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"Love you, babe." Summer kisses the air next to my cheek—so she doesn’t smudge my make-up, which she applied earlier—then pushes the door open and steps onto the aisle lined with the candles on either side. I draw in a breath. With the other lights in the room dimmed, and flower placements which were set up in the short time I was away, the space seems magical.
"You look incredible. Ed is a lucky man." Karma squeezes my shoulder, then follows her.
We agreed they’d be my bridesmaids. I'm so lucky to have my friends with me.
"You sure you don’t want me to escort you down the aisle?" Gio scans my features with her all-seeing eyes.
"Actually, I was hoping you’d give me that privilege." G-Pa steps up on my other side.
Gio looks from me to him, and her forehead furrows. "I’m not sure—"
"I know, it’s a little unusual, I’m from the groom’s side, after all, but if you’d indulge an old man a little more, it would be my honor." G-Pa’s features are serious. There’s a plea in his eyes that goes straight to my heart. This man is responsible for my sudden change in status, from a single woman, to an engaged woman, to a soon-to-be married woman, not to mention, it’s because of him that my year of freedom is being cut short. So, why is it, I can’t seem to hold a grudge against him?
"Mira?" Gio frowns.
I clear my throat, then tilt up my chin. "I think I would very much like that G-Pa."
"You sure?" Gio touches my arm. "I can accompany you on your other side."
I half smile. "I’ll be fine, I promise."
"You sure?" She looks toward the aisle. I follow her glance and spot Rick waiting for her.
"I’m sure." I give her a big, genuine smile. "Go on, your husband is waiting."
She leans in and air kisses me near my cheek. Then, with a last scowl at G-Pa, she leaves.
"Your friends are protective." G-Pa holds out his arm, and I hook mine through it.
"So are you," I murmur.
He pats my hand. "If I could've, I’d have given you more time to prepare for the wedding. But it seemed fortuitous that all of my grandsons agreed to be here under my roof at the same time. I wasn’t sure if or when that would happen again. I didn’t want to let the occasion go to waste. Also, I want to see Edward married." He looks between my eyes. "Do you understand?"
"I do." I swallow. "I can tell you love Edward very much."
His features soften. "I see a lot of myself in him. Of all my grandsons, he’s the one who’s had it the roughest."
I take in the troubled expression on his face and realize he knows about the incident. I could ask him about it, but that doesn’t seem right. No, I need to wait for Edward to tell me, when he’s ready. And he will be. He has to be.
"You want him to be happy."
"I know he’ll be happy." He squares his shoulders. "Shall we?"
22
Edward
"Your grandfather never ceases to surprise," Sinclair murmurs. He’s my best man, along with Knox, my oldest half-sibling. If Knox was surprised, he didn’t shown it. He merely nodded, then fell in line behind Sinclair. He’s pissed off at this turn of events because it confirms I'm the CEO and not him. He hasn’t spoken a word to me since that tight-lipped nod. I’m surprised he agreed to be my best man. I felt sure he would refuse me. Maybe, it was Arthur’s presence that compelled him to assent. Although, from what I know about Knox, he’s not the kind to be intimidated by anyone, not even our very charismatic grandfather. But then, he's had a relationship with Arthur which has lasted for the duration of a lifetime. He can take liberties with the old man I can’t. And it's not because I'm daunted by him. It has more to do with the fact he's newly-found family, and someone who already seems to understand me more than my own parents.
How would it have been to have had him in my life when the incident happened? Would he have helped me out? Would he have guided me in navigating the aftermath of that one event that changed the course of my life? If he had been there, would he have stopped me from becoming a priest? Would that have meant I’d still be with Ava?At least, now, I’m able to refer to her by name, which is something I haven’t been able to do for a long time. Having Belle in my life is changing me already, and in ways I’m not ready for.
"You’re not going to turn and watch your bride approach?" Knox growls.
I stiffen and stare forward into the flames. The hair on the back of my neck prickles, and I sense her approach. My heart sends up a clamor in my ribcage. My pulse rate heightens. Every cell in my body is switched on and aware of her approach. And I want to.I. Want. To.And yet…if I do… If I see her face and take in her figure, I’ll be a goner. The sense of events running away from me squeezes my stomach.
"Edward," Sinclair’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
It’s going to look suspect if I don’t turn toward her. And the entire point of this charade is to convince my new family that this spectacle is genuine. I lengthen my spine, square my shoulders, turn… And the breath whooshes out of me.
