Charlotte
“This is it.”Hope squeezes my hands. “How do you feel?”
“Nauseous. Excited.”
“Perfect.”
Someone knocks on the door.
Mercy hurries to answer it.
“I’m here for the bride.” Rock’s rumbling voice somehow calms my nerves.
“That means I need to get downstairs,” Mercy says. She kisses my cheek. “I’ll see you in a few.”
“Thanks.”
“I need to get Grace down there, too,” Hope says.
“I’ve got her,” Shelby offers, holding her hand out for Grace.
Grace eagerly runs to Shelby, smiling wide.
“Aw,” I sigh.
“Thanks, Shelby.”
“No problem.”
Rock curls his arm around Hope’s waist, kissing her cheek and murmuring a few words in her ear. Then he sweeps his gaze over Lilly, Serena, and me.
“Lilly, Z’s in the kitchen waiting for you.”
“Let’s get this party started, Charlotte.” Lilly claps her hands.
“Serena, Gray’s waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs.”
She struggles to push herself off the bed and Rock hurries to help her up.
“I got you.” Lilly grips Serena’s arm and guides her out.
Rock focuses on me. “How do you feel?”
“Eager to see Marcel. How’s he doing?”
His mouth curls up at the corners. “Same as you.” He takes both of my hands in his. “You’ve both overcome a lot of obstacles in life. And I’m so happy you found each other to face the rest of what life throws at us, together.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“There’s no one else who’s more perfect for…my son. And I’m proud to have you as my daughter, Charlotte. You can always come to me for anything you need. No matter what.”
Rock’s words touch me deeply. I’d never felt the same level of love or acceptance from my own parents. Hot wetness stings my eyes and I open them wide, hoping to dry any tears before they fall. “I know you had doubts about me in the beginning, so that means a lot to me.”
“I don’t have any doubts about you now.” He hugs me tight, then offers me his arm. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
Hope gives me a quick hug and I have a twinge of guilt for not asking her to be a bridesmaid after all.