“I’m a bride,” she murmured, eyes dazed with wonder. “And I’m beautiful.”

“Here you are.” Mrs. Grady stepped up to hand Mac the diamond earrings Carter had given her. “Little Mackensie—skinny-assed redhead—as beautiful a bride as ever stood in this room.”

“Mrs. G.” Mac lowered her brow to Mrs. Grady’s. “Would you help me with the headband?”

It was a mother’s pleasure, Parker thought, to crown the bride. And touching to watch as Mrs. Grady slipped the glittering band into Mac’s bright hair.

“It suits you. You were right, Emma, it suits her.” Stepping back, Mrs. Grady dabbed at her eyes. “You’ll do.”

“Not quite yet.” Parker opened a drawer in the little bureau, took out a box. “I know you had something else in mind for something borrowed, but I’d like it if you’d wear this.”

Opening the box, she took out a delicate diamond necklace, three thin, sparkling strands.

“Parker.” Mac barely breathed the word. “It’s your mother’s.”

“My father gave it to her for their anniversary. I know they’d like it if you wore it today, and for me, it’s like having them here. A part of them here.They loved you.”

“Oh God.”

“No crying,” Parker ordered.

“Well, you make it damn near impossible not to. I’d love to wear it. I’d love—” Her voice simply broke as she shook her head. “I can’t say anything else or I won’t make it.”

“Here.” Parker slipped the strands on, fastened them.“It’s perfect.”

Lifting her hand, Mac touched the necklace. “I like having them with me today, with all of us.”

Monica stepped in. “Oh, Mac, you’re just stunning. Carter’s going to need oxygen when he sees you.You might need some yourself. He looks incredibly handsome. I wanted to let you know, Karen, you should start the formals. Is there anything I can do for any of you?”

“Is my mother here?” Mac asked her.

“Not yet.”

“Probably just as well. Okay, Karen, I’m all yours.”

“I want some in here, then out on the terrace, then some with the bouquet before we add your attendants.”

“The flowers will be here when you’re ready,” Emma told her.

“I’m going to check on the guys,” Parker told Laurel. “And don’t start on me.”

“I’m amazed you’ve held out this long. Go for it.”

She slipped out, picked up her skirts, and made a dash to the Groom’s Suite. After a quick knock she eased open the door.“Female alert.”

“You’re cleared,” Del called out.

She stepped in. “Monica was right. Carter, you are incredibly handsome.” And adorable when the tips of his ears blushed. “All of you look wonderful. I just wanted—”

As Jack moved over to adjust his tie in the mirror, she saw Malcolm, in jeans and a sweatshirt, sipping a beer. “I didn’t know you were here. Hanging out with the boys?”

“What? Oh ... ah. Right.”

He looked a little glassy-eyed, she thought, and she started to suggest he go easy on the beer when he set it down.

“Karen’s starting on the formals on our side, so she should be ready to start yours in about fifteen minutes. Carter, you’re going to want your father. I’ll send your mother over when it’s time. Oh, and—”

“Out.” Del steered her toward the door. “You’re MOH not wedding planner today.”

“I keep hearing that.Then I guess I’ll see you when the clock strikes. Malcolm, I hope you’ve got a suit with you.”

“What am I, an idiot? I’ve got plenty of time.”

“We’ll kick him out,” Jack told her. “Looking good, Parker. Damn good.”

She laughed, did a red-carpet turn. “Yes, I am.”

“And don’t worry.” Bob, Carter’s best man and colleague, held up a notebook computer. “I’ve got it handled on this end. And I memorized the vows just in case he needs me to throw him a line.”

“You’re a treasure, Bob.”

She waited until she was out of earshot to laugh.

“Just in time,” Emma said.

“That wasn’t long enough for—”

“For the bouquet. I wanted all of us here. Mac.” Emma lifted it from its box. “The final touch.”

“Oh, Emma, oh wow. I even saw it in progress, but—just wow.”

Mac took the waterfall of roses and lilies, deep colors, bold colors given subtle sparkle with tiny glass beads and pearls. It cascaded from waist to knee.

“It’s just ...” She stared down at it, then up at Emma. “The blue butterfly.There’s a blue butterfly in the bouquet.”

“It’s for luck, and love.”

“You didn’t tell us you were doing that.” Laurel moved closer to look. “Emma, you sentimental slob. It’s absolutely great.”

“Carter has one, too—just a tiny one on his boutonniere.”

“I might as well tell you, I put one on the cake—sort of a Where’s Waldo? deal.”

“Laurel,” Mac said with a watery laugh, “you sentimental slob.”

“With the butterfly Parker had put on Mac’s blue garter, that makes three of us.” Emma reached in to take out the other bouquets.

“Just when I thought today couldn’t get any more fabulous, it—”

Mac broke off as the door all but blew open and her mother made her entrance in murderous, low-cut red. “Well, don’t you all look . . . sweet. Such interesting colors. I left Ari downstairs. I just had to dash up and ...”

The smirk faded as her eyes tracked over, landed on Mac. Parker had the intense pleasure of seeing the stupefied shock land on Linda’s face.

Yeah, that’s right, you selfish, self-serving bitch. She’s spectacular. And nothing you can say or do will spoil one moment of her day.

“Mackensie, you’re lovely.You really are. Oh, my baby’s getting married!” She threw up her hands and hurried across the room to embrace Mac. “I never thought I’d see this day come.”

Over Linda’s head, Mac rolled her eyes and grinned.