CHAPTER 47
ROSALIE
When I rolled over on the large bed, Max was nowhere to be seen.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I stretched out, feeling the cool, crisp linen sheets beneath me, and let out a soft sigh.
Today was the last day I would ever be Rosalie Clarke.
To be completely honest, Rosalie Romano had more of a ring to it anyway.
As I sat up, my eyes landed on the nightstand, where Max’s watch usually sat. Instead there was a neatly wrapped box with my name on it. Intrigued, I reached over and picked it up, feeling the smooth texture of the wrapping paper and the weight of the box. Carefully, I untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside was a stunningPanthère De Cartierwatch, its sleek design shining in my hands. The custom engraving read, “Don’t be late.”
A laugh bubbled up within me, and I couldn’t help but smile at the reminder of the punctuality Max always teased me about.
I slipped the watch onto my wrist, admiring how perfectly it fit.
With nerves and excitement dancing in my stomach, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The house was already stirring with activity, the sound of voices and footsteps echoing down the hallway. Daisy, who’d probably been up for hours already, was likely downstairs making sure everything ran smoothly.
I showered and changed into a simple dress to get ready. Then I made my way to the kitchen, following the smell of fresh pastries.
“Good morning, bride-to-be!” Daisy shouted as I entered the room. She was already dressed and ready, her smile as bright as ever. “How are you feeling?”
I shook my head. “I need coffee before I can respond to you.”
She held out a cup. “Hazelnut. Max said I couldn’t come into his house without it.”
I took the cup gratefully. It was still warm in my hands. The first sip felt like a hug from the inside, the rich, nutty flavor immediately grounding me. I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the taste, allowing it to wake me up fully.
When I opened my eyes, I noticed just how crazy the kitchen looked. Bianca was at the stove flipping pancakes with my momma.
“Has anyone seen my phone? I haven’t been able to find it since the rehearsal,” I asked, wanting to text Max a nice thank-you.
But no one was listening to me.
Valentina, Sloane, and Nina were all huddled around the island, messing with the assortment of pastries and fresh fruit.
Daisy handed me a plate with a warm, fluffy pancake and a dollop of whipped cream. “Eat up! We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
We all sat together for a few minutes, each of them giving me small pieces of advice on how to put up with Max. Nothing they said was helpful.
Soon, the hair-and-makeup artists arrived, and the living room turned into a small salon.
While they added their finishing touches, Daisy appeared, clipboard in hand, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Everything is on schedule,” she announced. “The church is ready, the flowers have been delivered, and the photographer is setting up. How are you feeling, Rosalie? Any cold feet? You’d better go put them in warm water before we head out!”
I didn’t bother responding. All she would do was stress me out. Instead I gave her another task.
“Hey, Daisy, can you make sure Duke gets a walk before we go? I don’t want him to destroy anything while we’re gone.”
“Right, yeah. I’m on it!”
With her gone, I could finally breathe.
Soon, it was time to get into my wedding dress—the entire reason I was excited to get married. It was a masterpiece of lace and silk. Valentina held out her hand for me to grab while I put the dress on. She smiled up at me as she helped me into it, zipping the back closed.
The door opened, and my momma walked in, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of me. “Oh, honey, you look absolutely stunning,” she said, choked with emotion. She hugged me gently, careful not to disturb my hair and makeup. “I can’t believe my little girl is getting married,” she whispered, her eyes misty.
