Chapter Thirty
Serafina
The clubhouse has been transformed into a chapel. There’s white and blue streamers hanging from the ceiling, bouquets of flowers on tables that have been moved into the main room, candles in crystal holders, and a wedding arch draped in sheer material and covered with white roses. I can’t believe how lovely everything looks. I gaze at Belle.
“Surprised?” she asks.
“Amazed,” I say, close to crying again. “How? When did you have time to do this?”
She doesn’t answer, but takes my hand and guides me down the main hallway where the bedrooms are. We end up at the last door. “Open it,” she says.
As soon as I do, I’m stunned by the dozen women waiting inside. I’m immediately tugged into their arms, hugged and kissed.
“Welcome home, Angel,” Charlie’s old lady, Lori, says. “Look how beautiful you are!”
“So happy to see you again,” Mercedes spanks my ass and squeezes me tight. “Want a margarita?”
I’m ushered to a leather recliner and handed a glass. There’s a table filled with treats and a stack of gifts. I take a sip from the straw, needing a strong drink to help settle my nerves.
“We have another big surprise for you,” Belle informs me as she opens the closet door. “Not sure if it’s your style, but we think you’ll look wonderful in it.” She takes out a garment bag and slowly unzips it.
There’s a wedding gown inside.
“A maxi peasant dress that reminds us all of you,” Belle says.
She brings the dress to me and I run my fingers over the soft rayon fabric. Its cut for off the shoulders, has a fitted waist, and is long and flowy. I’m speechless. “You remembered my favorite color?” Teal with little silver beads sewn along the long sleeves and hemline. “Thank you so much.” I hug it to my chest.
“And these?” Layla opens a shoe box and shows me a pair of strappy silver heels. “Size seven, right?”
I swipe the tears from my eyes, afraid I’m going to wake up from this happy dream. “Yes. Everything is perfect. Honestly, ladies, I would have married Eagle in a pair of cutoffs and a tank top if I had to.”
They all laugh.
“Of course the prez might prefer you nekkid,” Mercedes teases.
I shake my head. “I prefer the dress, please.”
Lori is in charge of the wedding gifts and I open the first one—a lovely crystal photo frame. There’s flatware, intricately etched champagne flutes, lingerie, the largest box of Godiva chocolates I’ve ever seen, and a gold chain choker from Belle to wear with my dress.
It’s hard to imagine that I survived without the old ladies—living outside the insulated world of the Iron Norsemen. My life has always been a whirlwind, full of ups and downs, chaotic and cruel, but today, surrounded by these confident women, I’m starting to believe it might be possible to forget the ugly past. And on my wedding day, my mind wanders often to my mother and brother, wishing things could be different.
Belle is the perfect substitute. She has the mommy gene—but as I watch her prepare the hair products, I can’t help but wish my own mother was here with us. Yes, she chose drugs over me. Yeah, she abandoned me and left me with two sadistic brothers. All things that make her sins irredeemable in Eagle’s eyes. But not in mine.
My actions caused more harm. My mistakes cost lives.
Candace opens the box of chocolates and offers me first choice. I smile and choose a creamy hazelnut bonbon. It instantly melts in my mouth and I reach for a second piece. My cell phone rings. I check the caller ID and roll my eyes.
“Who is it, sweetheart?” Belle asks.
“My boss.”
“That snake in the grass from the striptease company?”
“Yeah.” The phone keeps ringing.
“Let me have it.” Belle holds out her hand and I reluctantly surrender it to her.
She accepts the call and switches it to speaker. “Hello?”
