“He was there when I came up. I’m sure he hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“And Frankie, you’ve got that camera ready for some personal pictures?”
Frankie held up her phone. “Hell yeah. Best camera phone out there!”
“Okay, good! Let’s get this wedding started then, shall we?” Lora turned to open the door, and Mom and Frankie walked out, Mom hiking Chance on her hip.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Mom called over her shoulder.
“I will, Mom!”
She smiled on her way out, and Lora watched them go before coming back to me. “Okay.” She held my upper arms, looking me all over. “You literally look like a million bucks, which is good because that’s about how much this entire wedding cost. Well, maybe more like two million, but who’s counting, right?”
“Oh my God, Lora! Two million dollars? Are you serious?”
“What? Everything had to look good, okay? I wasn’t letting my brother, who I thought would never marry anyone, have a half-assed wedding! And you, my dear, deserve the world. Don’t think about the money. Just live in the moment, okay? Besides, it wasn’t a million. More like half.”
I pressed my lips, giving her a playful eye roll. “Fine. I’ll try.”
“Good enough. Now, come on. Let’s get your ass downstairs.”
Lora helped me walked down the marble staircase of our house and on the way down, I noticed the flowers wrapped around the railing and even the petals of peonies, which are my favorite flower. Lora struggled to find them since they weren’t exactly in season.
“Nice touch on the flowers,” I murmured to her as we walked down.
“Yeah, thanks. They were a bitch to find, so you better enjoy them.” She smirked, looking at me through the corner of her eye.
On our way down, I saw my dad standing at the bottom of the staircase with a tuxedo on. I have to admit, I wasn’t positive he’d be there. I had mentioned that I wanted him to walk me down the aisle and hand me over to Cane several weeks ago, and I could tell the idea of handing me over didn’t sit well with him, with his throat clearing and head shaking, but reluctantly he said he would do it. For me and Chance.
“Well, Mr. Jennings, don’t you look swell!” Lora chimed when we got closer.
Dad put on a small smile, and when his eyes shifted over to me, they stretched wider. He looked me up and down, shock taking over him. “Wow,” he huffed.
“What?” I asked nervously.
“I knew my daughter was gorgeous before, but today…you are breathtaking, kid.”
I felt heat swim up to my cheeks. “Thanks, Dad.”
“All righty. Here is your bride.” Lora released my arm to hand me over to Dad, and Dad hooked his arm through mine.
“Got her.”
“I’m going to go out back and make sure everything is in order and that the band is ready. You guys will wait here until I come back.”
“The band?” I asked, deadpan.
“Yes, the band, Kandy. Look, a lot of shit is going to surprise you today, so just get ready.” She pointed at me. “It’ll be the best day you’ve ever had!”
Dad and I laughed while Lora turned on her wedges and walked through the foyer. When she was around the corner, Dad said, “She’s a hot mess.”
“She really is. But she’s a good person. Has a good heart.”
“Must be a Cane thing.” Dad shrugged. “They all have good hearts, deep down. It’s just a matter of getting past all the layers to see it, I suppose.” He sighed. “She did a great job. I took a look around earlier. The wedding will be beautiful.”
I smiled. “I’m glad.” I shifted on my heels. “Dad…thank you for doing this.”
I peered up, and he pressed his lips. He’d shaved his beard away totally. His face was the cleanest I’d seen it in months. Normally he rocked his scruff. “I love you,” he asserted. “You and Chance are my family, and all I want is for you to be happy.” I watched his throat bob as he said, “And when you’re with Cane, I see it. The light in your eyes. Your fire, and how alive you are when he’s nearby. He wakes you up—awakens a part of your soul that only he can touch. Who am I to stand in the way of that anymore?”
Tears crept to the corners of my eyes, but I blinked rapidly, trying to fan them away. “Oh, God.”
Dad chuckled. “Don’t cry on me. I can’t risk Lora’s wrath for messing up the bride’s makeup.”
I giggled, then rested my head on his arm. “I love you so much, Dad. I always will. Like Cane said, you’re the number one man in my life, for life.”
He smiled smugly, but I noticed the way his eyes glistened. “Oh, trust me, I know,” he said, then he gave me a wink.