Page 73 of Binding Their Hearts

“Fuck me sideways, are those diamonds?” Gawking, Ollie shoved the shoes up toward her face, the tissue paper crinkling. “And emeralds? Are you seeing this?”

The camera clicked, probably immortalizing mouth-open astonishment. Alice lifted a shoe from the box. Heels. Narrow, high ones. Closed toe, but no real sides otherwise. A rigid line of clear, sparkling crystals—they couldn’t be diamonds, absolutely not—rose at the back like a leash to form a clasp around her ankle. The entire toebox and even the sides of the heel were beaded with green gems around a footbed the same shade as Henry’s eyes.

When her hands shook, Ollie helped her slide them on and close the clasps. Tugged lightly to her feet, she took a couple of steps and found her balance, towering over her sister as they stood side by side in the mirror. For all her quaking and nerves, Henry had made her look confident and powerful—and still his.

No tears. Ollie had used the smudge-proof mascara, but still. Better not chance it.

“Henry has good taste.”

“The best.” Fresh excitement swirled in her stomach. She couldn’t control the world. But she could control her little corner of it.

“Mistress Alice.” Avery bowed her head with startling but gratifying respect. “You are a sight to behold. Jay is all set; he’ll be here to escort you in a minute or two. You’ll make your entrance together.”

Ollie kissed Alice’s cheek, standing on tiptoes to reach. “I should go take my seat. I love you, Allie.”

“I love you, too, munchkin. That’s one bond that won’t ever break.”

“Not ever.”

The door closed behind them, leaving Alice alone with her reflection.

“Henry and Jay are mine. Whatever the world has in store for us, we will meet it head-on, together.” Hunting for doubts, she found none. She lifted her chin and nodded approval at the other Alice. “Now I’m ready.”

Chapter thirty-four

Jay

As Emma shut the changing room door behind Alice and her whirlwind sister—their whirlwind sister and biggest cheerleader, after Henry’s mom at least—Jay tipped an imaginary hat to her. “You’re extra sneaky. I like it. Did you see how happy she was?”

“I did.” Emma gazed up at the ceiling, a tiny smile on her lips, the lights catching the pearls at her throat. “It’s good to be reminded sometimes of how well we’re loved. How important we are to others when we don’t realize it ourselves.”

Henry’s mom gave him another hug—her third so far—and patted his back. “This young man has the biggest heart.” She let go and straightened his hair, his collar, and his sleeves, so much like Henry he almost laughed from his big heart being too full. “I know we aren’t doing gifts today, darling boy, but I want you to know that I’ve already begun your Christmas shopping. You and Alice will have at least as many gifts as Henry under the tree this year. A few extra wouldn’t be amiss—after all, he’s had a thirty-nine-year head start. I’ll expect to see you all in Maine for the holiday, you realize.”

Henry would be the one making that decision, but given how many years Henry had made the offer without pressuring him, it was a three guesses and the first two don’t count kind of situation. He wouldn’t be going to the farm, that was a given. He’d be planting a forest of new traditions this year with—with his spouses. The heat in his chest for sure came from his heart doing a cartoon burst, zillions of origami valentines shooting skyward. “I’d like that a lot.”

“Good.” She glanced at Emma, and some invisible girl conversation took place in their eyes.

He and Henry could do the silent communication thing too, but girls—women—seemed to do it naturally, like they’d been born with a secret extra language.

Emma linked his arm in hers and led him to the third door. “Your clothes are in there. Don’t sprint through changing; Avery will get photos of Henry first, and then she’ll come to you before Alice. When you’re ready for your tie, text me, please.”

She’d been there when he’d chosen the tie; it was only fair to let her knot it if she wanted. “Text you, got it. Everything’s okay in the salon? Everyone showed up? The ushers and the musicians Henry likes—”

“Everything is splendid, Jay.” She pushed him gently inside the room. “You’ve done masterful work planning this wedding, and I will most certainly tell Henry and Alice so when we toast your accomplishments afterward. Now, scoot.”

He obligingly entered and let her shut the door, though why he had to hurry, who knew. She’d just told him to slow-pedal his changing anyway.

His stuff hung on a fancy stand that looked like hickory wood. He’d let Henry pick the suits so they matched, and Emma had taken him to her tailor to get him fitted, since he didn’t already have a morning suit, which was the fancy name for a daytime tuxedo. None of those weird cummerbund things, and the split tails on the jacket were gnarly. For riding horses, the tailor said, not bikes, and probably-certainly he’d never wear this one on a bike anyway—but he could.

Toeing off his shoes, he peeled his shirt over his head. Half-done getting undressed already. So that ate up about thirty seconds. Waiting for Henry and Alice to get dressed would be the longest part of the day. Because afterward they’d be by each other’s sides again, saying the words to make their belonging official.

Scattered slaps rattled the door before it cracked open. “Jay, keep your shorts on, I’m coming in, cool?”

“Cool,” he called back, cracking a big grin as Tyler strode in and did a fashion show turn. “So you didn’t go with the basketball shorts?”

“You like?” Shiny white-and-pink sneakers peeked out beneath Ty’s white suit pants. His vest matched the pants, and maybe he had a coat he’d left somewhere, but his shirt sported flashy flowers splashed like watercolors. “Thought I’d do it up right. You’re the first of my friends to get married, man. Trailblazer and all that.”

“You’ll get there.” He gripped Ty’s raised hand and pulled him in for a thumping one-armed hug. He could do that now, because he had a whole family of friends, and Danny said picking people he could express himself around would help him not use funny-haha Jay as a cover when he got nervous about fitting in. “Gotta say, it’s an awesome place to be. And you’re perfectly dressed. Unlike me.”

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