Bigger.
Better.
A grin broke through my crying. “I want that—for him to be happy. We were just talking to the police. I’m overwhelmed. There’s so much…” I shook my head.
“Storm clouds part, Julia. And then the sun shines. Sometimes it seems like a lot, but even Noah saw the floodwaters recede. We can leave that old box out here in the garage or we can take it inside, get your friend and Margaret, and go upstairs and get you ready for your wedding. It’s your choice.”
It’s my choice.
My thoughts didn’t linger on the women in my life who should be here, who should be filling this role. My mother would never say a dress was my choice. My maternal grandmother had passed before my grandfather, and I barely recalled my father’s parents.
Would those grandmothers be Paula’s age?
I wasn’t sure.
My mind wasn’t functioning on all cylinders.
Instead, my thoughts were overwhelmed with Paula’s kind gesture.
From the moment Mr. Fields arrived this morning, my stomach had been in knots. The questioning made my temples throb. With each passing minute, I felt our wedding slipping away. But now, in the mud room, staring down at this box, I felt the warmth of the sunshine as the clouds parted.
My eyes met Paula’s. “Thank you. I want to go upstairs, with you and the box.”
Julia
“We’re taking over your suite. So, no coming upstairs,” Vicki said to Van as the four of us paraded past on our way to the staircase.
Margaret carried the large white box. And thankfully, the police officers and Oscar Fields were nowhere to be seen. Van reached for my arm, stopping my progress. When everyone waited, I gestured toward the upstairs. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
Though I’d recovered from my breakdown in the breezeway, my emotions were still raw as Van pulled me against him, encircling my body with his strong arms. My arms held tight to his abdomen and my forehead fell to his chest as I sighed.
For a long moment, we stood, holding one another.
The beating of our hearts and exchange of our breath were the only sounds.
Words weren’t needed to convey our feelings.
It was as if in Van’s embrace I was revived, the strength I’d been lacking being replenished. Finally, I looked up, staring into the sensual emerald stare that still made my body react.
Red sin.
We still had it. Taking a deep breath, I realized my headache was gone.
A smile came to my face.
His deep voice reverberated through his chest. “I’ve been wanting to do this since I saw you in the kitchen with Vicki.”
I hugged him tighter and looked up. “You make everything better.”
“I don’t.” Before I could reply, he went on, “If it wasn’t for me, you’d be happily married and safe and sound in Chicago. You wouldn’t be in this Phillip and Madison mess.”
I shook my head. “The only person I want to marry is you.” My eyes widened. “I forgot to tell you—”
“That you love me?”
My smile returned. “I’ll never forget to tell you that.”
His thumb caressed my cheek. “You’re stunning, but when you smile, you take my breath away.” He kissed my forehead. “What did you forget?”