“I'm so excited for you.” She grinned back.
“For a while I almost didn’t think this day was going to happen.” Clara’s face lost some of its joy. “I couldn’t have imagined having our wedding now if Naomi hadn’t of made it. Or even if she hadn’t woken up yet.”
“But I did make it and I am awake,” a voice spoke behind them. “And even if I wasn't, I still would have wanted you to have this day and enjoy it.”
Naomi was in a wheelchair, she looked too pale and too thin, but her eyes were bright and sparkling every bit as much as the blushing bride’s. Clara hadn’t wanted her to leave the hospital to attend the wedding, but Naomi had insisted. She’d said there was no way she was going to miss her sister’s special day, so Sam had hired a nurse to come with her, since Naomi still needed careful medical observation.
Clara ran to Naomi’s side and kissed her sister’s cheek. “I'msoglad you're here. I mean, I think you should be in the hospital, but I'm also so happy to have you here. This day wouldn’t have been the same without you. Without both of you.” Clara lifted her gaze to include Aggie.
The three of them had grown close in the last six months, but the bond she shared with both of her half-sisters was still nowhere near as close as Clara and Naomi’s bond. Not for the first time, she wished she hadn’t been so stupid and stubborn ten years ago when they had come to her and asked her to be a part of their lives. That had been ten years wasted. Ten years where she hadn’t had the joy of having her sisters in her life.
But she wasn't going to dwell on that today.
Today was a happy day, and they all deserved a happy day after the horror of the last year. That horror would linger with them for a long time to come, but all of them had found a happiness that no amount of horror could wash away.
“I can't believe you wore the dress,” Clara giggled.
“Well, I wasn't going to come to your wedding in pajamas,” Naomi laughed. “And the dress is so pretty I would have hated for it to go to waste.”
Aggie agreed, the dresses were gorgeous. They were the same style as Clara’s wedding dress only instead of white they were a gorgeous shade of cherry blossom pink. “And you got your hair done,” she noted. Both she and Naomi had planned to have their hair done in the same style as Clara’s only without the veil. Instead, they had cherry blossoms tucked into the buns.
“Yeah, Sam wasn't pleased about the stop to the hairdressers, but I wanted everything to be perfect for today,” Naomi replied.
Clara’s face darkened. “I don’t want to hear any more talk about perfect coming from you, Naomi,” she said quietly.
Naomi’s gaze dipped and she refused to look at either of them. Aggie could sympathize, she had experienced something a little bit similar to what Naomi had and she hated that people knew. It left her feeling so exposed, and it must be so much worse for Naomi who had bottled up what had happened to her because she felt like she deserved it. But she was also glad that the truth was out, that Naomi didn’t have to hide it anymore, that she could accept it, come to terms with it, and hopefully start moving forward.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Naomi mumbled.
“And we won’t, not today, not until you’re ready,” Clara agreed. “But know that all of us are here for you, to help you in any way you need. You don’t have to be superwoman anymore, Naomi.”
Wanting to lighten the mood a little, Aggie asked, “Speaking of Sam, where is he? I thought he’d be glued to your side.”
Naomi smiled, such a warm, genuine smile that it almost brought tears to Aggie’s eyes. She loved seeing both her sisters so happy. “He’s right outside the door with the nurse,” Naomi answered. “I had to beg him to give us a little time alone. He said he would but give it another minute or two and he won’t be able to resist coming in to check on me.”
As if on cue, the door opened and Sam stuck his head in, making all three of them laugh.
“What?” Sam looked confused.
“Nothing,” Naomi assured him. “You said you’d wait out there.”
“I wanted to check on you, you’re supposed to be taking things easy, you’re still recovering from life-threatening injuries.”
Rolling her eyes at him, Naomi nodded. “I know. You remind me every chance you get.”
“Because I love you and worry about you,” Sam shot back, stooping to kiss Naomi’s cheek. Naomi gave him another eye roll but took hold of his hand and held it tightly. “Okay, everything is set, and everybody is waiting for you,” he told Clara. “You ready to go get married?”
“I'm ready.” Clara beamed. “Let’s get this wedding started.”
As they headed for the chapel, Clara took hold of both of their hands, and Aggie felt a sense of peace settle on her heart. She thought that maybe she was finally ready to let go of the fear and anger and distrust that had been holding her back in her relationship with Nick.
“I’ll take over.” She nudged Sam aside at the chapel door and took control of Naomi’s wheelchair.
“See you up the front.” Sam gave Naomi a quick kiss on the lips and went to join Jonathon and Nick at the front of the chapel.
“Ready?” Naomi asked.
Clara took a long deep breath. “Ready.”