Chapter 47
Two weeks later
Millie
Preacher finishes the most beautiful sermon I've ever heard. Tears roll down my face from the beauty of his words. If I wasn't already a Christian, I would ask him to say the sinner's prayer with me. On the spot. And he didn’t even give a come to Jesus' sermon. No, his words are kind, but true. The kindness is for me. The tender words are for me. The preacher is that kind of guy for anyone he considers a friend. I'm lucky to be counted among them.
After Aaron and Felicity were killed in a drug deal gone wrong. At least that’s what the public thinks. I know enough of the truth to know it was unavoidable. And I thank God every day that none of the Kings’, including my husband, were injured.
Thin wheat crackers and sprite did little to calm my morning sickness. When Papa found out, he made me a batch of special crackers, and they worked wonders. He makes them for all the ol’ ladies that need them. Some are fortunate not to.
Preacher comes to stand beside the open grave. He offers his hand to me. I use it to steady myself while I toss a rose on Felicity’s grave. Wrath gently guides me to Aaron’s grave. I toss a rose on his grave. They’re both white because it’s not my place to judge their final resting place.
My friends and family, including both chapters of the Kings’ followed behind me. Wrath and I waited for them by the SUVs. My mother’s family, including my grandparents, stood on the far side of the graves, glaring at us the whole time. As soon as all my people were away from the grave, their preacher took the stand.
They bitched up a storm when I told them Preacher was doing the service. Went on and on about his face,tattoos and gold tooth. When my “grandfather” mentioned his weight. I went off on all of them and told them they could pay for all of it themselves.
Their eyes went wide and their mouths closed. Miracle of miracles. Wrath graciously offered to pay for everything. He went to pay, only to find out someone else had beat him to it. Chief said he always gave the brides a gift and this was his. A gift of closure. With no financial strain on the new young family of four. Soon to be five. A gift of peace. The only sad part is I’ll likely never get the chance to know my niece. Not that I had much of a chance in the first place.
?
The ride back to my parents didn’t take long. They’d long ago built a community building on the back of their property. Mostly for their churches use. The occasional friend begged to use it for weddings and graduation parties.
The driver stops outside the front doors. Which I expected to be open. They aren't.
“Babe, do you know the doors are closed?”
“I don’t. Your parents are behind us. Maybe they’ll know.”
I relaxed against him. It’s been a long day. I won’t have to see any of my birth mother’s side of the family ever again. When we pull to a stop, Wrath gets out first before offering me his hand. Our driver pulls away.
My husband slips his arm around my waist. I lean into him as we watch my parents’ SUV pull to a stop. My dad opens the door and helps my mom out. I’m suddenly overcome and I run to her and throw my arms around her.
Leaning down, I whisper in her ear. “You’re the best mom I could ever ask for. I hope I’ve said I love you enough along the way.”
Mom gently pulls back. She wipes away my tears before cupping my face in her hand. “I’ll never tire of hearing it. You’re the best daughter I could ever ask for. I’ve never regretted giving your two younger brothers the best older sister, either.
“Before you go in. There’s something your father and I have decided we’re moving to the New Orleans area to be closer to you and our grandchildren. We already found an old plantation not forty minutes away from the compound.”
“We’ve already started buttering up, Soldier,” Tyler chimes in.
“You’re coming?”
“We’re all coming, sis,” Micah says, sliding his arm around my shoulder while pretending to hip check my man. Who grunts and moves over in response.
“What about the business and the house?”
“Cousins are taking over both, and we’ll expand the business down south. Who knows, maybe your in-laws, the Kings’ will want a piece of the pie.”
Wrath chuckles. “We do like lucrative businesses.”
“Let’s go inside,” Dad says.
My brothers step ahead of us and open the barn doors. I gasp as I see an explosion of color. It’s like Barbie had sex with Jax Teller. Black, silver and dark pink are everywhere. The pink matches the tips of my hair perfectly.
While I wore a traditional black dress for the funeral. I added dark pink tips to my blonde hair. When we walked further into the room, my eyes are immediately drawn to a table. From linens, to chairs, to decorations, the entire thing is done in shades of blue. From the palest powder blue to the deepest shade of midnight. My wedding colors.
“We did promise the rest of the family and all your hometown friends a reception. Since you may not be back before the baby, it’s also your baby shower.”
“Bridal shower too,” someone yells.”
I laugh. I’ve never felt so loved in my life.