Chapter 34: The Song
Nico
After we ate dinner and helped Steve and Colleen clean up, we took Gracie home, only to find a dozen or more paparazzi outside the gate. I'd called to get a heads-up from the security team, so I'd been expecting them at least. The guards did a good job keeping the cameramen away from the car, but I regretted my decision to drive us myself instead of calling the service for a car and driver.
Once we got inside, we decided to watch a movie for a while, then have a light dinner later since we'd had such a big midday meal with Allie's folks. While Gracie was engrossed in The Little Mermaid, Allie and I snuggled at the other end of the sofa and talked quietly.
"How soon can we get married, Sunshine?" I asked, enjoying the feel of her in my arms.
She tipped her head back to look up at me from where she was resting her head on my chest. "Well, that depends on how big of a wedding you want. I mean, you know a lot of people, so if we're having a big wedding, it will take at least a year to plan and secure a venue."
My eyes bugged out. "Oh, hell no, I'm not waiting a year. If you want a big wedding, that's fine, but we will need to make it happen a lot sooner than that."
"I don't particularly want a big wedding, unless you do?" she said hesitantly.
"Sunshine, I'd be happy if it was just you, me, Gracie and the minister, as long as I get to call you my wife when we're done," I said with a smile.
She rolled her eyes and huffed. "I'm serious, Nico. What kind of wedding do you want?"
I'd seen the pictures of Allie's wedding to Alex. It had been a big affair at the church her parents attended. "Do you want to get married at the church again?" I asked.
She grimaced slightly, then shook her head. "Not really. I mean, Alex and I did that mainly because it was expected of us. But I'm not a regular church-goer anymore, and I know you aren't, so that doesn't feel right."
"OK, so what about a destination wedding?The Caribbean?Europe?We could fly everyone to wherever, and just have our families and close friends. By the time we factor in aunts, uncles, and cousins, maybe 30-35 people?"
She nodded, then shrugged. "I like the idea of a smaller wedding, but it seems like a lot to ask people to take the time to travel that far. Let me do some research and see what I can come up with a little closer to home?"
I smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "Fine with me, Sunshine. But make it sooner, rather than later, OK?"
By the time the movie ended, and we ate, Allie hustled Gracie upstairs for her bath. Once they had finished, Gracie wanted me to do her bedtime routine. Allie left us alone afterkissing her goodnight, and Gracie picked the stories she wanted me to read to her.
I got her to lie down and cover up, then I sat next to her and leaned back against the headboard to dive into the adventures of the princess fairy tales she'd picked tonight. After the second story, her eyes were getting heavy, so I kissed her cheek and started to get up.
"Sing me the song, Uncle Nico," she mumbled sleepily.
"Which song, princess?"
"The one about Daddy's girl," she said, and I smiled. I'd sung the song I'd written after Alex's funeral to her a few times over the years as I'd put her to bed, but I'd thought she had been too tired to really remember it.
I sat back down and ran my hand over her hair. "OK, but you need to close your eyes and try to go to sleep when I'm done." She closed her eyes and nodded, and I began to sing softly to her.
The first time that I saw you,
I felt my heart skip a beat
I looked into your blue eyes,
never seen anything so sweet
I knew my life had changed,
as I held you in my arms
I knew that I would love you,
and keep you safe from harm
Oh, you changed me.
