The Kindred Soul of Nora Faye: The Tethered Soul Series, Book 3

by Laura C. Reden

  “We married overlooking the Truly River. Well, we called it that, but there wasn’t an officiant,” Easton said. The fire casting a light show of shadow and highlight on the side of his face as we sat on the sofa.

  “We didn’t need anybody else,” I said, recalling the need to marry before I was too sick.

  “It wasn’t for anybody else. It was just for us. And this wedding is no different,” Easton said.

  My gaze dropped to my fingers, entwined in the crocheted lap blanket. “I know.”

  “We’re doing this for us, and as long as we’re married at the end of the day, we will have succeeded,” Easton said.

  My brows lifted. He was right. He always was.

  “Seriously! The building could burn down, the band could not show, and the cake could have a hair in it. Literally, everyone could get salmonella!” Easton’s voice raised, “But if we walk out of there married. . .we’ve done it! Game over.” Easton held his arms in the air, and I giggled. Letting a little stress roll off my back. “Right?” he asked.

  “Yeah, no, you're right. But salmonella would be pretty bad—” I nodded.

  “I know you, Beck. Don’t you go adding food poisoning to your list of things to worry about. That’s not what this conversation is about!” Easton warned.

  He knew me so well. I mentally crossed it off the list. “I remember I ruined my dress. It was a white sundress. And by the time we left, it was trashed. I didn’t care then. I don’t know why I care now,” I said, remembering the grass stains and rain-soaked sundress. It was one of the few memories I uncovered, and I held onto dearly.

  “You had greater things to worry about back then. Hopefully, you can use that to put this wedding into perspective. We’re getting married; that’s all that matters. The rest is just a party. And you know what makes an epic party?” Easton asked.

  “What?”

  “Party fails,” Easton shrugged.

  I smiled. Eventually, it grew to show my teeth and beyond into rolling laughter. “What’s a party without party fails?” I shook my head in disbelief. It was a point of view I’d never considered and was glad to have looked upon now. We finished the night with ice cream and an hour of streaming party fails on TV. By the time I went to bed, I almost wanted to trip over my wedding dress and fall flat on my face. Almost.

  Chapter 5

  The wedding dress hung by the window sill and draped down to the floor. The warm glow of the sunrise behind it. Somehow, the lacy number represented the beginning of something new and yet, the continuation of something old all at the same time. I stood in front of it, the steam from my coffee warming my chin as I marveled over every ornate detail. The stitching was seamless, and the eyelet lace, intricate and mesmerizing. A rooster crowed in the far distance, bringing my focus back to me.

  “I’m here! I’m here! Sorry, I’m late!” Brooklyn whirled into the room like a storm. Her dress draped over her arm as she balanced two coffees, her purse and a gift bag.

  “No, you’re right on time. I’m just early. I couldn’t sleep.”

  “That’s understandable,” Brooklyn said as she unloaded her things. “Wow, it’s really beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, looking at the gown.

  I smiled. Somehow calm after the last two days of tension. I suppose it had finally run its course. Either that, or Easton’s party fail pep talk did me right. “I want to remember this moment forever,” I said as Brooklyn came to my side and locked her arm in mine.

  “And you will,” she said.

  I shot her a sideways glance, and we both laughed. The thought of living forever was both exciting and daunting. I hadn’t fully settled on which side of the fence I fell. Easton thought it was a curse, but my best friend found it to be a blessing. I wanted to be like her. I did. But every time I felt lucky to have a second chance, my stomach dipped with trepidation. Leaving me more confused than anything else. Sometimes I wondered if there was something that I failed to see or understand, and I feared it would swallow me whole when I realized it. When I finally saw the prison Easton had spoken of.

  “It’s your big day, Becca. You deserve this. Are you ready?” Brooklyn asked.

  “Let’s do it!” I said, beaming from head to pedicured toe. Whatever prison awaited me was neither now nor in my immediate future, so I pushed the worry down deep where it belonged. Because I had a wedding to celebrate.

