Page 3 of The Omega's Surprise Baby
His words made me cringe. “Maybe he doesn't, but what about the omega he's about to marry? What about the people coming to this wedding? I don't think this is a good idea.” Instinctively I knew that a wedding was not the right place for me to make any sort of comeback.
“You're worrying about it too much. The man he's marrying doesn't care. He loves your music. That's why Dean asked, actually.”
“Really?” My eyes narrowed. “I don't know, man.”
“C'mon, no one's going to think of that tape when they hear your voice. You have so much talent. You gotta put yourself out there again.”
I sighed. He was right. I did need to put myself out there again. But at a wedding? Really?
“You know this wedding isn't going to be anything likeyourwedding,” Nick said softly. “It's a joyful occasion. Nothing about it is fake. It's going to be really nice.”
“I know,” I said on an exhale.
“They're also going to pay you,” Nick added.
“Yeah? How much?”
He shrugged. “I don't know exactly how much. You'd have to talk to Dean, but I'm sure it would be enough to buy a cool new mic.”
I grimaced. I did want a new mic, and maybe with a bit more money, I could even grab one of the more expensive models… “Okay, fine. I'll do it. But don't blame me when this turns into a disaster.”
“I'm sure it won't!” Nick smiled. “It'll be beautiful, I know it.”
“Yeah, whatever.” I sank back into the couch.
I knew this wedding was going to be real and beautiful and all that. That was part of the reason I didn't think I was going to fit in there. Who was I to sully another omega's happy ending?
2
Shane
It wasOmega Day and the sky above the cemetery was an endless blue. The thunderstorms I'd imagined were raging only in my heart—and I wasn't going to let them out. I had my kids with me, after all. Little three-year-old Mary hung on my right arm, and nine-year-old Conner held my left hand. He'd insisted on bringing his dog. I hoped to hell that the young Golden Retriever wouldn't cause a mess, but he stuck to Conner's side as if glued there.
Maybe even the dog felt the somber atmosphere.
“Where are we going?” Mary asked. I'd tried to explain to her earlier, but the concept of death was still difficult for her to grasp.
“We're visiting Daddy,” her brother told her before I could get a word out.
“Daddy's here?”
“No, but he can see us.”
“Okay,” Mary nodded, as if satisfied with this explanation. Maybe she was. She'd been so young when Ron passed away that I didn't think she remembered ever having two parents. I'd showed her pictures and told her stories, so she knew who Ron was, but that was about all I could do at this point. One day I would tell her how much her smile reminded me of her Daddy and how proud he would have been of her.
When we reached the grave, Conner let go of my hand and stepped forward, holding an Omega Day card he'd made in school the week before. He hadn't let me read it, but then, it wasn't for me.
He laid it down by the tombstone without saying a word while I gave Mary the flowers I'd brought so she could put something down as well.
“These are for Daddy,” I told her. “Lay them down next to your brother's card.”
“Okay.” She took a few steps forward and followed Conner's example like a good little girl. Like my good little girl. I was so proud of her and Conner every day. They were the reason I could pull through the dark days that had followed my mate's tragic accident.
“I put flowers down,” Mary said, pointing at the red blossoms when she was done. Then she turned to me. “Can we get ice cream now?”
Her innocent question put a smile on my lips. “Of course we can.” Itwasa hot day, and Ron had loved ice cream, so why not eat some in his honor? “Do you need some more time?” I asked my son.
“Five minutes,” he said.
