Page 171 of Beautiful Trauma
She bobbed her head. Turning to the others, she said, “Am I right?”
Although tears pooled in her eyes, Isla said, “You’re going to take his breath away.”
Maeve dabbed her eyes with a lacy handkerchief. “You’re so beautiful, Mila. You’re everything I always hoped for when it came to a bride for Kellan.”
Now it was my turn to get the waterworks. “Really?”
“Oh yes.”
“Jesus, you two. I’m too cynical to cry at weddings, yet you’ve already got me all misty-eyed,” Ava remarked.
“With a sniffle, Caterina said, “I think we should all tuck a hanky in our cleavage."
I laughed. “I’m sure the guys would appreciate it when you dug it out during the ceremony.”
“Even in a church, they’re total horndogs,” Ava replied.
At that moment, Orla swept into the room. Clapping her hands, she said, “Okay, ladies, it’s time, so let’s get going.”
Maeve snorted. “Mam, you’re almost as bad as a drill sergeant,” she mused.
Orla swept her hands to her hips. “I don’t need any sass today.”
As the others started out, Orla came to stand in front of me. Tears shone in her eyes. “You look grand.”
“Thank you.”
“Now before I let you go out there, I need to say something.”
Apprehension bubbled within me. Surely, she wasn’t about to try to give me a talk about my wedding night. That ship had sailed long before Kellan. “Um, okay.”
“I know you wish more than anything in the world that your mother could be here today with you.”
Unable to speak, I merely nodded.
“And I wish the same thing for you.” She patted my cheek. “I know she’s smiling down on you today. I can only imagine the pride she feels when she looks at you. You have honored her memory so beautifully.”
Sniffing, I said, “Stop. I can’t.”
“Just know that from this day forward, I will be your mother figure if you’ll have me. I can never take your mother’s place, nor would I want to diminish her memory. But if I can do anything to lessen the pain you feel, I will.”
I reached forward and threw my arms around Orla. “Thank you. You can’t imagine what that means to me.”
She squeezed me tight. “I’m so happy Kellan has you, and that you have him. “
“So do I.”
When I pulled away, Orla smiled. “There’s one more thing. You won’t be walking down the aisle alone.”
I furrowed my brows at her. “What do you mean?”
With a wink, she went over to the door. When she opened it, Dima stood before me in a crisp black tux and leaning on a cane. Even though he’d saved my life and allowed me to end Father, I hadn’t expected him to come to the wedding.
It wasn’t out of bad blood with me, but it was more from the fact that it was still emotionally painful for Dima to be around Kellan after his shooting. I knew he would also be uncomfortable being around so many Irish men after trying to kill Kellan.
Since I didn’t want to do anything to cause him pain, I’d told him that I understood if he couldn’t come, and he’d agreed that it was best if he didn’t. I’d also decided not to let Maks, Lev, or Aleks walk me down the aisle in his place.
“What…how…?”
