13. Shotgun
Faith
I rose early to prepare for the big day. When I padded into the guest bathroom, I found a note from Cassius taped to the mirror.
Good Morning, Faith.
It occurred to me that tradition dictates the bride and groom shouldn’t see each other before the wedding ceremony. Therefore, I’m heading up early, and I’ve arranged for my driver to bring you to Boston. Please eat some breakfast, and enjoy your morning. Gina is available if you need anything.
See you at the treatment center.
I’ll be the one in the tuxedo.
Cassius
I clutched the note against my chest. I loved that he’d mentioned tradition—nothing about our impending marriage was traditional, but in the whirlwind of the last twenty-four hours, I’d found myself clinging to the little things. Sleeping separately from my fiancé the night before our wedding. Wearing white. Gina had included a delicate sapphire necklace for me to wear to the ceremony, my something blue.
I might not have all the boxes checked off, but at least there were a few. And my wedding dress was gorgeous. Initially, I’d been listless when the valet appeared with five garment bags filled with white gowns. But as I’d tried them on in the quiet of my room, modeling them in the mirror, I couldn’t deny the tiny flicker of excitement I felt. As a girl, I’d dreamed of my wedding day and the dress I might wear. The gowns that Gina had chosen were designer, far more elegant than anything I’d conjured in my imagination.
The dress I chose was simple. It was strapless with a lace overlay, and I thought it was romantic, classic, and perfect. It made me feel like the princess I most certainly was not.
But you are somebody,I thought at my reflection. You’re a sister. You’re going to be a wife and a mother.
You’re somebody.
My eyes filled with tears, but I blinked them back. Why was that so hard to believe?
I had so much baggage that my baggage needed baggage. That was true. Still, I had to be honest with myself: I was disappointed in Cassius. He’d proposed, and he’d offered me a future filled with security that I couldn’t dream of having on my own. But I wanted more.
I wanted him.
I wanted to be somebody to Cassius Blackwood, more than a surrogate for his heir.
I glanced at the note again. More than anything, I wished he’d signed it with love.
The driver checkedthe rearview mirror, but he didn’t pull out. We’d been idling in the mansion’s circular driveway for ten minutes.
“I have to be in Boston by noon,” I said nervously. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Ms. Kensington,” he said. “But I have orders to wait. It won’t be long, now.”
I started to fidget, but two familiar figures rushed from the mansion a minute later. Macy and Tate wore colorful, flowing dresses, and they were smiling from ear to ear. They hopped in the back of the limousine, sliding in next to me, and both immediately started freaking out.
“You look stunning, unicorn!” Tate said, clapping her hands together. “You’re a beautiful bride!”
“Oh my God!” Macy said, fanning herself as her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve never seen a prettier wedding dress. You’re gorgeous. This is so amazing!”
I blinked at them as the driver eased the limo down the long, private drive. “What are you two doing?”
“We’re your bridesmaids.” Tate grinned at me. “Your Mr. Blackwood had Gina wake us up at the ass-crack of dawn and told us to get ready. Apparently, he thought you should have some friends at the ceremony.”
“He did?”
Macy nodded. “That was thoughtful of him, huh?”
“It was.” I was surprised, and touched, by the billionaire’s actions. “I’m really glad you guys are here—I’m so nervous.”
“Of course you are,” Tate said soothingly. “We literally talked to you two days ago and you weren’t even engaged yet. Now you’re in a white dress, getting married.”
They both eyed me but didn’t say a word. I sighed.
“I’m pregnant,” I admitted.
“I knew it,” Tate said.
“I didn’t!” Macy threw up her hands. “I never guess stuff like that!”
“Don’t say anything, okay?” I asked, miserable. “I haven’t told my brother yet. It’s too early. If something happens, I don’t want him to be crushed. He has enough to deal with.”
“Of course,” Tate said.
“You have my word,” Macy said. “By the way, congratulations.”
Tate reached over and squeezed my hand. “Yeah, Faith. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I took a deep, shuddery breath. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. That’s another reason I didn’t tell Lucas about the baby—I’m not ready.”
