“I know that too. I love you both so very much.” She said that she loved her as well. And had a gift for her. “Magic? I don’t need anything like that. I’m just happy to be loved by this family.”
“Yes, but you will want this. It will help you when you put good use to your studies. It will help you a great deal, as it did the others when you joined them, to be able to read what sorts of things the children have endured.” Pena nodded, thinking that would be helpful. “You need only to touch my spike upon my head and it will come to you.”
She put her finger on the razor-sharp edge and felt the small pain of it. When the blood welled up, she offered her finger to the dragon. As soon as she licked it clean, she knew that she’d gotten more than the ability to read minds and asked her about it.
“Nothing more than a little magic to help you along the way.” Prisane stood up then, and spread her wings. “We must be going now. I’d like to check on my hatchlings before the wedding. You will be a beautiful bride, and he the most handsome of grooms.”
Walking back to the house, she saw Mom sitting in the swing that had been built for her long ago. She was simply moving back and forth, but the look on her face looked like she was thinking hard on something. Calling out to her, Mom looked at her and patted the seat next to her.
“I’ve been thinking.” Pena told her that she was thinking too hard. “Yes, more than likely. But I was thinking about the life that you’re about to embark on. And I have to tell you, I’m so very proud of you. Of both of you. I never would have thought that you’d be the perfect match. He is somewhat of a serious person.”
“Yes, he is at that, but we love each other, and that’s about all that matters to me. We balance, he told me.” Mom nodded and rocked more. “Are you all right with us marrying? I mean, we sort of jumped the gun by announcing it to everyone before asking.”
“Oh my, yes, I’m so very happy. And I cannot wait to be a grandma.” Pena pulled out the scale that she’d picked up after Prisane and Warrior left. “You touched it. Do you have any idea what that means?”
“Yes. I do. And I’m sure that he’ll be just as happy for us.” Her mother nodded and hugged her. “Kerrie wants to plant a tree in the place where they died.”
She never referred to them as mom and dad. The only parents she had, as far as she was concerned, were the ones that had loved her and given her a good life. Micky and Vance had given them much more in their first year with them than she’d had her entire young life with the other couple.
“She told me. I cautioned her about things not growing there. But she’s set on it. I’ll have Vance talk to her about it after the wedding.” Mom looked at her. “Speaking of which, I think you need to get ready. You don’t have a great deal of time to help me stop crying because my baby girl is leaving me today.”
Going into the house, Pena was excited. She was going to be married today, and there wasn’t a thing in this world that could dampen her happiness. Pulling on her mom’s wedding gown, it all came to her; she was going to be Mrs. Gavin McCade soon.
~~~
Gavin adjusted his tie twice before he pulled it off. Dad came over, took it from him, and put it around his neck. He was nervous and excited, but dad seemed to understand.
“One thing you can be thankful for, she won’t have to change her last name.” He glared at his dad when he laughed. “Nor will she have to try and get along with her in-laws. There’s a lot to be said for marrying someone that you’ve known for a long time too.”
“You’re not helping. And we both know that even though we’re both McCades, we aren’t blood related, not even by marriage.” Dad nodded. “Why do I have to wear a tie?”
“Because your bride-to-be is wearing her mom’s wedding dress, and you’re wearing a tux. Once you are truly wed, then you can toss this off and have fun. But serious stuff has to be done first.” Gavin thought of something that had been nagging at his mind for several weeks now. “Don’t say it. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m over ten years older than her. When she came here, I was already seventeen.” Dad said that she’d always be younger than him, but they had lifetimes to be together. “She’s so special to me, Dad. I don’t want her to regret marrying such an old man.”
“Old man? Gavin, you’re only thirty-three, not such an old man. And do you have any idea how old Raven is? Or Micky?” He said he was afraid to ask. “Yes, me too. But they’re old. Long before we were born they were roaming the earth in search of us. But don’t tell them I said they were old. I’m afraid of both of them.”
When his tie was fixed, his dad stood next to him in front of the mirror. His dad didn’t look that much older than him. He was still as handsome as he was in his wedding pictures that were taken on his wedding day. And his mom, more beautiful than ever before because she loved his dad.
