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Luke growled and Abbey elbowed him again. Abbey was his and no one else’s. Ever.
“That’s flattering, but I never had romantic feelings for you, Tom. I’m with the only man I’ve ever loved. The right man for me.” Abbey affectionately shoved at Luke and he immediately wrapped his arms around her.
That’s right, Tommy boy. She’s mine.
****
September 6th—Wedding Day
Abbey stood in the en suite bathroom of the Fairchild Hotel’s honeymoon suite. It was her and Luke’s turn to stay here. She read the results of the pregnancy test Luke insisted she take and tossed it in the garbage.
“Abbey, come on, it’s time to get dressed,” Cassie called out from the bedroom. There was no time to react to the test results. She needed to get moving.
Dressed in her white silk and lace wedding lingerie, made especially for her by the Bellatonis, Abbey walked into the bedroom.
She proceeded through the bedroom to the large living room area everyone was getting ready in. They’d gotten the band back together. Angel, Vanessa, Madison, and Roxanna were busy putting the finishing touches on Cassie’s, Leah’s, and Karla’s hair and makeup.
“Have you ladies decided what you’re going to do with the diamonds in your pretty hair combs?” Luke had replaced the crystals in the bridesmaid’s hair combs with genuine diamonds and had offered to reset the stones into jewelry for them. Their custom Bellatoni wine-colored strapless dresses had a beautifully sequenced lace bodice, similar to Abbey’s gown.
Since Abbey had given Luke the green light at being set loose, all the crystals that had been an original part of her Bellatoni couture sleeveless gown had been replaced with diamonds as well. Since the back of Abbey’s gown was open and draped in sixteen strands of diamonds from just below her neck down to her waist, she was literally dripping in diamonds.
The crystals in the entire form-fitting bodice of her gown that reached to mid-thigh were also replaced with genuine diamonds. The fluffy tulle skirt began at mid-thigh and extended to more than a chapel-length train. Her princess look was complete with a low-height diamond tiara. Abbey truly felt like a princess today.
Karla sighed. “I don’t know. I can’t believe Luke did this for us. I’m never taking this dress off! But I think maybe a tennis bracelet?”
“I think I might go with earrings and a pendant,” Leah contemplated.
Cassie rubbed her nearly five-month pregnancy belly. Abbey thought she looked absolutely adorable. “I’m not sure, I’ve been looking online for settings. I do like Karla’s tennis bracelet idea though.”
Abbey’s cell phone rang from one of the living room tables. Karla leaned over to see who it was and blushed. It must be Tom Murphy. Whatever was going on between the two of them, they were keeping it close to the vest.
“Put it on speaker. Roxanna, you’re going to help me get into my dress,” Abbey asked, ready to head to the church and Luke.
Roxanna nodded enthusiastically and held up her hands. “Just washed my hands. I’m ready.”
“Hey Abbey,” Tom Murphy called out from her cell phone speaker.
Abbey carefully stepped into her dress while Roxanna held it open for her. “Tom, tell me everything’s set up and ready to go.”
“We’re all set. Everything’s been tested. We can stream from the church and from Antonetti’s in Barrington. Darren’s at the church already. He’s feeling pretty well, considering. We have his cane and his wheelchair in case he needs them.”
What a relief. Darren’s treatment post-surgery had been progressing well. They were all pleased with his progress to date and thrilled he felt well enough to attend the wedding. So far so good.
“Thanks so much, Tom. Luke and I really appreciate it. We’ll be heading to the church soon.”
“Happy to help. I’ll see you soon. Looking forward to seeing you your designer gown, Karla,” Tom said before ending the call.
Karla turned a deeper shade of red and everyone laughed. Roxanna hooked all the diamond strands in place and stood back.
“Wow,” all the women in the room said in awe.
“Abbey, the champagne-colored bottom half of your gown really sets off the diamonds. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” Cassie observed.
From what Abbey could see herself, Cassie was right. Roxanna carefully placed Abbey’s diamond tiara on her head, her hands shaking slightly. Abbey knew better than to tell anyone how much what she was wearing was worth. Luke had been smart and had her dress, tiara, and engagement ring with matching wedding band insured.
Abbey stood with a smile on her face as all the women in the room snapped pictures with their cell phones. She couldn’t wait to see what the professional photographer’s pictures would look like.
About thirty minutes later Abbey, her bridesmaids, little Amy dressed in a matching flower girl’s dress, and her father stood in front of the closed vestibule doors at Grace of God Lutheran Church. The ceremony was due to begin soon.