Both of my friends nodded. “That’s fair,” Macy said. “Speaking of your brother, does he know you’re getting married in his hospital room in an hour?”
“I told him yesterday. I’m not sure that’s sunk in, either.” In fact, Lucas had been almost too accepting of the news. The only thing he’d seemed curious about was whether Cassius would sneak him candy again. He also asked if I’d ever figured out what type of car he drove. There’d been no mention of my supposed nanny job or why I happened to be getting married to a man twice my age whom I’d only known for a few weeks. Lucas seemed happy he’d see me soon and oblivious to everything else.
Ah, to be young.
Reminding myself that I was only twenty, I decided to try and relax. It was my wedding day; maybe I could enjoy it. I was so happy that Tate and Macy were with me that I almost cried.
And it did not escape my attention that I had Cassius Blackwood to thank for that.
When we arrivedat the Longwood Medical Area at the treatment center, the limousine dropped us off out front. Passerbys smiled at us, and several women in scrubs told me I was a beautiful bride. My nerves started to rise again. This is actually happening. I’m getting married.
Macy fixed the back of my dress. Tate smoothed my hair and dotted additional lip gloss onto my lips. “You look perfect,” she declared.
Tate checked the time on her phone, then cursed. “We’re about to be late. Where is she?”
“Who?” I asked, but Tate didn’t answer.
“That’s gotta be her!” Macy scanned the street and waved at an attractive, silver-haired woman in a pantsuit who was hustling toward us, wearing a headset. “Here! We’re right here!”
“I see you,” the woman joked when she reached us. “Faith is hard to miss.”
She held up one finger and then said into her headset’s microphone, “They’re here. I’ll bring them up shortly.”
She took the headset down and smiled at me, her perfect, blinding white teeth winking in the sun. “I’m Leesa, your wedding coordinator. You look lovely, Faith. What a gorgeous bride.”
Leesa motioned for us to follow her. “Everything’s ready to go. Macy, Tate, thank you for promptly getting Faith here. The three of you are so beautiful. You’re going to look amazing in the photos.”
I hadn’t realized that we’d be taking photos or that I’d be having bridesmaids and a wedding coordinator. Suddenly, my shotgun wedding seemed much more legitimate. It was real. My palms started to sweat, and I was relieved once we made it out of the sunshine and inside the cool interior of the treatment center.
The receptionist—the same one who’d argued with my mother— sprung up from behind her desk, grinning at me. “You look beautiful, Faith! Congratulations! We’re all so excited, and Lucas is on cloud nine!”
“He is?”
Her smile widened. “Are you kidding me? Your fiancé’s up there with his family, and your brother is loving it. They’re playing music and eating candy. Oh, Leesa, let me help you get the bouquets!”
My fiancé? His family? My brother’s loving it?
I watched, transfixed, as the receptionist and the wedding coordinator hurried back to an office and returned with three gorgeous bundles of flowers. They handed the smaller ones to Tate and Macy and the large bouquet to me.
“We’re heading up now,” Leesa chirped into her headset.
She hustled us into the elevator and proceeded to blot all three of our faces, touch up our eyeshadow, and smooth any flyaway hairs before we arrived at my brother’s floor.
“You’re like a fairy godmother,” Tate joked as Leesa tucked one final strand of my hair into my bun.
Leesa winked at her. “I know. I literally live for this.”
She placed a jewelry box into my palm. “This is the ring for Mr. Blackwood,” she said gently.
“The ring? Oh.” My cheeks heated. I’d forgotten I was supposed to do something crucial for my own wedding. “T-Thank you. I didn’t even think?—”
“You’re not supposed to think. You’re the bride—you’re supposed to enjoy.” Leesa gently squeezed my hand. “I wish you and Mr. Blackwood every happiness. I love that you’re getting married here with your brother. I have a very special feeling about your marriage.”
“You do?”
Her smile broadened. “When the groom is as thoughtful as your fiancé is and as caring, I know my bride’s in good hands.”
“Thank… Thank you.” Had she met Cassius?
But before I could ask, the elevator doors opened.
It was time.