Page 232 of Solanum

Epilogue

"Let me fix it," Nora crooned as she swatted my hands away from the collar of my shirt. "Stop fussing."

"Sheesh, babe." I grinned at her while she twisted the silky lavender bowtie into place.

The smile never left her lips, and she smoothed my shirt down when she finished. Her sparkling gaze met mine, and I brushed an eyelash from her cheek.

"You look beautiful, Kitten," I said, glancing down at the way her dress hung off her hips. The fabric matched my bowtie but complimented her much more so. "Is Maya ready for us?"

"Thank you. She's ready to be fussed over. C'mon." Nora grinned and hooked her finger around my suspender strap. "And you look dapper and delicious," she said, walking me backward across the hall out of Harper's room and into her girls' room. Phoebe and Cecilia weren't around at the moment, as I imagined the budding festivities kept them occupied.

"Maybe I'll keep wearing this getup for you after the wedding." I cocked a brow at her, and she snickered.

"You'd better."

Maya stood in front of the oval mirror, staring at herself clad in her white pantsuit wedding dress hybrid thing. It hung from her shoulders similar to Nora's dress, and gathered at her middle. The differences remained in the color, and bottom. Maya's outfit split into pants that hung perfectly around her feet.

I dropped down on the bed, watching Nora swoop in to console her worried cousin.

"You okay, Squirt?" Nora hugged her from behind and Maya leaned into the embrace.

"I'm not used to fancy. I want to see Vivi. Everything is a mess." Maya burst forth in a single breath. She hugged Nora's arms while she nuzzled her cheek.

"Everything feels messy because you're anxious, honey." Nora swayed with her side to side while they looked at each other in the mirror. "You look beautiful on your wedding day, Maya."

"My hair is a mess. I look washed out. Maybe we should've done something simpler. I don't know. What if I forget what I'm supposed to say?" Maya's panicked meltdown continued.

I couldn't keep the smirk from my face while watching the two of them.

Nora smooched her cheek and squeezed her tighter. "Jordan is downstairs with Vivian and will be right up to fix your hair. Grace is on makeup. Everything is going to be just fine. And only one thing matters that you say, and that's if you want to marry your girl. Do you?"

The question sobered Maya immediately and she nodded. "More than anything."

"Then everything will work out just fine. You and Vivi already make each other so happy. You know how to live a life together, Maya. Now it's just about affirming that." Nora rested her chin on Maya's shoulder while they quietly gazed at each other in the mirror.

"Yeah." Maya smiled at the mention of her soon-to-be. "We do."

They both quieted and Maya's gaze flickered to their bare feet on the carpet. The emotions shifted from anxious to heavy, and I knew Nora would pick up on the slight swing in Maya's presentation. The one thing that never changed in all our years together was Nora's ability to read into the emotions of others. She found her solace seated in the background of conversations, reading people and postures. Her calm, mindful presence became her baseline, and it was the cornerstone of our relationship. I imagined a similar dynamic between her and Maya.

"Are you thinking about your dad?" asked Nora, her voice soft.

Maya nodded, her fingers digging into Nora's arms. "What if he shows up?"

"He won't, honey. He doesn't know where we are or that you're getting married." Nora nudged Maya's chin up, then urged her to turn around so they could face each other. "Look at me."

My throat tightened and I gulped down the unexpected lump that followed. It carried both emotions for them, and anger over their fears.

"We got more security here today than the Capitol, kid," I tossed out. "And besides, I'm leading the troops. We got your memo about destroy on sight and we'll act." I saluted her and she snickered.

"Dope." Her gaze flickered back to Nora's, now accompanied by a small smile. "I'm glad he's not coming. I'm happy you're walking me down the aisle, Nor. I think I feel guilty about being happy about it."

"I'm very happy to be walking you down the aisle, Squirt." Nora smiled while tears brimmed her eyes. She thumbed Maya's chin then brushed her knuckles over her cheek. "It's okay to want a day just for yourself and your wife. It's okay to set a strong limit by not inviting your dad to preserve the sanctity of that. If, when things calm down, you want to introduce Vivian to your dad, we'll be there to support you." Nora gestured to me and I nodded.

"Armed and ready." I pretended to load a slingshot and it made Maya giggle.

"I love you both." Maya tossed her arms around Nora, as if everything she said relieved her of whatever burden she carried.

"We love you, too." Nora grinned and hugged her tight. She held her arm out to me and I hopped up to join them, squishing them together on purpose. "Car!"

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