Something was going on. I caught on to it the other day when Amelia had me trying on beautiful gowns from her friend in New York.
It wasn’t a total loss on me that they were all white. Every. Single. One. Different shades of white. My mother would have been in her glory.
Or the fact that they were all my size. I chuckled thinking back to Amelia commenting with, “It’s crazy she sent them all in your size!”
Amelia and I were close to the same size, but my breasts were a bit larger than hers.
Chloe came running into the library. “Paxton! It’s Christmas Eve and Grammy just called to tell Daddy that Cord was on his way with Aunt Waylynn! She’s here again!”
I drew Chloe into my arms and kissed her on the forehead. “That is so amazing! I’m so glad she is home again!”
“Yep, and Grammy said we’re all going and getting our hair done!”
My smile faltered. Huh?
“Our hair done?”
She nodded. “Yep. And I know a secret. A big secret. B. I. G. I can spell, ya know.”
I grinned. “Yes, I happen to know your teacher.”
Looking at me with a confused expression, she busted out laughing. “You’re so funny! But…my secret is huge.” Chloe held her arms out as far as she could spread them.
Narrowing one eye at her, I asked, “Is that so? Who is the secret about?”
With a giggle, she covered her mouth. “You!”
My stomach dropped. Everything was starting to make sense.
The dresses. The way Steed was so nervous this morning. The private phone call he took where I overheard him saying he would pay twice the amount if they could make it happen on Christmas Eve. Now the hair.
“Grammy said you had to get your nails done, so we all had to get them done. As a way to…” She looked up in thought. “Right…as a way to throw you off she said!”
Oh, how I loved my little non-secret keeper.
“Chloe, is your Daddy planning on something big happening today?”
She shook her head. “Oh no, it’s tonight! And after tonight, I get to call you Mommy.” Jumping off my lap, she ran out of the room before she stopped and looked back at me. “See how good of a secret keeper I am! I didn’t even tell you that you that the big secret was you and Daddy gettin’ married today!”
And like that, she spun around and rushed out the door. I jumped up.
Married?
Today?
My heart started racing, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
I grabbed my phone and sent a text off to two different people.
Me: How is Chicago?
It didn’t take Corina long to reply.
Corina: Chicago?
Grinning, I typed out my reply.
Me: Yes…Chicago. You did fly home yesterday right?
She didn’t answer. Corina couldn’t lie. It wasn’t in her DNA to lie. Not even a white lie. A fib. Nothing. She was literally incapable of lying.
Next text.
Me: Merry Christmas Eve! Hey…do you and Dad want to go look at lights tonight?
My mother’s reply was almost instant.
Mom: What?! Lights?
I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. Oh. This is fun.
Me: What? It would be fun. We haven’t done it in years, and I bet Chloe would love it!
Mom: Maybe we could go tomorrow or the next night. Tonight’s not good for us.
Lifting my brow, I hit her number. Let’s up the pressure some.
Her voicemail started after two rings. Oh my gosh, my mother sent me to voicemail.
Me: You sent me to voicemail, Mom!
Mom: I’m in a meeting. Can’t talk.
Me: What kind of meeting?
Mom: About the new town square.
I frowned. Shit. That made sense. My mother was on the committee to improve downtown Oak Springs, to get it growing even more than it was. Our little town had always been a bit of a tourist town with the Frio River and quaint stores.
Cord’s popular bar proved that more could be done with the town square, and the committee wanted it to grow even more. New plans were now being laid to bring in new businesses and make it more of a tourist town. We already had people coming in for the Frio River; we just needed ways to keep them around, make them spend their money.
Me: Okay. Well, maybe I’ll take one of the horses out. Steed’s gone, and it’s just me and Chloe. We can pack a picnic or something.
Mom: NO! Her Grammy has plans to take y’all to get your hair done. Didn’t you hear? Waylynn is in town, and you know how that girl likes to primp.
Me: I’m not in the mood for that.
The phone rang, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Paxton, please do me a favor.”
“Okay,” I replied, trying to sound normal.
“Go to the hair thing with Melanie. She’s really looking forward to spending time with her girls.”
