Chapter Eighteen Ella
Chapter Eighteen
Ella
With George Roberts charmed and our mission accomplished, Rhia and I return to the cottage.
We make a quick stop in Homer first, though, for a celebratory hot chocolate to mark the end of my maidenhood. Gosh, that makes it sound like we’re living in the dark ages.
We’re surprised to find the coffee shop open. Even more surprising, our dog sled isn’t the only one on the streets.
Where cars fail, dogs and sleds prevail.
Back at home, I hand the prized piece of paper that’s our marriage license to Claudette. She tucks it safely into the folder with all things wedding-related.
Tiero and Lex still haven’t returned. We take it as a good sign that our plans for an outdoor night wedding are coming together.
Rhia, however, needs certainty. The organizer in her won’t let her relax otherwise. She decides to take the dog sled out once more to check on the men and see if they need any help.
She leaves with a bright smile on her face, instructing me to take it easy and enjoy this quiet time.
The moment the door closes behind her, the silence settles in. But I don’t want to be alone right now.
I find Claudette in the kitchen, preparing hot chocolate for us, the rich scent of cocoa filling the air. I don’t have the heart to tell her I already had a cup.
“Will you help me with my hair and makeup?” I ask as she pours the steaming liquid into two mugs.
It might be a bit early to start getting ready, but I don’t quite know what else to do with myself.
She glances up at me, a soft smile on her lips. “I’d love to.”
Mugs in hand, we head to Tiero’s and my bedroom. She sets them down on the bedside table to cool before moving to the dressing table, plugging in the curling iron with practiced ease.
I pull out a picture of the hairstyle I want and pin it to the mirror.
Then I sit.
For a moment, I just stare at my reflection.
Thank God my hair has grown since Miranda cut it short. It’s nowhere near the length it used to be, but it’s enough. It will do for today. After my cast came off, I dyed it back to my natural color. I never got used to being a brunette. It didn’t feel like me.
Claudette moves behind me, gently running her fingers through my hair, separating the strands with care.
The quiet stretches between us, comfortable, but my thoughts drift.
Holy heck… it’s my wedding day.
The words pull me somewhere else entirely.
“Since before I met Rhia,” I say softly, my gaze still fixed on the mirror. “I used to pour over Ma and Da’s wedding album. I lost count of how many times I snuck into her closet and tried on her dress when she was out.”
A faint smile touches my lips at the memory.
“I’m sure Ma knew exactly what I was doing. She just never said anything.”
The memories are bittersweet.
“Ma, Da… I miss them so damn much. Today more than ever.”
Claudette squeezes my shoulder in silent support.
“I wonder if Tiero is thinking of his parents too,” I say out loud. “His mom passed away when he was only eight, and his dad was killed a few years ago.
“They all should have been here today, my parents and his, celebrating with us.”
All they ever wanted was for us to be happy. Well, Tiero’s mom would have wanted that. His dad? I’m not so sure.
It’s hard to reconcile my picture of him as the ruthless Don with the man who told his sons to wait for their One and to never settle for less.
“I’m sure Tiero is sharing the same thoughts. It’s natural on days like today,” Claudette says, letting a curl slip from the iron. “Though, I dare say, he’s too busy right now getting everything set up for tonight to think too much about anything else.”
“I just wish our parents could be here with us.”
“They are. They’re watching from wherever they are now.”
Claudette means well, but it’s not the same.
Da should walk me down the aisle, a proud smile on his face, while Ma dabs at her eyes, overwhelmed with emotions she can’t contain.
I bet Adelina would have shared a tear too, seeing her son standing proudly at the altar waiting for me.
And Tiero’s Papà? Would he have gotten emotional? Somehow, I can’t imagine a Don cry.
Claudette curls my blond locks methodically, and I enjoy the silence that stretches on for a few minutes. It’s comforting.
That’s until another thought enters my mind, and unease blooms in my abdomen.
My body visibly tenses, and Claudette pauses what she’s doing to look at me with a raised eyebrow.
“The third bad thing hasn’t happened yet,” I say.
Claudette looks confused. So I explain.
“You know how good and bad things come in threes. First the destroyed flowers, then the blizzard ruining our ceremony site and nearly freezing Tiero and Lex to death… that’s two things. One is still missing.”
Claudette shrugs. “I don’t sense anything bad, darling. Let’s just say the ruined spruce tree decorations and the boys getting caught in the blizzard were two separate things. There, that makes three with the flowers. You’re in the clear.”
I wish it was that easy. My gut keeps churning. But whatever it is the universe has in store for me… for us, we will deal with it.
If a blizzard couldn’t stop us, nothing else will, right?