“What’s the night before the wedding?” I asked.
My mind was so full of appointments and dates and schedules, that it was a miracle I remembered anything at all.
“You know, when Cade and the boys spend the night doing what men do, and us women spend the night with you.”
“Ma, we’re not doing that shit,” Cade butt in. “Lila and I will sleep together that night, just like we do every other night. I don’t buy into that superstitious bullshit.”
She kept talking like he hadn’t interrupted.
“Friday night, you and your father will be here at the cabin with Elin, while Alani, Lena, Lila, and I will be staying at her place. Your friends are welcome to join in to do a ritual send off, or whatever, but you will be spending the night apart, and you won’t see your bride until she walks down the aisle to you. It’s tradition, Cade Wilkes, and you’re going to adhere to it.”
Jun, Ripper, and Chris all started ribbing Cade, while Elin and Lena looked at their grandma like she was a bad-ass, which she was. Guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Cade looked at me, but I held up my hands and said, “We’d better do as she says.”
He shook his head, but chuckled, and I knew she’d won that round.
“Now, Lila, what other appointments do you have? Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked.
“Um, Friday they’ll come and set up the stage, and Pops, Cade, Chris, and Elin have their tux appointment. Then, on Saturday morning, the tables and chairs will be set up for the reception, as well as the chairs for the ceremony. And, Clarice will be coming to do my hair and makeup, and Lena’s hair, and she said to let her know if you or Alani need her to do yours and she’ll come a little earlier.”
“That would be lovely, dear, thanks.”
I nodded, taking my phone out of my pocket so I could shoot Clarice a text right away.
“The guys will be setting up the buffet line for you, and Amy May and Jason will bring over the cake when they come in the morning,” I added, then looked at Ripper. “You all set with the DJ equipment?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied easily. “Got it all taken care of. My guy is coming on Saturday morning to set it all up.”
“Great . . . I think that’s everything.”
God, I sure hoped it was, because, at this point, if I was forgetting anything, it probably wasn’t going to happen.
A couple hours later, Cade and I were ready to head back home. We tried to get Elin and Elena to come back with us, but they opted to stay at the cabin. Rufus and CB, however, jumped right in the van, eager to be with Cade.
When we got home and were standing at the counter, Cade came up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders.
“You feeling stressed, darlin’?”
“Actually, no,” I said, my surprise evident in my tone. “I really thought I would be, but things are coming together well, and I’m really not. I’m just ready to marry you.”
I turned and put my arms around his waist.
“I’m ready to marry you, too,” he said gruffly.
“You gonna have a big stag night on Friday?” I asked. I didn’t care if he did, I trusted him, but I still wanted to know.
“Nah, I’ll probably just have the guys over to drink and play cards. I can’t believe my mom pulled that.”
I chuckled.
“I can.”
I held on to him and thought about the Larsens.
“Hey, Cade,” I whispered.
“Yeah?”
“If I die, I want you to be miserable for at least a year before you find anyone else.”
“There is no one else,” he replied.
I looked up into his handsome face, and said, “For me either.”
“SO, HOW DID you and my brother meet? I don’t think I ever heard that story.”
It was the night before my wedding, and all the ladies were hanging out at my place. Cade’s mom, me, Alani, and Lena were sleeping there, and Carmen, Bea, Shannon, Cynthia, Clarice, and Amy May were all hanging out.
We’d ordered pizza, which had been devoured hours ago, and were drinking wine, champagne, and mimosas.
Even Alani had been allowed a mimosa. I’d only given Lena a sip, which had earned me the stank eye, but I was okay with that.
I’d only had one slice of pizza and a glass of wine, since I had a wedding dress to fit into the next day, and I didn’t want to be bloated or hungover.
“Oh, I remember that day,” Amy May said with a giggle. She, of course, had abstained, but that didn’t damper her celebratory mood. She was so excited you’d think she was marrying Cade instead of me. “All of a sudden Lila comes pulling up in front of the bakery on the back of a motorcycle, behind the hottest man I’d ever seen . . . sorry, Jason, although he says the same thing . . . anyway, she gets off the bike, looking at Cade like he’d been sent from above, then blew me a kiss and took off, leaving me hanging.”
Bea laughed, and added, “I saw them out in Cade’s truck the night of their first date, and I had no idea they even knew each other. The whole town was abuzz because the resident loner bad boy had gone out on a date and all I could do was worry that Lila was in over her head. I met up with her the next day to warn her off of him, but she wouldn’t hear it. I think she knew even then that what they had was special, it just took me a little longer to see it.”
“Aww,” I said, getting misty when she gave me a pat on the knee.
“What about you, Carmen, were you surprised?” Cade’s mom asked, her eyes a little glassy from the champagne. “My boy has always been a hard one to tie down.”
“Oh, Cade actually came before me. I met Lila after she was already seeing him, but I could tell right away that they were perfect for each other,” Carmen said.
Man, these women are making me weepy.
“One of my favorite memories of him, though, is when Lila and I were at a bar trying to get a lead on a murderer, and we were dressed a little scandalously . . . Cade came strolling in, grabbed the bookie we were trying to talk to by the throat, and threw him outside. That’s the night Lila got her first . . .”
