Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“I hope so. Now, let’s get inside before we miss the wedding.”
Nuala and I sat on the bride’s side since Maggie was our new bestie. There was an older, well-dressed couple to our left that we got chatting to. Their names were Alan and Jim, and Maggie had worked for them for years before she’d started her new job with Jonathan. Alan was also an artist, and he’d helped get Shay’s art into a gallery, which was news to both me and Nuala since we hadn’t even realised Shay was an artist on the side.
The interior of the church was beautiful, and there was a lovely calm, relaxed vibe amongst the eighty or so attendees. As we waited for Maggie to arrive, my attention wandered to Shay, where he stood by the altar, Rhys next to him as they exchanged a few words in sign language. Ever since my divorce, I’d been determined that I’d never get married again, but with how much I loved Rhys, my perspective was shifting. I wasn’t keen on shackling myself to another person, but the idea of being shackled to Rhys didn’t fill me with fear or dread. Quite the opposite. It filled me with hope. I’d be lucky to spend the rest of my life with a man like him.
“Why am I getting emotional already? I always cry at weddings,” Nuala whispered, and I shot her a fond smile.
A string quartet played up near the organ, and when Maggie appeared, arm in arm with Jonathan—who she’d asked to give her away—my heart filled with excited flutters. Her dress was a simple floor-length gown in soft, ivory silk, her auburn hair in a loose up do, tendrils falling gently down either side of her face and a small veil over her features.
She was utterly stunning.
Her half sisters, a girl in her midteens and another around nine or ten, both with dark hair, acted as her bridesmaids, which I found rather endearing. They wore dresses that were the same shade of pale blue but in different styles. Her two half brothers, who were also young, wore suits like the ones Shay and Rhys wore, and that just about broke me in terms of cuteness, especially since the two boys looked so proud to see their big sister get wed.
The crowning moment of the ceremony, though, was Shay’s dog, who dutifully trotted up the aisle as the ringbearer, soliciting many gasps and coos of delight from the pews. I’d never encountered such a chill, well-behaved dog in my life. He took the whole thing in stride.
When the priest pronounced them both husband and wife, Nuala and I were squeezing each other’s hands, both of us shedding tears of joy for our new friend. It was as Shay drew Maggie close for the kiss that I felt eyes on me. Rhys’ gaze fell on mine, and something about his expression had a lump forming in my throat.
The sooner I confessed my love to him, the better. At least then, he could decide if he wanted me, and the decision would be out of my hands.
36.
Rhys
I was just finished talking to the photographer when I spotted Nuala and Charli leaving the church. They walked to the road, and Charli threw her hand out for a passing cab.
“Hey,” I called, jogging their way. “I’m driving to the reception if you two need a lift?”
It was difficult to keep my eyes off Charli. Not only had I not seen her in two whole weeks, she looked more beautiful than ever. And that was an achievement because she was always beautiful. The last six months had been the most challenging of my life. Not even when I was stationed in dangerous locations during my time with the legion had I struggled so much. Tearing myself away from Charli, giving her the space she needed to grow and learn independence, was the hardest, most selfless thing I’d ever had to do.
“Rhys, thank you. That’s very kind,” Nuala said with a smile. “We decided to take cabs today so we can both drink at the reception.”
“Well, I’m happy to be your designated driver. Come on,” I replied, motioning them to follow me.
“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Charli said softly as she fell into step next to me. Even hearing her voice soothed something inside me. I’d missed her low, feminine cadence.
“Oh, it was stunning,” Nuala agreed. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when that dog came trotting up the aisle with the little velvet bag in its mouth.”
I chuckled. “I doubt Maggie will be pleased to hear you think the dog stole the show.”
“Oh hush, Maggie hates attention. I’m sure she’d be happy for Daniel to take the spotlight,” Nuala disagreed.
When we reached my car, I clicked my keys to unlock the doors. Nuala immediately hopped in the back, and when Charli moved to join her, I pressed my hand to the curved hollow at the base of her spine, unable to resist inhaling her intoxicating perfume. “Sit up front with me,” I requested, and she peered at me, cheeks flushing in a way that made me suspect my touch wasn’t entirely unwelcome.