Chapter Nineteen
“Dad!” I squeal, throwing the front door wide open and throwing my arms securely around his neck.
We hug tightly, and he leans down to press a warm, familiar kiss to my forehead. When we finally pull away, he takes a few slow steps into the entryway, his eyes wandering around the space and taking in the pristine decor. “Nice place, kiddo,” he murmurs approvingly.
Right on cue, the heavy click of a door echoes down the hallway, and Bear walks out of his bedroom, low-key grumbling to himself about something under his breath.
“Bear,” I call out, drawing his attention. He snaps his green eyes to me, his posture instantly straightening. “This is my dad, Nicholas.”
“Nice to meet you, Bear,” my dad says, stepping forward with an air of authority and holding out his hand.
I held my breath, my heart doing a nervous little flutter. Knowing Bear and his intense aversion to being touched, I was completely surprised when he didn’t even hesitate. He steps right into my dad’s space, takes his hand, and gave it a firm, respectful shake. “Nice to meet you too, sir.”
“No need for the ‘sir’ crap, just call me captain,” dad jokes, giving him a classic, booming grin.
I roll my eyes dramatically, letting out a soft laugh. “Just call him Nicholas, Bear. Don’t feed into his ego.”
Bear gave a tiny, respectful nod, his jaw relaxing just a fraction. “Would you like a drink, Nicholas?”
“I’m good, thanks,” dad replies, checking his watch. “Daniella and I better head out to the church now if we want to beat traffic, though.”
“Yay. I am so incredibly excited,” I deadpan, matching the expression with a sarcastic thumbs up.
“You’ll be just fine, honey,” Dad chuckles, shaking his head. He then looks back over at Bear, surveying him curiously. “You’re not coming with us?”
“No,” Bear states flatly, his tone final.
“Too bad,” dad says, turning back toward the door. “Daniella, I’ll meet you downstairs in the SUV.”
“Dad, wait—”
Before I could even finish my sentence, he levels me with his classic, stern fatherly glare, and I immediately shut my mouth. Dad steps out into the hallway, leaving the door ajar. The second we were alone, Bear steps into my space, his large hands resting on my waist as he leans down to press a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. It was exactly the anchor I needed before heading into the lions’ den.
I head downstairs and wait by the curb for my dad. It takes him a solid fifteen minutes before he finally pulls the SUV around the corner and unlocks the passenger door for me.
I climb inside, buckling my seatbelt and eyeing him suspiciously. “What exactly did you say to Bear after I walked out?”
“Nothing,” dad says smoothly, throwing the car into drive. But the knowing, overly satisfied smirk on his face told me an entirely different story.
----
Thirty minutes later, we arrive at my aunt’s wedding. The church was absolutely breathtaking, but the second the usher escorts us to our designated seats, my stomach completely drops. Our row was positioned directly across the aisle from my biological mother, Lillian, and Jason.
Dad’s posture instantly turns to pure steel. He looks across the aisle, his eyes narrowing in complete disgust. “Hello, Lillian,” he says, his voice dripping with pure ice. “Glad to see that they finally decided to let you out of hell for the weekend.”
“Nicholas,” she sniffs, completely ignoring the jab as she smooths down her dress. She then turns, gesturing proudly to the traitor sitting beside her. “Have you met my fiancé, Jason?”
My jaw drops, a harsh gasp tearing from my throat. “Fiancé!?”
“He proposed just the other day,” Lillian gushes, entirely oblivious to the absolute horror on my face as she thrust her left hand across the aisle to flash a massive, sparkling diamond ring in my face.
“Daniella, look away,” dad mutters under his breath, his knuckles turning stark white as he grips the wooden pew in front of us. “Don’t give her the satisfaction.”
Before I could even process the absolute betrayal vibrating through my chest, the traditional wedding march began to echo beautifully through the church rafters, and the entire congregation stood up.
Any lingering anger completely evaporated the exact second Aunt Lydia entered the church. Dad and I stand in absolute awe, watching her glide down the aisle. She looked stunning—a literal vision in white lace. Up at the altar, her fiancé, Greg, was already blinking back thick tears the moment his eyes landed on her. You could just tell by the pure, emotional look on his face that they were absolutely perfect for each other.
Once Lydia reached the altar and took Greg’s hands, Pastor Dave cleared his throat, his deep voice echoing through the microphone.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here, in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted by God, and signifying unto us the mystical union... Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined. If any here can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let them now speak, or else hereafter forever hold their peace.”
The church was dead silent. I deliberately kept my eyes glued straight ahead, refusing to even glance in Jason’s direction.
“Greg Madden, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy bonds of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?”
Greg gave a firm nod, his fingers squeezing Aunt Lydia’s hands tightly. “I do.”
“Lydia Harrison, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together in the holy bonds of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live?”
Aunt Lydia beams through her veil, a radiant smile breaking across her face. “I do.”
“Now, would you please repeat your vows,” Pastor Dave instructs gently.
Greg takes a deep, shaky breath, his voice cracking with raw emotion. “I, Greg Madden, take thee, Lydia Harrison, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part...”
Lydia let out a soft sob, tears of pure happiness slipping down her cheeks as she squeezes his hands back. “I, Lydia Harrison, take thee, Greg Madden, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part...”
“Now for the rings,” Pastor Dave says. Greg’s best man quickly steps forward, passing the gold bands over. With trembling, reverent hands, they slid the rings onto each other’s fingers.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Pastor Dave beams. “You may kiss the bride, and may peace be with you.”
Greg immediately cups Aunt Lydia’s face in his large hands and leans down, kissing her with an intense, fierce passion. The groomsmen instantly erupt into loud, rowdy whistling, breaking the solemn silence of the church.
Dad and I eagerly stand up, clapping and cheering at the top of our lungs as the newlywed's beam, turning around to walk hand-in-hand back down the aisle as husband and wife.
Watching them look at each other with that much pure, unadulterated devotion, a soft smile tugged at my lips. I couldn’t help but feel a sudden, fierce tug in my chest.
I really hope to be standing up there like that one day. And not for the first time does an image of a massive, green-eyed, tattooed man flashed vividly in my mind.