Page 46 of The Other Princess

“What? Why?” Lucy returned.

“That’s why I have this stupid strapless bra on. I never wear the damn thing, but I couldn’t find my favorite one, and the rest need to be washed because Deck spilled something in my drawer.

“Yeah, good thing that happened,” my sister offered with a snicker, and suddenly I felt as though I had been set up from the beginning, starting with my soon-to-be-dead boyfriend.

“I see,” I stated, letting them know I was on to their shenanigans – all of their shenanigans. I wasn’t in on it though. I had absolutely no clue what awaited me on the other side of this blindfold. I waited, not so patiently, as the women around me worked their magic, and managed to get small heels on my feet along with some kind of necklace, earrings, and they even managed to get something done to my hair while keeping the blindfold in place. Once they were done primping me they began the exhausting attempt to get me downstairs while I was unable to see and wearing heels – even if they were of the small variety. I had no clue where they were taking me, but once we were descending the stairs a loud, uproarious bout of shouting, hooting, and catcalling began. No doubt, I was blushing like an idiot, because I had no clue what all these people were seeing. Clearly, I was entertaining everyone though.

Before I could manage to question where we were going, and if I could take the damn blindfold off yet, a door was opened and the scent of fresh air let me know we were headed outside. Considering the ground was somewhat squishy under my feet, I assumed the back door of the clubhouse, because the front had asphalt all the way to the door. I was brought to a halt, and the blindfold was promptly removed from my face. Still, it took me a moment for my eyes to adjust to the onslaught of light, and when they did my breath got stuck somewhere on the way to my lungs. Little lanterns and fairy lights were hung down a makeshift aisle that led straight down to my boyfriend who was sporting a wicked grin, a suit, which included black dress slacks, a blue cummerbund and tie that matched the beautiful brilliant blue throughout our home, and dress shoes. He was wearing a white dress shirt too, but had his kutte on over top of it. My brother stood next to him wearing something similar. My eyes watered as I glanced around at the seating on either side of the aisle and realized what was going on. Merc was standing at the head of the aisle grinning back at me and then a hand was touching my elbow, and I turned to see my father standing there, dressed much the same way as the other men down the aisle.

“You ready to become Mrs. Declan Donovan?”

“Is this for real?” I whispered the words, but apparently my voice carried to the last couple rows of those seated because I heard their laughter.

“It’s as real as you want it to be, sweetheart. Either I can walk you down this aisle to that man who is stupid in love with you, or we can get the hell out of here, and I’ll hide you at the hunting cabin.”

“I heard that,” Deck yelled from up front and then he was moving towards us.

“No!” I shouted, halting him in his tracks. “Get back down there where you belong,” I yelled, and again everyone laughed. My father reached up and swiped at a tear that had rolled freely down my cheek. It was then that I glanced down and saw that I was in a floor length ivory silk gown that tied around the middle with a blue bow matching the color of the tie the men wore. These were our colors, and suddenly it registered that they were everywhere. From the blue button flowers adorning the white wedding arch to the ribbons tied to the chairs covered in cream fabric the place had been transformed to the wedding of my dreams. The one I had never dared actually dream of.

My father linked his arm with mine and began walking me forward toward the man waiting there for me. The man of my dreams, the one that was changing my life and making it full of beautiful things again waited for me with the biggest smile on his face I had ever seen. Once we got to the altar up front, Merc asked who was giving me away.

My father stumbled over his words as he kissed my forehead, and smiled over at his life-long best friend. “I give my oldest daughter to the only man alive who deserves her.” He then transferred my hand from his arm to Deck’s who took it with a tip of his chin in acknowledgment of the honor my dad had just bestowed upon him. I couldn’t look anywhere, but at Deck’s blue eyes. The same shade of blue that was swimming in the periphery all around us had been born of my obsession with those eyes. I don’t think he ever realized why that color tantalized me so much. It had been one I had always been fascinated with, from the first time I saw him watching me play in the yard with our two brothers. Jay’s eyes had been blue too, but a lighter, duller shade than Deck’s vibrant ones.

Maybe, in the back of my mind I always knew which brother would be the prize, and when I thought it was lost to me I transferred my hopeful affections to the one who never really saw me. Who knew what the mind of a little girl had conjured up? What I did know was that I was ever so thankful I ended up with the right one.

