Red

Chapter Twenty Nine

ONE YEAR LATER...

Chandler POV:

God, I hope I look okay.

Duke and Mac are both helping with my dress. They had gone with me to buy it the other day, and it's very... me. It's simple, but I think it looks nice. I just hope I look nice in it. Obviously, I tried it on in the store and loved it, but now the nerves are kicking in, and I have no idea what to do about it.

"You look amazing," Mac assures me, fixing the clip in my hair that holds up the hairpiece. It covers the back of my hair, which is currently tied up in a bun. It's white lace, something that Duke had actually picked out for me. She's been helping me as much throughout the wedding process as Mac has, and they've been spending a lot of time together, too. They're really getting close, and it's nice to see.

"Thanks, Sunshine," I tell her, still having kept the pet name from so many years before. Duke is behind me, making sure the dress is zipped up all the way. 

"You're good," Duke tells me, and I turn to face her, smiling slightly.

"Thanks," I say, and then, I turn back to the mirror. The dress looks just like it did in the store: amazing. I still look nervous, however. I take in a deep breath, fixing a strand of hair in the front of my face. Just then, I hear little footsteps pattering down the hallway outside of the room.

"Mama," I hear MacKenzie say from outside, and she pushes the door open with her tiny hands. When she sees me, a proud grin spreads across her face.

"Mac, honey, you're supposed to be with Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer," I tell her as she approaches me, holding her arms up like she wants me to pick her up. I sigh, reaching down and scooping her up into my arms. She's five now. How much longer will she want me to pick her up? Not that I mind picking her up. She's fucking adorable.

"They said I could come see you," she says. Then, she looks down at my dress and back up at me. "Are you a princess? You look like a princess."

I can't help but smile at that. "Not a princess, no. Just Mama in a nice dress."

"You and Mommy are getting married," she says happily.

"Yes, we are," I reply. "And you're going to be our little flower girl. Did you get to see your basket?"

"Yeah!" she exclaims. "There was a bow on it."

I nod. "Mhm," I say, shifting her to my other hip and looking in the mirror. "And just look at how pretty you look. You're the one who looks like a princess." She really does look precious in her little blue dress with a red bow. I had been the one to suggest the bow. I had to get a splash of my color in there somehow. 

MacKenzie giggles and blushes at my compliment, nuzzling into my neck like she always does when she's shy. Duke and Mac look on, smiling at her. 

"Now, I have to finish getting ready, so do you think you could go back out and wait with Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer?" I ask her, looking at her.

She sighs. "Guess so," she grumbles. I set her back down, planting a kiss on top of her head.

I take her hand, turning back to Mac and Duke. "I'm gonna make sure she gets back out to the Sawyers," I tell them. 

"Okay," Mac says, smiling. "Bye, MacKenzie."

"Bye," MacKenzie replies, smiling back. "Bye, Duke."

"Goodbye," Duke replies, smiling at her.

With that, I lead her out of the room and down the hall to where Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer are. They look apologetic as I approach, and Mrs. Sawyer immediately starts apologizing. "She wanted to see her Mama, Heather," she tells me. "We just-"