The Halo Series Boxed Set

by Kimberly Knight

  “You may now kiss the bride.”

  Easton pulled back at the words the minister said and grabbed my face, kissing the ever-loving shit out of me. Clapping and cheers could be heard on the rooftop, but I drowned everything out except for the way it felt to officially be Mrs. Easton Crawford.

  Avery cleared his throat causing Easton to pull away from me. We both smiled and then turned to face our family and friends. We walked down the white carpet, and I glanced at my mother as we passed. She was crying, a bright smile on her face. I’d never knew her to have any emotions other than greed and lust.

  Easton leaned down and kissed my lips softly once we passed the final rows of chairs. “Are you okay?” he whispered.

  I smiled up at him. “I’m perfect. How could I not—”

  “I’m not talking about us, baby.”

  As we were turning a corner into the building where we were going to meet the photographer for pictures, I looked over my shoulder in the direction of the Chiavari chairs that were decorated with teal ribbon around the backs. My mother smiled and I didn’t. Then a wall blocked my view, and I felt as though I was in the clear. At least for a little bit while the wedding party took pictures.

  We stopped, and I leaned against the back of a high chair. I peered up at my husband. “She came,” I breathed.

  He nodded and wrapped his arms around my neck. “She came,” he repeated.

  I closed my eyes for a few moments as I gathered my thoughts. “I have to—”

  “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. It’s your day.”

  I looked up into his azure eyes. “It’s our day. And yes, I have to speak with her. Even if it’s to tell her thank you for coming and nothing else.”

  “I want you to do whatever you want to do. Not what you think you need to do. There’s a difference, babe. If you want to take pictures, eat, cut our cake, and then get shit faced as we dance on the dance floor, then that’s what we’ll do.”

  I sighed. “There’s not even a place for her to sit.” There was a reason why you RSVP’d to a wedding. It was called a headcount, and we hadn’t accounted for her.

  “I’m sure Nicole and Bailee are dealing with that right now. You know those two. They’re not going to let anything ruin your day.”

  “Our day,” I corrected again.

  He grinned. “Our day.”

  I hugged him, placing my head on his chest and trying not to mess up my hair and makeup. He always had a way of making me feel better, and I was slowly getting used to the fact that I finally had someone to look out for me.

  The clicking of a camera broke our moment, and I looked toward the photographer. He smiled, and I returned my head to Easton’s chest. Easton kissed the top of my head as we held each other. I didn’t want to move. I wanted to stay in his arms forever. I’d waited my entire life for this day, and all I wanted to do was stand wrapped in the arms of the man I married.

  A few minutes later our wedding party as well as Jimmy and Jane, walked in the room.

  “Mom and Stan are sitting in the back by the bathroom,” Bailee stated.

  I lifted my head and turned toward her. “Stanley is here too?”

  She laughed. “Who do you think paid for them to fly here and for a suite at The Carlyle?”

  I sighed. “Of course.”

  “They’re staying at The Carlyle?” Avery asked and then whistled.

  “Stan the man is loaded,” Bailee replied. “That’s why mommy dearest is with him.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Let’s not talk about her anymore. I’ll deal with her—”

  Of course, my mother decided to walk into the room at that moment. “I’m sorry to intrude. I was hoping I could get a few pictures.”

  I stared at her as though she had two heads. She clearly was bipolar if she thought she could waltz in on my wedding day unannounced and pretend we were a happy family.

  I didn’t answer her. Instead, Easton stepped forward and stuck his hand out to her. “I’m Easton.”

  She smiled a smile similar to mine. “I kind of gathered that. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “These are my parents, Jimmy and Jane, my daughter, Cheyenne, my best friend, Avery, and you know his wife, Nicole.”

  My mother’s eyes turned to Nicole in surprise. “I had no idea. Congratulations, honey.” She stepped to Nicole and proceeded to hug her.

  Nic’s eyes widened as she returned the hug. “Thank you, Beverly.”

  “I’m sorry to break up the family reunion, but we really need to get the pictures taken before the sun goes down,” the photographer interjected.

  My mom’s eyes slid to me, silently asking if I’d grant her wish of taking pictures with me. I felt Easton’s warm breath on my ear as he leaned down and whispered, “We don’t need to hang them up in our house if you don’t want to.”

  I didn’t look away as I processed his words. He was right. I’d sent the invitation to her, and now she was here. She was making an effort, and I could as well.

  “Fine. But you’re still sitting next to the bathroom.”

  My mom wrapped me in her arms. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if Stanley’s kids had included him in their wedding pictures, and if that was why she was insisting we take some. But I didn’t. I decided to get through the evening because, like Easton said, it was our night.

  I wasn’t going to let her control me.

  I was over the fact that my mother showed up unannounced, and now that pictures were done, it was finally time to party with everyone.

  Easton and I stepped up to the wooden double doors. We waited for the staff at the venue for the DJ to start the announcement that we were ready to begin the reception so they could open the doors.

  “Without further ado,” he began, and the doors swung open, “please help me welcome Mr. and Mrs. Easton Crawford!”

