My Western Sky

By Suzanne Kozikowski

Romance. Adventure. Courage. Suspense.

Ashlee Brookes is an innocent and affable young woman who works as a veterinary technician, a part-time photographer, and a horse rescuer. She lives happily in a quaint New England town on a large ranch with her adoring husband, Hunter. One day, Ashlee receives the devastating news that would rock her world and the worlds of all those who love her. Ashlee's future has now been irrevocably changed that dark day.

Many years later, their adult daughter will find herself desperate to find an organ donor for her mother, evade a stealthy assassin, and expose a human trafficking ring. Time is quickly running out for Ashlee. Her only hope now may be an impossible, mysterious stranger who could possibly save her life, in a way that Ashlee could never have imagined.

Both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. My Western Sky is a story of love, hope, and loss. You won't want to put it down as you follow the twists and turns of the lives of Ashlee and Ivy and those they meet along the way. My Western Sky chronicles the wonder of just how far one might go to help someone they love - both in distance and in mental stamina. A tale of unwavering hope and determination with science and mystery mixed skillfully into the plot. My Western Sky will have you routing for a young woman desperate to do whatever it takes to save the person who had always been there for her. Profound and touching. Suzanne reminds us all that time is the most valuable currency and the only thing we can't get back.

-J. Grise'

Outstanding. My Western Sky's engaging characters harness the reader's attention right from the start. The engaging storyline is full of romance, intrigue, and suspense. It's a wildly adventurous and futuristic story that keeps the reader from putting the book down. My Western Sky will keep readers captivated for many years to come.

-H. Garner

Intelligent and great fun. My Western Sky is a delightful novel, well worth the read. A nice balance of something for everyone with its variety of personalities, all with their unique life experiences. A truly enjoyable reading experience that was hard to put down. I highly recommend this story.

-J. Tallet

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662465222

Book preview

cover.jpg

My Western Sky

Suzanne Kozikowski

Copyright © 2022 Suzanne Kozikowski

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-6520-8 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-6522-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Reviews

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

About the Author

To Brittany, Brooke, Shanelle, and my husband and my rock, Frank. It's been a long and emotional journey. Thank you for your love.

Reviews

Both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. My Western Sky is a story of love, hope, and loss. You won't want to put it down as you follow the twists and turns of the lives of Ashlee and Ivy and those they meet along the way. My Western Sky chronicles the wonder of just how far one might go to help someone they love—both in distance and in mental stamina. A tale of unwavering hope and determination with science and mystery mixed skillfully into the plot. My Western Sky will have you rooting for a young woman desperate to do whatever it takes to save the person who had always been there for her. It is profound and touching. Suzanne reminds us all that time is the most valuable currency and the only thing we can't get back.

—J. Grisé

Outstanding. My Western Sky's engaging characters harness the reader's attention right from the start. The engaging storyline is full of romance, intrigue, and suspense. It's a wildly adventurous and futuristic story that keeps the reader from putting the book down. My Western Sky will keep readers captivated for many years to come.

—H. Garner

Intelligent and great fun. My Western Sky is a delightful novel, well worth the read. A nice balance of something for everyone with its variety of personalities, all with their unique life experiences. A truly enjoyable reading experience that was hard to put down. I highly recommend this story.

—J. Tallet

Chapter 1

Heavy hooves rhythmically pounded the soft ground with an excited clatter. Ashlee's long blond hair trailed behind her. Louie was taking Ashlee on an adrenaline-fueled gallop through their vast meadow. It was springtime. The wildflowers and tall grasses had sprung, and the smell of sweet lilac wafted through her nostrils. Ashlee's very competitive husband, Hunter, raced ambitiously just behind, trying to pass her.

Just two lengths behind! he thought.

Get ready, boy! Ashlee yelled out to her horse, Louie. "First one over the bushes wins, boy. I've got a serious wager on this one. ‘Anything I want,' he said to me!"

The couple was headed full speed toward a long row of almost five-foot-tall shrubs that neatly intersected the meadow. Timed perfectly, Louie launched up gracefully into the air and clear over the shrubs, now three lengths ahead of Hunter.

Yes! Ashlee bellowed out to Hunter as she pumped her fist in the air.

