Page 82 of Crocodile Tears
Finch waved the comment away. “You’ll be back in New Zealand by then.”
Lark walked over and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “I have accomplices everywhere.”
“It’s true,” I replied with a laugh. “Do you want to borrow a dress?”
“Please,” Lark said with relief. “Luckily, we packed about twenty changes of clothes for Lila so she’s sorted. I just need to hose her down in your shower, if that’s okay?”
“Of course.” I waved to the bathroom.
We heard Hannah’s voice calling up the stairs, “The guests are all getting seated in the backyard and the band’s ready! You ready to get married or what?”
“One minute!” I called down.
Deacon emerged from the bathroom. “I’ll go slow them down so the impromptu swimmers can change.” He re-buttoned his blazer, getting one step to the door before making a quick U-turn and storming toward me. He grabbed me by the back of the neck and kissed me with a fervency that had heat flooding my veins. “I can’t wait to marry you,” he murmured across my lips before quickly sweeping out the door.
“Damn,” Finch said, gaping at the open doorway. “I can see why he’s a three-time Sexiest Man Alive winner.”
“Keep it in your pants,” Lark snarked.
“Keep it in your pants,” Lila echoed, and Lark cringed, pointing at Finch. “I’m going to tell Logan thatyoutaught her that.”
“Okay, go shower quickly.” I shooed Lark into the bathroom. “I’m kind of eager to marry the love of my life today.”
“About time,” Finch said with a laugh as Lark and Lila disappeared into the bathroom. Finch ambled over to the bed.
“Don’t!” I warned before she sat her sandy, wet ass on my bed.
“Right, sorry. I actually have something for you,” she said, fishing in her trouser pocket. “I found it in the back of our old dresser at Mom’s house and I thought you might want it.”
She fished out a folded photograph with thumb tack holes in the top corners and passed it to me. I opened it to reveal a photo of twelve-year-old Deacon and me sitting on an emergency room gurney, my hand wrapped in gauze. Dad sat with his arms wrapped around both of us, all three of us smiling and giving thumbs-ups to the camera.
Tears instantly welled in my eyes. “He made the nurse take the photo,” I said, getting choked up. “He said I’d want to remember it one day.”
“That sounds like him. He would’ve loved today,” Finch murmured, her voice getting thick too. “He’d be so proud of you, for the person you’ve become, and since he’s not here to say it, I’m saying it for him.”
“Dammit, now I’m crying.” I swept a finger under my eyes.
I reached out to hug her and Finch stepped back. “You don’t want to ruin your wedding dress.”
“Just hug me already,” I demanded, and she closed the distance, wrapping me up in a tight hug. Lark emerged from the bathroom, and soon she and Lila were wrapped around us too.
“Your dress,” Lark said with a laugh.
“It’s perfect,” I whispered, finally releasing them. I tucked the photograph into the pocket of my sundress and looked at my sisters. “Think he can manage being part of the Lachlan family?”
“He’s been a part of the family for a long, long time,” Lark said with a shrug. “Now you’re just making it official.”
“That doesn’t mean we won’t give him hell though,” Finch added, and the three of us laughed.
I grinned. “I’d expect nothing less.”
I led the way, dress wet and sandy and perfect as we navigated the narrow steps of the seaside house and out towardthe backyard. Taking a deep breath of salty sea air, I put my hand in my pocket, closing my fingers around the photograph. I stepped out into the sunlight as Rusty Sky Reverie played me down the makeshift driftwood aisle. Our families gathered, only enough room to stand. As I took the first step, my eyes found Deacon’s and hooked. He wore the biggest smile, his eyes misting with tears as he lifted his hand and placed it on the coin at the center of his chest.
