Page 24 of Mail Order Bride for the Scrooge

The dress Lake has on is simple, but it’s gorgeous on her. It’s not white, but I don’t need it to be. Not to marry the woman I had no idea I needed in my life. She looks up at me and smiles softly, but I can see a little bit of hurt in her eyes. I hate that it’s there.

I hate that I can’t do anything about it.

I look down the street one more time, hoping Nico shows up right this second. I sent him a message so he would know what time we were getting married, just in case. It seems luck isn’t on my side this time, even though it certainly was when Lake pulled up to my house. It wasn’t long ago, but I’ve learned life can change in an instant. I’m glad this time it was a change for the better.

I’m going to take care of my woman. I’m going to show her she always comes first. We’ll fill our house with laughter and the sound of small feet hitting the hard wood while Storm gives chase. We’ll have memories of food fights, skinned knees, grand adventures, and small miracles.

We’ll fill our lives with love.

“Wait,” Eliane calls out when I start to turn Lake toward the entrance to the courthouse. Elaine is powerwalking in our direction with Albert trailing behind her, a big smile on his face. “We’re here. We’re here,” she huffs when she gets to us and immediately wraps her arms around us.

I chuckle and hug Elaine back. She startles a little as she looks up at me and I can understand why. Touch was something I avoided for a long time, but as more of the broken pieces of me heal, the more I crave affection.

I think I was afraid to completely accept the love the Langs have always offered to me. Slade soaked it up, but he was so much younger than I was when he became friends with Hollis and found a safe haven at the Lang house. I had many more years of abandonment and neglect working against me.

“Thank you for inviting us to your wedding,” Elaine sniffles and looks at us with tear filled eyes and a watery smile. She turns her attention to Lake and gushes, “You look beautiful, dear.”

My woman blushes, a huge smile on her face. “Thank you. I know it’s not white or very traditional, but I’ve always loved this dress.”

Even though her coat covers most of it, I still take in the baby blue dress covered in embroidered flowers. I know how it hugs her curves and makes her look like a queen. I’m already looking forward to sliding it off her body later tonight.

Albert wraps his arm around his wife’s shoulders, a look of pride on his face when he looks at me. “Well, I think it’s about time to get the two of you hitched. What do you think, kids?”

Lake laughs and looks up at me, her brown eyes sparkling with happiness. They’re not Nico, and I know how much she wishes he was here with us right now, but it does show her that we have people who support us. I’m sure it means the world to her because it does to me.

I lead my fiancé up the steps to the courthouse, Elaine tittering behind us. The woman’s happiness is infectious. I find myself smiling so big my cheeks start to hurt. I’m going to marry Lake; she’s going to be my wife.

I guess Christmas is the time for miracles.

Just as I reach for the handle of the door, manic honking rings out from down the street. Lake whips her head around just as a truck comes barreling down the road and skids to a stop in front of the courthouse. It’s a good thing that Jasper Ridge really isn’t known for its traffic.

Lake gasps when a man practically vaults out of the truck and starts to take huge strides in our direction. When she starts to bound toward him, I try and grab her, but she’s too fast for me. I’m right on her heels as she launches herself into the man’s arms. I clench my fists together to not grab her away from him.

“Nico,” my woman gasps and squeezes her arms around the man’s neck even tighter and I force myself to relax a fraction. “I didn’t think you were going to come.”

I eye the man as his eyes come up and meet mine. We take each other’s measure, neither of us giving anything away as we do. When he sets Lake down on her feet, I gently tug her back against my chest with one hand while I reach the other around her for Nico to shake.

“Nico,” my voice is a low rumble, “I’m Gannon. It’s nice to meet you.”

The look of reluctance on Nico’s face is almost comical as he shakes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Gannon.” He looks back at his sister and gives her a genuine smile. “I couldn’t let my sister get married without me.” He leans down and kisses her forehead. “I’m sorry I was almost late. After leaving Tennessee I had to go back to Seattle and fill in Spark and Rites before I could head this way.”

“I’m just glad you’re here,” my woman’s voice is thick with emotion. “You aren’t going to tell me how stupid I’m being again, are you?”

Nico’s entire being fucking deflates. When he looks at me and then his sister, I can see the sadness and regret in his eyes. “I shouldn’t have said that, Lake. I’m sorry,” his voice cracks a little before he clears his throat and swallows hard. “You’re the only family I have left. I know I have the club and those men are my brothers, but you’re the only blood worth anything. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I don’t want to lose you either,” Lake gasps out.

“If this is what you want, if this is the right path for your life to take then I’m not going to stand in your way.” He shakes his head, sadness radiating off him. “I didn’t realize how unhappy you were in Seattle. I should have seen it. I shouldn’t have tried to keep you in some arbitrary box because I wanted to keep you safe.”

Lake steps out of my hold to wrap her arms around her brother. “You were trying to protect me. I understand why you did it, Nico. I love you for it, but now it’s time for me to do this. For me.” She looks back at me, her brown eyes so damn loving that my heart starts to pound in my chest. “Gannon is a good man. He’s the right man for me. I know our life will be filled with joy. It’ll be limitless.” She looks back at her brother as I try to get my emotions under control because of the way her sweet words touch me. She tilts her head to the side and studies her brother, “Isn’t that what you want for me?”

“It is,” he croaks. He hugs her tight and then lets her go, giving her a gentle push backwards toward me. For a man like him, I’m sure it’s not easy to do. It’s about as close to acceptance as we’re going to get until my actions prove to him his sister will always be safe with me. “Now, let’s get you married.”

I hear sniffles behind us and turn to see Elaine wiping tears from her cheeks. When she notices me, she waves her hand dismissively and I chuckle under my breath as I tuck my woman into my side and lead her back up to the doors of the courthouse.

The ceremony doesn’t take long, everyone in the courthouse is ready and waiting for us. There aren’t exactly a lot of courthouse weddings going on in Jasper Ridge a few days before New Year’s Eve. Or anytime really.

We go with our own vows. I speak from my heart when I lay my promises at her feet. “Little present, you showed up in my life even though I wasn’t looking for you. I would have had no idea to even look for you because I wouldn’t have been able to imagine my perfect woman could even exist. You’re so damn beautiful that you take my breath away, but you’re strong, brave, sweet, and have no problem speaking your mind. I promise to always stand at your side, never fighting your battles until you give me the nod. Then I’ll step in and slay anyone who thinks less of you, who makes you feel even a moment of sadness or pain. I’ll walk this life with you because you make me see the world through fresh eyes and without the demons of my past weighing me down. You drove up to my house and you saved me. I don’t know how you managed it, but I promise to do the same for you every single day until I take my last breath. Even then, I’ll find you in the next life because our fates are entwined by something stronger than life and death, it’s mixed in stardust and forever.”

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