Page 50 of Return By Fire

I lay my hand over hers to still her movement. “Kara, what is it?”

“Nothing.” She lifts her face to mine. If I didn’t know her heart as well as I know my own, I’d take one look at her exuberant smile and believe she’s completely carefree. Her hair, which used to fall like dark honey down her back, is dancing through gold hoops. Both now reach her chin.

But I do know better. Kara’s standing before me as gorgeous as any woman has a right to be and crippling with agony. I cup her cheeks and lean down. Pressing my forehead against hers, I encourage her, “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She rips herself out of my arms and stalks barefoot to the open balcony doors. Despite the fact Jed and I have lived together since he came back from Alaska—first on the boat and then in a home we insisted Kara and Kevin move into until she could afford to buy her own place—he was adamant about not seeing me the morning of our wedding. “It’s bad luck, Dean.”

Much to my dismay, every other member of our wedding party—Maris, Kevin, and Kara—agreed. That doesn’t mean we didn’t sit in the hotel lobby together drinking—or not, as was Kevin’s case—until 11:59 p.m. I left Jed at the elevator to the suite I’d be joining him in after we exchanged our vows. In fact, Maris has already come and gone leaving her luggage behind.

I move behind Kara and cup her shoulder.

Her shoulders heave as she sobs and intuitively, I know they’re not tears of joy. “Come on, Kara. Talk to me. This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.”

She lifts her face and as ravaged as it is, I think she should be grateful she hasn’t put on her makeup. “That’s just it, Dean. I don’t think it should happen.”

“What?” I shout.

“Not today.”

My muscles constrict as her words cut to the bone.

“I don’t think I should be there when it does.” Her head twists to the side. “I have your love every single day. Don’t you think Jed’s family—his brothers—should be here to witness him getting married?”

I pull her against my chest. “He chose love, Kara.”

She pounds against my ribs, forcing me to free her just so I can breathe. While I’m catching my breath, she cries, “I know! But the Jacks love him. If you postpone one day, I’m certain Jennings would fly them here. Kevin and I can watch from up here, and...”

Before I can interrupt her and inform her there’s no way I’m getting married without her by my side, there’s a knock at our door. It opens and Maris slides through. She looks at Kara and shakes her head negatively. “Jed said to tell you if you’re not on the beach in an hour escorting his soon-to-be husband to his side, then he’s going to be upset. He said to leave the Jacks to him.”

Kara’s head whips to the side, anguish written all over her features. Still she double-checks, “He’s certain?”

Maris saunters over, wearing a dark blue dress that matches my shirt and Kara’s dress. “He’s positive.”

Kara nods. Then she raises her eyes to mine. “It’s not that I don’t want to be there, it’s that I want everything to be perfect for both of you.”

Seizing her against me, knowing what she was willing to sacrifice for Jed’s happiness, I manage a gruff, “I love you.”

“I love you more, Dean. Now, forever, always.”

“Impossible. I’ve loved you since the minute I held you.”

She tips her head back and gives me the smile I’ve been waiting for all morning—one filled with pure love and backlit with joy. “Keep in mind, you’ll always be older.”

I bop the end of her nose. “Brat.”

Maris laughs before heading back in the direction of the door. “Kara, if I were you, I’d get some serious makeup on. The photographer will be coming down here with Kevin in just a few minutes.”

“The photographer can go to hell,” she mumbles.

Since I feel the same way, I don’t let my sister go. Instead, I tug her closer and rest my head against hers.

* * *

An hour later, Kara’s makeup applied, we make our way down to the place nature designed with the intent for love to be christened before love consecrated it. It’s the place where fire sinks into the sea and the sand meets the sky.

Framing that beauty beneath a fragrant arbor made up of native island flowers of bougainvillea, hibiscus, and frangipane, Jed waits in an outfit identical to my own—Maris to his left.

Kevin is next to her, holding a navy satin pillow that holds our wedding rings.

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