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A genuine smile split across my friend’s face. “She’s on cloud nine. It’s all Roma and Kat can do to corral the girls. They’re bouncing around like beach balls.”
“It’s the princess garb, undoubtedly.”
“It is. I know I’m biased, but Remi is the prettiest. She’s beaming.” His expression was incredulous. “It’s amazing that she’s perfectly healthy now. It’s like she never had leukemia.”
It was a miracle that I thanked God for every day. “I’m not sure if it is the transplant or the princess dresses that cured her.” My smile echoed Jensen’s.
“It’s neither. It’s the tiara and glass slippers,” my father said from the doorway. Teagan and I had purchased them for the little girls to wear at the wedding, and my father had delivered them to their dressing room earlier. “They’re gorgeous!” he said, beaming.
I pulled at the cuffs of my shirt under my jacket sleeves and ran a hand down the front of my formal shirt. The tuxes were classic three-piece; black and elegant. Thankfully, I’d managed to talk Remi out of the Prince Charming costume.
I turned to my father. “How does Teagan look?”
“Beautiful. Like mother, like daughter. You’re a lucky man.”
“Yes.” I nodded. There was no way I was going to argue.
Teagan’s father was invited, but he wasn’t in attendance. She said it didn’t bother her, but I knew in her heart she was a little bit heartbroken. “Dad,” I handed him a note that I’d written for Teagan. “Will you do me a favor?”
“You want me to take her this note?” He was looking dashing in the tux. It was quite a transformation from his usual dark pants, grey work shirt, and billed company hat that he wore almost daily.
I shook my head. “No.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “Yes, but that’s not the favor.” I opened the note so he could read it and handed it to him. His eyes glassed over as he read the handwritten words on the white page.
Dear Teagan~
Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for blessing my life with Remi and giving me the promise of many glorious years to come. If I could, I would give you the world. Though I know there are some things beyond my reach, still, I will endeavor to try. I’m sorry your dad isn’t with you today, but today and always… you can borrow mine.
I love you.
Always,
~Chase
“Will you be ‘something borrowed’ for Teagan, Dad? I don’t want her walking up that aisle alone.”
My dad wasn’t one to show emotion easily, but his brilliant green eyes, so much like mine, were filled with pride and admiration. He moved in to hug me. “It would be my honor.”
I returned the embrace and we both patted each other on the back. “I love you, Dad.”
He cleared his throat before he spoke. “You too, Son. It would be my honor to walk Teagan down the aisle.”
“Okay,” I gave him another hard pat and then moved out of his arms.
“You make your mother and me so proud. I hope I’m around to see you walk Remi down the aisle someday.”
I’d been ready for the day. Ready to marry Teagan, and I had been looking forward to it for months, so I really thought I’d have a handle on my emotions, but in that moment I felt raw and derailed as if I could lose it at any time. My father’s words only emphasized that fear. Eight months ago I would have been hard-pressed to think of Remi growing up at all, and now we were talking about her wedding.
I blinked rapidly, trying not to tear up. “You will, Dad.”
“Damn straight, I will!” He smiled brightly, tucking the folded note into the inside breast pocket of his suit jacket. “Let’s go get you married off.”
He went to the door of the suite and opened it, waiting for Jensen and myself to precede him through it. It only took us five minutes to make it down through the hotel and out into the garden of the pavilion. It was beautifully decorated, though it was only set up for about one hundred guests.
The chair backs were wrapped in satin bows, offset with a small bouquet of matching flowers tied on the aisle side. The very pale pastel color scheme was arranged according to the color spectrum, with lavender at the back, fading up through sky blue, mint green, yellow, pink and finally ivory near the altar. It looked like a watercolor rainbow. It was amazing.
It was sunset, and there were candles everywhere, and paper lanterns hung from the trees; everything was glittering. To one side, there were ten or twelve round tables arranged around a round wooden dance floor. Each one completely decked out in china, votive candles, and crystal, and also decorated to follow the softest pastel rainbow theme.
My father nudged Jensen, pointing to my mother wearing a soft lavender suit. She looked amazing and elegant and standing beside her in a very pale pink princess dress, was sweet little Remi. It had little cap sleeves over her shoulders, a very full and swirly skirt. The style was simple other than it sparkled from top to bottom.
