AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The diamonds were hisabuela’s. The black represents him. And the clear…” Simone trails off.
“What? Me?”
Simone shakes her head and looks at my mom for help. Mom clears her throat. “For the twins you’re going to have.”
My jaw ticks. “That presumptuous asshole! I cannot believe him sometimes. He’s totally convinced we’re going to have twins. I should have kept my damn mouth shut and never mentioned the every-other-generation twin crap.”
“Now, now. Let’s try to relax. Angry bride stomping down the aisle to beat her groom isn’t a good look on you,” Jared says with a wry smile, taking the necklace and clasping it around my neck. He hands me the earrings, and I thrust the hooks through my ears, muttering curses under my breath.
Huffing, I turn to look in the mirror and pause. My face isglowingagainst the gems.
Oh…my God!“MOM!”
“Okay, time to hustle our butts downstairs and get in place,” mom orders, waving the confused wedding party out of the room. After she closes the door, she hurries back over to me and takes my hands. “Breathe, dear.”
“Fuck, mom. Fuck. Fuck.” I can’t stop hyperventilating.
Mom shoves my ass down on the bed and kneels in front of me. “For goodness’ sake, Jo. It’s pregnancy, not the end of the world.”
“I’m not pregnant!”
“Mm-hm, okay, sure. Tell that to your uterus,” mom says in a snarky tone.
I purse my lips, unable to grasp what the hell is happening. “The doctor said it could take months.”
“Do you really need me to explain the birds and the bees, dear? You had unprotected sex with an alpha hell-bent on knocking you up.”
I rack my brain, trying to figure out which time was the conception date. For crying out loud, I’ve only had the IUD out a month. “It’s not possible.”
Mom sighs and stands, pointing at my suitcase. “I packed you prenatal vitamins and three pregnancy tests in case you didn’t want to wait to find out. Do you want to try one now?”
“Isn’t it too early to take a test?” I shake my head. “You know what, forget it. I’m going to keep going through denial—at least for today.”
Mom sits next to me on the bed and pats my knee. “It’s going to be okay, honey. You’ll see.”
A soft knock at the door sobers me. My dad enters the room with a sad smile and weepy eyes. “It’s time to walk my baby down the aisle.”
“Oh, dad.” I stand and run to wrap him in a hug. I know this is a bitter-sweet occasion for him. There’s nothing I want more than to give him love and let him know nothing changes between us—I’ll always be his little girl.
He smiles and kisses my forehead, lacing my arm through his. “You look beautiful. The second most beautiful bride.” He smiles over at my mom—she’ll always be number one in his eyes. I squeeze his arm, letting him know I’m ready.
When we make it to the first level, Hades clomps over to me with his happy tongue hanging out and a pillow strapped to his back with our wedding bands—rings I had said were unnecessary since I had my flower engagement ring and Maceo had his tattooed ring, but he was insistent on keeping tradition.
He also said I could have Hades be the ring bearer when he proposed—there was no way I would renege on the deal.
Candy and Red hand out the bouquets and pin Jared and dad with their boutonnieres.
I notice Candy is wearing the mint green dress I had snuck in her pile from our shopping excursion. She sees me admiring her and does a little pirouette to show it off. We both laugh, finally having put our differences aside.
I bounce with excitement. This is it—this is the start of our happily-ever-after, with two kids on the way.
Gah! Stop thinking about it. Deny, for the next twenty-four hours, that little Maceos and/or Maceoetts have taken up lodging in my womb.
Candy and Red give me a nod and open the patio doors. The strings start playing Bob Dylan’sMake You Feel My Love. Brass comes and escorts mom to her seat, and Reaper escorts both Candy and Red to their spots.
Punk swaggers over, looking dapper in his suit. He gives Ebony his arm, but before they walk ahead, he gives me a charming wink.
I keep trying to catch a glimpse of Maceo, but I can’t see him from my vantage point.
