by Anne Mercier
"Please. As if anything could make you sad today," Carmen states.
"My brother’s not here. That makes me sad. Sort of," Lucy says with a snicker.
"Where is Joey anyway? He’s missing out on fangirling all over Trace," I ask.
"He’s working and there was no way he could get away."
"Well I might miss him," I say. Lucy looks at me and I laugh out loud.
"This is just so amazing," Spenser announces.
"I still don’t know how this all happened," I say.
"Cage Nichols, that’s how," Spenser tells me.
"What do you mean? He’s been here the whole time. With me. His phone hasn’t rung one time."
"Of course it didn’t. He had everything set up before he set foot on this island—have I told you I’ve always wanted to go to Jamaica. Thank you, Serafina," he says.
I snicker. "Anything to help the cause."
"Cage got everyone involved, we each had a job to do before coming here," Simone tells me as she starts taking the rollers out of my hair.
"Then Mama Regina got involved and it went from one wedding to two," Spenser informs me.
"But what if I’d wanted my own wedding?" I ask, which, I kind of do.
"Oh, you’ll be getting your own wedding. Lucy and Jesse will be up right after you in a different setting," Carmen says.
"Oh, I like that. Nothing personal, Luce," I tell her.
"No, I get it. I want my own too. Sisters or not, I want my own memory," she says dreamily.
"We’ve got dresses, accessories, honeymoon lingerie," she tells me with a wiggle of her eyebrows, "the venues, the reception area, and our family. What else could we need?"
"Um, the groom?" Spenser teases.
"That’s not even funny. Don’t make me get all violent on you. You know my pregnancy hormones make me especially impulsive. I might just punch out and oops! your throat is there. It totally wouldn’t be my fault," Lucy teases and I snicker.
"Luciana Antonia Kingston, I can make your hair hideous for your wedding."
"Spenser Andrew Clarity, my husband can make your face hideous for all of eternity."
"Well played, doll baby. Well played."
***
I’m looking at my reflection in the mirror when mama walks in.
"You didn’t really think I was going to let another daughter of mine get married without me being there, did you?" she asks.
I smile then shake my head. "I can’t imagine that ever happening."
"Good. You’re the smart daughter."
"I heard that!" Lucy calls out from the restroom.
"I meant for you to," mama says and gives me a wink. "Tell me, Serafina. How did he ask you?"
I look around.
"No one is here. Only us."
I nod. "Oh mama, it was so romantic—though it didn’t start off that way when we first saw each other."
Mama laughs. "I bet not, but you deserved to be scolded for running away." She tsks. "You of all people, Serafina. You’re the strongest woman I know and you run away from feelings and a man."
"You don’t know the whole story."
"I do," she tells me. "And while I just gave you grief, I understand why you left... this time I do. The other times not so much. But rest assured, that evil bitch will get what’s coming to her."
"I don’t doubt it for a second," I answer, not telling her that I’m going to be the one to give it to her. Mama doesn’t need to know that. Neither does Lucy. That’s between me and the mafia.
"Now, tell me."
"Did you know Cage could sing?" I ask mama.
"No! Is he very good?" she asks.
"Is there anything he isn’t good at?" I lift a brow.
She nods. "I imagine there isn’t."
"After our, uh, I guess you could call it a showdown because it felt like one, although when I think about it, it felt an awful lot like being scolded by the principal at school or something."
"You need that. Structured discipline. Cage knows you well," mama tells me, nodding in approval.
Huh. "Anyway, I was getting out of the shower and I heard music. I thought it was the radio or something. We always have music on. But when I stepped into the bedroom, Cage was sitting on the bed singing and playing guitar."
"Shut the front door!" Lucy squeals.
I nod. "I know, right? I just stood there slack-jawed while he sang to me."
"What did he sing?" Lucy asks.
I snicker. "Mama, you’re going to appreciate this so much. Sam Hunt’s Make You Miss Me."
"Oh my God, that’s so perfect!" Lucy all-but shouts.
