Page 35 of Paradise Ties

“He really does, and I love him. So much it terrifies me sometimes.”

“That’s how you know it’s real. I never had that with Marco. He gave me a beautiful son, and I don’t regret that, but we never had what either of you two have,” she said, encompassing both her sisters in a hug around Zoey. “Cherish it, because it’s something most people never have.”

“I will, Liz,” Lucy said.

Lizzie nodded and handed a fussing Zoey back to Megan. “Now let’s go to the spa and get ready for you to walk down the aisle, or should I say sand.”

Three hours later Lucy stood in the bedroom beside Lauren, both in their bridal gowns. Her dress had a white lace bodice with a scoop neckline, and a layered chiffon skirt split up the middle. She’d decided against a veil, and her hair was in a loose intricate knot with a pearl and crystal comb at the back. She wore flat thong sandals with crystals on the T-bar and was carrying a bouquet of white orchids with pale peach roses and areca palm leaves.

Lauren wore an ivory gown with spaghetti straps, a deep plunging neckline, and a full chiffon skirt with a handkerchief bottom. Her hair was swept back into soft curls that fell down the bare expanse of her back, and tiny peach roses and gypsophila adorned her hair. On her feet she had a pair of cream lace wedges with ties wound around her ankles, and she was carrying cream roses with coral hibiscus flowers, pan leaves, and a few tiny forget-me-nots in honour of Claire. Her jewellery was a single diamond chain around her neck, a wedding present from Dane.

“You both look so beautiful,” Skye said.

“So do you all,” Lucy said as she turned to the women who would stand up for her. “Look at you, the most stunning bridesmaids in history.”

Skye, Lizzie, Megan, Ava, Celeste, Aubrey, and Roz were their joint bridesmaids. While they all wore knee-length pale peach chiffon dresses, they had differing necklines. The flower girls—Paige, Katarina, Natalia, and Leah—looked gorgeous in ivory dresses with lace around the shoulders and neck and tiny pleats falling to their calves.

A knock broke through her thoughts and her father stepped inside, looking dashing in a navy suit with a white orchid in his lapel. The white shirt with no tie fit perfectly for a beach wedding. He was followed by Drew who looked just as handsome in the same outfit. Even as hopelessly in love with Jace as she was, she could acknowledge Drew’s handsomeness. He was a good man with a big heart, and he’d make someone very happy one day. Lucy had a feeling Drew’s time was coming and he’d get his happy ending.

“Princess,” her father said as he walked to her and took her hand, then turning to take one of Lauren’s too. “You both look stunning.” Lucy heard the wobble in his voice and swallowed, trying her best to hold it together.

“We’ll give you a few minutes. But no making her cry, Dad,” Lizzie warned as she and the others left the four of them alone.

“I hope you know how happy it makes me to welcome you into our family, Lauren. My son was lost until he found you. Now he’s happier than I ever could’ve hoped for.”

“Thank you, Colin. I love him very much.”

“I know you do, sweetheart.” He turned to Lucy. “My baby girl, for so many years you carried a burden I never would’ve wished on anyone. I am so proud of the woman you are and the battles you’ve overcome to get to this place. I know your mother would be as proud as I am today.”

“Thank you, Daddy, that means a lot,” she said, sniffing.

Her father had always been her rock, the man she wanted her life partner to measure up to, and she knew she had that in Jace.

“She would’ve wanted you to have this.” He produced a set of pearl and diamond earrings from his pocket. “I gave them to her the day we got married. She’d want you to have them.”

Lucy was losing the battle now and swiped a stray tear from her eye. Her father held her bouquet while she clipped in the earrings. “Now, how about we get you two down to the beach before those boys send the cavalry after you?”

Lucy and Lauren nodded and as she took her father’s arm and Lauren took Drew’s. She knew she’d remember this moment until she died as the day she finally forgave herself for the past.

Chapter 15

The car journey was short, less than a mile to where they’d marry the men they loved. Drew helped Lauren from the car, and she saw her bridesmaids and flower girls waiting. Aaron and Leah were being looked after by Meg and Ava. Mateo was the ring bearer for Lucy and Jace, and Noah was doing the honours for her and Dane. Riley was an usher with his father. The boys looked like mini versions of their handsome fathers in their suits.

Looking around, she could see all the details Lucy had put into the day and knew it was those details she would cherish as much as the day itself. A sign on the carpeted aisle read: ‘Please pick a side, you are loved by the groom and the bride.’ A wicker basket with free flip flops for everyone at the entrance of the beach made her smile.

“Ready?” Drew asked as the acoustic version of ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran started playing. It had taken the four of them nearly three hours to agree on that song, and she’d honestly thought Dane was going to strangle Lucy by the end of it. At least the recessional song had been an easy one to pick.

She took Drew’s arm and smiled. “Ready.” She was going to walk down first, then the bridesmaids, and then Lucy and Colin.

As she stepped onto the pale coral carpet and saw all her friends and family waiting to watch her get married, she felt a pang in her heart that her mother and her best friend couldn’t be there to see her happy.

Drew squeezed her arm gently. “They’re with you, Lauren. Your mum and Claire are with you every day.”

“When did you get so wise?” she asked as she laid her hand on his cheek.

“When I met my big sister.”

Then as the music played, everything else except the man waiting for her fell away. He was dressed in the same outfit as Colin and Drew but with an added waistcoat. Daniel stood beside him and beside them, Jace and Jack. Her eyes held his, and she saw him swallow as he watched every step she took towards him.