  Easton held my hand, and we entered the ballroom. Our guests were seated at round tables covered with white linen tablecloths and spectacular centerpieces that held red roses. They were all smiling and clapping, and I smiled brightly in return as we made our way to the head table. Traditionally the bridesmaids sat on the bride’s side of the table and the groomsmen sat on the groom’s side, but I didn’t care about traditions, so Avery and Nicole sat on Easton’s side, and Bailee and Gary sat on my side.

  We were doing our own thing.

  Usually, the couple walked in and went straight to their first dance, but we’d elected to eat first. After Nicole’s speech, it was time for mine and Easton’s first dance. I had no idea what song was going to be played since Easton had wanted to pick it out. He was keeping a tight lip on the things he planned for the wedding. I still didn’t have a clue where we were going for our honeymoon, and Bailee and Nicole even packed for me. At first, I wanted to protest because I had control issues about that sort of thing, but they told me to trust them and, more importantly, to trust Easton. Of course I did, so I let them pack for my week long honeymoon—destination unknown.

  Easton led me to the wooden dance floor next to the DJ. The beat of drums and fast strumming of guitars rang in my ears, and my eyes widened in surprise as I looked up at my husband.

  “What the …?” I laughed.

  “Just go with it.” He smiled.

  “I don’t know how to dance to this,” I admitted. It wasn’t the typical slow first dance song, but we were pretty much doing our own thing, so it fit. I just didn’t know how to dance to the fast paced beat other than jumping around like I was at a rock concert.

  Easton took my hand, brought it to his chest and pulled me into him causing me to wrap my free hand around his shoulders and his around my waist. He started to sway his hips, ignoring the tempo of the song. I went with it like he’d instructed and the moment the singer started to sing the first words, I got it.

  “This song—”

  “Says exactly how I feel.”

  A lump formed in my
throat at his words because the singer had said it was his love song to me.

  “It’s perfect,” I choked out.

  “It’s called Never Stop and it’s by SafetySuit. I chose it—”

  “Because you’ll never stop loving me,” I finished for him, remembering his vows and what caused me to say the same exact thing to him.

  “That and everything else in this song. It’s like—”

  “The song Magic I walked down the aisle to.”

  Easton grinned. “Exactly.” We danced for a few words and then he said, “They have a wedding version, but I like this one better. It’s more my style.”

  Tears pricked my eyes, and I tried not to cry. We had both chosen songs to express ourselves. Music did that for people. It was why music was created, and now, every time I thought about Magic and Never Stop, I’d always think about this day and the love of my life.

  I listened to the words, realizing we were dancing at a slow pace and it fit with the song. Then the tempo changed, and Easton spun me and brought me back to him. I giggled, trying to sway my body to the new beat. We weren’t dancing to the rhythm any longer.

  We were doing our own thing.

  I was laughing, and Easton was chuckling, but the words weren’t lost on me.

  He’d never stop trying.

  He’d never stop watching me leave.

  He’d never stop losing his breath every time he saw me.

  He’d never stop holding my hand.

  He’d never stop opening my door.

  He’d never stop choosing me.

  And more importantly, he’d never stop loving me.

  When I was planning our wedding, I knew there would be our first dance, and Easton’s dance with his mother. I even wanted to have a money dance, and I couldn’t wait to watch Easton dance with Cheyenne. But I didn’t have a dad for the traditional father/daughter dance. I hadn’t had a father figure my entire life—until Jimmy.

  Both Jimmy and Jane loved everyone in Easton’s life. They had taken Avery in as their son after he graduated from college, and it was no different with me. They both had made me feel like a part of the family. The first words out of Jimmy’s mouth after our introduction were, “So, Brooke, East tells me that you live in Boston. Are you a Red Sox fan?”

  As he walked me toward the living room that morning, I laughed and told him I was. I lived in Boston after all, and we had recently won the World Series. I’d always loved the game. I played softball growing up, and it was in my blood. I felt that in Jimmy’s eyes, I was like his daughter because I could hang with them and throw back a few beers while we cheered on the Red Sox and the Angels.

  When the two teams played each other, it was a different story. I was ganged up on three to one because Avery and Nicole would come over and Avery was an Angels fan. Nicole couldn’t care less about baseball and Jane and Cheyenne could too. Cheyenne would eventually get there. Softball and baseball were in her blood as well, and it was only a matter of time.

  So when I was planning our wedding, I made a decision ...

  Jane and Easton’s song came to an end, and the DJ spoke, “All right, ladies and gentlemen. We have something special. Can the father of the groom make his way to the dance floor?”

  Easton cut his eyes to me from across the dance floor as he walked his mom to the side. He had no idea I was doing this. He started to walk toward me, but I shook my head as I turned my attention back to the dance floor. Jimmy was walking to the center, a look of bewilderment on his face.

  “Brooke has requested a father/daughter dance with the groom’s father,” the DJ announced.

  All eyes turned to me, and I smiled as I began to walk toward Jimmy. Jimmy’s eyes warmed as he started to walk to me as well. Once we were in reaching distance, he pulled me in for a tight hug. Whispering in my ear, he said, “Thank you.”