"It really was. So, after that, we talked a bit and then he sang to me. The song—" I break off, taking a breath, trying not to cry, "it was all about how we met, how he knew he loved me from the minute he saw me, about our friendship, our love, and then he sang:
Would you love me for the rest of your life, beautiful girl
Will you be my wife?"
"I, of course, said yes."
"Oh my, that is so romantic," mama murmurs. "He loves you so much, Serafina."
"I know. I’m so lucky."
"I’m so stunned," Lucy begins. "Cage can sing and play guitar. No wonder he’s so successful."
There are so many things I could tell them, but they’re ours. Our secrets. He keeps mine and I keep his and we cherish them as we hold them together.
"Dress time," Spenser announces as he bursts into the room.
"What if I’d been naked?" I ask.
He rolls his eyes. "First, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. Second, as if I care. I don’t bat for your team in case you’ve forgotten."
I snicker. "I haven’t, but what if someone else came in and we were standing here in our birthday suits?"
Xander’s head pops in the room. "Who’s naked?"
Lucy lets out a laugh.
"See!" I say to Spenser, pointing at Xander.
"Sera, there is no stopping one such as Xander Mackenzie," Spenser reminds me.
"True enough."
"Now, dress time. Xander you keep your pervy ass over on that side of the divider or I’ll invent ways to torture you," Spenser threatens.
Mama looks at Xander. "No need for that. If Xander wants to remain in this room, he will sit down beside me and be a gentleman."
I snort. "Gentleman. Xander. That’s an oxymoron."
"Moron is right," Ethan says from the door.
"What the hell?" I ask. "It’s dress time and you all come in here now?"
Ethan shrugs. "Can’t blame a guy for hoping he might see some tit action."
"Ethan Ashcroft, you will mind your manners," mama scolds.
"Sorry mama."
She nods.
I peek my head around the divider. "Just so you both know, you look handsome."
They’re both wearing white gauzy pants, much like the ones Cage wore the night on the beach. They’ve got on flip flops and a button-down white gauzy shirt.
I turn to Spenser. "Have I mentioned I love island-wear on men?"
He wiggles his eyebrows. "It’s so fucking hot. Gauzy, filmy fabric." The way he says it sounds so dirty so I do a soft growl and he laughs. "That man of yours is one lucky mofo."
"Don’t I know it," Cage says from the other side of the divider and I gasp. "You’re not supposed to be here!" I tell him. "It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."
He snorts. "Fee, don’t you think we’ve already had our fair share of bad luck?"
"That’s true."
"Besides, how am I supposed to give you your wedding gift if I can’t see you?" he asks.
The guys tease with an "aww" and then I hear slaps. I snicker. Mama got them.
"I have your gift here too." I hesitate. "Do you think it’s okay to see him before the wedding, mama?" I ask.
"I don’t see why not. I saw your father the day of our wedding. We even had a quickie in the dressing room when your Nana Russo was out working her mojo on someone.
"
"Gah. Brain scrub. STAT!" I shout and everyone laughs. "That is not a visual I wanted in my brain."
"Ugh, me either," Lucy says.
I walk to the side of the divider. I’m only wearing a robe but my hair and makeup are done to perfection. I lose my breath when I see him standing there in the same clothes as the others, but for some reason, on him, it looks sexier, manlier. Whether it’s the slight beard or the deep tan of his skin, I don’t know. But he looks hot.
"Holy smokes you look so hot."
He chuckles. "You look beautiful, Fee."
I blush. I can’t help it. "I’ll never get used to that."
"I hope not," he says and kisses me softly.
"This is for you," I tell him, handing him a small black box.
He lifts the lid and just stares. He doesn’t say anything. Oh, God, he hates it.
"If you don’t like it, I can get you something—"
"Fee," he says softly, his voice cracking a bit. "It’s the perfect gift."
I smile and take his hand, then remove the watch from the box. "It was my father’s... I hope that’s okay. I know he’s a Manzini—"
"Serafina," he says and I know he’s irritated. "He was only in name as you are only in name. He and your mother were good people."
I sniffle when tears spill over. I didn’t even feel them well up. They were just there. I hear murmurs on the other side of the divider but I don’t pay attention.
