Page 45 of Raven

I reached down and slipped the shoes off my feet before I stood. Looking in the full-length mirror, I loved what I saw looking back at me. My dress wasn’t white but a soft pink with simple lace sleeves. It was delicate and demure and the only time I’d ever wear something so beautiful.

Smiling at the image reflecting back at me, I thought about how I’d prepared myself to be alone, thinking it was easier than getting your heart broken. If someone had told me last year that I would be here today, surrounded by friends, about to marry the love of my life, I would question their sanity. Relationships and family were never in the cards for me. At least I didn’t think they were.

Turning back to look at the ladies who’d accepted me from the start, had been by my side helping me prepare for my wedding, and who I felt were my sisters, I asked with veiled vulnerability, “Do I look okay?”

“You’re beautiful,” Jackie said, followed by the others agreeing.

The only people missing were Laura and Phantom since they just got discharged from the hospital this morning. They had their baby two days ago, and when Caleb and I went up to see them yesterday, I fell in love with the beautiful little boy.

They named him Gabriel, and he was perfect. It made me want one, but not immediately. I wanted Caleb and I to have some time as a couple before we started our family. But we weren’t exactly careful where birth control was concerned, and I wouldn’t be upset if it happened sooner than we planned.

“I guess I’m ready,” I responded to the ladies, and they smiled back at me.

One by one, they walked out of the room, and I followed behind them. Uncle Billy was waiting at the base of the stairs as we walked down and when he saw me, he placed his hand over his heart and smiled.

“You are so beautiful, Syd.” Uncle Billy said and kissed my cheek.

He offered me his arm as the ladies walked outside and began to get into the vehicles waiting for us. Uncle Billy helped me down the stairs and out to a waiting SUV. After I got inside, he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side before getting in.

The drive over to the wedding sight took less than five minutes as we cut across the open range. He stopped at the top of a rise in the ground and parked the vehicle before he got out and came around to my side.

Offering me his hand, I got out as he reached into the back to grab a small bouquet of flowers. I linked my hand into his bent arm, and he muttered, “I’m proud of you, Syd.”

“Thanks, Billy,” I responded as we started walking down the small path toward the gathering of people.

Caleb was standing on the rock with a Chaplin from a friendly club the Sinners knew. When he saw me, his smile grew, and I saw his eyes glistening. Seeing him so happy made the nerves disappear.

Uncle Billy walked me to Caleb, and the two men shook hands before Billy went to stand next to Caleb’s family and the Sinners. Everyone was dressed comfortably, and they stood in front of the makeshift altar as the Chaplin began to speak.

I don’t remember the words we said to each other, just the feeling I had when the Chaplin announced Caleb and I to be husband and wife. It was a dream I never thought would come true and now that it had, I realized I had gotten everything I’d ever wanted.

The husband, the job, and the future.

And in this crazy life, isn’t getting your happy ending worth it all?