by D. B. James
A few hours later, after the bridal party brunch and the rehearsal with our wedding planner in the actual butterfly garden, I find myself seated next to Rhys at our rehearsal dinner, and I’m staring blankly into space.
I’m…happy, delightfully and blissfully happy.
Rhys must notice the faraway expression on my face because he gently places a finger under my chin, lifting it while also turning my gaze his way. It’s still a shock to see eyes so similar in color to my own staring back at me, reflecting the same love I know he sees in mine.
“You’re not listening to Brant tell horror stories about my lack of a dating life in college. What’s going on inside your stunning head, Tiger Lily?”
Until getting caught, I wasn’t aware my thoughts weren’t truly in this room. Scratch that, they’re in this room, just not on Brant and his drawn-out speech.
“I’m overthinking the whole situation, I know, but I’m thinking about the best way to approach my father. The revelation—because that’s exactly what it was, a revelation—with Mama went almost effortlessly. She told me he’d love to walk me down the aisle and give me away to you.”
Dropping his gaze, I lie back and place my head on his shoulder. He knows I’m not done speaking yet and am still processing exactly what I want to say. It’s one of the many aspects I love most about him. He gives me time to analyze and think situations over, knows I’m not normally a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of person.
“Before I spoke to my mother, I was planning on asking your dad to walk with me. My own father doing it didn’t mean much to me because I’ve always thought they didn’t care when I left. I thought they never looked for me. If what my mom told me is true, they knew where I was up until the attack. My running stopped them from finding me again.”
Taking a moment to myself, I begin playing with his fingers, which he has twined with mine across his wonderfully taut stomach.
“Running from Smith cut them completely out of my life. I didn’t know it at the time, because I believed when I chose Alix, I had already cut them out, but I hadn’t…not really. They stayed, but watched from a distance.” Quickly standing, I nearly stumble out of Rhys’ embrace. “Sorry, I didn’t know we were so thoroughly entwined.” Nervous laughter bursts out of me as I finish getting myself together before hurrying over to where my parents are seated, watching me with wide eyes filled with amusement. “May I, uh, speak to you in private for a few minutes, Dad?”
Surprise shows all over his face, like he wasn’t expecting his own daughter to ask to speak to him at all. His expression saddens me because I’d love to rebuild the solid relationship I once had with my parents, but my wedding can be used as another huge step in the right direction.
Instead of responding, he gets up from his seat next to my mother and motions for me to lead the way. The moment we’re out of the loud, crowded area, I turn and ask him the question I’ve been longing to ask for months now.
“Tomorrow, when I walk toward the only future I’ve ever wanted, the only future I’ll ever know, will you do me the honor of walking by my side?”
He opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. I try to embrace him, but he lightly pushes me away. When he does, I notice the silent tears streaming down his face.
“I take it from your response your answer is a yes?” I question.
He manages to shake his head up and down vigorously. After another moment of nothing coming out when he tries to speak, he turns around and starts walking toward the butterfly gardens.
I have absolutely no idea what he’s doing, but I rush to follow him. I didn’t see him drinking tonight, and odds are he probably wouldn’t get lost if I left him to his own devices, but I just asked him a very important question and would like a little follow-up.
“Dad, wait up, please.”
Of course, he’s a man, and therefore he’s wearing sensible shoes. I, on the other hand, am not, and my heels keep sinking into the damp grass. This area isn’t covered with a walkway for the ceremony, and it’s nowhere near the area the reception tent is being set up in either. These beautiful, violet-hued, six-inch stilettos just bought a one-way ticket to the trashcan.
He stops a few feet in front of me.
“Where are we going?”
“To rehearse!” he shouts.
Ah, now I know why he is in such a hurry—he didn’t get to rehearse walking me down the aisle. No one did. Now that I think about it, we didn’t rehearse much of anything. The planner, a nice woman named Megan, showed us our places, where we needed to be at all times, but we never did any actual walking. It was all, “Averill, stand here. Great, great. Now, Rhys, you stand there. Okay, great.”
