Chapter 64
SIXTY-FOUR
Jada
I hear the zipper go up my back, and I hold my breath, hoping this dress fits. I say a silent prayer that there are no hiccups.
I feel it climb from my waist to the middle of my back. It stops right below my shoulder blades. The front cinches against my chest perfectly.
“It fits,” I breathe out, relief washing over me.
“Did you doubt me? I mean, really, Jada.”
“Well, you never know.”
Kari turns me to face her. The corners of her mouth touch her eyes as she gasps.
“What?” I look down. Everything looks right. It looks like it fits.
What if there’s a rip? What if it’s torn? What if ...
“It’s perfect,” Kari whispers. “Absolutely perfect.”
“Are you sure?”
She points at the mirror, and we turn, staring at our reflection.
My dress fits me like a glove, exactly how I envisioned it when I saw it in the magazine. I look demure and sophisticated, just like I wanted.
“Cane will love this,” I breathe, turning both ways to get the full effect.
“Yeah, on the floor.”
I laugh, knowing she’s right. Cane never cares what I wear. I can wear sweatpants or a miniskirt, and he’s happy all the same.
He’s happy when I’m happy.
The thought causes warmth to slide throughout my body. I think back on our relationship and how much I’ve changed since I met him. How broken I was the night he walked into Blanca’s and how whole I feel now.
I hated what I went through with Decker. I cried more tears in those years than all of the tears I’ve shed through the rest of my life together. But if it took that experience to get me here today, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
I look at my sister, fitted with a gorgeous gold bridesmaid gown. It is strapless, the color of warm honey, and cinches at her narrow waist. It flutters out a touch and stops at her knees.
“Look at us.” I smile. “We look like we should be walking a runway.”
“We are. Right into the rest of your life.”
Tears well up, and I pull her into me. “I can’t thank you enough for this. You thought of everything, made it all perfect.”
“No, you made today happen. You had the strength to walk away from things that weren’t good for you. You’re the one that got you here, Jada. I just got to be the one to help you finalize it.”
“I’m going to marry him,” I whisper. “I’m going to marry the absolute love of my life.”
“You are. And he’s marrying his. That’s what makes this so special. I know I give him all kinds of crap, but you should’ve seen him help plan this. He wanted everything perfect for you. He can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle.”
“The night we met at the restaurant, he told me we would see each other again.” I think back on that night, the way I was drawn to him from the moment he approached our table. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see him again or not. And here I am ...”
“And here you are, getting ready to do the deal.” She winks at me. “Now let’s make sure we have everything. Something new, your dress. Something old?”
I hold up my right hand. “Mom’s ring.”
“Okay. Something borrowed ...” She slips off her bracelet and puts it on my wrist. “Something blue, the embroidery. I think we’re good to go.”
“Kari!”
“What?”
“I don’t have a ring for Cane! Oh, my God!”
“It’s taken care of.”
My shoulders sag. “Of course it is.”
She laughs at the same time a knock raps on the door.
Kari grins. “I’ll see who that is.”
I look in the mirror again while she answers the door. I hear it open and close. When I look back up, I can’t stop the tears. I don’t even try.
“Daddy!”
He walks to me, tears glittering in his eyes, too. He’s carrying a gorgeous bouquet of pink flowers, a smaller version of the ones delivered to the spa, and is wearing a dark gray suit.
“How are you, baby girl?”
I walk as quickly as I can in my heels and fall into his arms. “You’re here!”
“You think I’d miss this?”
I pull back and dab my face with a tissue. “I can’t believe you’re here.” I dry his cheeks, too.
“That man you’re about to marry didn’t give me much choice.”
“That sounds about right.” I laugh.
“I had two plane tickets hit my desk a week ago for Alice and me.”
“Alice is here, too?”
“She is. Cane went all out for this, Jada. His approach would normally be off-putting, but when everything he does is for your benefit, for your happiness, I can’t argue.”
“I can’t get anywhere arguing with him anyway.”
My father hugs me again and then hands me the bouquet. “These are for you. Are you ready?”
I nod.
“Before we go downstairs, I want to say something.” His face darkens.
“You’ve been through a lot in your life from losing your mom to that whole incident with Simon Powers.
You continue to amaze me with your strength and kindness.
” His voice breaks, and he takes a second to compose himself.
“I am so proud of you, Jada. Your mother ... she would’ve loved all of this girl stuff, and I wish so badly she could be here today to watch this happen.
She would’ve loved the smile on your face today. ”
“Oh, Daddy,” I cry.
“In a few minutes, I’m going to walk you down the aisle.
And although we’ve done this before, this is the first time I’m handing you over to another man.
There’s not an ounce of hesitation on my part, not a second thought to his motivations.
Even though I don’t necessarily agree with his methods”—he laughs—“I’m proud to call him my son-in-law, too. ”
I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tightly. His words mean more to me than anything.
“Are you ready?”
“I am.”
“Let’s go.”