Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
FALLON
N ora stood in the room she’d originally stayed in and looked in the mirror. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening.” Her hand fell lightly on her expanding abdomen.
“You look beautiful,” I said, walking up behind her. “Before anyone else comes in, I just want to say you’re perfect for him and this family. I’m so happy to have you as a sister.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Oh no, none of that. Lark will kill me if she has to fix your makeup again.” Pulling tissues from the box, I dabbed at Nora’s eyes before the tears fell.
“Hormones.” Nora giggled, and I joined in.
“They’re as bad whether they’re spiking or dropping,” I said, dabbing at my own eyes. Nora embraced me and I was truly happy she was the one marrying my bear of a brother.
The door swung open as my sisters and Kristin walked in. “Are we ready for this wedding to start?” Tayla looked from me to Nora. “Why are you both crying?”
“Hormones.” We replied in unison.
“God, remind me never to get pregnant,” she said, rolling her eyes, handing Nora her bouquet of beautiful flowers. The red roses stood out with the branches of pine and spruce branches surrounding them. Small sprigs of mistletoe were scattered through the bouquet and the stems were wrapped with a green ribbon.
Another knock on the door made us all turn. Nora’s father walked into the room and moved his hands to his mouth. “You’re more stunning than anything I could have imagined.” His eyes glistened, and I shrank back from the group.
What I hadn’t realized is my sisters had done the same and now our arms were around one another. We were watching a moment none of us would ever have. We didn’t have to say anything or look at one another; the heaviness over us was palpable. And this time, our silent tears had nothing to do with hormones and everything to do with our grief.
“Let’s take our places and let Nora and her father have a moment.” Tayla said quietly. We left the room and walked to the kitchen.
Kipp walked into the kitchen and looked at the three of us. “What’s wrong?” The crease between his eyes deepened, and his jaw flexed as he clenched it.
“Nothing. Everything’s fine. Nora’s dad is in there with her,” I said, looking up to the ceiling and blinking quickly so my mascara wouldn’t run. Why hadn’t we used waterproof mascara? Such a rookie mistake.
“Oh.” He nodded his head. “I wish he was here, too. You three aren’t the only ones who’ll miss him on your wedding day.” He opened his enormous arms and the three of us walked into them like we used to when Dad did it. This felt good. We all had our own grief that we hadn’t dealt with, but we were still a family.
“Would you four knock it off? I’ve been trying not to cry all day and I walk into all my kids getting along. Why can’t you be at each other’s throats like you used to do when you were kids?” Mom said as she walked over to us and we pulled her into our group hug.
“You know he’d be so proud of all of you.” Her muffled words hung in the air. I couldn’t help but feel he’d be disappointed in me, but would things be different if he’d been here? Would I have Josie and Lottie? Would I still be hopelessly in love with Nash?
Freezing at that thought, my family all stepped away from one another, dabbing tears from our faces. Kipp’s heavy arm fell over my shoulder. “Josie and Lottie would have been his world. You belong here and no matter what’s going through your head, I know he’d be proud of you.” His words were quiet and nobody else would have heard the chatter in the room.
Putting my arm around his back, I looked up at him. “Thanks. You always seem to know what I’m thinking.”
“It must be the oldest and youngest telepathy thing we’ve always had. Although somehow I missed the you and Nash thing.” I expected a smile or a smirk, but a flash of anger simmered just under his eyes.
“I paused it then.” I tried to lighten the mood.
“Thanks for that.” He said flatly.
“I know today isn’t the day, but we should talk about it. He’s your best friend and what we did.” Kipp held up his hand and I stopped talking.
“You’re right, today isn’t the day, and he’s still my best friend, but he’s also the father of your daughter and stepping up to be that man for the one that isn’t. We don’t have anything to deal with.” He kissed the side of my head and let me go. “It’s time for me to get married. Let’s go.” His voice would have been heard all through the house.
Griff, Linc, and Ryder walked into the kitchen and they took their places beside Tayla, Lark, and Kristin. Mom already had her arm wrapped around Kipp’s and I stood alone.
“Sorry, Lottie was fussing, so I took her from your mom and got her to sleep,” Nash said as he slipped in line beside me.
“Is she okay? I should go to her.” I went to set my flowers on the counter and he pulled me back to him.
“She’s asleep. I gave her a bottle, burped her, and she was out like a light.” He glanced at his watch. “Her sleep schedule is going to be all messed up, but I figured one day wouldn’t matter much.” He cocked a smile, and I wanted to kiss him. Nash reached around me and grabbed my flowers off the counter and handed them to me.
“Thank you.” I sighed, and he offered me his arm. Wrapping mine around him, he held me tightly to his side.
Music floated out of the living room and we all began to move slowly. Tiny, quick footsteps on the hardwood floor and laughter from the other room made my stomach drop. Josie ran around the corner and wrapped herself around Nash’s leg. “Go with you?” She looked up at him, smiling. Her eyes were on his and I let go of his arm to let him pick her up.
“Sure darlin’, let’s go as a family.” Nash settled Josie on his hip and my heart exploded when she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It’s what we are, Toots. We’re a family.” He offered me his arm again, and I nodded.
“Yes, we are. A messed up, secret family.” I hadn’t intended to say the other part, but it was true. We hadn’t told Josie Nash was her father, and he acted like he was Lottie’s dad. What the hell were we doing?
“Quit thinking. It might be messed up, but it’s the best one I’ve ever had.” He looked at me like I hung the moon and it didn’t matter who knew. From the front of the line, someone clears their throat, and I looked up to see Kipp frowning at us. Moving slightly, I put a little space between us and saw Nash frown at Kipp out of the corner of my eye.
This was going to be a problem.
The music changed, and I took my place behind Kristin and my sisters. Nash stood next to Kipp, followed by the other three co-owners of the ranch. Looking up, I blinked faster as I watched Nora walk down the aisle. There was a pang in my chest thinking back to my courthouse wedding day. It was rushed, and there was no emotion. We only did it because I was pregnant and Andrew said there was no way he wasn’t going to do the “right thing.” Too bad the right thing didn’t include not having a mistress and hitting me.
“Dearly beloved.” The officiant’s voice snapped me out of the memory and I looked up and saw Nash’s eyes boring into me. The slight movement of him arching his brow was enough to know he saw me go back to a place that wasn’t happy. Pasting on a smile, I shook my head slightly, but he didn’t soften his stare. Shifting, I looked at Kipp whose smile couldn’t be any bigger. It had taken over his face.
Cheers filled the room as the bride and groom kissed. I couldn’t help but smile, and clapped with everyone else. Mistakenly, I glanced over at Nash, whose face said he was happy but he hadn’t moved his eyes from me. I wanted to disappear, but I knew he would find me.