Chapter 17
Wrath
I can’t think of a time when I’ve been more nervous than I am right this very moment. As we’re checking out the cabin, our family and friends are putting the finishing touches on our surprise wedding, including getting dressed.
It’s the perfect place for a honeymoon. Millie loves it here. She’s surrounded by family, friends, and horses. All things she loves.
“Are you ready to go find the family and get some grub?”
“I am. I’m starving. Not that Mom didn’t pack enough. Traveling makes me hungry. I’m putting in my vote for Huck Finn’s. I’m dying for a piece of their catfish.”
I school my face to hide my smile. Little does she know she’s about to get her wish. I offer my hand to her.
“Ready?”
“God yes. Let’s walk. It’s not far.”
“Let me grab my phone. I left it on the counter.”
I did that on purpose. I grab my phone and shoot off a quick text to Brian to let them know we’re headed that direction. We walk hand in hand through the small village of tree house cabins. I don’t know where everyone hid their vehicles, but the place looks deserted save the three we drove today.
We’re almost to the first cabin when Millie’s phone rings.
“Hey Dad. We’re almost there. Sure, we can meet you there instead.”
She ends the call. “Dad wants to meet us at the communal building. Lisa probably couldn’t resist looking at where we’ll be cooking family meals.”
“She’s very organized,” I say.
“Very,” Millie agrees with a laugh.
When we get there, I open the door, Millie and I walk in. The look on her face is priceless. She looks around the room, then looks at me before repeating the gesture. The third time she looks at me, I drop to one knee.
Millie’s hand goes to her mouth, her eyes widening farther. Sweat beads on my brow.
Millie
W rath opens the door to the common building for me. We walk inside and I can’t believe my eyes. I look at the people in the room, then back to Wrath a few times. My brain is trying to comprehend what I’m seeing.
Wrath’s family is here. As is Nay and a few of the Kings. Oddly enough, they’re all wearing dark blue cloaks that cover their clothing. The third time, I look back at Wrath. Still too stunned to speak, he drops to one knee.
My hand reflexively covers my mouth as it hangs open in surprise.
“Millie, from the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one. After I got shot, yours was the first face I saw. From that moment on, it’s the face I wanted to wake up next to for the rest of my life.
“I know this may seem crazy, but I’m head over heels in love with you. I’m talking, completely gone, woman. Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife.”
Holy fuck, is this for real? I nod and try to say yes, but there’s a lump the size of the Rockies in my throat. My heart feels like it's four times its normal size as I look into his eyes and see the love he has for me there.
“Yes,” I finally manage.
Cheers break out all around. Wrath is up off his feet, kissing me. With tongue and everything in front of our family. I kiss him back enthusiastically. By the time he sets me back on my feet, my legs feel like jelly. He catches me when I wobble.
We’re surrounded by family and friends congratulating us when a whistle pierces the air.
“Make way for the man of honor.”
I know that voice! The crowd parts and my best friend for life, Roman Scott, walks through wearing a dark blue tux that’s so dark it’s almost black. It’s trimmed in velvet. He’s wearing the palest pink shirt. His cummerbund and bowtie match the color of the tux.
Roman floats to me, holding a velvet box in his hand.
I throw my arms around him. He picks me up and swings me around.
“Munchkin, you didn’t think you could get married without me, did you?”
“Silly, this is only the engagement. I’d never get married without you, Nathalie, and Shellie by my side.”
Roman laughs. “Oh, Munchkin, this is your wedding. Surprise.”
Everyone simultaneously takes off their cloaks revealing wedding attire. In my dream, colors. My mouth drops open. Nathalie and Shellie come from who knows where. They’re wearing the bridesmaid dresses from my dream book. We put them together our freshman year of college.
While my taste in men has changed, my taste in wedding attire has not.
My dad clears his throat. “Ring.”
Roman blushes and hands the box to Wrath. He opens the box and shows me the ring. It’s Lisa’s family heirloom. An antique emerald with a two-carat cushion cut Egyptian emerald. Surrounded by three carats of petal shaped sapphires. The platinum band is sculpted to look like the stem and leaves of a flower. The gems of the ring emulate the floor. It’s an Alexander family heirloom that dates to the Georgian era.
Tears stream down my face as he slips it on my finger. The significance is nearly overwhelming. All of this is. But how incredibly romantic. A surprise wedding. Never in a million years could I have dreamed this. Stuff like this only happens in books, right? After Wrath kisses me senseless again, Lisa is the first one to throw her arms around me.
“I’ve been waiting since the day I met you to give that to your young man. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that you were mine. My daughter. The daughter of my heart. I talked it over with your brothers a few years ago. They agreed with me; you should have the ring.”
More tears flow down my cheeks. I draw her to me and sob, realizing she put all this together.
“Dry your tears, sweet girl. We have a beauty team ready and a pastor waiting.”
I nod and let her lead me away. Nay joins my best friends, Lisa, and I in a side room where there’s a team ready for me.
“Keep my makeup natural. I want my hair down.”
Roman grabs something off the table and hands it to me. It’s my dream book.
“It’s all right here, Munchkin. Down to the dress.”
I didn’t think I could get any more shocked. I was wrong.
“You got my dress?”
He nods. I squee.