Hunter's head dropped. Ugh, defeated again. Damn, this girl is too good! he thought.

Ashlee started riding when she was just two and a half years old and started competing in jumping competitions when she was eight. Hunter grew up at his grandfather's farm and rode many different types of horses. He was never formally trained in riding and had never taken part in competitions. He was simply a classic American cowboy, which is partly why Ashlee fell in love with him.

*****

Year 2021

Ashlee and Hunter Brookes were a dynamic couple who were very much in love. As a couple, they were striking. Ashlee had angelic, beautifully proportioned features and sparkling big blue eyes. Hunter, was a tall, handsome, and chiseled cowboy with a distinct two-inch scar above his right eye. Being perpetually accident prone, Hunter, received this injury when he was just a boy.

It happened on a steamy June night when Hunter was just twelve years old. He was sequestered all night in his grandfather's barn helping his favorite mare, Meeka, deliver her foal. His grandpa usually performed this task, but he was away at a trade show for a couple days. This was Hunter's chance to prove to his grandfather that he could manage the farm when his grandfather was away. The horse had been struggling for several hours, and Hunter felt he should not leave her side. The stall was hot and humid, and the smell of blood and manure hung in the air.

At last, she was ready, and with an irrevocable final push, coupled with a strong tug by Hunter, the new foal was born. Along with the foal, there was a Noahesque gush of fluids and blood that spilled out onto the stall's floor. Hunter went to tear open the placental sac encompassing the foal's head when Meeka suddenly stretched out her back legs accidentally creating a decent gash above Hunter's right eye with her hoof. After twelve stitches and a piece of Mimi's apple pie, he was fine, but it left a permanent reminder on his face.

*****

Ashlee and Hunter met four years ago on July 2, 2017, at a horse auction in Albany, New York. (Funny side note: Ashlee insisted to her friends that Albany has been mispronounced all this time. She stated that Albany, should be pronounced "Al-bany, not All-bany," because of its spelling. She gave examples like alphabet, alkaline, alcohol, and albatross. She was a very stubborn and determined young woman.)

Ashlee loved to go to auctions to try to find the most desperate, sorry horses—ones that no one else would ever bid on and then buy them for next to nothing. She would then bring them home and give them the loving end that she felt they deserved.

Hunter went to this particular auction to find a gentle, quiet horse for his equine therapy program. His previous horse used for this purpose had passed away from old age at thirty-two. His program allowed autistic and special-needs children a chance to ride and bond with a majestic and kind animal.

Ashlee entered the auction arena early that warm summer morning, eager to get a first look at the horses for sale. She grabbed a listing sheet off the counter and started to browse the enormous stable. She saw many horses that looked out of her budget, and a few that could be considered. She noticed a dark-brown stallion in the end stall aggressively kicking its door. As she approached him, she thought to herself how scared he must be. He was kicking so forcefully that she became nervous that he might break the old, rusted lock on his stall. Suddenly the horse reared up and let out a loud neigh. Startled, Ashlee lurched backward, falling into something or someone. She turned around to find that she had just fallen into a person, a young and very handsome man. Mortified, she apologized nervously. The man laughed and told her not to worry about it and that he would live. They shared a laugh and continued on, looking at the horses together.

My name is Hunter, the amused man soon offered.

Oh, nice to meet you. My name is Ashlee, she said shyly.

The two began talking and sharing horse stories. Hunter told her about a horse he had as a boy named Jake. Jake would meet him in the paddock right at the end of their driveway every day after school. The horse knew what time school ended. It was so funny. Hunter chuckled.

Ashlee shared a story about one of her horses that loved strawberry pop tarts and jellybeans.

The two had a lot in common and decided to exchange phone numbers so they could talk again after the auction. In no time, they soon began dating and quickly fell in love. After a few months, Hunter started to write Ashlee sweet love letters. He wrote fourteen of them in total. But these letters were more than just love letters; he cleverly enclosed a secret message in the notes.

One beautiful snowy January evening, Hunter went to Ashlee's house and told her to go get the letters he had written to her over the past months. He then told her to put the dated notes in the sequence that she had received them.

Ashlee looked at Hunter, raised her brows, and impishly asked, What are you up to, Hunter Brookes?