I put the watch around his wrist. "So, this was my father’s watch. He received it from my mother on their wedding day. She received it from her father on her wedding day to give to the man she loved like no other, completely, unconditionally, and forever. Lucy brought it, knowing I would want you to have it as that’s how I love you: completely, unconditionally, and forever—like no other."
"Sera," he murmurs, pulling me to him. "It’s perfect. You humble me."
There are hushed whispers and I know they’re listening but I don’t care.
"This is for you, for the woman who will be my forever. There are three pieces, two new and one old. They all have blue, so all you need is something borrowed." He hands me the box and I open it with a gasp.
"Oh my God." I shake my head. "It’s—incredible," I tell him, tears blurring my vision.
"The necklace was my mother’s."
"Oh Cage," I whisper and a silent sob slips out.
"She told me she wanted me to give her one treasure to the woman who would be my forever. She knew I’d find you and she told me we would come together in an unconventional way," he smirks and puts the necklace on for me. My hand holds it to my chest—the fragile heart of white diamonds and blue sapphires.
"This is also yours," he says, handing me a long thin box. I look up at him from beneath my lashes and he smiles. "Go on."
I open it and nestled inside is a bracelet of diamonds and sapphires in the shape of hearts, matching the necklace.
I gasp. "This is gorgeous. Did you have this made?" I ask, thinking I’ve never seen anything like it. He nods.
"And these as well," he tells me, opening a small box containing a pair of diamond and sapphire heart earrings.
"This is too much," I say, trying so hard not to cry.
"It’ll never be enough," he answers, helping me with the bracelet while a sniffling Spenser steps up to switch out my earrings. Spenser quickly steps away.
"You’re all I need," I tell him. "You’re enough."
He pulls me to him and holds me tight. "You’re everything."
"Damn, Cage, dude, you’ve got me crying like a fucking girl out here," Xander says with a sniffle.
Cage chuckles and kisses my forehead. "Always and forever yours Fee."
"Only ever you." I reach out and grab the handkerchief in the pocket of his shirt. "Something borrowed," I tell him, then blow my nose.
"That’s so hot," Xander says when I blow again. "None of that dainty blowing for our Sera. Just get all that snot out of there girl. No matter if you sound like a foghorn doing it. Who gives a fuck so long as you can breathe, right?"
"Damn straight," I answer, then look at Cage.
He smiles. "I’ll see you in about twenty minutes."
My eyes go wide. "Twenty minutes? Oh God, Spenser!" Cage chuckles and I run behind the divider.
"Please, Serafina, I used waterproof. It’s your wedding day and that man of yours is amazing. I just knew you’d need the safety of waterproof."
I sniffle and nod then hug him. "Thank you so much, Spenser. I adore you."
"And I you, sugar."
"Dude, she’s already loving on other men," Xander chides.
Cage chuckles. "I’m not even worried about it."
I ignore the rest of what’s being said until I hear Jesse come in. Lucy stands from her chair.
Xander groans. "I’m already feeling like a girl but now I know you’re going to turn me into a total pussy," Xander tells Jesse. Mama cuffs him one.
"Xander."
"Sorry, but it’s true."
"Join the rest of us," Meggie tells him with a sniffle.
"Megs?"
"Yeah, babes."
"I’m so glad you’re here."
"Me too."
"You could get married, too, you know," Jace encourages and Meggie starts choking.
Trace laughs. "You alright there, Megs?"
"Yeah, just went down wrong," she answers.
"Which part? The drink or the thought of marriage?"
"Both," she says and everyone chuckles.
"Shh," Spenser chides. "It’s Jucy time."
"It’s what?" Kennedy asks.
Spenser rolls his eyes. "Jucy time. You know, Jesse and Lucy abbreviated like Brangelina and Bennifer."
"Wow, they nicknamed them?" Kennedy asks.
"Duh. A long time ago," Spenser tells everyone.
"You realize we never pay attention to the tabloids, right?" Jesse asks.
