Page 29 of Cade

The only question that mattered was if she was going to regret this. She looked down at their connected hands and knew there was little chance that she would not regret this.

April stood quietly by while Cade spoke and filled out paperwork, only stepping forward to sign her name when she was called. As a contract lawyer, she should know enough to read anything she was being asked to sign, but here she was, writing her signature on everything with no one clue as to what it was.

“You good?” Cade asked.

She pasted on her best fake smile and nodded.

Cade gave her a look that said he didn’t believe her, but didn’t press. As they finished, a woman came and led April to another area.

“You’ll wait here until your future husband is in place and then you can walk down the aisle,” she explained.

Her big hair, which shook as she talked animatedly about the different veils that were available for her to choose from, fascinated April.

“Did you hear me, hun?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, what?” April asked, pulling herself out of the 6-inch tall hair and back to Earth. “I was lost in my thoughts.”

“No worries. Getting married is a big deal, and it can make some people a little nervous.” She proceeded to hand her a veil.

“Thank you, but I think I’m good.”

“You have to pick one. Your man paid for the big package. He said you needed to have a real wedding,” she explained.

She wanted to melt, but the reality was that it was just him trying to make sure there were good photos that came from this sham of a marriage. Taking the veil the woman held out, April set it on her head, letting the floral halo rest in her own hair.

“Perfect,” the woman gushed. “It matches your dress! Now, you’ll walk down the aisle slowly, and we will have a photographer out there taking your pictures. Then you’ll say your vows, exchange your rings, and that will be that.”

The lump in her throat made it hard to swallow. This was really real and now things were different. SHe also hadn’t thought about a ring for either of them.

“I don’t have a ring,” April whispered.

“Don’t worry about it. Your man already handed them over, so it’s already out there for the ceremony.” If the woman thought any of this was weird, she didn’t let on. “Now, it’s your time to shine.”

She threw back heavy black curtains and April was suddenly in a chapel setting, looking down the aisle at Cade. Her feet froze and she couldn’t move forward, no matter how hard she tried.

Trembling, she watched as Cade’s face went from smiling to confusion before she stepped away from the arch and walked towards her. She expected frustration from him, or maybe even anger, but what she didn’t see coming was the tenderness in his gaze as it met hers.

“You don’t have to do this,” Cade told her. A completely different tune from the man that had pulled out all the stops to get her here.

“I can’t,” April started.

“Can’t do this?” Cade asked.

She shook her head again. “I can’t move.” It was like the nerves had paralysed her and there was no way she could go forward or backwards, stuck in limbo at the entrance.

“I can carry you?” he offered.

It was that, or they didn’t get married today. She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her bridal style and carried her down the aisle.

“Everything okay?” the officiant asked.

“All good. Just a bit of cold feet,” Cade assured him.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” She made an attempt at a laugh but it came out as awkward as she felt.

“Let’s begin, then.”

She listened as he spoke and repeated the words when she was told Cade did the same. It was going well until he slid a ring on her finger and the weight of the decisions she’d made hit her in full. The ring was gaudy, heavy, showy, everything she wasn’t and wouldn’t want. It only served to remind her how fake this all was.

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