Page 91 of The Veiling

“Yes, come in.” Sniffling, I blotted my eyes.

“I came to touch up your makeup before the ceremony.”

“Thank you.” I strode over to the makeup chair, sitting as delicately as possible.

She draped a smock over me and remained pleasant as she reapplied my eyeliner, mascara, and powder with slight contour. “There.” She flashed a grin, admiring her work. “Perfect again, though you don’t really need any makeup.”

I giggled shakily through my sniffling. “Thank you.”

Noah poked his head in the room. “Miss Isabelle.”

I rolled my eyes, standing and facing him.

“It’s time and you know how Mr. Greco hates to be kept waiting.”

I tried my best to hold back a smile. “Are you sure there’s no drama you need to discuss with me before we go downstairs? No weird new employees? Letters? Hidden relatives?”

He shook his head, leering, offering me his elbow. “Not that I know of.”

I hooked my hand in the crook of his arm. “Good.”

He escorted me through the hallways, down the stairs, and outside onto the back patio. My eyes trailed the long path through the yard toward the beach. I inhaled a deep breath, taking in the salty air. A breeze blew around us, causing my white lace veil to wrap around my face. Noah helped me adjust it. I did not plan to bring up the letter, but he brought it up.

“Did you read it?”

“I did,” I whispered, staring ahead at the beach.

“Are you okay?”

I snapped my neck toward him. “More than okay. That letter told me two things. Number one, our parents loved us to the very end and did whatever they had to do to protect us to the last day. And number two, I still have immediate family left. I was happy with us just being cousins, but somehow this makes me feel…like everything about our family wasn’t a total waste. I don’t know how to say it.”

“I know what you mean, though.” He smiled. “I guess my brother was my cousin and my cousin was my sister.”

I snickered. “Our family has been screwed up since day one.”

“Most are.” He slowly walked me down the path toward the sand.

We stepped into the gritty ground. I lifted my gaze. My breath instantly hitched when I saw Valentino with his hands clasped together in front of him, watching me with admiration in his gaze and the same smile I fell hard for. That was when I knew regardless of what came our way, he had my back, and I had his. Nothing scared me anymore.

A string quartet transitioned into one of my favorite songs. Noah placed his other hand on top of mine as he walked me toward the altar.Don’t trip, Isabelle. Don’t fall, Isabelle. I smiled as I repeated it in my head. I once thought I would make eye contact with everyone when I got married. I could see no one but Valentino. Noah must have read my mind because he offered my hand a light squeeze.

We came to a stop in the front. Noah hugged me, whispering, “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”

I giggled before backing away. Valentino took my hand, guiding me closer, so the minister was centered beside us. He offered me a subtle wink.

The officiant began, “Family and friends, thank you all for coming today to share in this wonderful occasion. Today we are here together to unite Valentino and Isabelle in marriage.”

Most of the ceremony was a blur. I could not stop staring at Valentino, just wanting to be pronounced husband and wife so it would be official. With each passing word, I was bursting at the seams with happiness.

Suddenly Valentino took my left hand in his right, slipping a wedding band on the tip of my ring finger.

“Do you Valentino, take Isabelle to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” He grinned, slipping the ring on my finger.

I took the other ring from the officiant, placing it on the tip of Valentino’s left ring finger.

“And do you Isabelle, take Valentino to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”

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