Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I look into his eyes, those deep pools of sincerity and warmth that are bloodshot and haloed by lacerations.
In them, I see love. I see promise.
I see my future.
I take a deep breath, let the fluttering butterflies in my tummy settle, and smile. “Are you sure?”
“It hurts to talk, so don’t make me say it again.”
I lean down and brush my lips over his. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
“We’ll have to wait a while. Until I’m fit for human eyes again.”
I kiss him again. “I’d marry you today if I could.”
“No,” he says. “We’ll wait. Wait until Jesse and Rory get back from their tour. Until you and Brianna walk for graduation. Then we’ll have the most lavish, exciting wedding in the whole world.”
He closes his eyes then.
And I sit with him, holding his hand. I brush my lips over his dry, chapped ones yet again.
“I love you so much,” I say. “I love you so damned much, Dave.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Nine months later…
The Steel Family
and
The Pike Family
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
* * *
Brianna Brooke Steel
to
Jesse Francis Pike
* * *
Aurora Maureen Pike
to
Brock Alistair Steel
* * *
Caroline Rose Pike
to
Donovan Talon Steel
* * *
Madeline Jolie Pike
to
David Steel Simpson
* * *
Ceremony and Reception at the home of Talon and Jade Steel
Steel Acres Ranch
Snow Creek, Colorado
* * *
Special performance by Dragonlock
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Maddie
In all my life, I never dreamed of such a fairytale wedding.
A quadruple fairytale wedding at that.
Dave, Brianna, Donny, and Brock asked Ava and Brendan to take part to make it a quintuple wedding, but they decided to get married quietly a month earlier at Ryan and Ruby’s house. A very Ava ceremony, no frills and no fuss, and she is happily Mrs. Brendan Murphy.
Today is truly a merge of the Pike and Steel families.
And for once, I’m not the odd woman out.
It’s fall on the western slope, and our theme is rustic elegance. We used the autumn color palette of greens, rusts, and browns accented with gold—the elegance part.
Talon and Jade’s land has gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains, and they brought in a wide gazebo where we’ll all take our vows. It’s adorned with orange and yellow flowers and harvest fruits. Wrought-iron chairs are set in rows for our guests, arranged in a round so everyone has a good view of the gazebo.
The reception area is set up with round tables with fine green linens, gorgeous ivory china, crystal glassware, and sterling silverware. The centerpieces are cornucopias containing fruit from the Steel orchards. Brianna handpicked each apple herself.
The weather cooperated fully, so we didn’t have to set up the tents.
Off to the right is the stage where Dragonlock will be performing after dinner. Their encore of all encores.
Fairy lights and lanterns are strung throughout the trees and around the perimeter of the reception area. They’ll light up after darkness falls.
All of this is paid for by the Steels, of course. Dad finally came around. In the end, he decided that if his children could have the wedding of their dreams, he shouldn’t stand in the way.
All the men are dressed in white button-downs, black pants, and cowboy boots, but we women all went for flare.
Always the cowgirl, Brianna chose a white mid-length gown made from lightweight cotton, featuring a flowing prairie-style skirt. The bodice has delicate lace detailing and subtle beading, but the true star of the show are her white leather ostrich cowboy boots.
Rory chose a strapless white cocktail gown, reminiscent of the dresses she used to wear when she sang opera. The fabric is satin, and it shows off her figure beautifully. On her feet are silver sandals, and her toes are painted black—an homage to her new status as a rocker.
Callie’s choice surprised me. I figured she’d go for some kind of understated elegance. Nope. Her dress is white with orange trim to match the fire diamond on her left hand. It’s a tea-length gown with a dramatic low back and asymmetrical neckline. Her shoes are simple pumps dyed to match the orange trim, but the true standout are her eyes—her light brown works perfectly with the color choice. It also works great with our autumn palette.
Then there’s me.
Madeline Jolie Pike, soon to be Simpson.
My dress is the skimpiest of the bunch—a spaghetti strap sheath in white stretch satin. It hits me mid-calf and fits like a glove, and I love it. For shoes, I went with simple white slides accented with a few rhinestones.
Four brides, four different looks.
Four ecstatically happy women.
With four handsome men waiting to meet us after we walk down the aisle.
My father is talking to Callie out of earshot. He’s dressed identically to the grooms, except he insisted on a black jacket and tie. He took Rory aside and then Callie. He returns a sniffling Callie and meets my gaze.
“Madeline,” he says.