“No. I’m certain of you. Of us. You said this was my last chance. I sure as hell wasn’t going to waste it.”
“So what am I borrowing?”
“Miss Ruby’s got that covered.” I winked at her.
“I’m ready.” She spoke with quiet confidence.
My chest swelled. Finally, I got the girl.
“There are a lot of women in that house, ready to fuss over you. Y’all better hurry along, or I’m coming to get you, whether you’re in a dress or not.”
She mock-saluted me. “Yes sir.”
This time it was her who reached for my hand, eagerly leading me back to the house. We were almost there when she stopped and stepped in front of me looking deadly serious. I swallowed in a panic.
“I don’t know if I can”—she glanced away before meeting my eyes—“be intimate.”
I cupped her cheek. “We’ll get there whenever you’re ready. I don’t want to marry you for your body.”
“I want to make love with you, but I’m afraid,” she admitted. “I don’t want to ruin it.”
“You couldn’t.” I kissed her forehead. “As long as you keep talking to me, trusting me enough with how you feel, we’ll be just fine.”
She nodded, blinking back the threatening tears. “Promise you’ll tell me if you need more.”
“As long as I have you, I have everything.”
“I’ll talk with a therapist.”
My eyes rounded. “Okay,” I said softly. “I’ll go with you. If you want me to.”
She nodded. There was nothing she couldn’t do.
I beamed at her. “Can we get married now?”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Muriella
We’d barely stepped through the screen door to the kitchen when Vivian seized me by the hand and dragged me up the stairs as if she’d been there a thousand times.
“If we’re going to make it by sunset, we’ve got to hurry,” she stated, and sat me down in a chair in what appeared to be a guest bedroom.
And then suddenly there were six other women in the room, which was too small for the frenzy going on. I was fussed over by multiple sets of hands. Getting ready with Vivian could be frantic enough, but with all these women, it was a lot to take in.
“Hurry for what?” I asked casually, unsure if anyone was listening to me over the chatter.
All motion stopped, and silence filled the room.
“The wedding,” Vivian answered.
“What wedding?”
“The one between you and Stone. Now stop fuc—fooling—around,” she said sternly, eyeing the other ladies.
There was a knock on the door. It opened a crack, and Carlos stuck his head in.
“I don’t mean to interrupt—” He was clearly uncomfortable.
“Yes, you do,” Ruby said and grinned. My brother’s cheeks turned red, and Ruby pinched one. “You’re almost as good lookin’ as your sister.”
Carlos cleared his throat and hesitantly stepped into the room with white lace draped over his arm. “I brought Mama’s mantilla with me. You always wanted to wear it when you were a little girl, so I thought…” He shrugged sheepishly. He had an air of authority, but seeing him now—vulnerable—softened me. I worried my father’s influence had turned him into someone from whom there was no coming back. It pleased me to see I was wrong. He had our mother’s heart.
“Yes, Carlos. I’d love to wear it. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”
“I’ll just hang it here and leave you to it.” He draped the white lace headdress on the doorknob and placed the combs that went with it on the dresser.
“I’m glad you’re here.” I reached for his hand. It felt like we were closing the door on a past both of us wanted to forget.
“You’ll be a beautiful bride.”
A collective sigh went around the room when Carlos excused himself.
“It’s not every day you see a man like that around here,” Stone’s mother said, fanning her face with her hand.
“Not anywhere,” Mulaney chimed in.
“Can we open a window or something? He left it smokin’ hot in here,” Vivian said, and I shot her a disapproving look.
“You’re a newlywed, and that’s my brother.”
“I’m supposed to appreciate the gifts God bestows on me. Isn’t that what Father Jude said?” she asked innocently.
“You’ve already received yours.”
“And he’s going to reap the benefits—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” I plugged both my ears with my fingers and squeezed my eyes shut.
Vivian took a finger out of one ear. “You’re going to want to see this.”
Against my better judgement, I opened my eyes. She was holding a white garment bag.
“What have you done?” I asked.
“You can’t get married without a dress. Daniel explained it to me before we got married. And he really had a point, totally proved—”
“I heard the reasons when he gave them to you.” In my kitchen, he hadn’t tried all that hard to whisper in Vivian’s ear when he told her exactly why she should wear a dress to their wedding. Hearing it once was enough. “You had this all planned, didn’t you?” I tried to sound accusatory, but it came out more grateful than anything.
“We were all in on it. It really brought back memories of when D and I got married, so I should thank you for inspiring—”
“Enough.” I didn’t need to hear about what went on in their bedroom.
“Lift your pretty violet dress a little,” Ruby said. “I’ve got to put on your something borrowed.” She held a strap of worn leather with a brushed silver buckle.
“What is it?” Whatever it was, it looked old.
Her eyes gleamed as she exchanged a look with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law. “This is a garter made from the reins of the bridle used on the very first horse the Jacobs bought over a hundred years ago. That stud paved the way for what we have now, and every Jacobs bride since has worn it on her wedding day. It’s a symbol of our past and a promise of our future, and whether you believe in that kind of stuff or not, it’s a damn good-luck charm.”