  A knock on the door startled me. Brooklyn checked her watch. “That’s your beautician. Right on time. I already like her.” Brooklyn crossed the room and opened the door. A man waltzed inside, carrying what I could only describe as a black toolbox. His black hair gelled like a hard helmet against his head.

  “Oh my god! This ranch is stunning!” he said, his cheekbones high and mighty, carved out with contour and highlight.

  “Hi! Um, I thought Remy was coming?” Brooklyn said while glancing into the hallway.

  “Honey, I am Remy!”

  “Of course, I’m sorry. . .”

  “Happens all the time,” Remy waved dismissively. “Is this the bride? Oh, she is so burnt!” he exclaimed, setting down his things.

  “Hi, I’m Becca Reed.” I reached out to shake his hand, a little embarrassed.

  “Soon to be Mrs. Green,” Brooklyn added with a wink.

  I settled in for what was scheduled to take one hour. I wanted all the glamour, but I still wanted to look like myself. But Remy had a plan, and I trusted him and his cheekbones to get the job done. He had a way about him that made me want to gush about everything. Easton, the wedding, girlfriend gossip. And I did. I don’t think I stopped until he spun the chair around, and I came face to face with my reflection.

  My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t believe that I was the very creature that looked back from my reflection. She was beautiful. And the best part was that I still recognized myself. Brows lifted, cheekbones more defined. The bow of my lip was exaggerated. And my eyes! My eyes were framed with just the right amount of shimmer and lash. Not overpowering my emerald eyes but enhancing their natural color.

  “Remy! You're a genius! I love it!” I stammered as he pulled locks of my blond hair down to frame my face.

  “Oh, honey! I’m so happy!” he placed both hands on top of his heart. A woman snapped candid pictures of the moment. I was so wrapped up in my ramblings to Remy that I hadn’t noticed the photographer’s arrival.

  A sniff echoed behind me. “Mom! When did you get here?” I asked.

  My mom stood in the door jamb, a tissue pressed under her nose. “Just now. Oh, baby, you look so beautiful!” she said. She came in for a hug, and I could sense Remy tense with worry that his masterpiece would smudge. Several snaps of the camera clicked like rapid fire. I wasn’t used to being the center of attention, and it made me slightly uncomfortable. But if there were ever a time to receive so much attention, it was now, when my hair and makeup were crafted in to a masterpiece. I almost felt like a princess.

  “I have something for you,” Mom said, rummaging around in the depths of her purse.

  “Oh yeah? You didn’t have to get me anything, Mom.”

  “Well, technically, I didn’t.” Mom pulled out a small butterfly clip adorned with crystal chips. My heart swelled. “This was given to me when I was a little girl. Of course, I was never allowed to wear it. But I remember cherishing it from afar. I always imagined I would give it to my little girl one day.” Her voice broke as she brought a tissue to her nose again.

  Her eyes fluttered about, and only I knew she was reminiscing about how she never had that little girl, so she adopted me instead. I never talked to her about it after my first failed attempt. One moment slipped away, giving way to another chance that was also not perfect. By the time my perfect chance had come around again, my emotions had settled back down, and I didn’t feel the urgency to bring it up. But when I saw the emotion behind her eyes, I knew what had caused it to be there. And when I didn’t think it was possible, I loved her even more because of it.

  “So it’s y
our something old.” Mom handed me the butterfly and wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “It’s perfect. Thank you, Mom,” I said, fighting back the tears that threatened Remy’s masterpiece. I glanced at him quick enough to see his eyes narrow.

  “And here is something blue,” Brooklyn said, handing me a little gift bag.

  I opened it slowly, too aware that my every move had been captured on camera. Inside the bag was something silky and blue, but when I pulled it out, my cheeks flushed at the sexy lace garter belt. “Brooklyn!” My eyes popped as I scrunched it up into a tiny ball.

  “Woo, girl! Let me see that!” Remy snatched the sexy number out of my hand and held it up for everyone to admire. My cheeks lit on fire.

