Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
I pushed out a smile and nodded. “I’m great. This is the best day of my life.”
She narrowed her eyes, trying to tell if I was lying or not. But she didn’t question it out loud. Instead, she reached for her chest and opened it. “I have a few gifts for you.”
“You didn’t need to—”
“Don’t, Avery,” she said. “Just accept my love.”
I laughed. “We all know how hard it is for me to accept love.”
“Yes,” she said softly as she placed a hand against my cheek. “We do.”
She began to take items out of the box. “Something old,” she stated, pulling out an old pearl bracelet. “It was my great-grandmother’s. She wore it on her wedding day, and it brought her great luck in love.” She placed it on my wrist, then picked up the next item in the box. “Something new, diamond earrings.”
“Tatiana,” I breathed out.
She shook her head, knowing I would disagree, but she continued, placing the earrings into my ears for me. “Something borrowed and something blue kind of go together,” she explained, reaching into the box and pulling out a ring with a blue stone.
My heart gasped as my hands fell to my chest.
Mama’s wedding ring.
That made my eyes glassy.
The same something borrowed and something blue that Yara wore stitched into her wedding gown.
“Your father gave it to me, along with some thread and needle. May I?” she asked.
I nodded slowly. She threaded her needle and stitched the ring to the fabric of my dress right over my heart. Exactly where Mama’s love belonged.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Always,” Tatiana replied.
She sat back and placed her hands in her lap. “How are you?”
I laughed. “You already asked me that.”
“I know. I was just hoping we were past the lying stage is all.” The knowing grin she gave me made me chuckle even more.
“Nervous,” I confessed. “Scared. Terrified.”
“That sounds more honest,” she agreed. “Thank you for the truth.”
I fiddled with my hands. “How does a person know if they’ve found the right one? How does one know that it’s meant to be always and forever?”
She shook her head. “Sweetie, don’t ask me. I thought by now I’d be married to Richard Gere or Idris Elba,” she joked. “But honestly, I don’t think anyone truly knows. We just hope. We hope and take the risk.” Her brows lowered. “But, Avery…if any part of you is not sure…”
“I’m sure,” I said. “Just scared.”
“Okay.” She patted my hand in hers and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Because I was ready to start my getaway car.”
“Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but I was told it’s time for the father’s first look at the bride,” Daddy said as he stepped into my dressing room with the photographer behind him. His eyes fell on me, and he gasped, instantly growing misty-eyed. “And what a bride she is. My beautiful baby girl.”
I stood and shrugged. “How do I look?”
He took my hands into his, giving them a light squeeze. “Like a dream come true.” His eyes fell on the wedding ring Tatiana stitched onto my dress, and a moment of somberness found him. “Two of my favorite heartbeats resting against one another.”
My father.
The romantic.
There were so many nights I’d wished his blood ran through my veins. I knew I would’ve been better with Matthew Kingsley’s love in my DNA.
Tatiana excused herself as the photographer captured a few photos of my father and me. Then Daddy asked them to give us a moment of privacy.
“You look so much like your mama, Avery Harper.” He sniffled, holding my hands to his chest. Tears fell from his eyes, and he shook his head. “You’d think giving away one daughter already would’ve made this easier. But it’s just as hard.”
I wiped away his tears. “You softy, you.”
“Just you wait. It comes with age.” His brown eyes locked with mine. “Are you sure you want to do this today?”
How many people were going to ask me that?
“Daddy,” I scolded.
“I’m just saying. Ryan’s fine and all—”
“Wesley,” I corrected.
“Whatever. The rocket scientist is nice and all, but you…you’re the shooting star. Don’t forget that, will you?”
“I won’t.”
He kissed my forehead. “Okay. I’m going to wipe my face before we get this ball rolling. Ten-minute warning. I’ll see you out there. I love…” he started, tapping my nose.
“You,” I replied, tapping his back.
I was happy when I had a moment to be alone. I needed to remind myself how to breathe, yet my dress felt so tight that it was almost impossible to do. When I was alone, I allowed my smile to falter. When I was alone, I didn’t have to pretend to be okay.
I stood in front of the oversized mirror, smoothing my hands over the fabric of my gown and shaking my head slightly. “Mama, what should I do?” I whispered, praying she could hear me from wherever she was.