“I dunno.”Mason rubs his jaw.“Jack never had a girlfriend before Sandy.She was pushy and didn’t give him a chance to think for himself.”
“I think he loved her.”Drew shares.“He was infatuated with her.”
“Bet he didn’t feel like that when he took his last breath.”I growl, then before I can stop myself I add, “I have a confession.”
I glance at the doorway, waiting for my bride and hoping she doesn’t appear right in this moment.
The superyacht we’re getting married on is floating on the Hudson River; the weather perfect with a light breeze and sun high in the sky.The deck is laid out with white chairs, green topiary plants, and pink roses.All I know is that the bridesmaids are wearing rose pink.I’m dying to see Courtney in her dress.She has a little bump now, and while she’s spent three months trying to hide it, I hope it's on show for our world to see today.
I’m proud as hell of her as a mother already.
“Are we burying Sandy?”Drew asks.“I have the shoes.”
“Seriously worried about you, man.”Sebastian shoots him a look while we all laugh.
“She’s alive.”I share.“I found her.”
Four sets of darkly intense eyes meet mine.
“Where?”Mason grinds out, and before I can answer, the music starts.
“Motherfucker,” Colt curses.“Enjoy your day, my friend, then later we need to hear everything.”
It’s time.
They need to hear everything I’ve learned.
“I promise,” I turn back to the entrance where Courtney is about to step through as Colt, Dereck, and Damon take their seats.
The soft breeze brushes my face as I wait.
Then suddenly she’s there, looking like an angel, and my heart soars into the heavens.My God, I love this woman more than I thought possible.
In the seats before me, my mother and father sit in witness of our marriage.Yes, they had opinions on this match, knowing the history of Courtney’s past, but once they had time to process the fact they were having a grandbaby, a softness I’d never seen from them sank in.
She won their hearts.She and Mom chat almost daily, and Courtney brought her into the wedding planning.Dad offered to walk her down the aisle, but she declined.
“Thank you, but I want to walk alone.Sad as that sounds, life for me has always been a solo journey.That ends now, so it feels poignant that I walk into my husband’s arms on my own.”
God, I’d nearly shed a tear.
Mom had glanced at me, her own eyes filled with emotion, then walked over to Courtney and gave her a hug.“My son has chosen an incredible woman.You are going to be a wonderful mother.I can’t wait to get to know you more.”
Then I did fucking cry.
Courtney chose not to invite her parents, which I supported after learning everything about her upbringing.While I wanted our baby to know their family, not if they were still addicts.No way.
It was something we would work through as we made our way through life.
With each step, the delicate sheer netting of Courtney’s champagne-colored gown billows and sways.The bodice is cinched at the waist with a gold belt.She smiles as she gets closer, holding the white and pink rose bouquet close to her body.
When she stops before me, I glance into her eyes, then reach out and place my hand on our baby.The dress is perfect.It neither hides it nor reveals it.
“You’re stunning,” I rasp.
Her eyes sparkle, and I want to pull her into my arms.
“Okay, tiger.”Sebastian clears his throat.“Vows first.”
