25.
Jewel is a strong girl who, with age and maturity, will become an even stronger woman.
She won’t put up with anyone who crosses her family, but she’ll shoulder the burden if that’s what it takes to keep them safe.
We’re lucky to have her in our lives, and anyone who is lucky enough to be in her orbit will be better for knowing her.
Sandra Martin
JEWEL
“Are you ready to get married?”
“Please tell me we don’t have to have a big shindig like Matteo and Bella because I don’t think I can take .
. .” As I spoke, Ziggy readjusted his hold on me so that I was by his side with his arm over my shoulders.
I was surprised to see Dad standing there, and even more surprised when Ziggy walked around him toward Brooklyn who was standing on the raised platform where the band was still seated.
Lucky, one of the younglings who had driven me crazy since before he could talk winked at me. My niece Wren, who was standing with her violin in hand between her cousins, Rocky, Scarlet, and Memphis, blew me a kiss.
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“I suggested that Ziggy put a ring on it before you came to your senses and kicked him to the curb, so this is your wedding, sweetheart.”
“My what?” I asked in a near shout.
“If you’ve said it once, you’ve said it a million times - you’re never getting married again, and if you lost your mind and decided to take the plunge it would be short and simple. Your fiance isn’t short, but obviously the man’s simple, because he’s joining this family willingly.”
I burst out laughing as Dad pulled me closer but sobered when he asked, “Is this really what you want, Jewel?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Okay, then,” Dad whined. “I guess I’ll let him live.”
Dad hooked my arm in his and walked back toward the house, and once we got up the steps I realized that we weren’t alone. Petra, Leia, Lexi, Emerald, and Holly were at the top waiting for us.
Dad let me go when Emerald stepped up and said, “This is from Gamma.” I looked down and saw the laminated movie ticket that all of the brides in our family had carried with them to the altar.
A fresh round of tears started, but I laughed through them when Emerald said, “That’s your something old, even though you’re already ancient. ”
“Hag.”
“Skank,” Emerald said as she burst into tears. “I can’t believe you’re marrying a mobster!”
“I still can’t believe you married a Forrester! Someone should take us both to the loony bin!”
“Okay, suck it up, there’s more,” Emerald said as she let go of my hand and backed up.
“I looked everywhere for a personality, but couldn’t find a spare, so your something new is this charm,” Lexi said as she reached up and clasped a necklace at the back of my neck.
She lifted the charm and explained, “It’s a compass, so no matter where love’s adventures take you and Ziggy you can always find your way home. ”
“That’s sweet,” I whispered before I kissed the charm and hugged my friend.
“Don’t get used to it,” Lexi murmured close to my ear. “You’re almost as hard to shop for as you are to get along with.”
“Right back at ya.”
“I’ve got a ‘something borrowed’, but I can’t show it to you yet,” Leia explained.
“So I’m going to give you this to carry down the aisle,” Holly told me.
She pulled a ring off her index finger, and I realized it was one she’d worn since we were very young.
“You have to give this back because it’s my lucky ring.
It’s been around through good times and bad, just like our friendship. ”
“Aww. You’re too sweet.”
“Like Lex said, don’t get used to it,” Holly told me as she slipped it on my finger.
“You’re a horrible pain in the ass. I could be at home right now, braless and barefoot while I binge watch a series I’ve already seen three times, yet here we are watching you make a big thing out of some everyday shit. ”
“You’re a hag,” I told her before I gave her a hug.
Petra took Holly’s place and held out her closed hand. I lifted mine to take whatever was inside hers, and she grasped my wrist with her free one as she said, “This fits a few categories. It’s old, it’s blue, and I want it back.”
“Leave it to you to overthink things, but whatever it is, I promise I won’t keep it forever.”
“And I know you lie,” Petra said as she opened her hand. A bracelet I hadn’t seen in ages dropped into my palm, and I gasped when I realized what she’d given me to wear. “You made that for me more years ago than I can count . . .”
“Because you suck at math along with a lot of other things,” I interrupted without thinking.
“But I have kept it for all these years because my nineteenth favorite woman in the world made it for me.”
“I’ve moved up to nineteen?” I asked, faking excitement. “That’s awesome!”
“I’d hate your face but it looks so much like mine I can’t say you’re anything but stunning and love looks damn good on you.”
“Thank you, baby sister,” I said before I pulled Petra close for a hug. “I love you too.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but okay.”