“Dad?”
“Yes, beautiful girl?”
“We don’t need to rehearse. We both know how to walk, correct? We can wing it. Let’s go back to dinner before Rhys sends out a search party.”
Laughing, he steadily makes his way back over to me.
“Yeah, you’re right. He’d send out the cavalry to find you.” He holds out his hand toward me, I gently take it, and we start slowly walking back, hand in hand. This time, he keeps a pace that’s easy for me to keep up with.
“I’m honored you asked me. You could easily have had someone else walk you, someone who’s been a bigger part of your adult life. I’m thankful you chose me, Averill.”
Swinging our hands back and forth between us, I give him the only answer I can—the truth.
“I’m glad I asked you too.”
You know how they say a bride should be nervous on her wedding day?
Well, I’m the complete opposite of nervous. I’m cool as a cucumber.
Calm. Serene. Composed. Peaceful. Tranquil. Zen. Blissful. Happy. Giddy.
All of those words could be used to describe me at this moment.
Why?
Because I know today is the single most important day of my life up until this moment. It’s the day my last name officially becomes Gallhagar, the day my heart joins its other half in holy matrimony.
My soul will officially join with its mate, two lost souls finally becoming one.
After leaving the rehearsal dinner—separately, I should add—last night, I was asleep almost from the second my head hit my pillow. Since Rhys truly is my other half, he knew how strange I was feeling lying in our bed without him and called me as I was lying down to go to sleep.
He drew the short end of the stick and had to stay at Brant’s for the night.
All he said when I answered was one word: “Soon.” After I echoed it back, he hung up, and now here I am, dressed in my wedding dress, hair styled within an inch of its life, makeup tear-proof, waiting at the end of the aisle for the violinist to start playing the traditional “Wedding March”.
“Beautiful girl, there won’t be a dry eye in the place once Rhys sees you. I want you to know how much it means to me to be walking you down the aisle and giving you away to the man you love. I love you with my whole heart. You’re my daughter, and I’ll love you forever—always have, always will. I wish I had always been around, and I’m sorry I wasn’t. All that matters now is I’m here in the present and embracing today for the gift it is.” My father leans in and gently places a kiss on my forehead before pulling my veil down to cover my face. “Now, are you ready to walk down the aisle and grab ahold of your future?”
Quickly dabbing my eyes with the Kleenex Tessa was smart enough to place in my bra, I turn to gaze at my father. “I’m ready, Daddy.”
With those words, we begin the walk to greet my future.
Daddy was accurate—there wasn’t a dry eye in the garden, including those of my husband.
My husband.
It’s surreal to actually be calling Rhys my husband. It seems like we only just got used to saying fiancé.
When Daddy and I were waiting around the corner leading to the beautiful art structure covered in purple and tawny calla lilies, I’ll admit to thinking his comment about people crying was compl
ete bullshit. But, the minute the violinist started playing, we began our walk around the lily-covered bend, and my gaze collided with Rhys’, I couldn’t stop the tears from gracefully falling down my own cheeks.
The ceremony seemed to fly by, and I don’t recall much of it.
The one thing I do remember? Our vows.
We chose to write our own about a week back, in the living room while Arrow played in the background, and we both decided to quit trying to force it. We instead spoke whatever was written in our hearts.
We both promised to love one another to the moon and back, forever plus a day.
Loving Rhys is the easiest promise I’ve made in my whole life, one I know for certain I’ll never break.
When I was hiding from Smith, I never pictured myself having a bright future. Before I decided to take the leap with branching out and grabbing my own happiness with Threads & Trends, I was settling for ordinary, mediocre, unexceptional. The most I let myself hope for was average.
The day Rhys burst back into my life, he filled my chest with unbelievable hope. Suddenly, I was optimistic. My once dark days were filled with the brightest sunshine. There were times I didn’t know if I should run for the shadows forever hounding me or give in to the comfort of his arms. He may have unwittingly brought Smith back into my life, but he also gave me back my courage—courage I’d been missing since the day I ran from my family to make a statement. I may have thought I was rebelling and standing for something I believed in, running to someone I loved, but I was foolish. Yes, I loved Alix, but I loved him through the heart and eyes of a child.