  “And that’s not all. There’s more to that outfit, but you will have to open it in private,” Brooklyn said with a broad smile.

  I laughed. “I can’t wait till you get married! Thank you! It’s—”

  “Sexy!” Remy said, twirling it around his finger. And that it was. I’d never owned something so sexy, and in just a handful of hours, Easton would pull it off in front of every single one of my wedding guests. I fanned my face, and Brooklyn laughed.

  “Let’s get that dress on. We still have some photos to take before the wedding starts, and it looks like we're a little behind.” As tall as Brooklyn was, she still needed to lift onto her tippy toes to reach the dress’s hanger. Remy stepped out of the room, giving us privacy while both Brooklyn and my mom helped me climb into the dress. When I was decent, the photographer started taking candid shots again.

  The second my last button was secured, Mom started weeping again. “Oh, baby! You look so beautiful!” she said in a broken voice.

  I smiled at her, fanning my face and blinking my long lashes. Doing all I could to not let the tears gather. Brooklyn let Remy back inside, and he had my crown of flowers with him. He secured it tight on top of my head and pinned the butterfly clip to a visible break in the flowers. It was the perfect touch. “I think you made the right choice to leave out the veil,” Brooklyn said. Seeing it all together, the dress and the flowered crown, it was everything I had waited for. And I couldn’t understand why I had been so stressed over such a beautiful occasion.

  I said goodbye to Remy, just as the other girls filed in for their hair to be done. They were excited to see me in my dress, and I wanted to stay and talk but couldn’t. I was ushered out to several ranch markers for photos. The red abandoned tractor, the windmill, the horse corral. The Bonnie Ranch was stunning, and I had no doubt the pictures would reflect that. Brooklyn and Payton joined me for photos, and Grace, Kennedy, Audrey, and Terra trickled out when their hair was complete. The more of my bridesmaids that arrived, the more fun the pictures became.

  “You still have time to run,” Terra whispered in my ear. I whipped my head to face her right as the camera snapped. Was she still pressing this runaway bride thing? “If you wanted to,” Terra shrugged.

  “Thanks, but I’m good.” It was the only thing I could think to say. My forehead creased, but the moment I remembered Easton’s comments about party fails, I relaxed again and started counting. A rude comment from one of my closest friends was the first of many failures. I was sure of it.

  Before I knew it, guests started to arrive. I parted ways with the bridesmaids, and the photographer and I walked back to the room across from the red barn where we would marry. I watched nervously out the window as the last guest trickled in as I waited for my dad. I hadn’t seen him much since I moved to college, and it had been even less since he and my mom split. I knew it was going to be difficult for them to be together today.

  The door creaked open, and my dad peered inside. “Dad!” I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “Oh, Becca, you look beautiful in that dress!” His eyes scanned over me, and I blushed with pride.

  “Thanks, Dad,” I said.

  “Are you ready to do this? You sure you want to marry the guy?” he asked sincerely.

  “Dad! Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

  “Well, dear, probably because you’re twenty-two. You’re just a baby!”

  I tilted my head to the side, “I’m more grown-up than you realize, Dad,” I said.

  “Oh, I don’t doubt that.” Dad held his arm out, and I wrapped my hand around the crook of his elbow. We walked out to the side of the barn. The warm air soothed any residual nerves I had from before, and the smell of hay burned into my memory as a cherished moment. I’d probably think of my dad every time I smelled it from here on out.

  I stepped on the front of my lace gown, propelling myself forward. My hand tightened around Dad’s arm, and he was quick to grab ahold of me. I never hit the ground, but I did tear the front of my dress.

  “Oh my god!”

  “That was a close call!” Dad said.

  “My dress is ripped!” I looked up with disappointment. My dress was not only ripped before I even managed to make it down the aisle, but the hem was dirty too.

  “It’s OK. Nobody will even notice.” Dad’s forehead creased, mimicking my worry. I nodded, looking back at the damage.

  “Party fail number two,” I said.

  “What?”

