Chapter Sixteen
“Knoah, sweetheart, it’s time to get up.”
I groaned. It was too early. After I got home, I’d gotten Garrick’s wedding present ready while he wrapped up his work. Then, we’d lost ourselves in each other for the rest of the night.
“Knoah, you need to get up.”
“What time is it?” I refused to open my eyes.
“Early.”
I grunted, and he laughed. It was not funny. “Please, just five more minutes. Why do I have to get up?” Yes, I’d become a petulant child because it felt so early.
“Because we’re getting married at sunrise.”
I gave another grunt. “Five—”
Wait. Married? Sunrise? I shot up in bed, trying to force my eyes open. “What did you say?”
I got one eye barely open. Garrick sat on the bed, showered and dressed, with a huge grin on his face. “I said, we’re getting married in approximately two and a half hours. You have a team here to get you ready. All you have to do is relax. Evelyn and Barb will be here in an hour and a half.”
The bubbly excitement awakened me fully, and I launched into Garrick’s arms. “Best way to wake a girl up. I don’t need five more minutes.” Frowning, I pondered, “Isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”
“We make our own luck, sweetheart. Waking up with my future wife is the only way I would want to start the day. No one else dictates our lives but us.”
“I like the sound of that.”
After I put on my robe, Garrick handed me a cup of freshly brewed coffee. “Is there anything you need other than your purse?”
Garrick’s gift was in there. Since the wedding was a surprise, I wanted it to be with me at all times. “That’s it. Oh wait, and my phone.”
“I’ll make sure I get it.”
We walked down the hall to the sitting room where I had chosen my wedding dress. I was getting married. Today was the day. It was still hard to believe.
“Good morning, Ms. Knox. We’re here to get you ready.” Two women wearing white spa outfits greeted me at the door.
“Morning. I can’t wait.”
The women stepped back for me to enter. “Give us just a minute.” Garrick closed the door. “In a little over two hours, you’ll be Mrs. Shaw.”
I brushed my lips against his. “It can’t come soon enough.”
“I’ll be waiting for you. If you need anything, call me. This is our day, Knoah.”
Oh, how I loved this man. “Yes. I’ll call you if I need anything.” I touched the doorknob, then stopped. “Have you seen the dress?”
“No. I knew it was important to you that I not see it. But I can’t wait to see you.” His thumb stroked my face. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The team of ladies took excellent care of me as they got me ready. An hour and a half later, I was polished from head to toe. My hair had been pulled halfway up with curls cascading down my back to complement the goddess feel of the dress. I looked in the mirror, touching my pale pink lips, which were set against my barely-there makeup. I was happy…beyond happy. Not so long ago, I never imaged I would have this again.
“You look beautiful, Ms. Knox. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
The ladies handed me a box. “This was given to us from Miss Sawyer Wade. Once you get changed, we’ll escort Miss Wade and your mothers in.”
I took the box behind the silk screen. On top was a note.
Something blue from me to you.
xoxo
Sawyer
P.S. Here’s to lots of sex on your wedding night
Beneath the tissue paper lay a beautiful, sheer, pale blue bra and panty set. A thin, pale pink rose applique trimmed the set. It was innocent, yet exquisite at the same time.
I changed and put my robe back on. The ladies nodded. “We’ll be outside if you need anything else.”
“Thank you.”
The door opened, and Mom, Sawyer, and Evelyn came in. Sawyer jumped up and down in excitement. “Oh my, you look amazing! Garrick is going to shit a brick when he sees you and then haul you off to the nearest bedroom.”
“Sawyer!” I scolded. By no means was I a prude, but talking about sex in front of Mom and Evelyn made me uncomfortable.
Mom and Evelyn shared knowing looks. Before Sawyer had a chance to say something else, Mom said, “Let’s get you dressed and on the way to the wedding.”
“Where’s it going to be?”
They looked at each other and shrugged. Sawyer let out an exaggerated sigh. “He won’t tell us.”
The dress hung from a rack in the corner of the room. It was as beautiful as I remembered. I caressed the chiffon fabric—the material was as soft as rose petals. The silver thread glimmered in the light. It was still hard to imagine today I would marry Garrick. I waited for the nerves to come, yet they never came.
