Chapter Eight
Josh waited by the altar with his best man, Jake, and his groomsmen, his brothers, and let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding all day. It was finally here. And this wedding was not cursed because there was no such thing. There was only him getting mission wedding done. Bam. Jake had confirmed the furries were out of the ballroom and the preparations for his and Hailey’s reception were moving forward efficiently. The rings were securely zipped into a pocket of Max’s blue velvet cape. And the word from Mad was that Hailey was doing great.
The chapel was magnificent with its soaring ceiling and an abundance of gold trim and hand-painted stucco. A truly awe-inspiring space for their wedding. The chapel had once been closed to commoners and now they’d be married there. Unbelievable! The sides of the chapel held multiple apostle figures and various royal markings. Hand-carved pews, a long aisle for his beautiful bride, and three elaborate gold-trimmed organs with long silver pipes too. Fit for a princess like Hailey and, by God, he would be her prince as best he could.
He smiled to himself in anticipation of Hailey’s surprise over the flowers. Mission flowers accomplished too. Gone were the leftover, wilting flower arrangements the florist had tried to pass off on them. Early this morning, he’d had Mad find some willing volunteers to scour the island for wildflowers and anything that looked beautiful and in bloom. The resulting vibrant bouquets worked in a cheerful contrast to all the white and gold trim of the chapel.
While Mad was busy rounding up the flowers, Josh had recruited a crew to join him in the kitchen to prepare the reception food. They had all the ingredients; they’d just needed extra hands. Of course, he’d only done that for their wedding. The furries could fend for themselves.
The majestic pipe organ began the processional march. Hailey’s bridesmaids were his brothers’ wives. It was easier to match them all that way to keep the bridal party even. One by one, his sisters-in-law walked slowly down the aisle, but his eyes kept to the very end of the aisle, waiting for the moment when Hailey finally emerged.
He straightened, the blood rushing through his veins in anticipation as Mad took her trip down the aisle, holding Max and Rose on a leash. That meant Hailey was next. The dogs wore matching blue velvet capes and appeared to be smiling, if dogs could smile. Rose had a white sprig attached on top of her cape, more of a symbolic flower girl. She’d probably eat flower petals given the chance.
Mad reached the end of the aisle, passed off Rose to Sabrina, scooped up Max, and took the rings from his cape. She handed them to Jake and stood in place on the bridal side with Max at her feet. Max barked to go see Rose, and Mad let go of his leash. Max ran straight to Rose, where Sabrina quickly scooped him up.
The music changed to the traditional wedding march, and he finally saw her. His eyes unexpectedly stung, overwhelmed with the love he had for her, his heart thumping hard. She’d chosen to walk down the aisle alone. Her dad had passed long ago and she didn’t want or need a substitute. She’d always been very independent, his warrior princess.
He swallowed over the lump in his throat. Her veil didn’t cover her face. Her pale blue eyes fixed on his, smiling just for him, glowing with happiness. Yes. This was what he’d wanted for her. Her veil hung in a long trail down her back. The gown was white satin, sleeveless, snug to her body above the waist and then tapering to a soft bell shape. A long train trailed behind her. His beautiful bride.
She reached him, finally, and he couldn’t help but touch her, cupping her cheek. “Hailey, love.”
She leaned into his hand. “Josh, my forever love.”
His chest ached. He’d never known he could love like this, so deeply he felt it in his bones. He loved her more every single day.
The minister began the ceremony, the words tumbling around them. Josh’s focus was solely on her. He moved as if in a dream, vowing to love her for all time, the words a formality to him. He’d committed heart and soul the moment she’d agreed to spend her life with him. He slid the plain gold band on her finger and gazed into her eyes. She was crying, but they were happy tears.
Finally it was official. Husband and wife.
She threw her arms around his neck with a happy cry, and he kissed her with all the love he felt, tenderly, reverently, like no one and nothing else mattered more to him than her.
Their friends and family applauded.
Hailey beamed at him. “We did it! I love you, husband.”
He hugged her and spoke near her ear, his voice rough with emotion. “I love you, wife.”
She pulled back to look at him. “Party time. Ready?”
He nodded, took her hand, and they walked back down the aisle together. He couldn’t help his wide smile as he took in all the smiling cheering faces of the friends and family they loved. Time for the next step in their journey. United by love, nothing would stand in their way.
He’d make sure of it.
~ ~ ~
Hailey arrived with Josh in the gorgeous ballroom and merely gaped. The room itself with its glossy inlaid wooden floors, crystal and gold chandeliers, frescoed ceiling paintings, and gold leaf wallpaper was already stunning, but the thing that made her gape were the long buffet tables full of food.
She turned to Josh. “I thought the caterers went on strike and the chef refused to cook.” She lowered her voice. “I really thought we’d just have some cold appetizers.”
Josh smiled proudly, his chest puffing out. “I organized a crew to work the kitchen this morning. Sabrina was a big help. She knows cooking. We had the food; we just needed extra hands.”
