Chapter Seventeen – Elizabeth

“Morning, Suzie.” Elizabeth set a tray of food down on the bed next to her daughter.

“What time is it?” Suzie asked, sitting up in bed.

“A little after seven.”

Suzie looked around wildly. “I should be getting ready.”

“Relax, have some coffee and something to eat. There is plenty of time.” Elizabeth had allowed Suzie to sleep longer than planned since she had heard her daughter tossing and turning during the night. Now she at least looked refreshed, if a little frazzled.

“I need coffee, but I’m not so sure about eating anything.”

“Mom’s orders.” Elizabeth spread some chocolate spread on a piece of toast, and handed it to her daughter. “Just one piece.”

“Just for you.” Suzie ate slowly, chewing each mouthful thoroughly before swallowing it. “You were right, I do feel better.”

“Good.” Elizabeth sipped her coffee. “Now, Fiona and the girls will be here at nine. The hair stylist is due to arrive at nine thirty. So we have plenty of time. You have a bath, or a shower, it’s up to you.”

“A shower. I don’t think I could sit still in a bath.” Suzie took another bite of her toast, and the color came back to her cheeks. “I’ll call Karen and ask her if the caterers have arrived.”

“I already did that. And they have. They’re setting everything up. So there is no need for you to worry.” Elizabeth talked to Suzie in the same soothing voice she had used on the day of any big event. Whether it was a sports competition, or her prom, Elizabeth had always known what to say.

“What about you?” Suzie took Elizabeth’s hand. “Are you worried?”

“Not yet.” She smiled and pushed Suzie’s hair back from her face. “You are going to make the most beautiful bride.”

“And so will you, one day.” Suzie tilted her head to one side. “You will marry Dean, won’t you?”

“He hasn’t even asked.” Elizabeth tried to brush off the question.

“He will. Probably as soon as today is over.” She smiled wistfully. “Dean is such a gentleman, he would never dream of trying to take attention away from me and Kit.”

“He is one of a kind,” Elizabeth confessed.

“You love him.” Suzie didn’t phrase it as a question.

“I do.” Elizabeth placed her cup down on the tray. “It’s a scary thing to admit. You are the only person I have ever said those words to.”

“Mom.” Suzie stroked her mom’s cheek. “Don’t let me be the last person you say them to.”

“I won’t. Like it or not, Dean is in my life.”

“Don’t sound too excited.” Suzie dragged herself out from under the covers, shivered in the cool morning air, and then dove back under into the warmth of her bed again, just like she had as a child.

“I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is, that I don’t have a choice, do I?” Elizabeth meant everything to Dean, just as Suzie meant everything to Kit. It would take a hard-hearted woman to ignore the mating bond.

“You could walk away. No one is making you stay.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “You know that is not true. I couldn’t hurt Dean, and that is what I would do if I turned him down.”

“So you will marry him?” Suzie’s eyes danced with happiness.

“If he asks me.” Elizabeth got up and lifted the tray off the bed. Suzie had talked her into a corner.

“Oh, he’ll ask you. If I’m not mistaken, he has an engagement ring burning a hole in his pocket as we speak,” Suzie teased.

“You think he’s already got the ring?” Elizabeth asked from the doorway.

Suzie swung her legs over the side of the bed and got up, grabbing a warm robe and wrapping herself up in it. “If I know Dean, he probably went out and bought one the day you met.”

Elizabeth stood and contemplated that thought as Suzie went to the bathroom and switched on the shower. Suzie really did think a marriage proposal was imminent. When she turned and walked down the stairs, Elizabeth was smiling. Maybe it was all the talk of weddings, maybe it was because this was her daughter’s special day. Or maybe because she was imagining Dean going down on one knee and asking her to marry him.

The more times she went over it in her head, the bigger her smile got. Of course, she would say yes. No matter how many times her subconscious told her it was not something she wanted, the part of her brain that was responsible for self-preservation told it to shut up. She was going to marry Dean.

By nine o’clock, Suzie and Elizabeth were more than ready for the day to begin. The sound of Fiona’s car sent them running to the front door. The girls were out of the car as soon as it stopped. “We’re here!”

“I can see,” Suzie said, hugging Ruby.

“Harlan will wrestle Samuel into his suit and meet us there,” Fiona said. “A toddler running around while we are trying to get dressed is just asking for trouble.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Suzie said. “Come in, have you eaten?”

“We have.” Sapphi and Ruby went to the sitting room. “Although my stomach is doing back-flips. Trying the dresses on in the store is one thing, wearing them in front of a load of people is another.”