“Mom, I know.”
“Well, I’m just saying. With you and Chloe now in her life and Waylynn coming in, she’s just happy.”
“No, Mom. I know.”
There was silence on her end before she finally spoke. “You know what?”
“The wedding. Chloe spilled the beans.”
She muffled the phone and said something to someone, then came back on the line. “Don’t move. We’re on our way over.”
When I heard a dial tone, I jerked the phone from my head and peered at it. She’d hung up on me!
Little did I know that an hour later our house would be full of people I loved. People who had worked so hard to keep this a surprise only to have an almost six-year-old rat them out.
Waylynn had flown in last night, much to my surprise. Corina had never left and had been staying at the main house where she, Waylynn, and Amelia had a sleep over last night. I wasn’t going to lie, my feelings were a little bruised I hadn’t gotten to be a part of it, but Corina said it was mainly a wedding planning night.
I was being primped big time. Melanie’s best friend owned the hair salon and spa in town and was buffing my nails while Amelia painted my toes.
Waylynn pulled and twisted my hair while my mother and Melanie argued about the dress I should wear. Amelia had narrowed it down to the top three I had liked.
“Shouldn’t I be the one to pick? I mean, since I know about the wedding and all?”
Amelia glanced over her shoulder. “Mom, seriously, Paxton should pick out her dress. I highly doubt Dad and David are arguing over what Steed’s gonna wear.”
They both frowned. I had already known which one it would be. Once I started to figure out what in the world was going on, I had secretly hoped the Rene Ruiz gown had made the cut. The gowns I had tried on the other night though were all amazing, but that one made me feel like a princess.
I also noticed the Oscar De La Renta was hanging up as well. When I took a peek at the $10,000 price tag I laughed my ass off. But Amelia loved it. I did too, but I loved the much less pricey Rene Ruiz even more.
After what seemed like hours, it was time for me to pick the dress.
Walking up to the one I had picked, I smiled.
“I knew you would pick the Rene Ruiz. It’s classic and breathtaking on you,” Amelia said with a huge grin. “Okay, everyone out except for Paxton, Corina, and Chloe.”
Chloe’s eyes lit up like Christmas morning. “I get to stay?”
“Of course you do, Chloe Cat. I need my two maids of honor to help me get dressed.”
You would have thought I had given her the world.
I caught Melanie’s stare and smiled. She returned it and mouthed, “Thank you.”
With a simple nod, I watched as everyone left the room.
I’m getting married. Holy. Shit.
Placing my hand over my stomach, I breathed in and out a few times to calm my nerves. It was finally happening.
Taking Chloe’s hand, I led her over to the window seat.
“How are you feeling about today, Chloe Cat?” I asked. I had told Corina I wanted to a few minutes to talk to Chloe without everyone in the room. She was making herself busy as she pretended to mess with my dress.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Today isn’t just a big day for your daddy and me. It’s a big day for you too. I want to make sure you’re as happy as we are.”
Chloe’s smile grew from ear to ear.
“You know how happy you are right before Santa comes? Or the tooth fairy?”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, I’m so much more happy! I’ve been asking God for a long time for a mommy who loved me and my daddy.”
My heart ached.
“I love you so much, Chloe Cat. And I love your daddy. You both make me so very happy. Don’t ever forget that, okay?”
She nodded. “I won’t.”
I slid off the bench and knelt so I could look her in the eyes. “Is there anything you want to ask me before I marry your daddy and become your mommy?”
Chloe’s eyes darted over to my dress. “Can I have your dress when you’re done with it? It would be perfect to play princess in.”
Laughing, I pulled her into my arms. “Yes! Consider it yours, Princess Chloe.”
“Okay, let’s get your mommy dressed,” Corina said as she made her way over to us with the dress. My heart dropped, and my stomach started to flutter. Chloe must have noticed my nerves.
She took my hand. “Don’t worry, you’ll look like a princess too. I promise.”
Kissing her on the cheek, I replied, “Thank you, Chloe Cat!”
I dropped my robe to the ground to reveal the white lace panties and matching bra. I wouldn’t need the bra, but with Chloe in the room, Corina and I thought it best not to flash her my boobs.
