“Well, if I had to guess, I’d say someone is getting married today!”
I look at her, willing my tears to go away. “Explain please, before I have
a breakdown.”
She leads me over to the vanity and sits me down in front of the mirror. I look at myself, with my perfect make-up and my long hair done just the way I’ve dreamed. My hand covers my mouth as she hugs me from behind.
Dhara moves to my side and touches the dress hanging there. “For years, I’ve watched you mark dresses, hair designs and wedding ideas, knowing that if you were to ever get married again, you’d want your fairytale. Well, I’m here to say that your dreams are about to come true.”
“How?”
“Ajay,” she says. “He wanted to give you something new to start your life together over with. We’ve been planning this for weeks and let me tell you, Josie Westbury — that’s Liam’s wife in case you didn’t know — has some serious pull when it comes to weddings. Ajay asked Mrs. Harrison, your mom and me to pull this together.”
As if on cue, the door opens and my dad, dressed in a tuxedo, steps in. My mom follows and Evelyn is behind her, dressed in a matching gown. “Oh my,” I say as tears start to fall. “Ajay did all of this?”
Dhara and my mom nod. “We helped, but it was his idea. He wanted you to have your fairytale wedding, something he couldn’t give you before.”
“May I come in?” Katelyn asks as she peaks her head in.
“Of course,” I tell her. I stand and give everyone in the room a hug. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You have to say, ‘I do’, Mommy.”
I kneel and look at my daughter. “I think I can do that.”
34
Ajay
Quinn stands in the mirror, adjusting his bow tie. There’s a smirk on his face, one I can’t decipher, as he looks back and forth between his sister and me. To outsiders we’re nothing more than a band, a group of people who get together and perform. But to me, we’re family. They’re my family. Keane and his daughter, Chandler, Dana, Hendrix, Elle, and Quinn… we’re unconventional but it works for us.
Elle looks me in the eyes and smiles softly. I haven’t asked her what she’s thinking or even what her thoughts are about Whiskey and me, but I’ve seen her with Evelyn and she’s a natural. Quinn and Elle’s entire family have taken me in and welcomed my girls with open arms; it’s like we’ve always been this close-knit group, like they’ve been my family from the beginning. It’s taken me a long time to accept that blood doesn’t make a family. Love is all you need.
The door opens and Harrison and Katelyn walk in. One look at the woman who has become a mother to me and my heart lurches. She dabs at her eyes and comes over to me and Elle but pushes her daughter out of the way. “I’m so proud of you,” she says brushing her hands over my shoulders. “This is going to be the most perfect day.”
“I hope so. I’m waiting to hear from Dhara to make sure everything is okay.”
“It is,” she tells me. “I’ve seen her and Evelyn, and oh my… Oh Ajay, they’re just so beautiful.”
My throat tightens. “She’s here?” I don’t know why but there’s a part of me that thought she wouldn’t come, that being with me wasn’t what she wanted. I know what I’m feeling is relief, but it’s more than that and it’s hard to describe.
Katelyn nods. “And dressed. The church is filling up and Chandler looks so cute handing out the programs. The quartet is already playing, and the flowers are lovely. I’ve never seen whiskey colored roses until today. I don’t know how Josie finds these impossible colors.”
“You did an amazing job, Mom.” Quinn kisses her on the cheek. “Maybe you and Aunt Josie should go into the wedding planning business.”
She shakes her head. “I only plan weddings for my kids, that’s it. Two down, two to go,” she eyes Quinn and Elle. Elle holds her hand up, showing off her ring.
“I’m one step closer than Quinn.”
“Hey,” he says. “We haven’t been together that long. You and Ben, Noah and Peyton, and Ajay and Jamie have known each other for years. Years!” he throws his hands up in the air and we all laugh.
“Well, at least Ajay is making me a grandma.”
Elle and Quinn’s eyes go wide and there seems to be an intense standoff between the James’s. I want to step away but am intrigued with what’s going on. Harrison stands next to me, watching the three of them battle it out via staring contest. Katelyn raises her eyebrow, challenging her children.
“I’m not married yet,” Elle stammers.
Katelyn tilts her head and looks at Quinn. He tugs on the collar of his shirt and asks, “Is it hot in here?”