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“Belle and Cassian. The two people my son would burn the world down for. Figured you should have something to remind you of that… not that you need reminding.” He took it out and put it on me.
Dez and Orlando eventually had their conversation about Solomon and Dez’s mother.
They weren’t all the way back, but they were trying.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
Siani handed me a tissue. Between the pregnancy and this relationship, I’d turned into sentimental mush. The old Belle would be appalled.
Orlando looked at Cassian. “Can I?”
I handed him over. Cassian grabbed his finger and tried to chew on it.
“Alright. Let’s get you married. Again.”
“Hopefully without the fireworks this time,” I said.
“Cardez had Priest sweep the venue twice.”
“Haha. Very funny.”
He handed the baby to Jody and held out his arm. “I’m not joking. Ready?”
Siani and Jody took their places. While I stood on the deck of a villa in Catalina Cove, holding on to the arm of a man who’d paid me dust a year ago. Now he was about to walk me to the man I loved.
“Orlando. Thank you for walking me.”
"You're my daughter now, La’Belle. This is what fathers do.”
CARDEZ MONTAGUE
Belle popped a piece of shrimp in her mouth. “Stop watching me eat, Dez. It’s creepy,” she said.
“Can’t help it.”
She rolled her eyes and picked up her glass of champagne.
The reception was everything the first wedding should’ve been.
We had a long table set up on the beach and I flew in a DJ that Belle had worked with at Luxe. Rosie had coordinated the menu with a local caterer. The food was hella good—jerk chicken grilled on the beach, rice and peas, sweet plantain, and grilled lobster tail.
Cassian was in his portable playpen next to us, knocked out from all the attention. He was only four months old and already the most popular person at the wedding. Everyone held him at least twice, even Yomi. When Priest held him, Cassian grabbed his chain and wouldn’t let go. Watching him trying to negotiate with an infant was the highlight of my night.
“Just let him have it,” Marco said.
“This shit cost me twelve bands, are you dumb?”
“And Dez will give you the bread to buy another.”
The toasts started after we cut the cake. Siani had everyone laughing, the engagement ring Tariq had given her sitting pretty on her finger. He’d proposed on this same island two months earlier. Full circle shit.
Regina went next. She was in a blush colored dress, holding her glass like she was about to address a boardroom. Walter was beside her, looking slightly nervous.
“I have a few things to say,” she announced, tapping her glass with her knife.
“Lord help us,” Belle said under her breath.
“I heard that, La’Belle.” Regina glared at her daughter.
