Chapter 16
Jasmine
Nerves slithered over my arms and settled into my scalp, causing a faint thudding pulse.
“You sure it’s all ready?” I asked Kate.
“Yes, Mama.” She dabbed at her mascara before backing up to primp, showing off her lovely, curvy form in the satin, blush one-shoulder pant suit that nipped in tight at her waist before flowing out into wide-legged pants that settled atop her sparkling matching stilettos.
“Now that Carter and Regan made it…” She stuck her tongue out at her sister-in-law, who shook her fist back.
“The fog was bad,” Regan said.
“The fog is always bad,” Jenna said, bopping Regan in the hip. “Which is why you should make Austin your permanent base, not San Francisco.”
“Steve was wonderful to get his pilot buddy in there,” Aya said, smiling at me. “He’s a problem solver.”
“He sure is, but I wouldn’t have wanted you to try taking off if the fog was that bad—” I began.
“It was bad, Mama,” Regan said. The kids used to call me Mama Grace, but over time, they all slipped into simply calling me Mama. I thrilled I was close enough will all my girls for them to use the moniker. “But Judson had no trouble. Steve sure knows some quality people.”
“I know,” Aya said. “We have most of them on staff now.”
“How is Steve taking to the overseer role?” Jenna asked.
Aya nibbled her lip. “It’s been a challenge because, like I just said, he’s a doer.
But I think it’ll be much better for you two—give you more time together if Steve plans our security and the logistics from here rather than continue to live on the property and handle our day-to-day security.
” Aya sighed. “But I’m going to miss his cooking. ”
My eyes widened. “Oh! The caterer—”
“Is setting up,” Kate said from behind me. She’d adjusted my earrings, the flowers in my hair and the drape of my skirt now. That girl just needed to flit sometimes.
“The paparazzi?” I asked, shooting a sneer toward the doorway.
Jenna smirked. “Aren’t yet aware, thanks to our big convoy and decoy SUVs going out to Dripping Springs. Those who figured out that we stayed in Austin will be deterred when they discover that Cam, Nash, and Regan are—
“And Aya, and Rye and Kate, and Cater, the zillionaire, and you, my darling,” I said.
Jenna laughed. “There’s no pecking order. And if there were, by dollars, those clickity-click monsters would follow Carter and Nash and leave the rest of us non billionaires alone.”
“Small mercies,” Kate tossed over her shoulder.
“Teeny,” Aya said. “Oh, don’t eat Mommy’s hair, Levi!”
“So they haven’t found y’all yet?” I asked.
“No, Mama,” Kate assured me. “And if that does, like Jenna said, the small militia Nash, Cam, and Carter hired will deter them.” She straightened the tea-length silver silk sheath she’d chosen.
Regan wore a pink dress overlaid with a metallic silver lace, and Aya had gone for a rose halter dress with silver embroidered flowers. They all looked lovely and cohesive while still showing off their individual style.
My daughters and the kids made up the wedding party…and the wedding guests. We’d chosen not to invite anyone else, wanting to keep the ceremony as private as possible. A pang hit me again as I wondered if Steve would remember this day as magical—as one should their first wedding.
“What’s that look?” Aya asked, peering at me while Kate fixed the pink rosebuds and baby’s breath slipped between the plaits in my updo.
I blew out a breath. “Steve waited fifty years for this day. I want to make sure it’s everything he dreamed—”
“It’s your day, too,” Jenna said, her eyes gleaming. That sweet girl, she turned ferocious when she worried someone wasn’t treating her family fairly.
“I know, darling. But it’s Steve’s first wedding.”
“It’s not like you’ve had that many,” Kate scoffed. “And you’re a widow to the man you married.”
Aya pressed her cheek to mine and met my gaze in the mirror. “Steve’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. He’s bouncing through the house. And smiling so much. He’s thrilled to be sharing this day with you. He’s thrilled to share the rest of his life with you. Take a moment to enjoy that.”
I turned and kissed Aya’s cheek. “You ladies are the absolute best thing to happen to Steve and me. I’m so glad this is happening now so we can enjoy it together.”
Regan stepped forward and hugged me, followed by the rest of my girls. Jenna handed me my bouquet—more of the blush rosebuds and baby’s breath—before heading to the door.
“You ready, Mama?” Kate asked.
I fumbled a bit with our bouquets so I could squeeze her hand. “Yes, darling. I’m so ready.”
Jenna opened the door with a flourish to the smiling faces of Cam and Carter.
“Don’t you two clean up nice,” I said, smiling. They each kissed one of my cheeks.
“So do you, Mama,” Cam said. “You look so pretty.”
“You’re a beautiful bride,” Carter said with a smile. He offered me an arm. Cam offered his, and I slid between my boys, thrilled they both wanted to walk me down the aisle.
The faint strains of an acoustic guitar filled the warm, humid air as we walked out onto the freshly cut grass that spread out like a plush emerald carpet to the bower of live oaks and weeping willows dripping with fairy lights.
Rye crooned out a love song he’d written last year to Kate—one of my favorite songs—while Carter and Cam soodled behind Kate, Aya, Jenna, and Regan toward Steve, Nash, and our officiant.