Page 34 of Paradise Ties

They made their way out of the suite, and Jace saw his suit hanging up in the spare bedroom. He wondered if Lucy had gotten his gift yet.

* * *

Lucy heard the knock as she was getting out of the shower. She was going to get her nails and hair done then her make-up, hopefully leaving little time for her to freak out. Not about marrying Jace, just about something going wrong.

“Luce,” Megan called before poking her head around the door.

“Yes,” she answered with a warm smile for her beautiful baby sister, who had a parcel in one hand and Zoey on her hip.

“You have a parcel.”

“Oh, I wonder what it is?” She made a show of grabby hands, making Meg laugh.

Megan pushed it towards her. “Only one way to find out.”

Lucy put the parcel down on the bed and sat down.

“Do you want some privacy?”

She looked up at Meg. “No, come on, sit down with me.”

Lizzie poked her head in the door. “Private party?”

“No, come in. Luce just got a parcel.”

Lizzie moved into the room and took Zoey, kissing the child. “Oh, presents, I love presents.”

Lucy smiled at her sisters and felt the knot of emotion in her throat. She’d never believed she would have both her sisters by her side on her wedding day, and her niece too.

“Can you believe we’re all together like this?” she asked, taking her sisters’ hands in hers.

“No, it’s hard to believe thinking about everything that’s happened in the past few years. both good and bad,” Meg said looking at Lizzie.

Lizzie smiled. “The good far outweighs the bad. Just look at this little one here. We never thought this day would come, and while I hate what’s happened, I wouldn’t change anything as it meant we ended up here.”

“I know. Everything we’ve been through had to happen for us to end up together,” Lucy said. “I know it took me longer to come to terms with everything, but I want you to know, Meg, that I never stopped loving you and I never gave up hope. I was a bitch in the beginning, I know. That’s on me, and I’m so sorry if I ever made you feel unwanted. The last thing you are is unwanted in this family. You were the missing piece all these years, and now we’re whole and building the future in Zoey.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.” Meg sniffed. “Damn hormones still make me weepy.”

“Finally, the Bennet sisters are together. It feels surreal but also right. When I’m with you two, I feel like I can take on the world,” Lizzie said softly.

“Me too. Do you think that was why Rhea took me? Because she knew that together we could do,” Meg waved her hand around, “this shield thing?”

“Maybe, but she didn’t win. When we get home, we’ll need to see exactly what we’re capable of,” Lucy said.

“For now, let’s enjoy the day,” Lizzie said.

Megan nodded at the parcel. “Open it.”

Lucy pulled the wrapping off, and her heart skipped as she saw the designer’s name on the box.

“Holy cow is that...” Lizzie trailed off as Lucy nodded and lifted the lid to reveal the most beautiful shoes she had ever seen, three-inch stiletto pumps with a pointy toe, covered in tiny exquisite crystals.

“Oh, wow!” breathed Meg.

Lucy took the shoe out of the box and held it up to the light, watching as the tiny crystals glinted in the streaming sunlight.

“That man really loves you,” Megan said softly.