As we said our vows in front of our closest family, friends, and the club the tears continued to flow down my face until Merc finally announce that Deck could kiss his bride. He hissed out, “about time,” before attacking my face in front of everyone which led to laughter, more cat calls, and the gratuitous, “get a room,” bandied about by someone sounding just like my brother. I didn’t bother to verify that because I was too swept up in my new husband to care who said what, or why. That thought made it all very real, and startled me right into reality.

“You’re my husband,” I whispered into his lips, and immediately felt his returning grin.

“That’s right, and you’re my wife. No take-backs, baby. This is for life. You’re mine, and I’m yours, always.”

“Always,” I repeated, and then he swept me up into his arms and started marching us right back down the aisle, into the clubhouse, and then right back out the front door.

“Aren’t they having a reception for us?”

“They can have it by themselves. We’re going home. I have a threshold to carry you over, Mrs. Donovan.” I giggled in response as he strapped a different helmet to my head. This one was white with blue writing on the back that said “Just Married.”

*

~ Ever ~

…Four years later…

The stone felt cold to the touch as I placed the little toy motorcycle there. I was sure he would love it even as it made me supremely sad to know I’d never get to see him ride again. I would never get the chance to let him know how much I appreciated all the things he’d done for me over the years. There were so many bitter times for us before he passed, and now the worst pain of all was the regret for all the lost time between us. The things we could have known about one another, but would never have the chance again, stood sentinel just as much as the tombstone did thanks to its unique markings.

I leaned down and traced my fingers over the etching of the tattoo I had done for him. I hadn’t known until it was put here that he’d requested it be done before his death. Having been one of the six, the fool had a Last Will and Testament drawn up with the words in it that would etch our shared pain in this stone for as long as it stood sentry over his dead body. I still didn’t understand why it was important for him to put it there, but it set my heart to aching for both the painful memories, and the beautiful moments we were allowed before he passed, thanks to that tattoo giving us another start. My hand shook as I pulled it away and looked up into the equally saddened eyes of my husband. He startled a bit as his phone began to ring, and he passed our niece to me. I stood; bracing the tiny little girl on my hip as Deck spoke into the phone quietly, and then glanced at me, his lips tipping up into a slight smile. Good news then.

It was fitting we receive good news while standing here mourning the anniversary of the loss of our fallen family. My life had taken on a crazy balance over the years. For every horrible thing I had endured I had also been given its equal and opposite. I lost my mother, who had been a hard woman to love. I ended up gaining another who was as warm as they come. I lost years to misery a club brother cost me that I never wished to endure again only to be given insurmountable peace by another. I once thought that every eight years, give or take a few months, I would experience a horrible change in my life. I knew now that the overwhelming change wasn’t always a terrible thing. This year, things would change for the better. As I stood with my niece in my arms, honoring the fallen, and watching my husband take his call I knew without a doubt that things were not going to fall apart again. Especially when in our time of mourning and remembrance there was news that put a smile on my husband’s face again.

As he hung up and turned his full attention back to me it took him a moment to speak. In that time of quiet reflection he watched me with my niece, a pensive look etched in the fine lines on his face. “We’re welcoming a new family member today. We need to get to the hospital.” I tipped my head in a slight nod as I shifted my darling niece’s weight a bit. I was a tad queasy and carrying her this way wasn’t helping. “This is a natural look for you, Ev. I can picture it clearly one day when it’s not our niece you’re holding, but our own little one.”

“So, you want to have children with me some day?”

“As soon as you’re ready, babe,” he answered which made me smile. I took his hand in my free one and grinned up at him then.

“How does about seven months from now sound?” I watched as his eyes grew wide, and his smile followed. His hand released my own and he clasped my non-existent belly with both of his palms splayed out to encompass where I would grow full and round with his baby soon.

“It sounds perfect.” Deck glanced back over at the tombstone again, his smile dimming just a smidge. “You hear that? We’re adding to the family too. I promise you, they will know all about you, as if you were never gone from us.”

A tear trickled down my cheek as I leaned into Deck for support, my knees having gone a bit weak with his promise. He took our niece from my arms, and we walked back over to my car in order to head to the hospital to welcome another cherished member to the Aces High family.

The End.