“They won’t be looking at you, Sapphi,” Ruby told her. “All eyes will be on the bride.”

“Except Dean’s,” Fiona said dryly, but there was an air of mischief about her. “I’ve never seen a man so smitten in such a short space of time.”

“Really?” Ruby asked. “You always say Harlan fell in love with you in seconds.”

“He did.” Fiona sighed. “He did.”

Suzie giggled. “Before you met Harlan, I would never have taken you for a romantic.”

“Meeting your mate does that to you,” Fiona said, somewhat philosophically. “And speaking of mates, we need to get ready if we aren’t going to keep yours waiting.”

“We should,” Elizabeth agreed. “Hair first, then makeup. Then dresses.” She looked at her watch. “We have a couple of hours before the cars arrive.”

Suzie took a deep breath. “OK, this is it.”

“You’ll be ready in time, and the day will be perfect,” Fiona assured Suzie. “Believe me, no one would dare upset you when I’m around.”

“I knew there was a reason I asked you to be my maid of…bridesmaid.” Suzie smiled at Fiona. “Thank you for everything.”

“None of that sentimental stuff. I’m sure there will be enough tears throughout the day, without us starting now.” Fiona hugged Suzie. “I always liked you, for a boss, you weren’t half bad.”

The hairstylist arrived ten minutes later, and worked her magic. As soon as she had finished Suzie’s hair, she applied her makeup, and then Elizabeth helped her to dress. One by one, the bridesmaids all changed into their dresses too. With the help of Melanie, who made a surprise visit to check that everything was OK, they were all ready by the time the wedding cars pulled up outside. Although by now, everyone’s nerves were beginning to show.

Elizabeth dressed quickly and styled her hair, then she fetched the bottle of champagne she’d brought from the fridge. With some effort, she popped the cork, and poured them each a small glass, hoping to soothe any last-minute jitters.

“To steady your nerves.” She handed each of them a glass. “I have lemonade if Ruby isn’t allowed any champagne.”

“She can have her first taste of champagne,” Fiona agreed as she took a gulp of her drink. Who would have thought an old dragon would get nervous? After everything Fiona must have seen and done in her life, Elizabeth had expected her to be cool and calm.

“Thank you,” Ruby said, and took a sip. “I can see why it’s called bubbly.” She rubbed her nose.

Elizabeth stepped forward, and said, “I just wanted to say something.” She took a deep breath, a prickle of apprehension sneaking up her spine as they all looked at her. “I want to thank you all for being here for Suzie. And Suzie, I just want to tell you how proud I am to be your mom.”

“To Suzie,” Fiona said, raising her glass.

“To Suzie,” they all repeated, and then took a sip of champagne.

“And to us,” Ruby said, taking another sip.

“To us,” Fiona joined in. “Who should be leaving.” The bridesmaids collected their small bouquets and their purses, before finishing their champagne.

“We don’t want to be late either, Suzie.” Elizabeth’s nerves were building up inside her, the pressure getting harder to push back down. She could no longer think of the wedding as being a future event. What if her legs wouldn’t work when it was time to walk down the aisle?

“Mom?” Suzie said gently. “Everything OK?”

“Yes. Why?” Elizabeth looked down at her hand, it was shaking enough that her champagne swished around in the delicate flute glass, which she wasn’t sure she could finish. “I’ll be OK.”

But would she?

“OK, girls, let’s go. Harlan is on his way too.” Fiona directed the girls toward the door, but before she left she pulled Elizabeth to one side. “You can do this, Elizabeth. Just look ahead as you walk down the aisle, eyes on Kit. Focus on him, and how much you love Suzie. Feel that love swelling inside you like a great big bubble.”

“Thanks, Fiona. I’ll give that a try.” Elizabeth nodded, and took in a slow inhale, which she released through her mouth.

“Good. We’ll be there, right alongside you. We’re all willing you to find the strength you need. Not one person wants to see you fail, everyone there loves Suzie and Kit and wants this to be a special day.”

Everyone there. Elizabeth felt the pressure mount, but she managed to say, “Thanks, Fiona.”

“You’ll do great.” She hugged Elizabeth, who went tense, but then forced herself to relax. This was an unusually affectionate display from Fiona. She was feeling nervous too. “We’ll all do great.”

“We will.” Elizabeth caught Fiona’s arm as she went to leave. “Thank you. For everything, I know Suzie considers you a good friend and colleague.” She let go of Fiona’s arm, but the dragon shifter stayed put.

