But he steps aside, revealing another man who is the real groom.
Silver-dusted hair. Blue eyes filled with warmth. Ones that look at you with the kind of understanding only the most incredibly wise souls possess. Ones that have built empires, loved their families, lived a thousand different lives. Yet always make you feel they have all the time in the world for you should you need them.
Eyes that convey infinite love for their family.
Ones that will always put their family first.
Beauforts stick together.
My breath comes in a shattered rasp.
I see her next. Glowing like she always did, looking happy as her eyes flick to a guest who’s blocked from my view.
One by one, familiar faces swim into focus, making my eyes burn.
They’reallhere.
Together. Content. Happy.
“Fuck,” I grind out, my voice breaking as I push off the tree. I slam my palm against the bark, hoping it’ll open up a black hole. A vortex to suck me away to a place where I feel nothing.
But feeling nothing would be a kindness. One I don’t deserve.
Why did I fucking walk this way?
I curse at my stupidity.
They never come here despite all the times I’ve passed the huge white ocean-front mansion.
The route is my own private hell. One I reveled in walking from time to time. So I could remember why this is the way things are. Why they have to be like this.
Today will be the last time I ever come this way.
The sounds of the wedding blur into the background, mixing with the gentle hum of the ocean until it’s all just white noise as I turn and walk away.
The sun beats down on my skin, like a billion warm fingers touching me. But I can’t feel a thing. I’m numb.
The day can be idyllic, beautiful.
But it can still rip your soul from your body like you’ve walked through Hell itself.
A perfect wedding for a perfect family.
One free from infection.
Because tumors run deep.
And they have to be cut out.
For the good of everyone.
1
JUDE
“Hold still!”
I jolt as my maid of honor and best friend, Melissa, yanks the satin ribbons of my corset so tight it’s like she’s trying to control a sled of frenzied huskies.
