She sits stiffly and eyeballs me. “I was a giant bitch the day you came to my office. I am really truly sorry, Stevie.”
I can tell from her tone and her genuine expression she means it. “You were protecting your brother. I get it.”
“I interfered, and you spent longer apart than you should. I left you with no way to contact him, which is unforgivable. Beck is disgusted with me, and I’m ashamed for lying to you even if I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Like I told Beck, you did us a favor. I wasn’t fully healed yet. I hadn’t taken enough time to work through all my issues. If I’d gone back to Beck then, it might have been too soon.”
“He doesn’t see it like that.” Creases appear in her otherwise smooth brow.
“I can’t tell Beck what to do, but I asked him to forgive you. Your heart was in the right place. Beck and I are together now, and that’s all that matters. I only want to look forward. I never want to look back.”
“You are a wonderful, kind, forgiving person, Stevie. It’s no wonder my brother is crazy in love with you.”
“I’m crazy in love with him too,” I say with the biggest grin on my face.
“I’m so happy you’re getting married and we’re gaining another sister.” She leans in for a hug, and I almost fall off my chair in shock.
Her lips twitch. “This is the best way I can show you how sorry I am.”
After a brief hug, I let her go. She’s been tortured enough. “As far as I’m concerned, this is water under the bridge now. We’re going to be family in a few hours, and I already love you and Esther like sisters.”
“She’s waiting outside to see you, or should I say waddling.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt soon. Beck is super excited for the baby.” Esther surprised everyone by dropping out of the Harvard MBA program and returning to Seattle with a fiancé and a bun in the oven. Carlton Colbert was not happy, but screw him. It’s nothing new.
He still doesn’t speak to Beck. He’s less than impressed with his writing career, and he can’t understand why he gave up the family business for it. Any other father would be proud of Beck’s achievements, but not that horrible man. We didn’t invite him today. No one wants him here, and I don’t think he would have come anyway.
“We’re all excited,” Sarah says, smoothing a hand down the front of her pretty white, purple, and pink dress as she stands. “Esther feels bad she never returned any of your or Hadley’s calls. You should know I bullied her into ignoring you. She wanted to call you back.”
“Like I said, water under the bridge.”
“You have a beautiful soul, Stevie. Thank you for forgiving me and being so gracious about it.”
* * *
“Ready?” my uncle Sean asks as the pianist we hired for the wedding ceremony plays the opening notes of the bridal chorus. We’re conducting the marriage part in the marquee in the garden and then moving inside for the wedding dinner and dancing. It’s only February in the South of France, and while it’s not cold, it’s not warm enough to stay outside all day and night.
“Yep. Let’s get this show on the road.” I tip my head at Hadley, and she sets off up the makeshift aisle toward the altar where Beck is waiting for me with Law at his side. The celebrant is an old family friend, which is lucky, as I doubt we would’ve found any other minister to do this at such short notice.
“You look stunning, Stevie,” Sean says, sweeping his eyes over my simple lace dress.
The fitted bodice is strapless, and the skirt flows in wispy layers to my calves. Hadley bought me stunning white and silver Jimmy Choo sandals. Mom did my hair and makeup. My red tresses are silky smooth and hanging in soft waves down my back. At the front, a plaited band wraps around my head, and a few artfully styled strands frame my face. A short lace veil is pinned under the plaited part of my hair at the back. In keeping with my usual look, my makeup is subtle with peach lips and soft browns on my eyes.
“Thank you for asking me to give you away,” he adds. “It’s a great honor to represent my brother.”
“Thank you for being here,” I say as we walk slowly up the aisle. “It means a lot to me that you, Susan, and Anne and her family are here to help us celebrate.”
I smile as I walk past our mutual friends. Beck’s agent, assistant Lulu, some other bookish colleagues, and author friends are in attendance along with Law and Jenny and their daughter. They left their newborn son at home with Jenny’s parents. Tate is here too, standing alongside Sarah, Margot, and Esther and Rob.
Some friends from my yoga class and a few of our employees I’m closest to are here on my side along with Nana’s two oldest friends. I hope Nana is looking down and cheering us on. She loved Beck, and I know she’d be happy for me. The sapphire bracelet I’m wearing was Nana’s because I wanted to have something of hers with me today. The gorgeous diamond necklace around my neck is a wedding gift from my generous fiancé, and I feel like a million dollars.
Sarah chartered a private jet to fly everyone here at enormous expense, but she insisted it was her wedding gift to us, and Beck wouldn’t let me decline it. It’s her way of trying to make amends.
I feel Beck’s heated stare on me before I twist my head, and we lock eyes. He looks totally fuckable in a sharp navy suit with a crisp white shirt. It’s unbuttoned on top, and he chose to go without a tie. His usual rings don’t adorn his fingers today because he’s decided not to wear them anymore. He wants the only ring on his finger to be the platinum wedding band we chose together, and I fully agree.
I want every bitch to know he’s mine!
He stares at me with his big seductive brown eyes, fringed by the longest eyelashes, and I drown in his gaze. Beck has always had the most beautiful, most expressive eyes, but the look in them now takes my breath away. So much emotion stares back at me, and my chest heaves. The way this man loves is incredible. I am the luckiest woman in the world today because I get to claim him as mine forever.
