Chapter 60
KAT
The spa has stayed open for us. Final wedding preparations are in full swing. Nails, massages, facials.
Champagne glasses sit next to us.
It’s been a tight turnaround. From the moment Don rang to say there had been a mass cancellation, it’s been all systems go.
Chloe, Gabriel’s ex-personal shopper and fashion designer, created my wedding dress. Turning my ideas into a stunning reality in record time.
Jax and I arrived a few days ago, and have been working with Don over the final preparations for tomorrow. A security team has been put in place to keep any unwanted visitors and press away. Don ensured that all staff members signed an NDA to prevent them discussing the event in advance.
Now it’s here, and I have never felt so calm in my life.
Mum, Leah, April, Lottie, Pen, and Hannah, Jax’s mum, are sitting having pedicures in a large room overlooking the ocean.
The gentle sound of the waves is the perfect backdrop to our conversation.
Louise, Pen’s mum, is looking after baby Amelia for the evening, along with Leah’s mum, Louise, and her Dad, who are babysitting Callum, Ava and Isla.
Mum holds up her glass, and the others follow suit.
“Kat,” she says, and I drop my chin to my chest.
I hate speeches and being the centre of attention. Business is one thing, personal is a whole different ballgame.
“This is your time. Don’t shy away, young lady,” she says, making me smile.
“Not so young anymore, Mum,” I say.
“Speak for yourself,” both Leah and Pen say at the same time.
“I’m not going to waffle on,” Mum says. “I just wanted to say how proud I am of you.”
She looks at Hannah.
“When Elijah first brought Jaxson home. I knew fate had done so for a reason. When Robert and I saw how they looked at one another, we realised why.”
Mum turns to face me, sucking in a breath, her eyes glistening. “Life has tried its hardest to break you both apart, but fate has had other ideas and I couldn’t be happier. Love is a gift, hold on to it.”
The woman attending my toes stops and I get up, walking over to mum and pulling her in for a hug.
“Your father would be so proud. He loved Jaxson like a son.”
Hannah raises her glass. “I’d like to thank you for being there for Jaxson.
When his father and I split, it was messy and difficult.
Being an only child, he was caught in the middle.
Not something I’m proud of.” She takes a sip of her champagne before continuing.
“When Jax came home that first summer, I must have heard your name a thousand times, Kathryn. That didn’t change.
For three years, you were all my son could talk about.
You and your brothers. When it stopped, I knew something had happened, but he would never tell me.
These past six months, my son has come alive again, and it’s because of you. ”
“Well, let’s raise a glass, to fate finally getting her shit together,” Pen says with a laugh. “For finally untangling the web she wove to get there.”
Hannah laughs and raises her glass. “I can drink to that.”
I move back to my seat, taking a large sip of my champagne.
My phone rings.
“Hey, rebel,” I say. “Where are you? You’re missing spa time.”
My baby sisters face appears on the screen.
“What’s up? You look shocking.”
“Food poisoning,” she says, with a groan. “A dodgy prawn.”
She drops the phone and disappears. I hear her retching in the background.
My heart sinks.
When she returns, she looks even greener, or greyer, it’s hard to tell.
“Oh, rebs,” I say.
“I’m not going to make it,” she says, tears now streaming down her face. “There’s no way I can get on a flight… oh, Kat, I’m so sorry.”
My eyes begin to fill, a hollow feeling filling my chest.
The Maldives was supposed to be somewhere Harper could come, see us all.
Things may have calmed down with the press, but she’s stayed in New York, enjoying the anonymity her hidden identity has afforded her.
That, and I think she’s enjoying her new job, despite her boss.
It’s probably something I understand more than our brothers.
Pen grabs the phone from my hands.
“Hey, Harps. No tears,” she says sternly. “Elijah and I will set you up a live stream for the wedding. You can spend whatever time you can with us from the comfort of your bed. You won’t miss a thing… apart from the humidity maybe, I promise.”
Harper lets out a wail, sobbing her thank you.
“Now get to a doctor. I don’t mean to be rude, but you look terrible.”
I take the phone back. We reach our fingers towards the screen. “Feel better. I’ll stream you in when I’m getting ready. Make sure you don’t miss a second.”
“Love you, sis,” Harper says.
“Love you more. Now do what Pen says.”
I end the call and drop back in my chair.
April looks over and squeezes my arm before grabbing another bottle of champagne, our server taking it off her and popping the cork.
April rolls her eyes. “Will I ever get used to having everything done for me?”
I chuckle. “Probably not, but go with it. It’s much easier.”
The server steps forward and fills our glasses once more.
“Harper may not be able to join us, but I know what she’d be saying right now.” April holds up her glass.
She and Harper have done their fair share of partying in the past.
“Let’s get this party started.”