“It works both ways, I am not the easiest person in the world to be around.” Fiona shrugged. “I have been called bossy in the past.”

“Well, I’m just so happy you are here on Suzie’s special day, you share it with her.” Elizabeth moved her attention away from Fiona, and watched Suzie laughing with Sapphi and Ruby.

“Who wouldn’t? We’re dragons.” Fiona’s reply would have sounded conceited if it were not accompanied by a wide nervous grin.

Dragons. Elizabeth giggled nervously, which then erupted into a laugh. “Sorry. Nerves. Who would have thought, my daughter getting married, accompanied by four dragon shifters?”

“Mom.” Suzie walked across the room toward her. She’d recognized the way Elizabeth was laughing, on the verge of hysteria. “Breathe.”

Elizabeth took a deep breath in, and let it go slowly. Then did the same again, several times. “I’m OK now.”

“Good.” Suzie’s face filled with concern. “Just keep breathing, I’ll see Fiona and the girls out. Then it’s our turn.”

Elizabeth nodded and kept her attention on her breathing. It was a skill she had mastered over the years, a way of coping. Unfortunately, it didn’t always work, and she could feel the bubble of excitement in her getting ready to pop. If it did, she might never regain her composure. She might let Suzie down after all.

She couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t let that happen.

“Are we good?” Suzie had waved her bridesmaids off, and now it was their turn. She took Elizabeth’s hands, staring at her mom with some concern.

“Let’s go.” Elizabeth followed Suzie outside, where she breathed in the fresh mountain air. She occupied her brain by breaking down all the scents she inhaled. When she got to damp earth and pine needles, she thought of Dean, and how much she wished he was here.

Somehow she made it to the car. Her mind fixed on her hand, firmly clasped in Suzie’s, and the thought that Dean would be there waiting when they arrived. He’d promised.

“Do you remember that beach vacation we took?” Suzie asked, as the car left the foothills surrounding Bear Creek and headed to the wedding venue.

“Yes. The one to Carlingford-by-the-Sea?” Elizabeth smiled as she pulled the memories from somewhere deep in her mind.

“We spent the whole week on the beach, digging in the sand, learning to surf, badly.” Suzie looked up at the roof of the car. “Whenever I get nervous, that’s my special place.”

“It was our first proper vacation.” Elizabeth went over the memory in greater detail. “The ice cream cones!”

“Dipped in chocolate. I thought the vendor was a magician.” Suzie chuckled and then sighed. “That is just one of so many memories you gave me. One of the many times you stepped out of your safe place. I know how difficult it was for you. But you did it.”

“I wanted you to have a happy childhood.”

“And I did.” Suzie hugged Elizabeth as the car drew up in the driveway of Karen and Scott’s house.

“You’ll crush your dress,” Elizabeth warned.

“I don’t care. If I have a crease in my dress in the photographs, it will remind me of this moment, here with you.” Suzie pulled back, tears in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat. This was a goodbye. A letting go. The final duty of a mother.

“Thank you for being my daughter.” Elizabeth dug deep, and finally found the strength she needed. “Now it’s time for you to be Kit’s wife.”

The car door opened and Dean’s voice said, “Are we ready?”

“We are.” Elizabeth slid to the edge of the seat and took the hand Dean offered. While on the other side of the car, the chauffeur was helping Suzie.

Fiona, Sapphi, and Ruby had been joined by Storm, who looked incredibly adorable in her flower girl dress, and Samuel, who looked cute in his tiny tux. They were all ready.

“I’ll go take my seat.” Dean kissed her cheek, but Elizabeth reached for him, and pulled him back.

“Why don’t you walk with us?” Elizabeth said, needing him next to her.

“No, I…”

“That is a great idea. Please, Dean. I want you to be a special part of my day.” Suzie looked at her mom. “You are part of this family too.”

As they entered the garden and walked between the seats filled with friends and family, Elizabeth kept her head high, and her focus on Kit, whose smile was brighter than the spring sun. She took strength from the two people she loved most, Suzie on her right, and Dean on her left.

Her knees didn’t give out, her feet didn’t stumble. And her heart didn’t break when she watched Suzie take Kit’s hand. As she turned, she caught a glimpse of Karen and Scott, they were so happy, it made her heart fill with love. More love than she thought it could ever contain.

She wasn’t losing a daughter, she wasn’t simply gaining a son-in-law—she was gaining a family.