Page 58 of Fighting For Light
“Thank you,” I tell her, still looking at myself in the mirror.
“And I have the perfect sandals that will work with it.”
“That sounds great, thank you,” I tell her.
“And for the flowers, I was thinking cabbage roses, daisies, peonies, poppies, and some bluebells. I know it sounds like a lot, but the coloring will complement the dress and will be a pop of color in the photos.”
“Yes, that sounds beautiful, Esmarie. I would have been fine with maybe some roses and eucalyptus.” Esmarie holds up her phone with a picture of the arrangement. “They’re perfect!” I tell her as my eyes burn. I wondered when the tears would start, and they definitely have now. “Thank you so much, this is all…a little overwhelming. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m excited, but I didn’t know the first place to start.”
“Well, darling, I’m glad I could help,” she says and opens her arms. I hug her tightly. When she lets me go, she takes my face in her hands and kisses my forehead. “I’m so glad to finally have a girl in the family. There’s simply too much testosterone floating around here.” I laugh and wipe my eyes. “I’m sure you’re exhausted. During my first pregnancy, I was napping constantly.”
I step off the platform and hesitate before returning to the dressing room. “Esmarie?”
She hums and pours herself some more champagne. “Yes, darling?”
“Can I ask you something?” I ask nervously.
“Sure,” she says before taking a sip.
“What…what was your husband like when you got pregnant with Emerson?”
Her expression drops, and she schools it in a matter of breaths. “He…was scared. But I think it comes from the fact that you’re going to be a parent. You realize you have another human being you have to take care of.” She stares off into space for a moment before blinking the memory away, looking up at me with a soft smile. “We had a lot of good times in the beginning.”
I smile back, not wanting to push anymore. I wonder when everything changed. I doubt Kai would know. He obviously wasn’t there. I suppose the only person who could give me the answer to that question is Esmarie, and that’s a wound that remains wide open.
28
Kai
I stand in acourtroom next to the Justice of the Peace. Liam and Emerson are at my side, and Mom is sitting in a chair in front of us. The doors open, and my heart drops out of my chest as I take in Cordelia on Reece’s arm.
She.
Is.
Stunning.
That dress is something. It fits her figure perfectly and shows off her beautiful neck with the way it dips down across her chest. Her baby bump shows, and my eyes well. I get to marry my best friend. I don’t cry, tears were beat out of us as kids, but seeing my future walk towards me makes the dam that was boarded and welded shut burst right open. I take a shaky breath, and Emerson pats my back while Liam leans over my shoulder.
“She’s beautiful, man,” he says, and I nod, unable to take my eyes off her.
There is no music except the thump of my heart. Cordi is holding the bouquet of flowers Mom ordered from the florist.She has light makeup like she always does, and her lips are glossy while her pretty, long, dark hair cascades down her back.
As Cordi takes her next steps to me, my gut settles because this moment is special. It was fast and unusual, far from typical, but it was perfect for us. They come to a stop in front of us, and Reece looks me in the eye. I face him as he hands me the most precious part of him.
“I trust you’ll take good care of her,” he says to me, holding out his hand.
I nod and shake it firmly.
I reach for Cordelia’s hands, and they fit perfectly in mine. She smiles up at me, and I grin back, almost giddy. The Justice asks us to repeat after him. I wink at her and wipe a tear from her eye.
“Do you, Kai Coldwell, take Cordelia Quinn to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to honor and cherish, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poor, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“I do,” I say, and her eyes glitter at me like the sun reflects off the ocean.
He asks Cordelia the same, and her hands squeeze mine tighter. “I do,” she rasps.
“You may now share your vows,” the justice says.