  “Oh! Did I say that aloud?” I took a deep breath. The music started, queuing me to walk down the aisle. “It’s nothing,” I said, smiling. I meant it. A ripped wedding gown was nothing if I walked off this ranch married to Easton.

  My eyes lingered on my dad’s warm brown eyes. They were not of my blood, but they were family. He loved me all the same, and I felt every morsel of it. I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed him tight as the music continued. “Thank you for being my father. Every day. Even when you didn’t have to. Even on the days when I was difficult. And even now, after you and Mom split. I know I haven’t always been easy to love, but you always made it effortless for me to love you back,” I said, tears dampening my eyes.

  Dad hugged me tightly. And I could tell by the second wave of emotion that poured out of him that he was beginning to wonder if I knew of the adoption. He pulled away, his body shaking, and smiled warmly. “I won’t let you fall, dear. Ever . . .” For a moment, I thought he was about to say my actual name, Everly. I wondered what it would feel like if he had. Dad cleared his throat and straightened his back. He faced forward like a soldier ready for battle, and I joined him as we began the walk down the aisle together. Kicking my dress before planting each step, I knew even if I stumbled that my father would catch me.

  Chapter 6

  We rounded the corner of the barn, and I was met with a sea of hungry, attentive eyes. Each set was straining to get a glimpse of me as I walked down the aisle. It was more attention than I thought I could withstand, and I felt somewhat faint until my dad squeezed my arm, reminding me he was there to catch me should I fall. I scanned the crowd, recognizing faces I hadn’t seen in some time but still meant the world to me. Friends from back home, aunts and uncles. Their warm smiles made my cheeks flush and my back heat. I looked back to the rip in the hem of my dress and took a deep quivering breath. Dad squeezed my arm. “You’re missing the best part,” he said, nodding to the alter.

  I followed his gaze, almost afraid of the emotion that would pour out of me. I was barely holding on by a thread as it was, and I had only seen my distant friends and family. I knew that standing on that alter were my best friends. My closest companions. My soon-to-be brother-in-law. And the very love of my lives. My soulmate. And on a day like today, when my emotions were high, I had to take it all in, but in small segments. Pieces at a time, so that my heart wouldn’t explode.

  Muted mauve and cream flowers lined the alter. A beautiful halo of color around the man in black. My soon-to-be husband. He stood tall and confident. His typical dark, unruly hair had been tamed. I lowered my gaze from his hair to his eyes, where our gazes locked. I sucked in a quick and deep breath as if seeing him standing there was like fresh oxygen to my hungry lungs. As if he were the reason I could
breathe again, and in a way, he was. His face, as he stood at the altar, was something I’ll never forget. Awe-stricken. His mouth partly open. Eyebrows lifted, and eyes glassy. I could practically see his heart fluttering, and I knew mine had synced with his the moment our eyes met.

  My life was just better with Easton. I didn’t expect my friends to understand the depths of our relationship. How could they? And the feelings I had were not ones I could put into words. But if I had to choose a word to sum it all up, lucky is the only one close enough. I don’t know how I ended up finding Easton on the side of the New River Bridge that stormy night, and I don’t know how my soul survived my death, but I knew I was one lucky girl to have captured the heart of Easton Green.

  My dad kissed my cheek and whispered, “I love you,” in my ear. I smiled at him with a full heart before I took my place by Easton. His eyes fixed on mine as I took the steps alone.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite Easton Green and Becca Reed . . .” The words faded into the background as I stared into Easton’s glacier blue eyes. My entire world right before me. The love I had for him created meaning beyond my wildest dreams. It was my second chance at my first love. And I was fortunate enough to see how it would have rightfully played out had I not been previously robbed of life. Robbed of my happily ever after.

  Though standing in front of Easton, in my white gown, and in my second life; it truly was my second chance, and I owed it all to him. Without him, I doubt I would have been tethered at all. I would have had to live with some regrets. Some unlearned lessons. And essentially, a heart that never knew just how much it could love. Easton sucked in a deep breath and I caught myself doing the same. Mirroring his every move.