Delia Bay

by Lauren Cooper

  “It all seems too perfect” I mumble, my eyes going to the small human on the floor.

  “You deserve it and more” Rach plants a kiss to my cheek before ushering me away from the mirror and leaving the room. I lift up the tiny bundle and give her rosy cheeks a kiss just as my Mama walks in.

  “Oh!” her hands go to her mouth and tears shine in her eyes. “You both look so beautiful” she stalks over towards me, her own dress that I’d never thought I’d see her in looks perfect on her. The lilac color brings out her eyes and the matching flowers in her own hair mimic mine.

  “You look beautiful too Mama” I give her a small peck on the cheek before she takes he baby from my arms, Lucia’s small face beams up at her Nana who starts to pull funny faces at her.

  “Ready?” Rach comes back with my flowers, a bunch of daisies tied with twine and white ribbon.

  “Always”

  “Say good luck Mama” My mama holds up Lucia to give me a kiss, her baby slobber getting my cheek wet, but I don’t care. Today is perfect, nothing and no-one could ruin it.

  Although the wedding was supposed to be small, in a town like Delia it was only natural that the entire population showed up. Even as I made my way through the cabin that was once scarce and hollow, I could see our guests sitting in their seats placed neatly into rows on either side of a makeshift isle. The cabin was different now, we were all different now and that was a good thing.

  Each one of us has changed for the better, Reid more so. I could only hope that I could make him happy for the rest of our lives. The cabin was warm now, its walls, old and new filled with stories of us. Our little family was perfect, happy and healthy, it was all we could ever ask for.

  “Thank you for everything” I give Rach a quick hug as she follows Mama down towards the rest of our guests. Acoustic music is played from speakers hidden somewhere and all I can do is watch their retreating backs as they make way for me.

  “Ready when you are” the deep southern voice from behind me has me turning to glance over my shoulder. Suited and booted in his finest southern suit, fit with a bolo tie, George Walker greets me with the biggest smile on his face.

  “You look stunning” he takes my free hand in his and wraps it around his arm before slowly guiding me towards my future husband.

  “Thank you for doing this George” I fail to hide the emotion in my voice but manage to hold back the tears.

  “The pleasure is all mine Luna” we start to walk closer and closer to the wedding arch that Rach put together. Flowers and vines cover its entirety, the colors beautiful and popping against the backdrop of the sea.

  “You know, I think if you’d have met each other you would have been the best of friends” George sighs sadly but the small smile on his face tells me he’s remembering his girl fondly.

  “I don’t know how well she’d take to me marrying her man” I huff, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Oh, she’d pound on you a little” he chuckles, “but I know Aurora would want him to be happy, and it’s because of you he gets to be happy”

  I COULDN’T TEAR MY eyes away from the cabin. I was waiting on my girl to come and be mine forever. Mrs. Perry had walked down just a few moments ago with Lucia in her arms, the white lace dress she had on was beautiful and I knew nothing of baby fashion. Today had come around as quickly as I could blink but I wasn’t complaining. I couldn’t wait to make Luna my wife, it was natural to me. I had to make her mine one way or another. Austin and Cash stood to my left, both of them having been drafted in to be my groomsmen, Charlie and Gus stood proudly beside them, standing in as my acting parents. George was too busy walking my woman down the aisle, a gesture put forward by Luna owing to having no father to walk her down. I knew when George had excused himself when she’d asked that he was a weak man like me in those few moments. Luna had that effect on us, she was this strong force, brutal yet silent in her pursuit of bringing us to our knees.

  The soft acoustic music that flew around us on the wind, the wildflowers in the meadow bowing in the wind still didn’t deter me from looking at the top of the aisle. Just when I thought the anticipation would surely kill me she emerges from the double glass doors. All white and lace, her blonde hair curled around her shoulders with daisies wrapped around her head. My breath leaves my lungs, but I feel anything but nervous. I want to shout at George in his bolo tie to hurry the fuck up. Instead of suits the guys and I had opted for something less traditional because we knew Luna wouldn’t do traditional. We paired navy trousers with a crisp white shirt and braces. The too-big daisies pinned to our lapels finished the product, one I hoped Luna would appreciate. She’d insisted that she trusted me and hadn’t wanted to see the finished product before the big day, if she hated it then she was doing a fine job at hiding it. The too-wide grin she had painted on her cheeks as she neared me only grew with each step she took, I’m sure my face mirrored hers.

  “Who gives this woman to this man?”

  “I do” George pronounces proudly, his chest puffed up proudly before he plants a kiss to Luna’s cheek. I take her hand in mine as the officiant clears his throat. George takes a seat beside Mrs. Perry and our wedding starts. With nothing but deep blue eyes, lace and baby giggles, we tie the knot, binding ourselves to each other for the rest of time with nothing but love and happiness between us. Something I never thought I’d feel, something I never thought I deserved.

  But do you know what I’ve learnt over the past year?

  It’s okay to open your eyes in the darkness, it’s okay to be afraid, because there’s always a light somewhere. Mine just so happened to be in the sky, shining brightly and guiding me towards the end of the day. My Sun had risen and set, giving way to the moon. My moon. My Luna.

  Aurora was my sun, my sunrise, the roman goddess of dawn, and Luna was my forever after. The goddess of the moon who had shone bright enough in my eternal darkness to guide me home, straight into her waiting arms.

  Author Note

  As always, a massive thank you to my readers!

  I couldn’t have and wouldn’t have finished this book without you and for that I will always be grateful.

  I hope you enjoyed Reid and Luna’s story as much as I did!

  If you, or someone you know is struggling with mental health then don’t wait. Get the help you need.

  There’s no shame in admitting you aren’t okay.

  L

  xoxo

  Other works by this author:

  Power Trilogy

  Powerless & Powerful Out now!

  https://amzn.to/2MvJyJ0

  Power Surge (Coming 2018)

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