“Hey!” I yelled before Carmen could finish that sentence.
I looked pointedly at Lena and Alani, who were sitting next to each other listening with ears wide open.
Carmen covered her mouth guiltily, but a giggle escaped.
Looked like I needed to shoot Bran a text to pick her up. No way she was driving home.
“Let’s keep the memories PG, please,” I said with a laugh.
“How about the time you made him go tubing with us in the river, and you almost drown,” Amy May said.
“Or, how after your first kiss you fell out of his truck,” Shannon added. “I love that story.”
“I like the one when they were in Hawaii and Lila’s back got cut up from the coral,” Carmen said, then slapped her hand over her mouth again and mumbled, “Sorry,” as she looked at the girls.
“My favorite is when Cade took you to meet his brothers, and you found out his VP was the guy we’d cornered in the bathroom and told off.”
“God,” I said, looking around the room at everyone, “I can’t believe he’s marrying me. I’m a pain in the ass.”
Everyone laughed.
“Cade needs a woman who can keep up with him and never let him get bored. I think he found that in you,” Cade’s mom said, then put her arm around Lena and added, “And so much more.”
Dang, my throat was getting scratchy.
“I remember the first time I saw Cade,” Lena said softly, basking in Mama’s love.
“Yeah, when was that?” she asked.
“Mom took us to the cabin to meet him, and he and Rufus were waiting for us outside. He looked so big, like what you think a mountain man would look like, but he wasn’t scary. His eyes were nice and he was smiling at my mom like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. And, when he talked to Elin and I, you could tell he was really listening. Like
he cared what we had to say, and he wasn’t just around us to get close to my mom. I liked that.”
“Oh, precious girl,” Cade’s mom said, her eyes filling as she kissed my daughter on the forehead.
I wiped my own wet cheeks and cleared my throat.
“He loves you guys,” I told Lena softly.
She nodded, and I knew she’d already known, because Cade was very good at showing them his love every chance he got.
I looked around the room at my friends, who all looked as touched by Lena’s story as I was, and said, “I think I’d better go to bed. Any more memories and my eyes will be all puffy in the morning. Thanks so much for coming and being with me tonight. I’ll see you all in the morning . . . at my wedding!”
Everyone started clapping and cheering, then began to rise and we all started cleaning up.
I said goodbye to everyone, told Amy May I couldn’t wait to see the cake the next day, and closed the door with a sigh when the last person left.
“Want to lay in my bed and watch a movie until I fall asleep?” I asked Mom, Alani, and Lena.
“Yeah,” they all agreed, so we went upstairs to get ready for bed and try and calm down enough to fall asleep.
I WOKE UP before the sun, excited and anxious.
I padded downstairs to make coffee, then went out onto my back porch to enjoy it while I watched the sun rise.
There wasn’t one doubt in my mind. I wasn’t sad about losing my single status, or worried about getting married again, even though my last marriage had ended so horribly. I was ready, and so happy to be marrying Cade.
I just wished it was time, so we could just do it already.
Once the sun was up and my cup was empty, I went inside to make breakfast. Clarice would be coming in the next hour to do our hair and my makeup, and then Mom and Alani would be heading back to the cabin to finish getting ready and to get the food going.
I thought it would be nice for us to all have breakfast together first.
By the time they came downstairs, I had eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and pancakes ready.
“Wow, what’s all this?” Cade’s mom asked, crossing to put her arms around me. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“I slept great, actually,” I replied with a smile. “But I was too excited to stay in bed.”
She grinned at that and let me go.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
We were finished eating and putting everything away when the doorbell rang.
I went to the door and opened it to see Clarice standing there with all of her things.
“Good morning,” she greeted happily. “It’s your big day.”
I squealed in response, then moved aside to let her in.
“Where do you want me?”
“The kitchen or the living room, what would work best do you think?” I asked.
“The living room should be fine. I’ll bring a chair in from the dining room and get my stuff set up. Are you or Lena going first?”
“Lena,” I replied, then called out, “Lena, go take a quick shower, then come down to get your hair done.”
Then I turned to Clarice and said, “I’ll shower while you’re working on her.”
“Great, but go ahead and leave your hair as it is, okay? Don’t wash it.”
I nodded, then left her to set up while I went to check on everyone in the kitchen.
“She went to get in the shower,” Cade’s mom said when I walked in. “And, we’re about to head out.”
They’d already cleaned up the kitchen and put everything away, so I went to give them each a hug and said, “See you in a little while.”
Cade’s mom held me for a few extra seconds and said, “I’m so happy that you’re joining our family. I know you’re going to make Cade very happy.”
I squeezed her tightly and said, “Thank you. We already think of you all as family.”
We let each other go, both fighting back more tears.
Jeez, this wedding sure is making me into a wimp.
“I’m going to go start getting ready,” I said, and we went our separate ways.
By the time I came back downstairs, Lena was just about done. Her hair was done in fat curls, and I could see that Clarice had put on some mascara and light blush and eyeshadow.
“You look beautiful,” I said as I took her in.