Chloe’s mouth rose into a wide smile. “Wow! My dad’s gonna be happy!”
Corina and I were stunned before we lost it laughing.
Corina took the embellished strapless dress and nodded. Facing away from Chloe, who was now standing on the bed, I unclasped the bra and let it drop to the floor. Holding up my arms, Corina carefully slipped the dress over my head.
“Careful, careful!” Chloe chanted from behind, making sure my hair was safe. That had been her self-assigned job.
When the dress slipped on, Corina zipped it up and all three of us gasped. The strapless neckline was stunning. It looked old-fashioned, yet had a modern flair as well. The color was a creamy white.
“You are stunning,” Corina whispered.
“You’re a princess!” Chloe said with her hands over her cheeks.
Corina handed me a long box. “This is from me. It’s your something blue.”
She put on a diamond necklace that held one blue sapphire stone in the middle. My fingers moved lightly over it as I attempted not to cry.
“It’s…gorgeous.”
Her eyes gazed into mine. “It’s my grandmother’s. Someday you’ll be putting it on my neck when I get married.”
Turning to her, I drew her in for a hug. “Corina! It’s perfect. And it serves as my something borrowed as well!”
She laughed. “I didn’t even think about that. Yes! It does.”
Chloe stood in front of me. “You look like a princess,” she said again as she stared up in awe.
I placed my hand on the side of her sweet little face. “Thank you, Chloe Cat.”
“This is my gift to you! It’s your something new. Well, it’s from me and Daddy.”
My heart soared as I took the box from her and opened it to find the most beautiful diamond earrings.
“Chloe! These are the most beautiful earrings I’ve ever seen.”
She beamed. “I picked them out! Daddy said I had expensive taste.”
Leaning down, I chuckled as I kissed her on the cheek.
Corina opened the door, letting everyone in. My mother walked up to me and started crying.
“Oh, Momma don’t cry. You’ll make me cry!”
“You look beautiful, sweetheart. Steed is going to pass out when he sees you.”
“You’re biased,” I replied with a wink.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a Bible and handkerchief. “I carried this down the aisle with your father. Your grandmother carried it, and your great-grandmother as well. It’s your something old.”
My hands shook as I took the Bible and handkerchief. At this rate, my face would be covered in my black mascara soon.
She kissed me on the cheek, and then it was Melanie’s turn. She tried to speak, but broke down crying. Turning, she walked over to Amelia who pulled her into her arms.
“We better get going. It’s time,” Waylynn said.
Everyone started to pile back out of the room except for Corina and Chloe. Waylynn grinned. “You ready?”
I nodded.
When she turned to leave, I called out for her. “Hey, Waylynn?”
Glancing back at me, she said, “Yeah?”
“How did y’all do this? Plan all of this so quickly?”
She walked back to me and took my hands in hers. “That day at the spa when you said you wanted a winter wedding…we all knew we had to make it happen. I started making plans right then and there. To say I was excited y’all were back together is an understatement.”
My heart skipped a beat. I was so blessed to have such amazing women in my life.
“Well, thank you. To you and Amelia for doing this. You’ll never know what it means to me.”
Kissing my cheek, she softly said, “It was my pleasure. I never got to plan my own wedding…so this was fun for me.”
Her eyes seemed so sad.
“I’m so sorry.”
With a shrug, the sadness was gone, replaced by excitement.
“Let’s do this!” she cried out as Chloe started jumping, her curls going everywhere. She started to run out of the room when she stopped and turned back to us. “Oh no! I left Patches tied up in Daddy’s office!”
My eyes widened in shock. “What? Chloe, why is your pet goat tied up?”
“In your Daddy’s office?” Waylynn added.
Placing her hands on her hips, her little head tilted, she looked at us like we were idiots. “He’s walking me down the aisle.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Glancing over to a still stunned Waylynn, I said, “We better get one of the guys to go get Patches.”
She faced me, her jaw dropped open. “You want the goat in the wedding?”
Peeking over to Chloe, I smiled and answered, “Of course. He’s a part of the family.”