He just smiled and said, Now look at the very first individual letter of each note and start writing them down.

Ashlee wrote the letters down one by one until she finished—willyoumarryme?

Ashlee screamed with excitement when she realized what was going on.

Hunter got down on one knee in front of Ashlee and took her hand and said, Ashlee Aurora Charest, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?

Yes, yes, yes! Ashlee squealed as she pulled him up to stand. She then gave him a sweet kiss—a kiss that seemed to last forever.

They were married six months later, on the same day that they met last year on July 2.

*****

After their beautiful wedding, Ashlee decided to continue to work her two jobs. She was a veterinary tech for Dr. Flannigan from Monday to Thursday and a pretty decent photographer on some weekends. She did mostly weddings and different types of formal portraiture. She had a makeshift darkroom in their basement, where she processed all her black-and-white portraits. Her true passion in photography lied in freelancing, mostly nature shots and animals, but there wasn't much money in that.

*****

Ashlee and Hunter now lived together in a small New England town, where they hoped to soon start a family. Ashlee had always loved children and wanted to have a large family.

Two years ago, Hunter's grandfather had died and deeded his ranch in Richmond, Massachusetts to Hunter to keep the farm and the land in the family. His grandfather knew that Hunter would never sell the land to developers, who would egregiously chop it up and build cookie-cutter neighborhoods upon it. Hunter's father was not deeded the land as he has had a serious gambling problem for ten years, and his grandfather knew that he would just gamble the ranch away in no time.

On their ranch, they had twelve horses, ten of which were Ashlee's rescue horses that had been headed to slaughter. Ashlee could not bear to see those majestic animals put to death simply because they were no longer useful. Ashlee had always believed that the secret to living was giving. A philosophy her mother had taught her when she was little.

The couple also took care of Hunter's grandmother, who lived with them since his grandfather died. It was kind of a package deal; if he wanted the ranch, Hunter had to commit to taking care of his grandmother until she passed.

Grandmother, or Mimi as they called her, was still able to help with the horses. She had arthritis, so she could not do anything that required heavy lifting. She could, however, let the horses out to pasture, fill their water troughs with the hose, help brush her fuzzy friends, and then give them their favorite treats, apples.

Their farm, located in the rolling Berkshire Hills, encompassed about ninety-two acres. It was set in a truly picture-postcard setting, very Norman Rockwellish. The 1890 white Victorian-style farmhouse sat high atop a grassy hill. Mimi said that they must have built it on higher ground for when the heavy rains came. There were numerous serious floods in New England before 1890, and many after that time as well. Mimi always said it was a good thing that the house was up high.

There was the Great Molasses Flood in 1919 and the Great Flood of 1936. They both destroyed many homes and farms. Many farmers' livestock perished as well. It was an awful tragedy. But this house weathered it out throughout the years, Mimi recalled.

Their farmhouse was appointed with a huge wraparound porch that faced the west. It was the perfect spot for Ashlee and Hunter to curl up together on the cozy slider bench and watch the beautiful sunsets some evenings.

To the right of the house was a small pond good for catfish catching but bad for producing mosquitoes. The backyard was peppered with apple trees, planted to treat the horses every summer, and to aid Mimi with making her award-winning apple pies.

Part of their land also was some well-trodden hiking paths that the townspeople and visitors often hiked. In the winters, they often used the land for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling; they offered the public access as well. They were, however, strictly against folks hunting on their land; that was not allowed. Down in the back, past the apple trees up on the hill, set the huge twenty-stall red barn. Two rows of ten stalls mirrored each other. There was a tack room and an office at the far end.

Ashlee and Hunter boarded six additional horses to help with expenses. They charged $600 a month for straight board and added another $200 if they had to feed the horse and muck the stall. All said and done, the couple made about $4,500 a month from boarders and probably another $1,000–$2,000 from the lessons that Hunter and, occasionally Ashlee, gave.

The barn had electricity with heat that grandfather had installed himself ten years ago. He was tired of chipping the ice out of the horse's water buckets all winter.

