Chapter 38
Today is the day I, Lily Price, get married.
Who would have thought?
I’m standing at the kitchen window, coffee cup cradled between my hands, staring out at the backyard like if I look long enough, it might start feeling real. I never thought this would happen, that I would get this.
That I would get her.
But the chairs are set up on the grass. And there’s a path of rose petals leading to a small flower arch. It isn’t big. It isn’t the extravagant thing Diana was trying to plan. But it’s enough.
It’s us.
Diana’s kids will be here soon. And the grandkids. Clara and Tommy, Iris and Nate, Alex. Only the people we love.
I’m about to turn away from the window when I feel her.
Her presence, first. Then her hands settling at my waist, right where they belong. Her mouth brushes the side of my neck, unhurried, and I close my eyes, leaning into her.
“Di, we don’t have time for this.”
She hums against my skin as her lips press a kiss beneath my ear, then another. “We have time.”
Her hands slide around me, pulling me back against her all the way, so full of intent, the way they slide down my stomach, beneath my shirt.
“Everyone’s probably already on the way,” I protest, even as my head tips to the side to give her better access. “We’re supposed to be getting ready.”
She sucks lightly at my neck, enough to distract me while her hand slides into my shorts. “Diana,” I warn, though I set the mug down before I spill it.
She smiles against my skin, and I can hear it in her voice. “We’re getting married today. Can you believe it?” I gasp when she punctuates her sentence with a hand dipping into my underwear.
“Stop,” I say, but there’s no real protest left in it. Not when her finger is sliding inside of me, and her hand is grinding into my clit. “We really don’t have time—”
“I don’t need much,” She whispers, adding a second finger, curling them inside of me the way that always makes me melt. And I do, I fall back completely against her, held up by her arm.
It’s been a long time since someone has touched me like this, and she’s not gentle. It’s overwhelming, the need, the pressure, the pleasure of her fingers.
I squirm against her hand, needing more pressure on my clit, and she gives it to me, adding a third finger at the same time.
“Oh my god.”
I’ve spent my life being the one who gives. Who leads. But never with Diana. She’s always given me exactly what I need.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” she says gently, a contrast to her fingers inside of me.
I nod, unable to speak. The only thing I can do right now is breathe through it, making these stupid little sounds every time her fingers curl. She shushes me, brushing her lips against my ear, and I don’t know why, but that sets me off.
My fingers clutch at her arms, my body arching into her as the pleasure tips over the edge, leaving me trembling in her arms as she murmurs soft encouragements that I would deny any other time.
“See?” she says, kissing the back of my neck. “We had time.”
We get ready together, because neither of us are very good at being traditional. Our bedroom is a mess of makeup, and shoes, and discarded hangers. When Diana turns around, I’ve already tugged on my dress.
She takes one look at me and immediately presses her hand to her mouth.
“Don’t you start.”
Her eyes are already filled with tears. “Lily…”
I tug at the uncomfortable fabric clinging to my body. “I feel ridiculous. I don’t know why I agreed to this.”
She ignores me, wiping the tears falling from her eyes even though she just did her makeup. “You look so beautiful.”
I sigh, pretending to be annoyed while my heart feels like it’s going to explode. I step forward, helping to wipe the tears from her face with my thumb. “I can’t believe you’re already crying.”
“I know,” she laughs weakly, swiping at her cheeks, trying to pull herself together. “Okay. Okay. I’m fine.”
She’s not fine. Every time she looks at me, she starts up again.
“Stop looking over here,” I tell her, trying not to mess up the most important braid I’ll ever do.
“I can’t help it,” she says, struggling to zip up her own dress. “I’ve imagined this my entire life, and it’s actually happening.” I stand up to help her with it, and when she finally turns around, it’s my turn to tear up.
“Oh.”
She laughs softly. “What do you think?”
“I think I understand now why we aren’t supposed to get ready together,” I say, looking her up and down. Her dress is a bit more intricate than the simple one I chose, with a tight waistline that flows out from there, hugging her curves perfectly.
She smiles, pleased by my reaction. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to stand up in front of everyone looking at you like that without crying.”
“That ship has already sailed.”
There’s no band, no dramatic wedding music. Only us, standing at the back of the yard, while a playlist Diana made hums in the background.
“You ready?” she asks, reaching for my hand.
I squeeze her fingers. “Of course.”
We walk down the aisle together.
Not because no one else could do it, but because we want to. We fall into step naturally, shoulders brushing, our hands linked like they’ve been a hundred times before, except this time everyone is watching.
I hear someone sniffle. Probably Clara.
The chairs full of faces are a blur. All of my focus is on Diana at my side. And then we stop, hand in hand, together, to begin the rest of our lives.
