Page 235 of Solanum

"Lookin' good, ladies." I grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "How are you both?"

"We're good," answered Rosie, her smile radiant as always. "We wanted to catch you before the ceremony."

"Consider us caught. Rebecca here?"

"She is." Rosie nodded.

"Harper said to tell you everyone's here and they're ready when you are." Samirah glanced between us.

As if everyone heard the announcement, Dusty, Jordan, and Grace headed down the stairs. Dusty continued to snap pictures of everything, until she climbed up to stand on a kitchen chair.

"C'mon, lovelies." Jordan ushered Samirah and Rosie back toward the yard. "Let's go get ready to see the brides."

The room cleared out save for Nora, Dusty and me, until Vivian's mother appeared. With damp cheeks, and a wide smile, she greeted us both.

"She's ready," she said. "They still want to walk down the aisle together."

"Then we're all ready to go," said Nora, her eyes misting up immediately. "Where's Mr. Wolfe?"

"Kyle." Mrs. Wolfe narrowed her eyes at Nora. "Is waiting by the back door with Maybelle."

Nora laughed, lifting her hands in surrender. "Kyle. Got it, Edith. Glad Vivi's sister made it, too."

"She wouldn't miss out on meeting our new family members." Edith smiled and gave Nora's arm a squeeze.

Dusty's shutter announced the arrival of Vivian. She emerged from Sali's bedroom in a wave of teary smiles. Her simple, sleek white dress hugged her figure and touched the ground around her feet. She cupped her hands over her mouth when she saw us, then waved her hands in front of her face.

"I can't cry," she said, sniffling through her laughter.

"You're all right, sweetie." Edith cooed, chuckling while she stepped forward to adjust her veil.

"Where's Maya? We want to see each other before," said Vivian, her eyes wild.

"Here," Maya called out from the top of the stairs, her voice cracking. She raced down them despite her heels, and Nora swept out from beside me suddenly. Maya stumbled and Nora caught her on the bottom step. "Whoa."

"Saw that coming a mile away." Nora steadied her with a chuckle.

"Maya." Vivian giggled her head off when she rushed over to her.

"Oh my God." Maya burst into tears when she saw Vivian and released Nora to steady herself. "You're so beautiful. Oh my God."

"You're so beautiful. Are you kidding me?" Vivian cried, the two of them standing face-to-face with their fingers laced together. "Oh my God."

I chuckled and blinked away my own emotions while watching the two of them. Nora slipped her arms around my waist and pressed her lips to my shoulder. She smiled through the tears that streamed her face, and I rested my cheek against her forehead.

The girls fawned over each other, touching and kissing and caressing wherever they could. Their innocent excitement added fuel to the happy embers that burned in me at the sight of our growing family. Vivian's mother rubbed Nora's back, a tissue held to her nose while she looked on, her expression lifting with joy.

"I love you so much," Maya said, sniffling as she stroked Vivian's cheeks while they stood facing each other. "You're so pretty."

"I love you, too." Vivian smiled through her tears and smoothed her hands down the front of Maya's suit. "You're prettier. My God, wear this again?"

Maya laughed, bringing Vivian's hands to her lips for a kiss. "I promise. But let's get married first, okay?"

"Yes." Vivian giggled and tossed her arms around Maya's neck. "Let's get married."

Maya melted into her embrace, the calm, pure happiness that washed over her face warmed my insides and I squeezed Nora tight.

Vivian's mother ushered the girls, and the sneaky photographer toward the yard. The two of them never stopped touching and kissing on each other as we followed behind them.

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