The farm also had the obligatory three cats that roamed the barn to control the mice and rat populations. Daisy, a black-and-white tuxedo breed, caught the barn's quota of mice each week. She was a stealthy hunter and yet was very friendly with the guests that frequented the stables. She also happily produced an adorable litter of kittens most springs, thanks to a neighbor's wayward calico tomcat, Chester, who frequented their barn. The couple usually kept one of the kits and then gave the rest of the litter away to good homes. Unfortunately, they usually lost a cat or two every year to the ferocious fisher cats and coyotes that resided in the nearby woods. They usually preyed on the younger, less-experienced kittens.

Outside the barn was an outdoor fenced-in ring measuring seventy-five feet by two-hundred feet. This is where the couple gave lessons to many aspiring young equestrians. They also hosted two or three riding shows for competition each summer. Hotdog, hamburger, chocolate chip cookies, and soda and beer sales were quite profitable. This further boosted their revenues to make their whole show run more smoothly.

Oddly, they didn't have any other animals on the farm, except for one sweet old golden retriever named Duke. He was given to Hunter on his twenty-first birthday on January 9, 2015, making Duke about six years old now. He immediately nicknamed him Dukie Boy. Everyone else called him Duke.

One year, late springtime, when Duke was about four years old, he came charging up to the house, barking and yelping inconsolably. Hunter was sitting on the front porch when he heard all the commotion.

What's wrong, Dukie Boy? Hunter asked, concerned.

Duke would not stop barking until Hunter started to follow him down to the back pasture. Duke led Hunter to the pasture, and there, trapped and tangled within the barbwire fence, was their neighbor's newest yearling.

He must have been trying to get to the new grass on our side of the fence and got twisted up, Hunter anxiously surmised.

Luckily, Hunter always kept his Swiss Army knife in his pocket. He quickly cut through the wire and freed the bloody yearling. Duke had saved the life of this young horse; this further confirmed to Hunter that Duke wasn't just an ordinary barn dog but a valued part of his family.

Chapter 2

September 25, 2021, morning

Ashlee flung open the door to her studio, flopped her keys on the table, and placed her Red Bull carefully down on the desk. Red Bull was a necessary vice, to help her get through these long, oftentimes, stressful weddings. This day, she had an especially crucial client and exciting career opportunity ahead of her. Later that evening at six, Ashlee would be photographing an especially important wedding client. It was the wedding of Dr. Nate Flannigan's daughter, Simone Flannigan.

Simone chose to get married on a Saturday evening for two reasons. First, she loved the diffuse light that was offered that time of day. It was a very soft, flattering, and forgiving light. Hopefully a beautiful sunset will bless them with a colorful backdrop, if Mother Nature will cooperate, Ashlee thought. Second, Simone and Martin, her new groom, would be leaving for their honeymoon in Spain the next morning at ten thirty, and Sunday was a convenient day to travel.

Martin loved Spain and went there often for seminars and lectures.

Dr. Flannigan, Ashlee's boss, was a veterinarian and an investor. She had worked for Dr. Flannigan as a veterinary tech for five years, and he valued her as a trusted technician. She was always available to help him with emergencies 24-7 because, unfortunately, animals don't get sick or hurt on a nine-to-five schedule.

Dr. F, as Ashlee affectionately called him, had many important people on the wedding guest list, most of the bigwigs in town. Dr. Flannigan had made many contributions to high-profile politicians and leaders over the years. To support their agendas, of course, but also to ultimately help his three children get into the best colleges. Unfortunately, it can be who you know when it comes to admissions into the Ivy League schools. Many of those politicians were coming to the wedding today. This event could make or break Ashlee's career in wedding photography.

Simone was Dr. Flannigan's only daughter, but she had two younger brothers. She was of average intelligence but was a hard worker and very disciplined. She would not have been able to get into Brown University, where she graduated from last year, on her own. All her father's donations sealed the deal, but he would never let Simone know this.

Today, she was marrying a Jewish fellow recently out of medical school, Dr. Martin Lowe.

Figures, Ashlee snidely thought, perfect bride, perfect life, but he'll probably have mistresses and a drinking and gambling problem.

Why Dr. Flannigan chose her to do this once-in-a-lifetime photography job for his only daughter's wedding thrilled and puzzled Ashlee. Although, he did thoroughly examine her portfolio and had appeared to be impressed. She still felt a bit insecure about this project.

