“Having a good day?” My voice is wavier than I’d like it to be. But this is the question of the day. No, this is the question of mylife.
“I’ve never had a better one,” she whispers.
I can’t help the shit-eating grin that spreads across my face. A weight lifts from my shoulders. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“So you’re okay with me just kinda doing everything?”
“That’s an oversimplification!” She laughs. “But yes. I’msookay with this. I’m a little sad my daddy won’t be here, but I think he’ll understand.”
“He will. I’m sure of it. You’re marryingme. I’m sure he’ll love it.”
“I’m sure.” She giggles. “Either way ... I love you, Cane. I love you so much.”
“Not as much as I love you, beautiful girl. Now get ready because in about”—I glance at my watch—“an hour and a half, you’ll finally be Jada Alexander.”
“I love hearing you say that,” she breathes.
“I love saying it. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, Jada. One more thing?”
“Yeah?”
“Tell Kari we’ll discuss her lack of texting me later. She’s fucking killed me today.”
Jada laughs, and I lose the touch of annoyance I had. None of it matters, really. All that matters is that she officially becomes my wife sooner rather than later.
SIXTY-TWO
Jada
I standin front of the full-length mirror in the lingerie Kari purchased for me. The attention to detail that went into this astounds me.
We had a wine-fueled conversation about what to wear beneath a wedding dress a few weeks ago, and I didn’t realize it was more than a random discussion. She found exactly what I said I thought I’d wear. It’s feminine and delicate, a pure white with the lightest of blue embroidery, just like Cane’s eyes.
“You ready to put on your dress?” Kari asks, walking up behind me. “It’s about time to get downstairs.”
I look at her in the reflection. A lump forms at the base of my throat, and I try to swallow it back. I am ready, but I need to ask her something first.
“Do you think Mom would’ve liked Cane?”
Kari smiles softly. “I know she would’ve.”
“How do you know?”
It’s a question that has been weighing on my mind. I knew when Imarried Decker that my mother wouldn’t have liked him. Kari and Dad both didn’t. I shouldn’t have either.
Although Cane seemed initially to be so much like Decker, he really isn’t. Not in my eyes. I know Dad gave him his blessing, and I know Kari likes him, but I wonder what my mom would’ve thought. I know I’ll never really know, but it’s important to me to think I’d have her blessing this time. Because in my heart and soul, I know this is the last time I’ll ever do this. Cane is it for me forever.
“IknowMom would’ve loved him becausehelovesyou.”
I smile back at her and feel the sting of tears again. I laugh, hoping they’ll retreat, but they don’t. “Am I gonna be trying not to cry all day?”
“Yeah.” She laughs, choking back her own. “Probably.”
