Angel had tears welled up in her eyes as Dakota slid the ring on her finger. It was perfect, a solid platinum band with a solitaire, princess cut, diamond. Beautiful in its simplicity. She held her hand out, watching the jewel sparkle in the sunlight as she relaxed with her back against his chest. Dakota rubbed his hand down her arm until his fingers entwined with hers, his hand completely dwarfing hers in a way that made her feel safe and protected. Angel tilted her head back when his palm stroked lovingly over her jaw, the pad of his thumb touched the fullness of her bottom lip. She reached up to place her hand on his cheek, feeling the slight roughness of the dark scruff. His stomach growling loudly broke the silence and it made her realize how hungry she was too.
“I think we should dig in the basket and see what she made for us.” Angel scooted over and began taking out the items one by one while Dakota opened the wine and poured them each a glass.
As usual, Ms. Lola had outdone herself. Cold fried chicken and potato salad was complimented with a small dish of chunked, smoky cheese and olives with a half loaf of a soft yeast bread that was still warm. And as promised, a moist hunk of carrot cake with a thick layer of fluffy cream cheese icing lay in wait for dessert. Upon seeing the food being spread out on the blanket, the ducks that had been puttering around the water’s edge ventured closer, letting out a squawk of greeting as they paced.
“Interesting…I remember when we first spent time together there was talk of you wearing those sexy little cutoffs for a day at the lake feeding ducks something atrocious like french fries.” Dakota raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.
“There is nothing wrong with french fries. It’s all about moderation, Doc.” She tore off little bits of bread and began tossing them towards the ducks, laughing when they tried to outrun each other to get the treat. Angel tore off a bigger hunk and gave it to Dakota. “Make yourself useful and help me feed them.”
The afternoon passed in easy companionship, sharing good food, feeding their new-found feathered friends and discussing their future together. It was decided that neither wanted a huge affair for their upcoming nuptials, both favoring a small ceremony with their families and a few friends. They enjoyed the idea of an outdoor wedding in the early spring when everything was blooming and green. Angel wanted to marry there, by the lake. The flowering dogwoods and redbud trees would be in full bloom in the beginning of May and it would be cooler then, without being to chilly.
To Angel, it felt like a fairytale that was too good to be true, but after everything they had been through, she was ready to embrace happiness. They deserved their happily ever after.
Chapter 25Early May
“Angel! Oh my God you look…” Nahni’s hands covered her cheeks as tears sprung in her eyes. “Stunning…you truly look like an angel.”
Angel blinked her eyes quickly, trying to fight back the emotion that clogged her throat. “Don’t you dare make me cry, Nahni.”
Her sister-in-law sniffled and smiled, dabbing her eyes with the corner of a tissue.
Once Ms. Lola finished zipping the back and tying the bow, Angel did a spin in front of the mirrors that were set up in her suite. Her hair pulled up high on her head with a vintage looking pearl clasp that had been a gift from her mother-in-law Mikayla, paired with her mother’s pearl necklace and earrings, gave her dress the perfect accessory in her Audrey Hepburn look. Her makeup was soft and flattering, but her eyelids were lined with coal and blended to a smoky hue. Nahni had tried to talk her into a red lipstick but Angel went with a glossy, nude kissable look. She planned on lots of kissing to happen today and while her man looked good in red, she didn’t want it all over his face.
The dress she’d chosen was a vintage Givenchy dress that stopped just past the knee and had a cinched in waist with a flared skirt and cap sleeves. It was simple but lovely with no other adornments. Angel sat on the edge of her bed to put on her four inch heeled white patent Mary Jane's to complete her look. A few quick spritzes of Pink perfume and she was ready. Nervous, but ready.
“I have a little somethin’ for you, baby girl.” Ms. Lola came to sit on the bed beside her, opening up her purse and taking out a small box. “My mister gave me this ring on our weddin’ day some fifty years ago. I know I’m not your momma, God rest her soul, but it’d mean a heap to me if you’d wear it as your ‘somethin’ borrowed’ during the ceremony.”
“Oh, Ms. Lola…” Angel cried. “I feel so honored, so blessed that you have been a mom to me my whole life. I’d love to wear it. Absolutely love to wear the ring your mister gave you on your special day.”
Ms. Lola opened the box to reveal a delicate gold band with a single pearl that was a perfect match to her other jewelry. Fitting, that she was wearing the gift from her father of her mother’s pearls, the ones she’d worn on her wedding day, along with the pearl ring of Ms. Lola’s, the only mother she’d ever known. She slipped it on her right hand ring finger then embraced Ms. Lola in a loving hug, fighting back the tears that dampened her eyes.
Her brother and father joined them in the room. Seeing them all dressed up in tuxes looking so handsome nearly made her break down. Good Lord, she didn’t realize her emotions would be on such a roller-coaster today.
“Aye dios mio,” her father’s voice choked up and he put his hand over his mouth, obviously trying not to cry.
“Again, you are a vision, mija. You look as lovely as your mother did the day I married her. She would be so proud…” he hugged her to him, softly kissing her forehead. It took everything in her not to cry. Thankfully, there was a knock at the door.
Dakota’s brother and sister joined them. Dominic was the younger, spitting image of his brother. He stood tall and proud as he came up to her carrying a small box with a delicate blue lace bow wrapped around it. Delilah was smiling when she embraced Angel, voicing how beautiful she looked in her wedding dress. Lilah looked like a breath of fresh air in her butter yellow gown that reached to her ankles, making her dark skin look even more radiant.
