Page 44 of Keeping Kaitlyn

Kaity, my brother isn’t the kind of guy you should trust. He’s just like our father—as soon as the new wears off, he’s gonna leave you. You can bet on it.

“Are you okay, sir?” Jerard’s standing behind me, under a white trellis arch covered in gardenia and cabbage roses. I know they’re cabbage roses because they were my grandmother’s favorite. My grandfather would bring her a fresh bouquet of them daily, almost always accompanied by some sort of trinket—sometimes as simple as a Danish from her favorite bakery.Sometimes something as extravagant as a floor-length mink. When she told him it was too much, he’d laugh and say,nothing’s too good for my Tillie.

Maybe you are like your father, and maybe your mother fucked you up—but you’ve got them in you too. You know what love is because you’ve seen it. Don’t forget that.

Turning, I look at the small table next to Jerard. On it is the marriage license I happily paid a fortune for and a stainless-steel Montblanc that used to belong to my grandfather. Looking up, I give him a tight smile and nod. “Yes, just?—”

Before I can finish, the elevator at the other end of the runner lets out a ding. The doors open and Dakota steps out in a pretty summer dress the color of ripe cantaloup. Walking toward me on slow, measured steps, hair swept away from her face with a turquoise clip, she carries a small bouquet of the same cabbage roses and gardenias that cover the trellis. Reaching the top of the runner, my sister gives me a smile. “Thanks for the earrings,” she says, tilting her head to show me the pearl and diamond earrings that match the necklace I bought Kait.

“Thanks for not calling Damien and ratting me out.” I give her a wry smile, even though my stomach is doing backflips.

“Turns out I didn’t have to,” she says with a smirk while she moves to stand on the other side of the runner. “You did that, all on your own.”

She’s still here, right? Kait didn’t leave, did she?

Because asking would make me sound both pathetic and crazy, I swallow the question and aim my gaze down the runner, at the elevator, and will it to open.

“Relax, brother,” Dakota whispers. “She’s right behind me.”

Like she whispered a summons, the elevator lets out another soft ding and its doors slide open, the sight of her sending my heart bouncing and slamming itself around my chest like it’s looking for a way out.

She’s beautiful.

So goddamned beautiful that I forget how to breathe and it takes everything I’ve got to keep from passing out or maybe jumping off the side of the building because I love Kait so fucking much that the feeling is suddenly too big for me to hold onto and if it scares me, it’ll sure as shit terrify her.

“It’s not too late,” Dakota whispers, mistaking my reaction for a case of cold feet. “You can change your mind.”

“No…” I shake my head while I watch Kait come toward me in her ivory lace dress, my brother walking slowly beside her. “I can’t.” It was too late for me, the moment I saw her.

I can’t change my mind.

Not about her.

Not ever.

When Damien and Kait stop in front of us, he turns his head to whisper something in her ear that makes her smile and brings tears to her eyes, before turning to me and offering me her hand. “Promise me you’ll take care of her.”

Taking Kait’s hand from him, I give my brother a nod. “I promise.”

Pulling Kait toward me, I look down at her, not quite ready to say the words because now that she’s here with me, I want to make this moment last forever. Reaching up, I wrap a hand around the back of her neck before sweeping the pad of my thumb across her cheekbone to wipe away a stray tear. “You’re beautiful.”

“So are you.” Smiling up at me, she lifts a hand to adjust the necklace she’s wearing. “Thank you… for my necklace.”

Thank you for not running away.

Instead of saying it out loud, I lean down to press a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth. Pulling back, I look her in the eye. “You ready?”

She stares at me, mouth slightly open like her answer got stuck in her throat before she closes it on a nod. Swallowing hard, she gives me another smile. “Ready.”

Telling myself it’s just nerves and not hesitation, I pull my hand away from her face before turning toward Jerard, who’s been waiting patiently this entire time. His time to shine, he gives us both a smile. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, in the presence of family and friends, to bless and bear witness to the union of Kaitlyn Nicole Barrett and Wentworth James Fiorella...”

TWENTY-FIVE

KAITLYN

Went and I are married.

We made our vows to respect, honor and cherish each other through good times and bad. In sickness and in health while Damien stood stoically and Dakota sniffled quietly beside me. We exchanged rings and kissed, just as the last of the setting sun, slipped below the horizon.

---