Chapter Fourteen
Gage
Caroline stared at her youngest son for several seconds while her brain processed what she'd just heard. Then she was on her feet hugging them both. “Oh my gawd! My be'be's gettin' married.”
“He's hardly a be'be anymore, cher,” Landry chided his wife.
“Hush.” She swatted his arm lightly then turned back to Mia and Gage. “You have no idea how happy dis makes me. I've waited for dis day for ages.”
“Mama.”
“Don't you 'mama' me, Gage Delacroix. I told you tree years ago she was your mate. But did you listen to me? No. You went runnin' around wit' all dose girls.” She huffed. “At least you came to your senses.” She kissed her son's cheek. “I'm proud of you.”
“Thanks, mama.”
She turned to Mia and hugged her. “Welcome to da family, Mia.”
“Thank you.” Mia blushed a little. She'd known the Delacroix family all her life but this was different. She wasn't just a friend anymore. She was family. Or she would be once she said her vows.
“You'll let me help plan da weddin' wit' you and your mama, won't you? Da fates didn't give me a daughter of my own to plan wit' and I would love to be a part of it.”
“I'd be honored to have your help,” Mia said, sincerity in her voice. She adored Gage's mother and since she and her mama were such good friends, she knew her mama would welcome the help.
“Well den, you two need to pick a date.”
Gage groaned. “Mama, I just proposed. I tink we can be engaged for a little bit before we set a date.”
Mia arched a brow at him. “Why? We know we want to get married. We can still be engaged for a bit before we actually walk down da aisle.”
Gage could deny her nothing. “If you want to set da date already, Princess, den we'll set da date.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "As long as you're happy, dat's all dat matters to me.”
“Where are you two plannin' on livin'?” Landry gave his son a pointed look.
“I already spoke wit' Caine about buildin' a house for us close to Mia's mama and papa. He said anyting we needed, I just had to ask and he'd see to it we got it.”
“You know da Pard will pitch in to get it done quickly.”
Gage nodded. “Yes, sir, I do.” He was already thinking about the furniture. Some of it would be bought, of course, but some he wanted to make, including their dining room table and the head and foot boards for their bed.
“Let's get to celebratin'.” Landry clapped his son on the shoulder. “I'm proud of you, boy. You've turned into a real fine man.”
“Thanks, papa.” His father's praise meant a lot to him. He was just glad his father was still with them to be able to give him praise.
It was late afternoon, the sun was sitting low on the horizon, and the entire Pard was gathered to celebrate Mia and Julius's graduation. Caine stood on the steps of his front porch so he could be seen by everyone and spoke. “Today we are celebratin' more den just two of our young-ins' graduatin' high school. Early dis mornin', Gage Delacroix approached me to seek permission to build a new home on Pard land. Today, we celebrate da engagement of Gage and Mia. May dey live long and happy lives filled wit' da love of family.”
At the news of the coming nuptials the entire Pard raised their voices in joy. Their roars echoed across the bayou and anyone who was close enough to hear would no doubt be startled by it.
Gage stood with his arms wrapped around Mia as members of the Pard came to congratulate them. He thought about the changes that had taken place in recent years. If Zachary had still been Alpha, there wouldn't have been much of a celebration. The Pard had struggled under his control just to scrape by, but in the few short years that Caine had taken over, they were prospering. Everywhere you looked, it was obvious, even to the casual observer, that the Pard was doing well.
Mia
Mia couldn't help blushing every time someone approached to congratulate her and Gage on their engagement. It was so overwhelming and there was a time when she thought this day would never come. After loving him for so long, she'd finally gotten the one thing she'd really wanted; Gage. She leaned against him and a contented sigh escaped her.
“Happy, Princess?”
His murmured question made her look up at him. “Happier den I've ever been in my entire life.” She flashed him a smile. “I'm sure da day we say 'I do' will be even happier.”
Gage chuckled. “Mm, true.” He dipped his head and kissed her gently. “What are you gonna do now dat you've graduated?”
“I dunno. I was tinkin' about art school. I love bein' an artist, but maybe I could also be a teacher. I'd kinda like to help kids find dere own inner artists.”
“Den dat's what you'll do.”
“I dunno, Gage. How am I supposed to do dat wit' getting' married. Don't you want to start a family?”
“Princess, we have all da time in da world for dat. If you want to go to art school so you can get a degree and teach art, den dat's what you'll do. Besides, I'm a little selfish. I'd like to have you all to myself for a while wit'out havin' to share you wit' anyone, not even our own babies.”
Mia laughed even as her cheeks warmed. “You're terrible,” she teased.
