“Don’t hold what happened at Christmas against him, please. Yes, it hurt, but he’s been an open book since arriving in Hawaii. He was so scared that I would be repulsed by his prosthetic limb that he pushed me away. He’s dealing with a lot, and I’m giving him grace. It’s how he acts after this that I’ll hold against him,” I explain to my girls.
“You know we love and want to protect you,” Sienna says, throwing her arm around my shoulders.
“I know,” I say, patting her arm.
“He’s not what I thought you would choose, but now that you have, I couldn’t see you with anyone else.” Vannesa smirks.
“He’s such a man. We’re total opposites, but maybe that’s what I need, someone who’s different because my normal types haven’t been working out.”
“You needed someone with less ego than your previous men,” Vanessa adds.
“He has a calming energy around him,” Sienna muses as she looks over at him.
“Guys, let’s not marry me off just yet,” I joke.
“I’m happy that you’re open to whatever could happen. That’s a great first step.” Sienna nudges me.
“I am open to whatever the universe wants to give me.” I smirk as my stomach rumbles.
“Guess the universe is telling you, you’re hungry.” Sienna giggles.
59
DERRICK
“This is the moment,” I tell the room as we wait for Yvette to finish dressing Isla. My heart is racing because this is the moment all little girls dream of, and if I’m being honest, hopefully one day I’ll dream of. There’s a small knock on the door. It’s my cue to open it, which I do.
OMG!
I stare at the gorgeous creature that is Isla in a wedding dress. She’s gone for a simple dress that hugs her slim figure, there’s a deep ‘V’ in the front that matches her elfin body perfectly. The back of the dress dips low, which is stunning, and falls out to a mermaid hem. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a simple low bun, and she’s covered in sparkling diamonds, gifts from Finn. She is also wearing a gorgeous cathedral veil.Beautiful.Finn is going to lose his mind when he sees her. Then I notice her bouquet with two large pink proteas, white orchids, and palm leaves.
“Do I look okay?” Isla asks, running her hand down the satin. Does she look okay? She looks like a Norse Goddess.
“Sweetheart, you look beautiful,” her mom says, bursting into tears. We need touch-ups on aisle one. “I’m so proud.”
“Stop. You’re messing up your makeup,” Isla tells her, but her mother doesn’t care as she continues to hug her, enjoying the day.
Looking away from her mother, Isla spots her bridesmaids, Sienna, Vanessa, Olivia, and Stacey, all dressed in various shades of pink and purples like a Hawaiian sunset, and the emotion hits her. Isla gasps when she notices Sadie and Ruby dressed in their little lace dresses.Those two munchkins look so cute, I could eat them.
Camryn enters the room, taking in the wedding party for the first time, and asks, “Oh, wow. You all look amazing. How are you feeling, Issy?”
“I’m nervous … excited,” she answers.
“Totally normal. I’ll let your father and little ones in now that you’re ready.”
Camryn opens the door, and in walks Ryder, pushing Levi and Easton in a little car. They are dressed in cream shorts and white short-sleeved shirts with tiny pink bow ties. They look adorable. Easton claps his hands when he sees his mummy, and when she picks him up, he starts pulling on her veil.
“Little man has a present from Daddy for you in there,” Isla’s dad says, handing her a black bag.
“Here, let me,” her mum says, taking Easton from her arms as she opens the present. She starts reading Finn’s letter and tears stream down her cheeks, she’s going to ruin her makeup.Damn those rockstars and their swoony ways.
Her tears stop when she opens the velvet box and pulls out a gold key. She looks very confused, but this is where I step in.
“I have the missing piece for you,” I tell her, handing her another envelope, which she opens and gasps. It’s the brochure of the house Finn bought for her.
“He showed us the house. You’re going to love it,” her dad reassures her.
“He’s keeping that damn Dirty Texas tradition alive by buying their women houses,” I tease.
