Page 317 of When a Soul Cries

My fingers rested against the intricate beading along my waist as I stared at my reflection. The ivory-white gown fit me so perfectly that I was almost afraid to move in it. Pearls and tiny beads covered the fabric from the strapless bodice all the way down over my hips, catching the light every time I shifted. It hugged my waist and curves before flaring around my knees into a long mermaid train behind me. My veil fell from my hair and spilled down my back, trailing over the floor.

I looked like a bride.

An actual bride.

That was the part my brain couldn't seem to catch up with.

This morning, I'd woken up beside Roman with no wedding planned, no dress hanging on a door, no idea that before the sun went down I would be somebody's wife.

Now my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

“Jesus Christ,” I whispered, pressing one against my stomach. “I'm really doing this.”

The bedroom door opened behind me.

“Don't throw up.”

I spun around so fast my veil shifted over my shoulder.

“Zari!”

The second I saw her, something inside me loosened.

Then she stepped farther into the room, and I saw who was with her.

Halo.

My baby.

She stood beside Zari in a little white dress, her fluffy curls fixed perfectly with white bows, those big brown eyes moving around the room like she couldn't understand why all the grown people had lost their minds today.

My hand flew over my mouth.

“Oh my God.”

Halo's whole face lit up when she saw me. “Mama!”

That was it.

The tears came immediately.

“No!” Zari rushed toward me, pointing before she'd even made it halfway across the room. “No, no, no. Sugga already threatened everybody about messing up your makeup.”

“I don't care.”

I gathered the front of my dress carefully and lowered myself enough to open my arms. Halo came straight to me, and the second her little body hit mine, I wrapped my arms around her.

For the first time all day, my hands stopped shaking.

I kissed one soft cheek and then the other, breathing her in while she giggled and reached curiously for my veil.

“You look so pretty, baby.”

Halo answered in a string of toddler words I couldn't make out before grabbing another piece of my veil.

I laughed, catching her hand. “Uh-uh. Mama needs that.”

When I looked up, Zari was watching us.