Silence clots up the room.
Not the response he was looking for, I’m sure. But, then again, at least they didn’t stone him.
The meeting wraps up and bodies drain rapidly from the room. They thank me, nod to Gage, and eye Skyla with the utmost suspicion.
Skyla falls into my arms as Gage comes over.
“How will they ever truly trust me again?” She shakes her head with tears in her eyes.
Gage wipes her cheek with his hand. “They will. I predict it will be sooner than later. But for now, Logan is here. Our fierce lion.”
She nods as she looks my way. “Roar for Celestra, Logan.” She nestles her head over my chest and whispers, “Roar for me.”
* * *
Valentine’s Day.
Paragon has given us a brief reprieve from the rain. Perhaps it was Candace showing a modicum of kindness to Mia on her wedding day. Or perhaps it was Demetri, who is still hanging onto the periphery of our lives by way of kissing up to Lizbeth like never before. He’s here, of course, at Marshall’s estate, because he’s like the plague, but unlike this new virus destroying Earth, there doesn’t seem to be any inoculation to remove him from our lives.
Dudley’s elaborate grounds have been transformed into a veritable valentine with pink and red flowers everywhere you look, along with a heart-shaped arch at the end of the clearing and rows and rows of white ladder-back chairs, most of them empty. Let’s just say things didn’t end well that fated Halloween night when Mia married Gabe. Here’s hoping today’s festivities go off without a homicidal hitch.
Skyla glows in a pink flowing dress that shows off her growing belly, and I can’t help but smile at her.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful. Promise you’ll save a dance for me?” I tease as she falls into my arms.
“Me too,” Gage pipes up as he shrugs my way. “There’s not a lot you could do to stop me from asking.”
Skyla laughs. “There’s not a lot anyone could do to keep me from saying yes—to the both of you.”
The boys run up and Gage picks them both up. “Here they are. The dinosaur squad. Are you ready to walk down that aisle?”
Barron nods. “We gonnaraceand bring Auntie Mia da rings.”
“Good.” Gage lands a kiss to each of their cheeks. “Now go find Mee-maw. She’s standing by the balloons. If you ask nice, she might give you a few.”
Lizbeth stands holding Jaxson in his miniature suit, and my heart couldn’t be fuller.
I look to Skyla and Gage. “I know this is Mia’s wedding, but I can’t help but feel this is our party as well. And as soon as this entire nightmare is behind us, I think we should do something to celebrate.”
“A party at Ellis Harrison’s house?” Skyla shrugs.
Gage winces. “Maybe. Maybe we should toss the ball on the field, too.”
“I’ll cheer.” Skyla holds her belly and laughs at the thought.
“We can always head to the bowling alley afterwards.” I pull the two of them in. “Let the good times roll,” I say as we head over to ground zero for Mia and Rev. It’s showtime.
Soon enough, the wedding is underway. The boys run down the aisle right along with Skyla—and the crowd, which has tripled in size, finds every moment of it adorable. And once they’ve trampled their way down the aisle, D-O-G, or Bullet if you would, barrels his way down as well and takes his rightful place by Revelyn Booth’s side.
It seems right. Bullet is Mia and Rev’s canine lovechild, and it wouldn’t be fair to have the nuptials take place without him here to take a giant shit between them. I know that dog. This is a given.
Laken is seated up front with Wes and Coop on either side of her. Bree, Drake, Ethan, Emily, Lexy, Michelle, Nat, Chloe, Brody, Ellis, Giselle, Liam. We’re all here.
Melissa was already up there waiting for her sister. Tad gives Mia away, but I bet Nathan is here somewhere as well. A ghost at a wedding. Nothing surprises me anymore. Nothing should.
Dudley officiates, and soon the bride, in her blood red dress, kisses the groom decked out in his biker gear. I’ll admit, it’s nice to see Rev in his own skin again. I’m sure Mia feels the same.
Bullet takes his requisite dump, and the crowd gasps with delight. Dare I say, it’s just about perfect the way it all plays out. The crowd is on their feet, clapping and whooping it up so much so that it sounds like thunder.