“Nope, I'm just a man who is very much in love wit' his woman,” he said in a playful growl.
The growl made her shiver. “Mm, I like dat.” She lifted a hand and caressed his jaw. “You know, dere was a time when I didn't tink we'd ever get to dis point, dat I'd ever be in your arms like dis.”
“I know, and dat's my fault. I was such a fool.” He pulled her closer. “I will be forever grateful dat you gave me one last chance. If I'd lost you for good, my life would have been empty.”
“You just remember dat when dose girls at Tulane try to entice you.” There was a growl in her voice. The thought of anyone else being with him made her leopard want to bare it's claws.
“Dere's not a single person on dis planet who could entice me from your side. You're it for me, Mia. Now and always.”
Mia preened at his words. When the music began she let him pull her into his arms and danced the night away.
“So, I was tinkin'... an early Spring weddin'. Say...March 18th.” Mia and Gage were curled up together on the porch swing, enjoying the early evening breeze coming off the bayou. Gage had spent part of the day in classes and the other part working on the house that was being built for him and Mia.
“Dat sounds good to me. Do you want an indoor weddin'?”
She thought about it a moment. “No. Outside. Late afternoon so we can dance under da stars at da reception.”
Gage chuckled. “Dis comin' from da woman I used to have to talk into dancin'.” He kissed her temple. “You'll be da prettiest bride ever.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hardly, but thank you.”
“Are you doubtin' me?” He growled playfully. “Don't make me prove it, woman.”
Mia laughed. “I know you tink so, and dat's all dat really matters.” She relaxed against him. “Are you happy?” It was late summer, the day was still humid, but with the sun beginning to set it was starting to cool down a little.
“How could I not be happy, Princess? I've got da woman I love in my arms, our home is almost ready for us to start fillin' it wit' furniture, and in seven months I'll get to call you Mrs. Delacroix.”
“Oh, say dat again.”
“Mrs. Delacroix.” He dipped his head and playfully nipped at her neck.
“Get a room you two.”
Mia stuck her tongue out at her twin. He was just coming up the walk and he looked tired. “Rough day at da academy?”
“Isn't it always?”
“But you love it.”
“Yeah, I do. Dis is what I want to do, so it's all worth it.”
“Dat's what matters, Jules.” Mia was proud of her brother. He pushed himself every day to be better because he was determined to become a police officer and join the New Orleans Police Department. She knew his end goal was to one day become a detective.
“It is. How's da weddin' plannin' comin'?”
“We've picked a date. March 18th.”
“It's about damn time,” Julius teased her. “I mean, after all, you've been engage for two months now. Sheesh, woman, it took you long enough.”
“Oh, hush you.” Mia laughed. “Mama kept your dinner warmin' in da oven. Go in an clean up, you stink,” she teased.
“How do you put up wit' her?” he asked Gage.
“It's a chore sometimes,” Gage said and winked at his mate.
“Ugh, men!” she teased right back and they all laughed.
“I'll let you two get back to your cuddlin'.”
Mia heard the longing in her brother's voice and it made her heart hurt. He wanted so badly to have that for himself, but he was too afraid to really go after what he wanted. Sure, he was determined to follow his dreams, professionally, to become a cop, but when it came to his private life he kept so much of himself hidden from the world. “Jules...”
Julius waved a hand at her. “No, it's fine, Mia. I'm fine.” He knew he sounded defensive. “Enjoy your evenin',” he added and went inside.
“I see he's still refusin' to let himself find his own happiness.”
Mia arched a brow at her mate. “You know?”
“A'course I know, I've known for years. I'd have to be blind to not see it. What's he afraid of?”
“Dat it will hurt his chances of becoming a police officer if it gets out dat he's gay. I wish he didn't feel like he has to hide dat part of himself.”
“Its harder on men den it is on women, when dey're not straight. We're expected to chase pussy and if we don't we're not 'real men'. Dat's how society looks at it and it's hard to overcome dat. Give him time to get his footin' in his career and I'm sure tings will change. He'll be able to embrace who he really is wit'out fear.”
Mia sighed softly. “I hope you're right.” She curled against Gage as the sun set and the stars came out. This was her favorite time of the day, when night was descending and he was there at her side. “Have I told you today how much I love you?” she murmured quietly.
“Mm, yes, but feel free to say it again because I'll never get tired of hearin' it.”
She laughed softly. “I love you, Gage, wit' my whole heart.”
“I love you too, Princess. More den life itself.”
They fell quiet then and just enjoyed the stillness of the late summer night.