Page 87 of The Spare
I roll my head back over to look at her.
She meets my eyes, and though hers are heavy lidded with pleasure, I know her well enough to see that anxiety she always wrestles with swirling around in there as well. I take her hand, bringing the back of it to my lips.
"Marriage is obviously different for everyone," I say slowly, treading lightly because she spent her whole life not seeing an example of marriage until my parents, and then her sister. "But, that's why we need to trust each other to make our own path. It's okay that we may not have all the answers, or know what we're doing all the time. But, I promise to come to you, if you promise to come to me?"
Melody blinks nice and slow, before a smile spreads across her face. "Deal." She holds out her pinky finger and I chuckle, taking it with mine and pulling her to me for a harsh kiss.
"Want to have breakfast instead of working out tomorrow before the wedding?" she mumbles against my lips.
"As long as it's naked, and in bed."
I pull her up, pick her up bridal style and carry her to the bathroom, placing us both in the tub and laughing about the stunned look on Izzy and Henny's face when they caught us having sex.
Chapter twenty-five
Our Souls Linger
"Oh my God,"I whisper, so nervous.
I sit in front of the vanity and blow a gentle breath, fanning my hand in front of my face to keep the tears away. My eyes are drawn to the flurry of activity behind me. My mother and Teresa are wrestling Mariah into her flower girl dress, and Isobel is bent over awkwardly with a steamer, obsessively going over the satin fabric even though there's not a wrinkle tobe found.
"Be still girl, or I'm going to smear it," Karissa whispers, holding her tongue between her teeth as she swipes my eyeliner on, brown,because I know Mason doesn't like me to wear a lot of makeup, and I want to please him today. Just like he likes to please me.
So, I met in the middle and did a more natural look today, but still having Karissa play up my eyes with different browns and rose colors on my eyelids.
"Sweetheart," my mom huffs, standing up straight and smoothing her mother of the bride dress down. "I can't wait for you to see the reception. It's beautiful."
"I bet it is," I say, reaching over to tear off a small piece of croissant and pop it in my mouth following it with a sip of mimosa.
It's all I wanted: a croissant, a mimosa, and the song “Going To The Chapel” playing. Which we did on the way to the beautiful cathedral we're being married at. We're having an intimate Catholic wedding with a priest and communion. It was all Mason requested.
"All done," Karissa sings, swiping the brush over my cheeks with one last flourish before backing away.
I turn to my mom who clasps her hands together with tears in her eyes. "Oh, you're so beautiful, honey," she says in a quivery voice. I give her a smile and eye her dress. It's a beautiful dark-purple satin, off-the-shoulder number with a draping pattern that accentuates her hips and legs. Her dark skin gleams under the lights, and her locks is pinned up in an elegant updo. She looks positively royal.
"You're beautiful, too."
Standing up, I go to give her a hug, knowing this wedding was extra special to her because she didn't get to see Isobel's. I look over at her, putting the steamer away and fussing over my dress. She's still hurt over her and Mason's interaction a couple days ago, and this is thefirst time we've talked or seen each other since. She met us here at the cathedral and hasn't looked me in the eye yet.
I grab the sash of my robe and fidget, walking over to where she stands and put my hand on her shoulder. "Hey, sis," I say, waiting until she meets my eyes to give her a smile. "You look beautiful, too."
Isobel's eyes soften.
Seeing her break out into a reluctant smile, I walk into her and wrap my arms around her, leaning over her round tummy and rubbing her back. "Thank you for everything you've done for me, sis. All the sacrifices you've made, some I'm sure I don't know about. You're the reason I met Mason." I sniff, pulling away and wiping a stray tear that falls down my cheek.
She shrugs her shoulders and gives me a sassy eye roll. "Well," she says, clearing her throat, "all I've ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy."
I nod, giggling. "He makes me very happy," I whisper behind my hand.
Izzy snorts and holds her hand to her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she looks at me with wide eyes. "Yeah, I could tell."
We're in the middle of laughing when Hendrix's voice interrupts us.
"Ladies, you all look so beautiful!" he says, walking through the wooden door and then closing it behind him. He's holding a tray of what looks to be swirling purple and pink drinks and something else in his hands.
"King," Isobel gushes, leaving my side to go to him. She stands up on tiptoe to give him a peck on his lips, and he smiles down at her.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Karissa visibly preen as Isobel steps away from King to attend to Mariah, who's trying to throw rose petals around everywhere. She walks up to King and smooths her hand downher beach blonde waves, letting her hand caress down her breasts for a second before she reaches forward and snags a drink off the tray.