Sawyer touched my shoulder. “Today’s your day. I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Thank you for my something blue. It’s gorgeous.”
“I’m glad you like it.” She smirked. “After our girls’ night, I told Garrick I was handling the something blue. He wanted to see it, but I gave the bastard a taste of his own medicine.” I snickered as Sawyer rolled her eyes. “He’s driven me nuts. I’ve even resorted to bribing, and I still got nothing.”
We laughed. Mom touched my shoulder and said, “Sawyer gave you your something blue. This is your something new. Evelyn and I had it made. It’s two strands wrapping around one to symbolize the mothers you have and who love you.”
The bracelet fit perfectly around my wrist. The two strands were diamonds and the middle band was emeralds. Two mothers loving the one person who brought them together. “It’s be-beautiful.” I stroked the diamonds, entranced by the meaning. “I love you guys.”
Evelyn wiped at a tear slipping down her cheek. “I love you, too, my darling girl.”
It was the first time I’d told her how I felt. After falling in love with Garrick, my heart opened up again, giving love freely without reservation. Second chances were a real thing. I was a firm believer.
Next Evelyn opened a necklace box. “This is from Ricardo and Wyatt for your second something new.” The piece of jewelry took my breath away. It was a heart wrapped in a double infinity knot. “It symbolizes a never-ending love.”
The piece was done in diamonds with an emerald the color of my eyes in the center of the knot. It matched the bracelet perfectly. Tears stung the back of my eyes. So much love. “This is so special.” I looked up. Then I remembered the procession. There weren’t any bridesmaids, but the father typically gave the bride away. “Who’s giving me away today?”
They looked at each other, truly perplexed. It seemed no one had talked about it. “We hadn’t discussed that.” Evelyn touched my arm. “There’s no expectation.”
I turned to Sawyer, who had her hand to her heart. “Can you tell Garrick I want Dad and Ricardo to give me away today?”
“I’m on it.”
In a snap, she left the room. And I kept looking at the jewelry. Mom smiled at me in approval while Evelyn swallowed several times. “This is your something borrowed.” Evelyn put a pair of earrings in my hand. They were stunning diamond solitaires at least three carats in size. “Those were the earrings I got from Ricardo when I had you. They’ll be yours one day. I’ve kept them close to me all these years, knowing one day they would find their way to you.”
A solitary tear ran down my face. “Will you help me put them in?”
“Yes, of course.”
Mom snapped a few pictures of our intimate moment before I hugged Evelyn. “I love you.”
She held me tighter. “I love you, too.”
After a second, Mom came forward. “I have your something old. This is the bracelet your dad gave me when we met. He told me that night he would love me forever.”
I smiled, remembering Mom telling me this when I would go through her jewelry box as a child.
There was a knock on the door. “Come in.”
Suzette walked in, which set off a round of hugs. The Shaws were huggers. “I told Garrick I only needed a few minutes. We’re about to leave for the mysterious wedding, but I wanted to talk to you for just a minute.”
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes, they’re down in the garage since Garrick wouldn’t tell us where it was. The children begged me to let them come up. They’ve been begging their parents to come see you.” Garrick had three nieces and three nephews I loved dearly. Children were precious gifts. Taking Mom and Evelyn’s hands, she said, “You have a beautiful daughter. Thank you. Because of her, my boy knows true love.”
“Garrick is such a fine young man,” Mom said. Evelyn echoed similar sentiments.
In her emerald green dress, Suzette turned my way again. “You, my dear, are so very precious to my Garrick. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. We love you dearly.”
“Love you guys, too.”
She blinked a few times. “I better leave before I put Garrick behind schedule. He’s ready to marry you. Take care of him for me.”
“Always.”
Suzette left, and Kurt walked in yawning. “Only you could get me out of bed at the ass crack of dawn.” He sobered when he saw Mom and Evelyn there. “Sorry, ladies.” Sawyer rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated with Kurt and his antics. “You look beautiful, squirt. Garrick is one lucky guy.”
This was the beginning of a perfect day.