“Let’s get this shit started,” Dad said before he waved his arm toward the band. “Come on, sweetie. There’s a man with a funny accent down there waiting for you. Better hurry before he comes to his senses and takes off.”
I followed Dad into the house as I boasted, “He won’t get far before I catch him and drag him back.”
“If anyone can do it, I’d put my money on you.”
“Here we go,” Ziva said as she hooked a basket over her arm.
Zara had a matching one, and they were only a few steps out the door when she threw the first handful of petals to the ground.
“Our turn,” Parker said before he gave me a quick kiss. “You’re so extra that you’ve got not just one but three ring bearers.”
“Awww,” I said before I kissed him on the cheek. “You and your brothers are so cute.”
“We get it from our Mama,” Max said as he followed Parker and Robby out the door.
“Congratulations, Jewel.”
“Thank you, Rico. I can’t believe everyone was able to keep this quiet,” I mused as I watched my sons follow Ziggy’s daughters toward the stage where Brooklyn and Ziggy were waiting together.
Vino laughed before he said, “You’re marrying into a family that’s pretty good at that.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Relio asked. “Congrats, Jewel. Welcome to the family.”
“It’s our turn,” Petra said as she stuck her elbow out. “Lead on, young mobster.”
Zander chuckled as he took her hand off her hip and hooked it around his arm. “Is this your first time?”
“Honey . . .”
“He’s about to be your nephew, Petra!”
Petra sighed before she said, “Come on. She’s starting to get irritated and that’s when the demon makes an appearance.”
“Your family cracks me up,” Zane said as he and Leia stepped up to wait as Petra and his twin started down the steps. “I love them all, even though most of them terrify me.”
“You’re a smart kid, Zander.”
“I’m Zane.”
“If you say so.”
Rico laughed as he and Emerald stood together and watched Zane and Leia walk through the door. Next was Lexi and Vino, followed by Holly and Relio. Finally, when it was her turn, Emerald took Rico’s arm and smiled at him before she asked, “Is your guy gonna break her heart?”
“If he does, I’ll help you get rid of his body.”
“Welcome to the family, Rico. You’re all gonna fit right in.”
Dad waited until Rico and Emerald were out the door before he pulled me into his arms and said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy, Jewel.”
“Other than when I had my sons, the only time I’ve ever been was the day you called me your daughter.”
“Watching you start a new life is breaking my heart and putting it right back together again.”
“I’ve already done it twice, but then again, so has Ziggy.”
“Third time’s a charm, honey. Watching you two together has proved that.”
“Do you think we’ve made him wait long enough?” I asked.
Dad tilted his head and studied Ziggy, who was fidgeting next to Brooklyn. “We could give it a few more minutes, but I think you’re just as excited to meet him down there as he is to have you by his side.”
“You could go out there and tell them all I ran away.”
Dad laughed out loud before he said, “You’re evil.”
“I resemble that remark.”
Dad looked worried when he asked, “Do you want to run away?”
“First of all, I don’t ever run. It’s against my religion. Secondly, I’ll take a brisk walk as long as I’m headed toward Ziggy.”
“Let’s mosey instead,” Dad suggested. “Make the boy sweat a little bit.”
“Are you happy that you’ve got someone else to pick on now?”
“Almost as happy as you are to have a new hapless victim.”
Dad pushed open the door and walked beside me out onto the porch. As everyone stood up, the Rojo Kings started playing the wedding march, but Dad didn’t move for quite a while. He smiled at me before he asked, “Has it been long enough?”
“Take me to him or I’m going to go against everything I believe and take off in a sprint.”
“That might almost be worth waiting for.”
“Give me away, old man. I know you’ve been dying to for years.”
“He might have you from now until forever, but you’ll always be the little smart ass who scared me into being a parent again.
” Dad looked sad for a second before he assured me, “I’ll never see you as anything but the little girl who stole my heart from the first time we met. You’ll always be my little girl.”
“You’re right. That will never change.”
“I know it won’t because neither of us will let it. Let’s get you married.”
◆◆◆
The reception had been going full force for what seemed like hours, and no matter how much I was having a good time, I really just wanted to find a peaceful place to recharge. Apparently Ziggy had felt the same way, because he’d disappeared almost half an hour ago and I couldn’t find him anywhere.
Finally, I asked Emerald to help me, but she started laughing so hard I knew she wouldn’t be any help, especially when she managed to say, “Ten minutes married and he’s already run for the hills? That’s gotta be a record.”
Micah, who was sitting on Adam’s other side, asked, “What did you do, Jewel?”