Page 55 of What the Doctor Ordered
I smiled at her when she looked my way. “It’s so lovely to see you again, Fiona,” I said politely. “Thank you so much for hosting this party for us.”
Fiona laughed before pulling me in for an equally warm hug. “None of that,” she cooed. “You’ll be my daughter soon enough. Get used to hugging me like it.”
And just like that, I relaxed. Even if the rest of the family didn’t approve of me, Simon’s mother clearly did.
The next hour or so was spent introducing me to various family members. I was relieved to discover I had met a lot of them at previous parties and events. It felt strange to realize they already knew we were engaged but just weren’t aware that it had been fake the last time we saw one another.
“So, what do you do, Kiley?” one of Simon’s aunts asked.
I felt heat creep up my neck. “I’m studying to be a veterinarian,” I replied.
“Kiley is top of her class,” Simon put in quickly. “I have no doubt she will be a remarkable vet.”
His aunt wasnotimpressed. She scoffed. “You can’t possibly know that,” she scolded him before turning to me again. “Do you have any experience? Have any high-end clinics offered you a job yet?”
“I’ve been working as a veterinary technician and still have two years to go in my graduate degree program,” I said, trying and failing to keep my chin up.
Simon’s aunt hmmphed before stomping away, muttering as she went. It had been such a short interaction, but it caused my heart to splinter.
“I’ll take care of it,” Simon promised me, moving to go after his aunt.
My eyes widened and I grabbed his arm, pulling him back to me. I didn’t like how stiff he was, anger rolling off him in waves. “No, please don’t,” I hissed, tugging him harder so he was forced to look at me. “Just hold me. Please.”
Simon relaxed slightly but obliged, pulling me against his chest. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “She will answer for her cruel words and disgraceful manners, I promise you.”
I smiled up at him and was relieved and surprised to find the action was genuine. “I’m okay, Simon,” I said. “I admit that I was anxious since we started planning this party but now that I’m here, I know that you were right. All that matters is us.”
Simon turned to face me fully, one hand coming up to cup the side of my face. My eyelids fluttered shut automatically when his thumb stroked my cheekbone.
“I love you,” he murmured, and I felt his lips brush my forehead.
I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my face into his chest. “I love you too,” I said.
And that was all that mattered.
CHAPTER 24
Kiley
My life was about to change forever.
I looked at myself in the tall mirror, marveling at the magic of the wedding dress. The frills and lace enveloped me in a feminine beauty that I never thought I would be able to achieve.
“Don’t forget to throw the bouquet my way,” Lily teased, hugging me from behind. She squeezed me affectionately. “You look gorgeous! The good doctor is going to faint for sure.”
“Don’t say that!” I said with a light laugh, shoving her away playfully.
Lily just laughed. “Well, if he doesn’t faint, I’m going to think something is wrong with him since you look breathtaking,” she continued, squeezing me tighter. “I’m so happy for you.”
I felt the first of probably many tears prick the back of my eyes as I hugged her back. A light knocking had us both turning to the door of the changing room where I had been getting ready.
“It’s time for the show,” the wedding coordinator informed me, grinning widely, a pen tucked behind her ear.
Lily squeezed my hand before we walked out of the room together, her a step in front, clearly preparing for when she would walk out ahead of me as my maid of honor.
The soft wedding music was getting louder as we approached the two ornate doors leading into the gorgeous church we’d decided to get married in.
“I feel like you just met this guy a short time ago and now I’m handing you off to him forever,” my best friend said but she chuckled a bit toward the end. “I suppose you have always known what you wanted. You were never one to waste time. I always admired that about you, Kiley. I really am proud of you.”