The sun is hot in the backyard where everyone is gathered. Clusters of people chatting between chairs that Diana bought for the wedding, grandkids I haven’t met yet running between them.
Diana’s kids arrived in groups over the last few days, keeping her busy tending to them. I haven’t formally met any of them yet, other than Amanda, so to say I’m anxious is an understatement.
I can’t help but wonder if they will accept us.
Clearly, they accept us enough to attend our wedding, but still. They haven’t met me.
Diana’s hand finds mine, squeezing it. “They’re going to love you.”
I glance at her and grin. “Of course they will.”
She laughs, and I squeeze her hand back.
I can’t stop staring at her. She’s so beautiful in the dress she’s wearing for me. I don’t know how I got this lucky. If the me from a few months ago could see me now…
I could look at her all day, but I’m distracted by the kids.
They notice me immediately, the stranger marrying their grandma. I expect them to be shy, but they’re nothing but excited, asking way too many random questions. To which I have an answer for all of them.
“Shit,” I say to Diana once the last of them has run back to play in the yard. “I’d better come up with a cool grandma name.”
I’m mostly joking, but that comment makes her light up. “You’d be very good at it,” she says all soft and loving, and that’s about too much.
Luckily, a pretty blonde girl, who I can tell is Diana’s daughter from a mile away, approaches us. She looks nervous, the same way I feel, which makes me feel calmer.
“Hi,” she says. “I’m Emma.”
“Lily,” I reply, bracing myself for rejection.
She smiles wider, looking at her mom before glancing back at us. “Oh, I know exactly who you are.”
Of course she does.
She looks down at our joined hands, then back up at my face. “I’m so happy you guys found each other again. Mom used to talk about you all the time.” My chest tightens, but I nod.
“Well, I can’t take all of the credit. Your mom did most of the work.”
Diana scoffs. “That’s not true.”
“If I recall, you were very insistent that we hang out all the time,” I say, side-eyeing her.
Emma giggles, pulling us both into a hug before moving on to talk to Clara’s daughter. I exhale slowly. I wasn’t even aware I was holding my breath.
“I’m not used to this.”
“Used to what?”
“People liking me.”
Well, get used to it. I’ve talked about you enough that you already feel like family to the kids.”
“That’s a little weird, Di, I’m not gonna lie.”
She laughs softly. “I warned you.” Her eyes are warm when she smiles at me in that way that makes me want to kiss her. “You were never going to walk into this as a stranger.”
I spot Iris and Nate across the yard, talking excitedly together. Iris catches my eye and gives me a small wave. Nate, following her gaze, raises his glass with a big goofy smile.
I don’t know what Iris sees in that boy.
I’m about to go over and say hi when I hear a very loud, unashamed conversation between Diana and Clara’s teenage daughters.
“Okay, but who is that?”
“I’m about to go over and find out!”
“Girls!” Diana chides, walking that way, while I head toward the source of their gossip.
Alex Wesley is standing apart from everyone else, hands shoved into his pockets, leaning against the fence like he’s trying to disappear into it.
I stop in front of him and look him over. “Nice suit.”
He glances down at himself, then back up at me, lips twitching. “Nice dress.”
I snort, and for some reason, it gets a rare smile out of him.
I was always fond of the youngest Wesley. He was different than the others. Took my art class seriously.
Even took a few electives with me.
When I look at him now, with his short blonde hair, and the lack of that dark makeup he used to wear without a care in the world. So obviously trying to blend in, I can’t help but feel a deep sadness.
It’s a shame what happened to him.
“You know…” he speaks up, looking around the backyard instead of meeting my eyes. “People around here aren’t gonna like that you married a lady.”
“Yeah, well. They can go fuck themselves.”
“Jeez, Ms. Price! I thought teachers weren’t allowed to cuss.”
“I’m retired.” That earns me another grin, but it fades just as fast, the way it always does these days.
“It’s not up to anybody in Rosehill whether or not I’m happy,” I say, giving him a pointed look. “And the same goes for you.”
There’s a shift in his expression. He understands exactly what I’m saying, even if I didn’t say it outright. He opens his mouth, pauses, like he’s going to say something, but I can see the moment he decides against it.
“I’m not planning on getting married. Ever.”
He’s braced for something, probably pity, but I’m sure he’s gotten enough of that to last a lifetime. Instead, I shrug, looking back over at Diana, surrounded by her family.
My family now, too.
“I thought the same thing.”
“You did?”
I gesture down at myself. “And look at me now. Wearing this stupid dress because it makes her happy.”
“You don’t look miserable.”
“I’m anything but,” I admit. “Who would have thought?”
Iris and Nate appear out of nowhere, both wearing huge smiles.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Iris says, pulling me into a tight hug. “I was rooting for you the whole time.” I hug her back, this once.
“It took damn near 60 years, but we’re finally here.”