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Chapter 33
The sun was settingas the bride walked down the aisle with her hand tucked into the arm of Miles Hawkins, a recently retired federal agent. He was thin but the suit had been tailored to fit well, concealing weight recently lost due to illness.
At the altar, on the bride’s side, there were two women, identical twins, both of them dressed in soft, rich green that matched the ribbons in the bride’s hair. They stood in line with two girls. The oldest was a teenager, the rich green of her dress glowing against the warm, soft brown of her skin, bringing out the tawny undertones. The tousled curls of her short hair, dyed white, were topped with a crown of flowers.
She held a baby in her arms, a little girl with hair the same color of blonde as the other child standing next to her, this one a fairy of a thing, all of five years all and she practically danced in place, her excitement coming through in every wiggle, every breath. She wore a dress fit for a princess ... and a Wonder Woman tiara in her ash blonde hair.
The bridal party was rounded out by a slim boy in a custom-fitted suit with a collarless shirt and a green silk vest that matched the colors the bridesmaids wore. Nobody asked why he was standing up with the bride instead of the groom and he grinned shyly at a good-looking Black teen who sat with his moms in the crowd.
A boy of roughly the same age stood with the groom, also wearing a tux, although he’d forgone the vest. His shirt, like the others standing with the groom, was a vibrant blue-green that complemented the rich greens of the bridal party.
The best man stood with the other groomsman, two more men, all bearing a strong similarity to the groom.
They all grinned as Travis sucked in a breath at the sight of his bride.
Isabel wore a dress of elegant lace over silk, the form-hugging silk fitting close to her body until it reached the knee where it flared out in a mermaid-style skirt, complete with a small train. Her sisters had been surprised by the choice, but she’d told them she’d never forgotten her dreams of marrying the man she loved and now that she was getting that dream, she wanted the dress to match.
The back was open from nape to the dip in her back, but as they’d opted to marry in the open space between their houses, she’d worn simple satin flats.
The setting rays of the sun gilded her skin gold as she reached the altar.
Miles paused to kiss her cheek, his hand trembling lightly on her arm before he let go.
Both of them pretended not to notice the tears in his eyes.
As he moved to take his seat, the minister of a small, local church cleared his throat and began the service.
Travis, known among colleagues and his family for a sharp, near-perfect memory, forgot damn near everything the preacher said as soon as he said it.
But he’d never forget how Isabel’s eyes held his. How her mouth curved in a smile, how her voice sounded as she spoke the vows she’d written.
He’d never forget the way her hands trembled as he spoke his to her, or the wayhisshook as he slipped the ring on her finger and when she slid her ring onto his.
One phrase the minister said that he would remember ...“You are now husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Slowly, he reached up and cupped her face. Isabel wrapped her hands around his wrists, staring at him.
He stroked a thumb over her lower lip, felt it quiver, watched it curve.
Sebastien, who’d flown in just for the wedding, while Zach, Abby and Marin all stayed back out west, hooted and shouted, “Come on, already!”
“Shut up, Seb,” Travis told him. To Isabel, he said, “Bella-mine ... ”