“Angel, we’ve brought you a gift from our brother. Dakota said he told you that he would provide you with your ‘something blue’.” Dom handed her the thin box, kissing her cheek.
She held it reverently, cherishing it already although she had no idea what it was. The box was light as a feather and upon a little shake; she didn’t even feel movement inside. Her curiosity peeked; she gently untied the bow and handed it to Nahni with instructions to save it for her. When she lifted the lid and pulled the tissue paper back to reveal the gift, she gasped as the tears once again blurred her eyes. A downy soft handkerchief with delicate blue hand-stitched edging had their names embroidered on it with the date beneath it. Tiny blue forget-me-nots flowed on either side of the stitching. His thoughtfulness overwhelmed her. He knew she wasn’t one for fancy things or extravagant jewelry, but this…this was something that one day, she could pass down to their daughter on her wedding day. Angel took a deep breath and folded the handkerchief and tucked it in her cleavage for the time being.
“I have something for him too. Would you mind taking it to him?” she addressed Dom.
“It would be my pleasure, sister mine.”
Again with the blurry, watery eyes. Good Lord would she ever make it down the aisle without mascara and eyeliner streaks down her face?
***
Dakota was pacing back and forth in front of the patio doors that led through the gardens and down the path to the lake where the ceremony was to be held. His traditional black tux with a single white rose pinned on his jacket fit him to a tee. He had polished his shoes to an impeccable gleam in true military fashion as his father had taught him. It was a good thing it was wood flooring and not carpet, else he’d wear a hole in it waiting for the ceremony to start. His mom and dad were there with him, along with a couple of his uncles and his best friend Tank, but Dakota wasn’t talking to anyone. Nervous energy coursed through him and time was moving so slowly it was driving him crazy. He was ready, so ready to make Angel his wife.
She had insisted on not moving in with him until they were wed, so he was thoroughly looking forward to waking up next to her every day for the rest of his life. But the damn clock needed to move faster so he could make her his in front of God and everyone.
“Hey, D. I got a package for you from your girl. She loved your gift by the way. Fighting back tears and all that jazz. You did good, bruh.” Dom clapped him on the back and handed him a rectangular box that was wrapped in pearly white paper with a silver mesh bow. When he opened it, his reaction was quite the opposite of what Dom said Angel’s was. Dakota laughed loudly and shook his head. “That woman,” he held up a large coffee thermos that would hold somewhere around sixty-four ounces of coffee along with a receipt for a paid subscription to a coffee of the month club. “Proof she loves me madly since she’s willing to support my coffee habit even though she can’t stand it.”
“She’s a keeper, bruh. That’s for sure.” Tank said, clapping his hand on Dakota’s back, joining him in laughter.
“Everyone, it’s time to head outside. As soon as you’re at the altar, Dakota, I’ll signal for the ceremony to start.” The minister said as he ushered them out the patio doors to walk down the garden path to the site they had picked out by the weeping willows next to the water.
***
Vito held his arm out for Angel as she came to stand next to him. She still walked with a limp but the fact she was now walking unassisted was nothing short of a miracle. His baby girl was all grown up and he was about to give her away to the man of her dreams. Now both of his children had made lives for themselves with exceptional partners and he couldn’t be more proud.
“It’s time, mija,” he kissed her cheek and led her outside and down the aisle as the music started to play.
“I love you, Papá. Thank you for everything. For being both parents to me, and for being my friend when I needed it too. I couldn’t have made it through the last year without you.” She whispered, emotion clogging her throat.
“You’re my baby. I’d do anything for you.” He patted her hand and smiled, “It’s your day, mija, smile and take the time to soak it all up. Don’t forget a thing. Today will last you a lifetime.”
***
Her father was right. It was time to let the nerves go and enjoy herself. They were surrounded by family and friends that had loved, supported and encouraged them through the good times, and the rough ones. Angel squeezed tightly to her bouquet of white roses and tried to take in everything. The scent of dogwoods and rosebud trees blooming left a sweet smell in the air. The warm sunshine on her face and the birds chirping paired with the water lapping as the wind blew it against the shore was a beautiful, calming melody. Just before they turned the corner that would put her in full view of their guests and her husband-to-be, the music started and put an instant smile on her face. Jason Mraz had written the perfect song in “I’m Yours”.
Angel smiled at her father when he asked, “Ready, mija?”
He led her around the corner and she saw her man at the end of the path by the water. He looked so sexy that her stomach felt the fluttering of dozens of butterflies taking flight. Dakota smiled so big and let out an excited, “Whooo!” that made everyone start laughing. She wanted to take off running towards him and launch herself in his arms. God, she loved him so much she was positively beaming as she smiled right back at him. She had intended to look through the crowd and memorize each person, where they sat, what they wore and the looks on their faces. But once she laid eyes on Dakota everyone else fell away. She only had eyes for him. Her husband. He was everything she had ever wished for and more. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, they both had their faults. She may never walk without a limp and he would always love his coffee no matter how much she didn’t. She would always have a quick temper and he would always be stubborn but with a hearts like theirs, love knew no bounds. It didn’t matter if the wishes you made turned out exactly as you planned because love was adapting, ever changing, and forever worthy of fighting for.
Granting WishesBook 3
The last book in the “Wishes” series by DeAnna Felthauser.
Delilah and Dominic’s story
Reflecting On Wishes (The Wishes Series) Page 21