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One Month Later
Something I’ve learned in the last four months is how quickly things can change. At the start of the summer, I believed it would be like any other summer. Boring and over all too soon.
Well, it certainly did end too soon, but it was anything but boring.
I thought my accidental Vegas marriage would be the craziest thing to happen. Little did I know that it would be the catalyst for much bigger things, like the implosion of my parent’s marriage, and finally bringing justice to our family.
The break-in and attempted murder—since it turns out my dad was the one with the gun and my mom managed to wrestle it away from him after he grazed her with a bullet—ended up on almost every news station. It was weird seeing us on TV for something like that and the attention has been too much to bear at times, but it’s finally dying down, at least for most of us. Not Cade, though. After the news that broke earlier in the summer, coupled with this, he’s been roped into interview after interview to speak about the abuse. He doesn’t like it, and he could say no, but he knows that his voice could help someone else out there and so he’s finally willing to talk about it. He won’t admit it, but I think it’s helping him heal to put it out there.
Now that all the darkness is behind us, I can finally focus on the good in my life.
Like, for starters, I finally figured out what I want to do with my life.
I want to help kids like Cade and me and women like my mom. I want to help someone in a way we didn’t have. I want to make a difference.
When I told Xander he grinned from ear to ear, kissed me, and told me he couldn’t have thought of anything more perfect for me to do.
I feel good now, finally having a purpose.
We talked some more about moving out, especially with some of the unpleasant memories that house now holds, but in the end we decided to stay for the time being while I finish school and since Xander will be gone a lot. It’ll be nice to not be alone and have my brother, mom, and Rae around. There’s already been a lot of change lately, and for now, letting this stay the same, sounds pretty good to the both of us.
Xander’s first NFL game is at the end of the month, and it’s out of town, but we’re all going to surprise him and fly out there. I know he’s going to do amazing. He’s been working hard, giving it his all, and all the while being there for me while I dealt with everything.
Now, it’s time for me to make good on my promise and marry the boy for real.
No seedy wedding chapel.
No half-drunken slurred vows.
No wedding night I can’t remember.
We’re doing this right this time, with our friends and family, a dress, and the whole shebang.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair curls halfway down my back in soft waves and my makeup is light, and simple. But my dress?
That’s anything but simple.
I wanted something unique and different. Something daring and me.
I was lucky to find something off the rack on short notice and it was like it was made especially for me.
The color is a creamy off-white with a floral lace design. It has spaghetti straps and the bodice is fitted before flaring out at the hips. The back of the dress boasts scallop detailing as does the front where the dress cups my breasts. My mom and Xander’s mom tried to talk me into something more traditional—you know, white—but it isn’t me, and this is, so I ignored their pleas for me to change my mind.
“Ready?” Rae asks.
I turn away from the mirror and smile at her. She looks gorgeous in her turquoise bridesmaid dress with her dark brown hair braided to the side.
I nod. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Never thought I’d be saying those words in regard to marriage.
But technically, I’m already married, and it’s actually pretty great.
Rae hands me my bouquet of pink peonies and loops her arm through mine.
Out in the hall we meet Cade. His lips part when he sees me and he clears his throat, clearly overcome with emotion.
“You look beautiful,” he tells me.
