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“Should we tell her?” Lily asks, bursting with excitement.
Bella looks back and forth between us. “Tell me what?”
“Well, I was kind of hoping you would say yes…”
“And I wanted to throw you an engagement party since the one in Solvaria was…” my mom starts.
“...An unmitigated disaster?” Bella finishes her sentence.
We all laugh.What a relief to have that part of our lives behind us.
“I kind of planned it already,” Lily says sheepishly.
I look at Lily. My mom. Her face is shining. She’s so proud of her children.
She’s told me about all she feels she missed out on. My first steps, first words, birthdays, graduations. I see how much it meant to her. When she asked if she could plan an engagement party, I couldn’t say no. And I was sure Bella wouldn’t mind, especially if she knew the reason why.
“That sounds wonderful,” Bella says.
“Let me show you what I’ve planned. I have it all on my tablet.” Lily pulls out the table and turns it around.
“Of course you do.” Bella smiles and we all go inside. The enthusiasm is contagious.
“I’ll be low-key, Bella, I promise,” Lily insists. “You should have what you want, whatever you want. Both of you.”
I have all I could ever want right here.
A week later, it’s happening. A tent is set up in the backyard, and the catering staff is bustling around. Bella comes downstairs. The simple white sundress covered with small blue flowers is the polar opposite of what she wore in Solvaria.
She looks even more beautiful.
“They’re forget-me-nots.” She fingers the fabric. “For true love and fidelity. When I saw what kind of flowers they were, there was no changing my mind.”
“You look amazing.”
Unlike the pomp and circumstance of the royal introduction, we wait together at the front of the house and greet our guests.
“This just arrived.”
Lily’s voice comes from behind a giant flower arrangement. I grab it from her and set it on the table.
“There’s a card on this side.”
Lily hands it to me, and I rip it open.
Congratulations, Alex and Bella. I’m still not supposed to fly, or I would be there, dancing up a storm. My dearest wish has always been to have my children find happiness. And Alex, thank you. Love always, your loving father.
My eyes feel a little wet. I hand the card to Bella. She takes it and reads it.
“Oh, Alex.” She grabs my hand and squeezes it. I think she knows how much it means to me.
I clear my throat. “We should get outside.”
“I hope he can make it for the wedding.”
As soon as we step out on the porch, we notice the limo heading towards the house. Two of my other brothers, Cedrick and Ishmael, get out.
Nicolai and Katerina get out of the limo after. Bella and Katerina hug each other and start talking at once.