The ting of silver clinking against glass brings me out of my thoughts, and instantly I’m aware I was lost in the haze of the past and my life before Rhys.
“I’d like to take this moment to say a few words about the happy couple.”
Brant is starting his best man speech. Rhys tried to nix the whole speech thing, but I wouldn’t let him. I knew how much making this speech meant to Brant. He’s been preparing it for weeks, sending me emails here and there about what he was planning to say, asking for my approval.
“As most of you know, I’ve known both Averill and Rhys since we were children. We were seven and eight years old, to be exact. Personally, I had known Av for about a year before Rhys moved to our neighborhood. She was a tad, I don’t know…reserved? Yeah, I guess you could say she was more reserved. She didn’t talk much before we became a trio, always had her nose stuck in a book.” He turns his glance my way, trying to catch my eyes. I nod at him and he continues, “One day, this cock gobbler showed up and our lives haven’t been the same since. At first, the changes he made in our lives were simple. He used to have his pockets full of Reese’s Pieces candy, claimed it was a way for us to remember his name, but I think it was his way of buying our friendship.” He pauses for a moment while the guests respond to his last comment by politely laughing. It’s funny how no one laughed at his using the phrase ‘cock gobbler’; just goes to show how much our guests know Brant and Rhys.
“What he doesn’t know is this: I considered myself his friend from the moment he walked into the classroom. He didn’t feel insignificant. My young heart knew one day I’d grow to love Rhys as a brother. I’m extremely grateful Averill found a way back into our lives. She was always meant to be with Rhys. They’ve always been the best of friends, and I’ll admit at times, I was jealous of the bond they shared. If things were going wrong in her life, she ran to Rhys first, and vice versa. She was always more important to him than me. I realize now it’s because he never loved her like a sister. He loved her as so much more. All the years we all spent apart didn’t change their bond. It only made it grow stronger, their bond of love more infinite.”
Pausing for a moment, he reaches for his glass. “Cheers to the happy couple.” He first clinks glasses with Rhys, and then with me. “Are those tears I see forming in your eyes, Av?” Brant teases as we toast.
“Nah, must be my allergies,” I tell him. It’s easier to give him shit than to admit I was touched by his words. He already calls me a softie way too much for my liking. I’m a fierce Tiger Lily, not a tamed house cat who’s lost her roar—at least not anymore.
The next couple of hours fly by in a blur and before I know it, it’s nearly midnight. Rhys is holding me in his arms and we’re swaying to the music. I say swaying because what we’re doing can’t really be described as dancing, not when our feet aren’t moving and only our legs are swaying from side to side.
“We’re married, can you actually believe it?” I ask.
“Yes, Tiger Lily, I can believe it. From the moment you came roaring back into my life, I knew we’d be here. You were always meant to be my future, my saving grace, my way out of a life that was killing me. When you left, my life spiraled out of control. Decisions were made for me, not by me. Becoming a soldier wasn’t an option. What was an option was working for Martinelli. I’m sorry I made the choice, but I’m not sorry it brought Smith into my orbit. Because it did, he’s no longer a threat, and I’d do it all over again if it meant the monster who haunted you was taken care of and received what he deserved in the end.”
Slowly he bends his head down to mine, gently sweeping his lips across my mouth. Losing myself in the kiss, I move my hands from his shoulders and twine my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to me. Opening my mouth, I allow his tongue the access it’s seeking. His growl of possession brings me out of the moment, and all at once I’m again aware we’re not alone.
“Since we’re the bride and groom, it’s totally acceptable for us to leave before the reception’s done, right?” I plead.
“Baby, who cares if it isn’t acceptable? Let’s say our goodbyes so I can get you alone and show you how grateful I am you agreed to be my wife.”