Ruby patted my thigh with her weathered hands, and I raised the hem of my dress. When the leather touched my skin, I felt an instant connection to this family, this land. They were rooted to one another with an enduring love that spanned generations, and I was a part of that now.
“Looks perfect,” Stone’s mother said, a wisp of nostalgia on her face.
Vivian looked at me. “You’re as ready as you’ll ever be, gorgeous. Let’s get that dress on you.”
The room cleared until only my best friend and I remained. I stood, shedding my dress and catching a glimpse in the mirror of myself in my underwear and leather garter. It excited and terrified me that Stone would see me like this.
“Trust him. He’ll take care of you,” she said.
“If I didn’t trust him, I wouldn’t be marrying him. And thank you for supporting me, no matter what.”
“That’s what family does.” She paused, her gaze reflective. We both appreciated what family meant, because we’d lost ours. I’d say we’d gotten to choose our new one, but I wasn’t so certain something bigger hadn’t chosen it for us. “The second your honeymoon’s over, we’re back together. Clear?”
“What if Stone wants to live here?” I asked, the thought not totally unpleasant. It was easy to picture our kids running around the ranch, but I ached at the thought of being separated from Vivian and Daniel.
“Then we’re moving too.”
I smiled. Most people would think the way we stuck together was too much, and that was fine, but it was perfect for us, exactly what we needed. That was all that mattered.
Vivian unzipped the garment bag with a dramatic flourish, and removed the dress from the protective fabric.
My hand flew to my mouth. “It’s perfect.”
Vivian uncovered my mouth and grinned. “That’s what I said as s
oon as I saw it.”
The dress was long-sleeved with a high neck, the bottom nearly brushing the floor. Vintage. Classic. Exactly what I’d have selected for myself.
She finished buttoning up the back and came around for the front view. “I better go tell Daniel to get Stone a chair. His legs won’t be able to support him when he sees you in this.”
We left my new necklace tucked underneath, and I felt the two hearts lying against my skin. She pinned the mantilla in my hair, fussing with it until she was satisfied.
“I’m ready to be his wife,” I said before she turned me around to get a look in the full-length mirror. I couldn’t believe it was me, that it was my wedding day.
I thought of my mother and wished she could’ve been with me. My gratitude to Carlos for bringing this piece of her ran deep. It felt like she was supporting me, encouraging me to be happy. Marrying Stone was no leap of faith. It was exactly what was meant to be, and I had my mother’s blessing. I was sure of it.
“You held out long enough. And you say I’m stubborn.” Vivian rolled her eyes and then pulled me into a tight embrace. “I’m so happy for you, M. This is only the beginning.”
“No time for tears, missy,” I said, voice thick with emotion.
“I wouldn’t dare,” she sniffed. “Wait a sec.” She held up a finger and lifted her dress. She unpinned a blue square of fabric I recognized. I couldn’t believe she was wearing a piece of my old blanket, the one I’d given her on her wedding day. “I want this back, but I think you should wear it today.”
She rolled up the sleeve of my dress and pinned the ragged square so when she restored the sleeve to the correct position, it was resting against my pulse point.
“Ready to do this?”
Not only was the judge there, but the pastor had arrived by the time Vivian and I made it downstairs to the kitchen. Stone was nowhere to be found, but his signature was already on a marriage license. With confidence, I used Daniel’s pen to sign my name under Stone’s. Another piece of rightness clicked into place.
“We’ll overlook the waiting period,” the judge told me with a wink.
I hadn’t considered it, but was grateful for the clout of the Jacobs family. I didn’t want to wait even a few more minutes to marry Stone.
Chapter Sixty
Stone
I lost my breath.
Daniel opened the back door and Muriella stepped out on his arm. We didn’t need a photographer. I’d never forget this moment as long as I lived.
Perfection.
She was absolute and utter perfection.
Our eyes settled on one another and peace filled me. I stood tall under the old tree, barely felt the December cold. The sun was almost at the tree line in the west, casting a glow across the backyard.
Her smile nearly blinded me as she came down the aisle. There wasn’t a trace of her fears. I planned on keeping it that way.
Once we were before the minister, my arms went around her. There was no one else there but us. Though I heard the even cadence of the preacher speaking, none of it registered.
She lifted her hands and cupped my face. “I love you.”
The minister stopped talking, and she beamed at me before she kissed me.
“Gotta take your vows first, M,” Vivian called playfully, eliciting a chorus of laughter.
“You just get prettier every time I see you,” I said for her ears only. “Should’ve taken V up on her offer of a chair.”
We grinned at each other, and she turned to the minister. “You can continue. The short version, please.”
“Of course.” Everyone laughed again, even the preacher, who abided by her wishes.
In a few minutes, Muriella and I had pledged our lives to one another eternally, and something changed inside me. Where there had been a heaviness in my heart, light filtered in. Things wouldn’t be perfect, but as long as I had her, we’d be all right.