“I have a painting for you and Pena. I took some pictures of the two of you when you joined the family. I painted them side by side like you’d find in a locket. And there is enough room on it for me to add your children when you have some.” Gavin told him that they were going to have children soon. “Good. I’ve never been a grandfather before, and I’m excited about being one. And I don’t have to tell you how excited your grandma is. It was nice of Pena to ask her to give her away.”
“Grandma has been my best friend and co-conspirator since I was a kid. I think we got into more trouble than kids half my age.” Dad laughed and said he thought that was true. “She’s going to come and live with us. Did she tell you? Uncle Vance is happy that she’s coming to stay. I was sure that he’d be upset.”
“Why? Everyone knows what she means to the two of you, especially you. She’ll love it there, and you two can get into more trouble with your wife tagging along. Or, maybe she’ll just stand back with bail money. Could be that is what she’ll do.” He laughed, and Dad hugged him. “I’m so very proud of you, Gavin. And so is your mom. You’re a fine attorney now. Have a nice house and money in the bank. You’ve taken on projects that most would just let go. And now you’re marrying a woman that we all love as much as we do you.”
“You guys done bonding? Me, I would have thought you’d done that long ago, but that’s just me.” Uncle Vance hugged him too. “Christ, where did the years go? You’re all grown up, and it only seems like yesterday that you were tugging on my gun belt and asking me to show you how to toss a knife.”
“You explained to me when I had the terminology right, then you’d show me.” Gavin laughed. “I think it took me about a week to figure out what you meant. I’m thankful all the time that you finally did show me how to throw a knife. Some of my clients can be pretty impressed when I do it for them.”
The wedding march sounded, and he made his way out to wait on his bride. Pena was his world, and he was excited to be starting this new phase of his life with her. When the bridesmaids finished their walk, he saw her. Pena was the most beautiful creature in the world as far as he was concerned.
Everyone was there. Family, of course, but the dragons had come as well, leaving their hosts, if necessary, to see him getting married. Prisane and Warrior were there as their dragons, providing a beautiful backdrop to the outside wedding.
Faeries and brownies were flittering all over, dropping petals of flowers as Pena and Grandma made their way to him. When he reached for her, Grandma hugged them both tightly, then started to sit. But when she came back, Gavin could hear a few sobs of joy. Grandma told them that she loved them both so much.
Their vows were said to each other, and Gavin realized that his words to her—devotion to her and that he’d love her forever—were sort of lame. Pena cried when he slipped the ring over her finger and he kissed her hand when he did. The minister performing the ceremony said he was just like his father, and they all laughed.
In less time than it took for him to get ready, he was married. And turning his wonderful wife to the crowd of well-wishers, he invited them all to his home for food and fun. Gavin and Pena
walked hand in hand to the festivities just as someone called out his name.
“Hello, young man.” He hugged Caelin and told him that he didn’t think he’d make it. “Miss my own godson’s wedding? Never. Besides, your grandma threatened me, so I came. She’d very protective of you, isn’t she?”
“She is at that. And I am of her.”
They moved with Pena to the party, and Caelin was welcomed like he’d only been away for a few days rather than the last decade. There were many festivities today, and Gavin felt like it was complete. That everyone that he had ever loved was with him on this special day.
Gavin said a small prayer to his grandma, the woman who had cared for him when his mom worked. The faeries had brought her to them and buried her in the most beautiful faerie circle, which he visited weekly.
Someday, he thought, he’d write a book about the dragon warrior and his jewelry. As he walked around, talking to family, he knew he was going to do it. It might not sell well, or not at all, but he was going to write it, because no one would believe what they’d gone through to be a family.
http://eepurl.com/brCBvP
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Kathi Barton, winner of the Pinnacle Book Achievement award as well as a best-selling author on Amazon and All Romance books, lives in Nashport, Ohio with her husband Paul. When not creating new worlds and romance, Kathi and her husband enjoy camping and going to auctions. She can also be seen at county fairs with her husband who is an artist and potter.
Her muse, a cross between Jimmy Stewart and Hugh Jackman, brings her stories to life for her readers in a way that has them coming back time and again for more. Her favorite genre is paranormal romance with a great deal of spice. You can visit Kathi online and drop her an email if you’d like. She loves hearing from her fans. [email protected].
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