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“We’ll need two witnesses,” the chaplain said.
“Ooh,” Nia spoke up and lifted her hand. “Can I be the maid of honor?”
“Of course,” I told her.
“And you?” Luke was asked.
When he glanced around, I knew he was looking for his brother, but JB was still in surgery, trying to save the man who’d killed my sister-in-law. His face fell for a fraction of a moment before he reached out and grabbed Trick’s arm, yanking him to his side.
Finally, everyone was in place, and Uncle Asher began to hum the wedding march, his wife and children joining in to help the music along.
Dad held out his arm to me, and I took his elbow, still trying to get used to the fact that this was actually happening.
As he walked me up the makeshift aisle toward Luke, I glanced at mygroom, and suddenly this felt way too real.
He watched me as if he were watching a true bride walking toward him. Then he held out his own elbow as my father gave me away and placed my hand on Luke’s arm.
My ears began to buzz again.
The chaplain started spouting off true wedding talk, and when he had Luke say his vows, Luke turned toward me and repeated them perfectly, watching me the whole time as if he meant every word he said.
But the most shocking part of all was when I repeatedmyvows back to him.
We were doing this; we were really freaking doing this.
I was marrying Luke.
When he pulled a ring from his pocket, my mouth dropped open as I got my first glimpse of the diamond inside.
My gaze lifted in disbelief to his face. He sent me a half cringe as if apologizing for how this was happening and a half-hopeful plea as if begging me to like what I saw and not reject him.
My hand trembled as I held it out to him, and I could only gape as he put the ring on my finger.
Moments later, we were married, and the chaplain was pronouncing us husband and wife.
“Yay,” Nia cheered…hoarsely, in a weakening voice…as Luke dipped his head to press his mouth to mine. “Oh, that was perfect. Thank you. Thank you, guys.”
She tried to hold both hands out to us but grew too tired to keep them lifted over a second.
Julian appeared at her side and touched her shoulder. “Babe?”
“I have her!” a breathless Skylar announced, appearing in the doorway of the room with a sleeping toddler passed out on her shoulder. “She fell asleep on the way here. But she’s here.”
“My baby,” Nia slurred, trying to lift her arm again. “My Drea.”
Skylar hurried her forward, and Julian reached out to take his daughter from her arms.
“Don’t wake her,” Nia instructed, her speech slowing dramatically. “She’s so precious when she sleeps. I just want to see her face.”
Julian held the napping Drea down so that her face could press against Nia’s, and Nia sighed in delight. “Thank you.”
She stayed that way for a moment, her eyes closed and a smile on her face. Then she whispered, “I love you, baby girl. I love you more than life itself. Take care of Daddy for me now.”
She let out a breath and seemed to nap against her sleeping child, while Drea dreamed on, completely unaware that she was losing her mother.
Luke’s dad stepped forward and checked her pulse. He shook his head slowly and glanced at Julian. “She won’t wake up again from here.”
Julian slowly pulled Drea to his chest and held her close, kissing her hair as he closed his eyes and let the tears silently stream down his face.
