A Bridesmaid to Remember

way to work together for the success of your family. Your new family.”
Bonnie smiled. Lauren would always be a Cole, even if she planned to take Mitch’s last name. The Bennetts were a prominent family in Blue Springs. They, of course, had lots of money and plenty of influence, but they weren’t a founding family like the Coles. Lauren’s ties to her father’s name would always be stronger than her ties to his.
Bonnie glanced out at the guests as the minister continued on. The church was filled to capacity, and someone had said there were people who hadn’t been invited to the wedding gathering outside the church hoping to catch a glimpse of the happy couple after the ceremony.
Bonnie still had to pinch herself. Was she really the maid of honor at a wedding like this? When she befriended Lauren back in elementary school, she’d had no idea what being the friend of a Cole would entail. There were definite advantages to being her sidekick growing up, but at the same time, Lauren didn’t exactly make it easy to be her friend, either.
No one had been safe from Lauren’s wrath during the wedding planning. “Bridezilla” could describe Lauren on a good day. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and would not stop until she got it. No matter whom she had to run over. She had wanted everything to be perfect, and as far as Bonnie could tell, she had made that happen.
The church aisle was lined with bunches of pale pink and white roses. A giant halo of those same roses, as well as orchids and hydrangea, hung above the bride and groom. Lauren carried a ballerina bouquet of pink peonies and cascading white orchids. Bonnie knew this was nothing compared to what awaited them at the reception at the Cole Winery after the ceremony. Lauren had wanted a secret garden theme, and her father had spared no expense. The reception flowers had been delivered by the truckload.
“If any of you has a reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Bonnie wasn’t sure why Lauren had left this part in the ceremony. Maybe she wanted to make sure there weren’t any ex-boyfriends still pining away for her. Even if there were, it wasn’t like anyone would dare to disrupt this moment for her. No one was that self-destructive.
“I do,” Mitch choked out.
There was a quiet rumble of laughter through the church. Lauren let out a nervous giggle. “Not yet, honey,” she whispered to him. “Wait until our part.”
Bonnie exchanged looks with Cheryl Cooper, the bridesmaid on her left as they faced the congregation. Leave it to Mitch to be so worried about what he was supposed to say that he prematurely gave his consent to be married. Lauren had been so hard on him last night at the rehearsal, threatening to make him sleep alone on their wedding night if he messed up his vows.
Mitch dabbed his forehead with the handkerchief. “No, I mean that I object.”
Silence fell over the church like a heavy blanket. It was as if everyone was holding their breath in shock. Bonnie locked eyes with Aaron, Mitch’s best man and Lauren’s older brother. Had Mitch just said what they thought he said? Did he have a death wish no one was aware of?
“What?” Lauren asked, her tone disbelieving.
“I’m so sorry, Lauren. I know that you put a lot into planning all this and you’ve been waiting impatiently for today to come. I know we talked about being together forever, but I wasn’t being honest with you or myself.”
Bonnie braced herself for the complete meltdown Lauren was about to have. It was unbelievable that something like this could happen to someone like her. Never in a million years was this how anyone could have imagined this was going to go. No one told Lauren no. No one.
“I need you to stop and think about what you’re doing right now, Mitchell. You have been in love with me since high school. You wanted to marry me almost immediately after we started dating.”
“I was infatuated with you back in high school. Who wasn’t? You’re Lauren Cole. But I’m not in love with you. I’m in love with someone else,” he admitted, causing everyone in the church to gasp.
Red alert! Bonnie could imagine the heat building inside Lauren’s body. She was about to explode. Who in the world could Mitch be in love with if it wasn’t Lauren?
Curiosity coursed through Bonnie’s veins. There had never been any doubt that he’d had a crush on Lauren since they were teenagers. Lauren had always said so. They hadn’t dated in high school but were friends. After college, he’d spent a few years backpacking all over Europe before coming back to Blue Springs to work for his dad. Soon after that, Lauren had decided he was the one for her. And what Lauren wanted, she got. No one really thought about what Mitch wanted. It was assumed that he wanted Lauren.
Bonnie was kind of proud of him for getting out from under Lauren’s thumb before it was too late. If he wasn’t in love with her, he shouldn’t marry her, for his sake and hers. She did wish he had thought to speak his piece before today, though. This was no way to break up with anyone, especially Lauren.
“Bonnie,” Mitch said, stepping around Lauren.
Why was he talking to her? Maybe he was going to ask her to take care of Lauren. That had to be it.
“Bonnie?” Lauren screeched. “Are you kidding me?”
No. He wasn’t in love with her. She wanted to believe that, but he looked at Bonnie like he only had eyes for her. She felt like all the blood had drained from her face. No, no, no, no, no.
“You are the most incredible woman I know. Mostly because you don’t even realize how amazing you are. I’ve fallen in love with you, and I can’t deny it anymore.”
Lauren’s worst