“So that’s where you were this morning!” She hugged him and pulled back, smiling and admiring the food again. “Thank you! Let me know who did what, so I can thank them personally.”
“Sure. Mad did the flower crew.”
“Really? I thought maybe Bonnie’s florist came through at the last minute.”
Josh snorted. “Not likely. These flowers were all local and handpicked.”
Realization dawned. “That’s why no one had time to spend with me today! Everyone was working behind the scenes to make this wedding great. Oh, Josh! It means so much more this way, knowing our closest friends and family were involved.” Her voice choked. “It’s like the wedding is filled with everyone’s love.”
“Absolutely.”
She hugged him again, still in shock at the way everything had come together in the end so beautifully. She pulled away. “It sure is quiet. What happened to the musicians?”
He looked around. “I don’t know. I’ll find out.”
“No. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just mingle with everyone. I have so many people to thank!”
They made the rounds, stopping to talk, hug, and thank every single person there. Hailey even hugged and thanked the reporters. Honestly she was so happy, so filled with love, it just poured through her. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so loving in her entire life. And it was all because she had the love of the most wonderful, selfless, generous man in the world.
She’d just sat down to a delicious lobster salad appetizer when the musicians filed in. Her eyes widened. They looked like Vikings from medieval times, wearing protective armor over their shoulders and chest and leather gauntlets on their forearms. Under the armor, they wore gold tunics and light brown loose trousers that ended below the knee, long wool socks, and leather boots. At least they carried instruments and not shields.
Josh shot out of his seat, and she grabbed his arm, shaking her head. He sat again and turned to her. “Hailey.”
“No. We’re going to enjoy the music. Of course the musicians were delayed due to a Viking reenactment on our wedding day.”
He speared a shrimp on his plate. “Guarantee you this was another of Bonnie’s blunders.”
Phillip strode over to the musicians, speaking to them urgently.
“See?” Hailey said serenely. “Phillip is handling it.”
Phillip gestured for Bonnie to join them, and they had an intense conversation. A few minutes later, a pile of armor appeared to the right of the musicians’ area, quickly taken away by some servants.
Hailey turned to Josh. “It’s nice when you can just enjoy yourself because you know you already have everything you could ever want. I love you. I love that we’re married. And I love that I’m carrying your child.”
Josh smashed his lips together, his eyes watering.
She dropped her fork with a clatter. “I made you cry? I’ve never seen you cry.”
He jerked his chin. “Not crying.”
She hugged him. He totally was, his eyes watery and red. Her sweet loving husband.
The food was divine, the company outstanding, and the music sounded great too. She danced, she laughed, and she cried a little too at the best man and matron of honor speeches.
The photographers hovered near the head table as it was announced the cutting of the wedding cake was next. Bonnie wheeled the wedding cake over in front of the head table. It had a large silver dome over it. How royal!
Hailey kissed Josh’s clean-shaven cheek. “Come on. Time for me to smash wedding cake in your face.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I already know I’m not allowed to get cake on your dress. I’ll have to get my payback later.”
She laughed and led him to where the cake was arranged on a wheeled table with a white tablecloth. Bonnie handed her the cake knife with a smile.
“Thanks,” she said brightly, turned, and froze as Bonnie lifted the dome off the cake with a flourish.
The cake was not the round multilayered confection she’d specially ordered. It was a long rectangular sheet cake and it read Happy Birthday Hailey.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Josh roared.
The room hushed in shocked silence. Bonnie took a step back, her way instantly blocked by the prince. Only this time it wasn’t Phillip, it was the seriously pissed off Crown Prince Gabriel.
Gabriel glared at the cake and then turned to Bonnie. “You’re fired. Pack your things. I want you out on the next ferry tomorrow morning.” And then he raised his voice so everyone could hear his pronouncement. “You are banned from Villroy forever.”
“You can’t ban me!” Bonnie screeched. “I have royal blood! My great-grandmother was a maid here and the king got her pregnant! She was sent away to have the royal bastard and we’ve been living in poverty ever since. We will not be cast off! I’m here to claim my rightful place!”
“You have no claim,” Gabriel said coolly. He gestured to the guards, and they quickly escorted Bonnie out.
Bonnie kept hollering. “I hope this place suffers like my family suffered!”
Holy crap. Hailey wasn’t cursed. This wedding wasn’t cursed. The wedding planner was insane. Bonnie had deliberately sabotaged the entire thing.
The photographers captured it all. So did the reporters.
She turned to Josh and whispered, “That was a much juicier story than the pregnant bride.”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “I knew that woman was nuts. How anyone could screw up as much as she did…it was absurd.” He pulled back and smiled at her. “Should we cut the cake?”
“Yes.” She cut out a long rectangle in the middle, taking the Birth from Birthday. “I figure I should eat this since I’m pregnant.” She tilted her head toward the cake. “Look, now it says Happy Day Hailey.”
Josh looked and that was how she smashed the cake in his face, catching him by surprise. He took it well, eating some, wiping the rest, and grinning. “Watch your pretty behind, sweetheart.”
She kissed him and laughed, licking the icing from her lips. “That’s your job.”