"Well you should," Spenser scolds. "If you did, you’d know that Lucy’s having Ben’s triplets and you’re having an affair with Sera. You all are one kinky family, that’s all I’m saying," Spenser says with a wave of his hand.
I snicker.
"Lucy," Jesse begins, and I sit on the vanity stool along the opposite wall behind the divider, and watch as he fidgets, "nothing will ever be as beautiful and perfect as you are so I had a hell of a time trying to find you a worthy wedding gift."
"Worthy of what?" she asks confused.
"You, Cupcake. You."
"Oh," she whispers, her hand covering her mouth. She steals his handkerchief, following my lead. "Something borrowed and blue," she says with a wink at me.
I give her a thumbs up.
"This is for you, Lucy," Jesse tells her and hands her a rectangular flat box.
When she lifts the lid she gasps loudly. "Jesse."
"I went back to Bart, the man who sold us your ring, and he told me about this older lady. Her husband had passed on a couple years ago and her health was failing her, but she had no children to pass her possessions on to. She knew Bart. He grew up next door to her and he told her he’d help her find just the person for each piece of jewelry."
"When I told him I was looking for the perfect wedding gift for you, classic and elegant, something that would look right with your ring, he told me he had just the thing. He came out of the back with this antique pearl set and with the pinkish hue, I knew it was perfect for you. Mrs. Pepperdine had only one request of the couple who purchased her pearls: that they love one another fiercely, passionately, and eternally. I told Bart that was definitely us."
"Oh Jesse. They’re so lovely, beautiful," she sniffles as Jesse clasps the pearl choker around Lucy’s neck. She puts the earrings in and Jesse puts on a three-strand bracelet, a smaller replica of the choker. "I wish I got to meet her."
"You still can when we get home. I invited her along but she wasn’t well enough," Jesse tells her.
"I’d love that. Thank you, Jesse."
"Any
thing for you."
She smiles softly and reaches to the table, picking up a flat, rectangular box.
"This is for you," she tells him, holding the box between them. She lifts the lid and Jesse’s gaze flies up to meet hers. He swallows hard.
"Luce."
"This is the photo Sera took of us that day in the Chicago airport. Our connection, even back then, was obvious. The look you gave me that day stopped my heart. It was like it was filled with promises, unsaid promises. I wanted you to see and have a piece of the memory I hold from that day," she tells him.
He pulls her in for a hug and I wipe a tear. Spenser pulls my dress over my head behind the privacy curtain while Lucy and Jesse finish with their gift giving.
"She picked the perfect dress," I tell Spenser. Spaghetti straps hold up a stunning backless white chiffon and lace dress with intricate beadwork. So lovely.
I smile when Spenser begins pinning the tiara of diamonds and sapphires to my up-do. He outdid himself styling my hair in an upswept half twist with strands and curls falling down my back.
Lucy comes behind the curtain and smiles. "You look gorgeous, Sera."
I press a hand to my belly, then I feel the scar.
"Sera," she whispers.
I meet her gaze. "I’m okay."
She tilts her head. "Well, I’m getting there. It wasn’t meant to be and baby Lilyana is with her nanas and her grampy up there somewhere where they can be happy and love."
Lucy nods. "I’m so sorry."
I shake my head. "Don’t be. Cage taught me not to regret what we can’t change, but to try to understand it, then to accept it. I’m almost there. I love her. I will always love her, but they need her more than we do, I think."
"I think you’re right," Lucy agrees, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Xander sniffles. "Damn it." He blows his nose like I blow mine.
"Let it all out, Xander."
"I am. You all are some seriously emotional fuckers," he says. I wait for the slap but it doesn’t happen.
"Mama?" I call out.
"Don’t you worry about your mother," daddy tells me. "Simone and Carmen are fixing the makeup she just cried off."
"Aww, mama," Lucy says sympathetically.
"She’s not nearly as big of a mess as Xander over here," Jace teases.
"Fuck you, dude. Do you not have a heart? Or is it made of stone?" he asks.
"I’ve got a heart, alright," Jace says, sarcasm and bitterness evident in the tone. "It’s just been shattered into a million pieces and even after six years I haven’t been able to put it back together."