But wait, I am a good photographer and able to catch those unscripted, sometimes absurd, candid moments that others usually miss, she soundly reassured herself. I have done about fifty weddings, not a ton, but I'm not a beginner either. I can do this! Ashlee pepped herself up.

She plopped down in the desk chair and fired up her laptop, scanning her earlier engagement proofs of today's couple. She studied the photographs to see how she could possibly best flatter the bride and groom. Maybe better angles, lighting, or backgrounds?

It is all up to me to make them both look amazing and beautiful, Ashlee thought with angst.

Simone a statuesque five feet ten inches had a simple elegance about her. Her shoulder-length red hair framed her delicate green-eyed, freckled face perfectly. She stood about two inches taller than her fiancé, Martin.

I suggested that she wear flats for the formal photos, for aesthetics. With her current three-inch heels, she would tower five to six inches over Martin. That particular combination did not present well in photos. Everyone's eye would automatically stray to how short and inadequate the groom is.

Martin was a very serious little man. Ashlee found it was difficult just getting him to smile for their engagement photos. She had to bust out her best jokes! He had a furrowed brow that made him look like he was always scowling. He had a tuft of hair on each side of his head that stretched around and then met in the back of his head. He had no hair on the top of his head. He was also a bit overweight.

He certainly isn't my cup of tea, but Simone loves him for who he is. I guess that's all that matters now, thought Ashlee.

The ceremony and reception were being held at Cranwell Castle in Lenox, Massachusetts. The grounds were impeccably manicured, and the castle was surrounded by a five-star golf course with breathtaking views.

Simone had informed Ashlee that directly after they say, I do, and start their kiss, this is when the twenty doves are to be released into the air. She wanted to be sure that Ashlee captured that magnificent event perfectly on film.

A wedding fit for a queen, Ashlee thought.

Ashlee had to regroup her thoughts and settle back into the mindset of a professional. She didn't want to become overwhelmed with the enormity of this job. She had two different cameras that she used for her weddings. She liked to go old-school using the more traditional cameras. She had a digital Nikon 35 mm SLR that she used for the reception and for candid on-the-fly shots. Then for the formal, posed wedding and group photos, she had a medium-format, film Mamiya camera. This camera took excellent detailed photos as the negative was almost three times the size of the thirty-five-millimeter SLR negative. This camera required a tripod, light meter, and several rolls of film, very old school. She inherited the prized camera from her uncle Fred. Those were usually her black-and-whites. These negatives had to be developed in a darkroom.

Simone wanted about one-third of the photographs to be in black-and-white or sepia tone, mostly the formal photos, as she didn't like the thirty-five-millimeter shine on her husband's bald head. Sepia could hide that.

*****

Three hours to go until Ashlee had to be at Cranwell…

Suddenly, she had a brainstorm! She picked up her cell phone and frantically called Hunter at home.

Pick up, come on…pick up! she said eagerly out loud.

Hell-o, Hunter answered, in his usual calm and laid-back manner.

"Oh, thank God, you're home! Hunter, I need you to grab my older backup Nikon camera in our bedroom closet and come meet me at my studio as soon as you can. I really need your help tonight, babe. Can you please be my assistant tonight for the Flannigan wedding? Ashlee pleaded. I will be so much more confidant knowing that I have someone taking duplicate photos of the formal shots, from a different perspective, just in case anything goes wrong. You don't have to stay all night, just until like eight. Please, sweetie?"

Hunter was unable to say no to Ashlee.

Sure, babe, give me some time for a quick shower and a shave, and I'll be over. Oh, and what do I need to wear? He added.

Just wear that gray suit with the light-blue button-up shirt that you wore for your grandfather's funeral. Oh, and don't forget a tie. Thank you so much honey. I love you! Ashlee affirmed.

Hunter made an urgent call to Evan, his ranch-hand, to see if he could do all the evening chores at the ranch that night.

Six phone rings later, finally he picked up.

Hey, buddy, I know it's your day off, but can you please cover for me at the ranch tonight? I need to help Ashlee out with this real fancy wedding that she's freaking out over. I'll pay you extra for sure.

No problem, man. I'll be there, Evan assured him.

