would call him Carson. As they cuddled to sleep, he told her about his parents, his childhood and his brother and his wife. She learnt a lot about him.
"You loved your family, Hunter. See? Your heart can love," she pointed out.
"Of course it can. I'm just scared to love," he admitted softly. Rihanna was confused. Why would someone be scared to love?
"Why are you so scared, Hunter?" she whispered.
"I lose the people I love, Rihanna. I lose them forever. So, I'm scared. I don't want to lose you forever," he admitted, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Rihanna pulled him close and hugged him tightly.
"You'll never lose me, Hunter. You didn't lose anyone because you loved them. It was fated to happen. You love Robbie. He's still with you, isn't he? Don't be scared to love. Set your heart free, let it live without fear," she explained to him, caressing his hair lovingly. He leaned into her touch.
"I love you too, Rihanna. I realized that I'm in love with you the day I had returned at night and saw you lying on my sofa. You hadn't left me. You had listened to your heart. That was the day I too listened to my heart," he admitted fearlessly, feeling an overwhelming sense of completeness and satisfaction.