Page 145 of Hale Yes
“Ahh, zhou’re going to Greece.” Blaze comments. “Zhou deedn’t want to be sooprised as to zee location of zee honeymoon?”
I shudder. “No way. I’ve never understood that whole thing where the bride has no idea where she’ll be spending some of the most exciting weeks of her life. I like to be prepared.”
“I oonderstand,” Blaze says in his thick accent. The man has a soft, lilting voice, but he’s built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, which doesn’t match at all. I’m convinced there’s some kind of ventriloquism going on.
Ophelia helps me select some nice but functional casual clothing, which Blaze notes on his tablet. Then he claps excitedly.
“Now eet is time to sink about your… bedtime attire. Vee have several directions vee can go. Zhou have zhour classy, or zhour sweet, innocent look, or zhou can go totally slooty.”
It takes me a second to realize he’s sayingslutty, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“I think I’ll go get a cup of coffee,” Ophelia says diplomatically, patting my shoulder before exiting the room.
Blaze looks at me expectantly, and I whisper, “Let’s go with slooty.”
“That was so much fun,” Ophelia says once we’ve left Blaze’s headquarters. “Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.”
“Oh, please! I wouldn’t have wanted to go without you.” I pause and chew my bottom lip for a second before speaking again. “You told me before I can call you Mom. Is that still okay with you?”
Tears fill her brown eyes, and she nods as she reaches for a monogrammed handkerchief in her designer bag. “Nothing would make me happier. Now, let’s go grab some lunch together, daughter.”
The word doesn’t feel at all foreign on my tongue when I reply, “Okay, Mom.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
New Year’s Eve
Helix
“It’s your wedding day, Uncle Helix!”
“Really? Is that why I’m wearing this tuxedo?” I ask Reece, patting myself and looking confused. I pick her up and press a kiss to her cheek.
“You’re silly,” she accuses, wrapping one small arm around the back of my neck. “Do you like my flower girl dress?” She pats the layers of fluffy tulle.
“It is the most beautiful dress for the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, and are you wearing lip gloss?”
“Yes, Auntie Nicolette put it on me. Daddy said it was okay cuz it’s a special ‘casion.” She pooches her little lips out so I can see.
“It is a special occasion,” I tell her. “Where’s your basket of flowers?”
She points at Phoenix who is holding a delicate white basket adorned with bows and filled with scarlet rose petals. “I’mfeeling quite fancy. Maybe I should have been the flower boy,” he teases.
Reece rolls her eyes, something she’s been doing more and more lately. She’s a whopping five years old now, but half the time she acts like a teenager.
Remington walks up and holds out his arms for Reece. “Let’s walk outside. Dutton and River are out there looking at the ducks in the pond.”
She goes willingly, and Phoenix calls after them, “Don’t get dirty. Or fall in the pond. The wedding starts in less than two hours.”
“Where’s Mom?” I ask my twin, and he points a thumb toward the hallway.
“Down in the Galleria ballroom making sure everything is perfect for the ceremony.”
I nod. “I’ll go check on her. Maybe grab her a glass of wine to calm her nerves.” Eyeing my brother, I wonder if he’s struggling with all the wedding-day festivities since his own wedding went so wrong six years ago. “You doing okay, Phe?”
“Never better. I’m excited to have a new sister to pick on.” His face turns serious. “I’m really happy for you, Helix. You deserve to be happy.”
Pulling him into a tight hug, I tell him, “Thank you for being my best man.”