“Thanks, Mom, I can’t wait to put on my dress.”
I’d let her pick out what she was going to wear today, and she’d chosen a pretty blue gown with a flouncy skirt.
Lena got dressed, then watched TV while Clarice was doing my hair and makeup.
I also had big, fat curls, but they were pulled back off of my face and cascaded down my back. We went with elegant makeup, to match my dress, and a pale-pink lip.
When I was done, Clarice drove us, and my dress, over to the cabin, then went inside to make sure the coast was clear before I went inside. I could see a little of the bustle as we entered, but Amy May ushered me upstairs before I could really see anything.
“You’ll see it all once it’s done,” she assured me, then it was just the two of us in Cade’s room. “Let’s get you dressed.”
“You look beautiful,” I said, taking in her sapphire-blue gown and up-do.
“Thanks. I thought about wearing one of my wigs for fun, but figured you’d get freaked out if Jason and I used your wedding for our role playing.”
I snorted a laugh, which was her intention, and said, “Y’all can get as kinky as you want, just wait until the reception. I don’t want nothing interfering with the actual ceremony.”
She was zipping up my gown when there was a knock on the door.
I turned around as Bea, Shannon, Carmen, and Cade’s mom all walked into the room.
“Oh Ku‘uipo, you look so beautiful,” Cade’s mom cried.
“I want to get married,” Carmen moaned.
“Wow,” Bea said.
“Thanks, you guys,” I said, running my hands lovingly over the skirt of my dress.
I felt like a princess.
“Something old.” Cade’s mom opened the box in her hand to show me a pair of pearl and diamond earrings. “They belonged to my mother, Cade’s grandmother.”
“They’re beautiful, thank you,” I said as I took them one at a time and put them in my ears.
“Something new,” Carmen said, giving me a sea glass necklace that almost perfectly matched my ring from Cade.
“Carmen, it’s gorgeous,” I cried, as she walked around me to clasp it around my neck.
“Something borrowed.” I turned my head to see Amy May pick up a box off of the floor.
I gasped and reached greedily for it.
“Oh my God,” I cried as I pulled out her Jimmy Choo Ivory Lotus Sandals, which I’d been lusting over since she’d bought them.
I hurriedly put them on, then held up my skirts and pointed my toe out so we could all admire them.
Good thing Clarice had also painted my toenails.
Once I’d looked my fill, I let my skirts fall to the floor with a happy sigh.
“Well, those are pretty hard to follow, but, here’s your something blue,” Bea said, holding out her hand to offer me a blue garter.
“Thanks, Bea,” I said, giving her a quick hug. “Really, thank you all so much. You guys are so sweet and amazing. I’m so happy I have you all in my life, and that you’re here to share this day with us.”
Once I was sure my somethings, and everything else, were in place, I looked at my friends and said, “Let’s go get married.”
MY HEART WAS pounding with excitement as I descended the stairs and walked through the cabin.
Once we got outside, Shannon, Bea, Carmen, and Cade’s mom all went to find their seats. Elin was waiting for us and looked dapper in his tux.
“Oh, sweetie, you look great,” I said when I saw him, and my eyes wanted to fill with tears again, but, dang it, I couldn’t mess up my makeup.
“You look beautiful, Mom
,” Elin said, and held out his hand for mine.
We all walked together down to just before the clearing where everyone was waiting, then Amy May gave me a smile, and started off to be the first one down the aisle. She was carrying a pretty bouquet of Hawaiian flowers, which matched the bouquets that were waiting for Lena and me.
A few moments later, The Wedding March started, and I looked at my twins and asked, “Ready?”
They both grinned and nodded, and together the three of us walked to where the ceremony was being held.
We paused at the end of the aisle, then began to walk toward Cade.
He was glorious, with his black tux, hair tied back, and beard trimmed and neat.
Cade was watching us with intensity as we drew near, then stepped down to meet us and together the four of us walked the rest of the way up.
Elin went to stand in between Cade and Chris, while Lena moved between Amy May and me.
Cade took my hand and said, “You look gorgeous.”
“So do you,” I replied, my heart so full it was close to bursting.
I turned my head to look out at the crowd, since on the walk up I’d only been able to see Cade.
His family, our friends, and his brothers filled the seats. There was no his side and my side, because let’s be honest, my side would have, like, five people in it, while his side would be full. Instead, we’d decided since we are all friends and family, it really didn’t matter who sat where.
They were all here for us.
I smiled at everyone, then turned my attention back to Cade and tried to keep it together.
“Ready to become my woman?” he asked with a grin.
“I already am,” I replied.
To which he growled, “Damn straight.”
We’d opted for the short version of the ceremony, so within minutes, we were saying I do, Elin and Elena included, and then Cade was claiming me for all the world to see.
His hands fisted in my curls and his eyes were dark with intent as he lowered his head and captured my lips with his. This was no proper peck on the lips, no, it went from zero to a hundred real quick, and pretty soon the sound of our guests cheering intruded on our public make-out session.
We turned and faced the crown, both grinning like fools. Cade took my hand in his, and raised them both up in victory, which caused more shouts from our friends and family.
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