Ashlee and Hunter arrived at Cranwell at 4:00 p.m. to begin setting up and getting a lay of the land. Simone and Martin's limo arrived at 5:00 p.m. with all the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Ashlee headed to the bridal suite where Simone, her mom, and all the girls were. She liked to take photos of the couple getting ready and the high-emotion photo-ops just before the ceremony. At the same time, she sent Hunter to go find Martin and to do the same with the men. They would meet up in a half hour at the front of the newly constructed outdoor chapel.

The pre-wedding photo sessions went very well on both sides, no surprises.

*****

The guests had started to arrive now in big white limos, with elegantly clad men and women emerging. They were lining up at the castle's main entrance. There were more exotic types of cars pulling in than Hunter and Ashlee had ever seen!

Arriving were couples in Ferraris, Porsches, Bugattis, Alfa Romeros, Aston Martins, Teslas, an outlandish Audi, and some brand names they had never even heard of.

These cars all make mine look like the horse-drawn pumpkin in Cinderella, Ashlee thought.

Wow, she said to Hunter, "there is a lot of money and influence here today. If I can nail this job, I could get some amazing potential clients!"

Yeah, babe, this is pretty cool! Hunter agreed.

She sent Hunter to go take photos of the arriving guests.

This is like being on the red carpet on Grammy's night, he exclaimed out loud as he headed toward the driveway.

I hope that later, when I review his captured images, that they are not just all exotic car pictures, with no people in sight. Ashlee worried.

She went up to take some more pre-wedding candid photos inside the excited bridal chamber. The bridesmaids and hair and makeup crew were putting on their final touches. Simone seemed nervous, but she remained composed. Her maid of honor handed her a much-needed glass of chardonnay, which would hopefully ease her tensions. Ashlee had the girls all pose in a variety of endearing ways and then stated that she would be going down to the chapel now to get things ready for the ceremony.

Before she went, Ashlee assured Simone that everything was perfect and in order downstairs. The flowers were all in their places. The air was filled with the heavenly scents of lilies, tuberose, and gardenia. All the decorations were beautifully arranged. The doves were in a ventilated wooden box behind the altar, with a pull cord to release the cover. The children's choir, guitarist, flutist, and pianist were all set up. Last, the guests were all happily sipping champagne and having delicious-looking hors d'oeuvres while they patiently waited for the ceremony to begin.

Just five minutes until the procession starts. Are you ready, Hunter? Ashlee optimistically asked her husband.

We've got this, babe, he reassured her, with a sexy good-luck kiss.

He always seems to have my back, Ashlee thought as she threw him a wink.

*****

Martin stoically stood erect (probably to add to his height) at the altar, awaiting the inevitable procession and his beautiful bride's entrance. He was wearing a medium gray tuxedo with a gray paisley print ascot with flecks of lavender, which Simone had picked out to match the bridesmaid's dresses and the groomsmen's ties. He nervously scanned the assembled crowd to see who had shown up.

Missing seeing some important investors, he sneered. Some people skip the wedding and just go to the reception, how classless, he thought.

He saw many of his fellow doctors from the hospital and their wives and, of course, all their immediate and extended families. There were many faces that he did not recognize though. Friends of Nate's, I'm sure, he thought.

He was brought back into the moment with the angelic sound of the pianist, acoustic guitarist, and the children's choir singing You Take My Breath Away by Eva Cassidy. It was mesmerizing, even spellbinding. The children's choir sounded like angels.

Everyone turned their attention to the aisle. The procession started with the sweet little flower girl and ring bearer marching down the aisle, spewing flower petals side to side as they walked with a typical toddler swagger. Both were cousins of Simone and under five years old. Next were Martin's parents, Simone's mother, and the rest of the bridal party.

There was a slight pause, and then the notes of Mendelssohn's Wedding March now started to fill the chapel. Everyone stood, and all at once, Here comes the bride was resonating throughout the chapel.

Simone was walking unhurriedly, in perfect grace, arm in arm with her father, Dr. Nate Flannigan, fluidly down the long white satin aisle.

Ashlee's and Hunter's shutters had been opening and shutting in high gear for dozens of frames, being sure to capture the entire procession with perfection.

Simone was stunning in