Page 45 of Forever King

“Janine is never going to warm up to me, is she?”

“No, but think of it this way. If you have to have one of my parents hate you, it’s better to have my mother and not my father be the hater.”

She’s got a point. At least the guy who knows people who order hits on others likes me. I guess I can put up with her bossy, intrusive mother.

“Just tell me you and I are okay. That’s all that matters.”

Smiling, she brushes a piece of lint off my tux lapel and says, “We’re okay, Marius. Three months ago, we weren’t okay. Today, we’re fine. Baby, we’re more than fine. We’re about to walk out in front of all our friends and family and have a wedding. We look great, my bridesmaids and your groomsmen look great, and afterward, we’re going on a two-week vacation, just the two of us. I don’t think things get better than that.”

That right there—that ability to put everything into focus and make me see what’s important—that’s the best part of being in love with Duck.

“Well, I better get out there. I hear a beautiful woman in a white dress is coming to see me, and I don’t want to be late.”

I give her one last kiss before the ceremony and start walking toward the door. Behind me, she says, “You can’t be late, baby. You and I are the show today, so no worries. I love you, Marius, and thank you for coming in here to find out if I’m okay.”

Looking back at her, I let the image of her white wedding dress full of lace and satin fill my eyes. “I love you too, Duck. I’m always going to be there to make sure you’re okay. That’s what being your husband is all about. See you in a few minutes. I’ll be the guy checking you out from the altar.”

Matthias and Ava wait outside in the hallway looking worried, so I quickly explain what the problem was. She hurries into the room to talk to Eden, and my brother simply shrugs when he hears what Janine was really up to.

“You’ve got yourself a live one in that lady, Marius. Good luck.”

As much as I know my mother-in-law is going to be a hassle when we have to deal with her, I’m not worried. Duck and I are way too much in love to let one person ruin what we have.

I clap him on the back and point toward the door to the patio. “I think it’s showtime.”

16

Duck

Ava turnsaround to look at me and smiles. “Check out how nervous Marius looks standing up there. He’s so cute!”

I look past her from the doorway out to her patio and see him looking around like he isn’t sure I’m going to show up. My mother probably said something to him that’s making him worry. Thank God he loves me or that woman would have chased him away by now with her asinine antics.

“He is adorable, isn’t he? I guess I’ll keep him,” I say with a giggle.

My best friend gives me a strange look. “You better. I like having you as a sister-in-law.”

She doesn’t have to worry. I wouldn’t give up Marius King for anything. It’s not every day a woman finds a man who has everything she’s ever dreamed of in a husband.

I hear the music I chose for her to walk down the aisle before me and nudge her shoulder. “That’s your cue. See you at the altar!”

“Ooh, wish me luck. I hope I don’t fall.”

Typical Ava. She gets a pair of kitten heels, and she thinks she’s going to trip. I’m wearing four inch heels, and the thought never occurred to me.

“Good luck!”

I watch her walk to where the priest, Matthias, and Marius stand and wait for the wedding march to begin. My father waits by my side, silent as he often is but the strong presence he’s always been in my life.

“It’s almost time, Dad.”

He nods and gives me a little smile. “You know, honey, I like Marius. He’s a good man. Don’t worry about what your mother thinks. She’ll come around.”

I lean in and press a kiss to my father’s cheek. “Thank you, Dad. I’m not worried about Mom. Marius can handle himself.”

Laughing, he nods again. “That he can. I think he’s had a good bit of practice with you.”

As much as I’d like to disagree with him, the truth is I am a lot like my mother. We’re both stubborn and decisive. We also both know we’re high maintenance and don’t care.