  I pulled back. “It’s me that should be thanking you. You’ve shown me the love of a father.”

  His eyes glassed over. “And I finally have a daughter.”

  I didn’t correct him about Dana. Maybe he never saw her as a daughter, but I’d never know because I would never bring it up. What was in the past was in the past, and the Crawford’s were my present and future.

  I’d had a hard time finding a song to dance to with Jimmy. Most of the songs were for fathers and daughters, but I wanted something different because our situation was different.

  A piano started to play a riff, drums beating slowly. We started moving to the beat, my hand on his chest, my other cupping his shoulder. “Is this … Willie Nelson?” Jimmy asked.

  I smiled. “It is.”

  “You chose a Willie song?”

  I chuckled. “Well, not entirely.”

  The women started to sing. “Who is this? It’s lovely.”

  “Norah Jones. The song’s called Dreams Come True.” When I heard the song, I knew it was perfect. Both of our dreams had come true.

  He smiled as we continued to sway. “It’s my new favorite song. Thank you.”

  * * *

  Watching Cheyenne and Easton dance to the song Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman warmed my heart. I wasn’t sure if Cheyenne knew the importance behind the words, but it was a reflection of how Easton felt about his Peanut. She was getting older every day, and the day she left for college would tear Easton up. It was like he was waiting for the clock to strike midnight and she’d be gone living her life and kissing boys. I feared for the first boy who came to pick her up for a date.

  “Are you going to talk to me?”

  I looked over to see my mother standing next to me, her gaze on Easton and Cheyenne. “This is my wedding,” I stated. I was doing the wedding thing and mingling with my guests—the ones who RSVP’d.

  “I know, and I’m extremely happy for you.”

  “Are you?” I hissed under my breath, not wanting to cause a scene.

  She turned toward me. “I am. I truly am.”

  I stared at her for a long moment. “What’s your motive?”

  She blinked and with a huff she stated, “Oh come on, Brookie. I don’t need a motive to come to my daughter’s wedding.”

  I crossed my arms. “You didn’t tell anyone you were coming. Especially me.”

  “I wanted to surprise you.”

  I laughed sarcastically. “So you decided to crash my wedding?”

  She looked over my shoulder, and I turned. She was looking at who I presumed was Stanley. I still hadn’t met him. He had peppered hair, and just by looking at him, I could tell he had money.

  “I didn’t think you’d mind.” Her gaze returned back to me.

  “Why would you think I wouldn’t?” I challenged. “The last we spoke you wanted me to pop out grandkids for you because of your new boyfriend.”

  “Fiancé.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Stanley and I are getting married.”

  “Of course—”

  “Everything okay?” Bailee looped her arm with mine.

  “Mommy was just telling me how she’s getting married—finally.” It would, in fact, be her first marriage.

  “You are?” Bailee shrieked.

  I felt eyes turn and look at us. “This all needs to be talked about at a different time, and not at my wedding.”

  “Can we talk tomorrow?” Mother asked.

  “I—”

  “She has a plane to catch tomorrow,” Bailee stated.

  I did?

  “Maybe before your flight?” my mother queried.

  “I—”

  “We can meet you for breakfast at The Carlyle. Your fiancé buys,” Bailee said for me. Apparently, she was going, too.

  “Done.”

  My mother’s gaze went past me again, and I turned to see Stanley walking toward us. Guess it was time to meet my soon to be step-father.

  I was ready to leave. I’d had the perfect wedding, and I was ready to go back to my hotel suite and be alone with Easton.

  We’d done everything: the dan
ces, the cake, throwing the bouquet and garter (Bailee and Gary both caught each, and I wanted to throw up. I still wasn’t sure if I was okay with them being a couple—if they were. Bailee hadn’t confirmed.), and danced some more. I was exhausted and—hungry. Even though we had dinner, I barely ate. I was chatting with my friends and my new husband and before I knew it, our wedding was over.

  I’d done it all, and I was ready to do my husband.

  The black limo pulled up to our hotel, and Easton grabbed my hand and led me out. I was still in my perfect dress, and he was in his tux. The wind had started to pick up and wisp across my bare back, sending a chill through my body. Once inside, people stared as we made our way to the elevator with smiles gracing their faces as they watched us. Even strangers were happy for us.

  “Do you have the key?” I asked when the doors slid shut after we stepped into the elevator. Through everything, I’d completely forgotten we needed a key to enter our room.

  Easton dug into his pocket and held up the black key card while pressing the button to our floor. “Some chick slipped me this at our wedding. The nerve—”

  I laughed, cutting him off. “Some chick? You better mean either Bai or Nic.” They were in possession of all my belongings, even the key to my suite at the hotel. They were good maid and matron of honors.

  The elevator rose. “It was Nicole. She and Avery slipped out for a bit and then said our room was ready.”

  My brows furrowed. “Our room is ready? What the hell does that mean?”

  Easton smiled. “I requested a few things.”

  The elevator stopped and dinged as the doors began to open indicating we were on our floor. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Easton grabbed my hand and led me out. He looked at the wall in front of us and then went in the direction of our room number. “You’ll see,” he replied.