“Sounds perfect. Brant first?” He’s the closest, so we may as well get our goodbye to him out of the way first. He’ll probably be one of the quickest as well.
“Nah, hold off and we’ll do him and Tessa together. We haven’t given them their gift yet.”
His response causes me to let out a squeal; I can’t help it. “Does that mean what I think it means?”
“Yes, wife,” is his only response. If people weren’t already staring from our mauling each other on the dance floor and my squeal of excitement, I’d let out another one. Instead I jump up and down a tiny bit because I can.
Instead of making our way over to Brant, we find Justin sitting nearby with his date. To my surprise, his date isn’t someone I ever would’ve pictured him with. Now I know why my one attempt to set him up on a date with Kendra went to hell.
“Hey, Justin, we’re heading out. Before we left, Averill and I wanted to say goodbye and say our thanks for celebrating with us.”
“Congrats to you both. There’s no one else I know who’s more suited to be together than the two of you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day, and thanks again for letting me bring along Scott at the last minute.” He motions to the dark-haired, sapphire-eyed, tattooed, muscular man next to him. “It…he means a lot to me.”
“Thank you for bringing him and allowing him into our lives. It’s about damn time,” I say as I open my arms to give him a hug goodbye. When we embrace, I reach up and whisper in his ear, “I’m glad you finally embraced your happy.” When I let him go, I see a tear glistening in the corner of his eye. He quickly wipes it away and shakes Rhys’ hand. “It was nice to meet you, Scott. I hope to see more of you in the future,” I say as Rhys shakes his hand as well. We leave them and make our way through several guests before it’s finally time to talk to Brant and Tessa.
“I’ll grab Tessa if you grab Brant?”
“Deal. Meet back here in two minutes?” Two minutes? How the heck does he think I’m going to make it halfway across this tent, grab Tessa, and make my way back here in two minutes?
“You’re insane. Give me five and you have yourself a deal.”
“If you make it three, I’ll make it up t
o you once we’re alone.” He winks at me, knowing it’s my kryptonite.
“It’s on, husband. It. Is. On.” With those words, I toe my shoes off, leave them on the side of the dance floor, and take off at a sprint to grab Tessa. When I make it to her, I don’t say anything, just grab her by the arm and haul her away from my stunned parents. We’re back standing near my shoes in less than a minute.
“What the hell, Averill?” She half screams, half laughs at me.
“Rhys kind of bet me I couldn’t make it back here with you in under three minutes, and you know I had to win that shit. Act surprised when we say you’re going to Cancun.”
“Roger that,” she replies.
“Smartass.” Because what else can I say? She is one.
Rhys and Brant take their time walking over to us. Once he saw us ladies standing here, he slowed down. He knew I’d won and he’d lost.
I wonder how he’ll make it up to me.
They’re laughing once they make it over.
“Hey, handsome. You owe me—it didn’t even take me a full minute to get Tessa and make it back here.”
“I’m aware,” he replies while winking…again.
“Ugh, get a room you two,” Tessa jokes.
“Yeah, it’s disturbing how cute you two are,” Brant agrees while he shudders like we truly do disturb him.
“Knock it off, dick munch. We brought you two over here together because if you haven’t noticed, we’ve been saying our goodbyes for nearly an hour now. We have something we’d like to give you both before we leave.”
Reaching into his back pocket, Rhys pulls out two small envelopes and hands one to each of them. It’s a surprise to me as well—I didn’t know he actually had something to give them.
“We discussed this as a couple a few days ago, and we’ve decided along with the normal best man and maid of honor gifts, we’d like to gift you with this.” He motions to the envelopes in their hands. “You’re welcome.”
Tessa immediately rips into hers. She’s always been excited when anyone gives her anything—she loves surprises, and her technically knowing what this one is doesn’t stop her excitement. Brant, on the other hand, is still staring at his, has yet to flip it over to inspect it. He hasn’t uttered a word since Rhys handed him his envelope either. I wonder if everything is okay.