“Your only one,” I repeat. “Just like you were always meant to be my only one too.”
I trail my fingers along his jaw, catching his next kiss against their tips.
“My only choice,” I whisper. “The best one I’ll ever make.”
44
HALLIDAY
THE WEDDING - SIX MONTHS LATER
“Time to get your dress on,”Sophie calls from inside the bedroom.
A soft smile lifts my lips as I stand on the balcony looking over the ocean.
“I can feel them. That sounds silly, but I can. I can feel both him and Jenny here with us.”
“It’s not silly.” Sophie stands next to me, and we’re shoulder to shoulder in silence for a couple of minutes, watching the hot Cape Town sun shining onto the water and making it glimmer like a jewel.
Sterling says he still feels his son when he’s by the water. But here, in Sterling’s beach house, that he hasn’t wanted to stay in since that fateful trip where he lost them, I can feel his son, despite being on land. He’s an energy. One that’s been pushing closer and closer since we arrived two days ago. Like the incoming tide, moving toward you until your toes finally feel it’s warmth around them.
It was the right choice getting married here. I don’t know how I know that this was exactly what fate had planned for us all, but I do. We’re all supposed to be here today. It took a little longer to plan everything, but we’re finally here.
“It’s beautiful.” Sophie wraps an arm around me as we look at the deck below, and the long white wooden table and chairs that has been set up for dinner after the ceremony.
The table is overflowing with mounds of white flowers and candles, ready to be lit at sunset. The only pop of color are little bowls filled with purple that weren’t there when I woke up in Sterling’s bed without him. He stayed in another room last night, keeping the tradition of not seeing the bride until the ceremony.
“What are they?” Sophie asks as I dab at my eyes with my fingertips.
“Skittles.” My voice cracks, and I smile.
“Skittles,” Sophie repeats softly, understanding their significance.
Jenny might not be here in person, but she’s here in spirit. Sterling’s made sure of it.
“He really loves you, Halliday.”
“I know. I love him too. More than words could ever describe.”
The door opens to the bedroom behind us and my mum walks in, flustered.
“Sweetheart? You’re not dressed? All the guests are being seated.”
“It’s fine, Mum.”
Her face breaks into a watery smile as she looks at me. “Oh, my darling girl.” She walks over and stops in front of me, her eyes taking in my hair and makeup. “You look radiant. He doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
I let out a soft breath. “He does. But I’m the lucky one. Did you see?—?”
“I did.” Her eyes mist over. “Purple.”
“Purple,” I echo, blinking back tears as she pulls me into an embrace and just holds me for a few beats.
“Right,” Mum breezes, straightening up and shifting her smile from a bittersweet one to an excited one as she looks between Sophie and I. “Let’s get this gown on. You have a groom waiting patiently for you.”
The air takes on a magical quality as I take off my Statue of Liberty sweatshirt and my best friend and Mum help me into my bridal gown. It’s a sheer silver silk overlaid with a crystal-embellished mermaid train. Sinclair called in a favor with a designer she knows to get it for me without having to join the two-year waitlist; and to have it altered to allow for my bump.
My hand rests over my abdomen as Mum pins the long, barely there veil into the back of my hair. I know Sterling will be missing seeing our baby while we’re here in Cape Town. We left the ultrasound machine at home, something he still likes to use religiously every night when the baby is most active. I swear I fall more and more in love with him each night when his warm blue eyes soften with love and adoration like he’s seeing our baby for the first time.
