Page 20 of Freed
~Seventeen~
ALANNAH
The day had finally come. It was going to be official. Roman and I would belong to each other. Even though Roman officially collared me on my twenty-first birthday, this day was more special than that. Today would be the day that we would be united as one.
Looking at the reflection in the mirror, I gazed down at the diamond collar and couldn’t believe how much happiness I had gained over the last year. As I looked at myself, there was another thing that I noticed. I was glowing. Not because of my happiness, but because of something else that I couldn’t describe.
There was a light knock at the door, and I prayed that it wasn’t Roman. “Who is it?”
“It’s Consuela, dear. I have something to give you.”
Carefully walking over to the door so I wouldn’t trip on the long train of the dress, I opened it to see there was a speechless look on Consuela’s face. Her hands went to her face and tears began to fall. “Lanie, you are like an angel. You are so beautiful.”
When she pulled me in for a hug, tears were in my eyes as well. Consuela held me at arm’s length and looked me closer like she was trying to find something that was missing. “Estas con un niño.”
I didn’t understand what she said but knew that she was speaking in Spanish. “I don’t understand, Consuela.”
“You are going to have a baby.”
“What? How would you know that?” I asked as I looked down at the small lump that was barely noticeable.
“A mother knows these things, and I’m telling you,Mija, you are.”
Consuela was serious, and she was also very wise. I would have to find out for sure if I was bearing a child, but it would have to wait until after the wedding. “I will see a doctor after the wedding. Please don’t say anything to Roman. I want to tell him myself.”
Kissing me on the cheek, she handed me a white box. “This was my mother’s. I think it would fit as something old. I never had a daughter, but if I did, I would want her to be like you.”
Taking the small box from her, I removed the lid to find a silver charm bracelet with only one charm on it. There were words written on the little charm. It read, ‘Amar es encontrar en la felicidad de otro la propia felicidad.’ Looking over to Consuela, I asked, “What does it mean?”
“It means…Loving is finding in someone else's happiness our own. Never put your happiness above those that you love.”
Consuela and I cried some more before Josie, who was my Maid of Honor, let us know that it was time.
Taking a deep breath, I followed her out of the room to the pool area of the Bellagio, where Roman had taken me not so long ago. Consuela was close behind to assist me with the train of my wedding dress once we got to the pool area.
When we got there, I couldn’t believe how many people were seated on both sides of the long carpet that was laid on the cement that I would soon be walking down. Even though Roman couldn’t see me, I could see him. He was standing next to Martin in a black tuxedo, looking even more handsome than ever.
The music began to play, and with shaky legs, I started making my way towards him. Everyone stood and faced me, which made me more nervous than I already was. My body only began to relax when I was standing next to Roman. When he took hold of my hand, I faced Roman. “You are so beautiful, Lanie.”
Roman pulled me into his arms and placed his lips on mine. It didn’t matter that everyone was staring at us. To me, we were the only two people in the room. That was, until the preacher said, “The kiss comes after the ‘I Do’s.’”
♥ ♥ ♥
The wedding happened, and it was beautiful. There wasn’t a dry eye during the ceremony, except the men, of course. As I looked back at the day while sipping champagne on the veranda of our Paris hotel, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Consuela had said to me at the Bellagio. Maybe I was with child as she said. Placing my hand over my stomach, I began to wonder what our child would look like. Would he or she look like Roman or me?
Lost in thought, I placed my champagne on the small table, wondering if the half glass I consumed would hurt the baby. Roman slid in behind me, taking a bit of the evening chill from my body. Wrapping his arms around me, he whispered softly, “Well, what do you think, Mrs. Michaels. Should we work on that family?”
Letting out a small giggle, I responded. “A family might be here sooner than you think.”
Pulling me onto his lap, Roman’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Really.”
Kissing him on the lips, I whispered, “Yeah.”