Lights were strung up in the trees, and Dad got the firepit going. The impromptu reception seemed fairly well planned. Vivian hauled champagne out of the house with Grandmama right behind her carrying Mason jars of moonshine. Mama carefully balanced a wedding cake in her hands. Leona and Gabby set up plates and glasses and napkins. Mulaney started the stereo, and country music floated through the crisp evening air.
It was perfect. Intimate. All the people we loved were with us. Pastor Adams took a photograph of the entire family in front of the tree just before the sun disappeared below the horizon. I couldn’t wait to get it framed—one for our home and one for the hallway of the big house, where all the other important Jacobs family moments were displayed.
Zegas and the judge were sports, passing the camera back and forth to snap as many pictures as we requested, though I’d seen Grandmama slip them some moonshine, so their agreeability may have had something to do with that.
“About time I get the first dance with my wife, don’t you think?” I spoke against her ear as I wrapped my arms around her from behind.
“I thought you’d never ask, Mr. Jacobs.”
I spun her around as George Strait began to croon about crossing his heart. “You’ve made me a happy man, Mrs. Jacobs.”
She grinned. “I like the sound of that,” she admitted. Her new name filled me with pride.
I pulled her close and pressed my forehead against hers.
No more dates I wasn’t sure she wanted to be on. No more time apart. I couldn’t resist her, and she’d made it impossible for me to ever live without her.
“I’ve thought about this so often, it seems surreal. It’s more perfect than I imagined. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express what having you as my wife means to me. I—I love you so much sometimes I think it’s too much, that I’ll scare you off. Then I think it’s not enough, that you’ll never know how much you mean to me.”
She stroked the back of my neck as we swayed in time to the music. “You can’t love me too much. I need every ounce you have to give, and you need all I have for you. I’m still coming to terms with how overwhelming my feelings for you are, but they don’t frighten me anymore. At least not like they did.”
I cradled her head against my chest. A lifetime of this wasn’t enough.
“If it wasn’t so cold, we’d spend the night out under the stars. When spring comes, I’ll take you to my favorite spot.”
“You can keep me warm,” she suggested.
“Oh, I’m going to,” I promised.
“What if your wife turns out to be a nag?”
“I’ll just have to kiss her a lot to keep her quiet.”
“Don’t encourage her.”
“I won’t be able to help myself.”
“I’m happy for y’all.” Mitch appeared beside me and slapped my back. “About damn time you came to see us,” he said to Muriella.
“I’m excited to have another sister.” Juliana beamed at her.
“You still mad at me?” I asked Mitch.
“A little.” He punched me in the arm. “But you won’t do anything like that again.”
Muriella dug her finger into my side. “No, I won’t.” I thrust out my hand and we shook. “We were going to wait until Christmas, but this is close enough. We’ve got something we want to give y’all,” I started. “Well, everybody really. But you get first dibs.”
Juliana tilted her head. “What are you up to?”
“Rumor has it you want to take the girls to Paris,” I said.
“Stone Jacobs.” She turned her mom voice on me, but it didn’t matter.
“We bought an apartment there. It’s got a view of the Eiffel Tower and everything. It’s in the whole family’s name, and when the girls are old enough, we’ll add them too.”
Mitch stared at me in disbelief. “Why the hell would you do a thing like that?”
Muriella clutched my arm. “Because it’s a special place to the two of you. And also we wanted somewhere that belonged to everyone.”
“We’ve worked it out so you can go
in June when school’s out. Muriella’s arranged some things you might like to do.”
Mitch’s face went blank. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Your sister helped too.”
“I ain’t letting y’all pay for a trip.” His mouth flattened.
“Thank you.” Juliana hooked her arm through his. “Hopefully, we can all go together one day.”
“We’d love that.” Muriella smiled as my sister-in-law dragged Mitch away. He looked back, a stubborn half-smile on his face.
Daniel approached, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, you two.”
“Thanks, man. We both got pretty damn lucky in spite of ourselves.”
Daniel smiled knowingly at that. “No doubt.” He shook his head, and I figured he was thinking of Vivian, who probably reminded him of just how lucky he was multiple times a day. “I have a wedding gift for you, but it’s not ready yet.”
“You shouldn’t have,” she admonished, cutting a sideways glance at me.
“Don’t even think about arguing. It’s done, and that’s the end of it,” he said sternly. “Vivian and I have purchased the two floors below yours in the apartment building. The contractor has already begun to gut them, but the two of you will need to get with the designer to plan the space to your specifications. I wanted you to have a place for your family to come so they could be close. Maybe it’ll encourage them to stay a little longer than a weekend visit.”
“Daniel…I don’t know what to say.” I frowned, shell-shocked by his generosity.
“Thank you would suffice, though it’s unnecessary. I just don’t want to hear any objections.”
“It’s too much—”
“No protests. The paperwork is in New York. The apartments belong to the two of you. Enjoy them.”
“I—I don’t know how to say this without sounding ungrateful, but we’re friends, and I think you’ll understand where I’m coming from,” I started. “Muriella is my responsibility now. I appreciate you’ve looked out for her all these years, but I’m taking over from here.”
Three Dates (Paths To Love Book 2) Page 30