Make Me Yours(79)

Fuck Stephen, I have to wipe away the mist. She’s the most beautiful angel sent to bring me back to life.

Pastor Hibbert joins our hands, and Ruby bends down to take Lillie’s small hand. My daughter looks up at her in wonder, and after the pastor’s introduction, the three of us take our small candles and hold them together to illuminate the one larger candle in the center representing our new family.

Satisfaction calms my insides as I watch the yellow flame grow taller. I couldn’t have imagined I would have this chance again, and I’m so fucking grateful.

Lillie goes to sit on her grandmother’s lap, and Ruby and I take hands, reciting the words that will bond us together. I promise to love her, cherish her, protect her for the rest of my days. The words are so easy to say.

She looks up at me, and when she promises to love, honor, and care for me for the rest of her life, I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world.

At last we reach the part where I can remove that veil and kiss her beautiful lips. For a moment, I hold her in my arms, drinking in her beauty, making a permanent memory of this point in time, this time when I am given a second chance at love.

Our lips unite, our eyes close, and we’re swept up in the bliss of union.





*





Ruby


Lillie touches her daddy’s face before their dance, and my heart is just bursting. The music starts, and he leads her in a sweet version of “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

My dance with Remi was equally magical. We glided around the space, me lost in his eyes to the strains of Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” At the end, he kissed me gently, and I’ve been smoldering ever since.

Now, watching him with his daughter… Everyone’s sniffing.

“You’re making all your guests cry.” Drew is at my elbow, and I put my arm around her waist. She’s bouncing her new baby and smiling.

“You’re just a softie,” I tease. “Lillie picked this song all by herself. It’s when the Blue Fairy brings Jiminy Cricket to life.”

“That girl.” My best friend blinks quickly. “She really is adorable. It’s the second most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen.”

That makes me laugh. “Can you even remember your wedding? I feel like I’ve been in a daze the whole day.”

“You’ll go back and watch the video in a few weeks.”

The song ends, and Remi kneels down to hug Lillie. Everyone claps, and I expect the room to burst into partiers now that the official stuff is out of the way.

I’m surprised when my husband (squee!) motions for the DJ to give him the mic. The opening notes of Kenny Rogers fill the room, and my eyes go wide.

“He is not singing that.” My stomach flips.

My mom hops up and starts dancing, flapping her elbows like a chicken.

Drew is laughing so hard, she’s crying more. “Your mom should not be allowed to dance.”

“No joke!” I shout.

Remi launches into the opening verse of “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” and I can only shake my head and focus on how great his voice sounds. The crowd goes wild with his moves and his singing.

When he finally finishes, begging for God’s sake, that Ruby will please just turn around, I can’t stand it anymore. I squeal at the top of my lungs like all the other females in the room.

The mic is returned to the DJ, and his arms are around my waist as the dancers fill in around us.

“That’s a terrible song for a wedding!” I cry over the noise of K-pop.

“Your mother requested it.” Remi grins, as if he can’t tell my mother no.

My mind drifts to a moment before the ceremony, standing with Ma and looking at my version of “Mother and Sleeping Child.”

“You were always a gifted artist.” She says it as if it’s common knowledge, and not a dream I sat on for twelve years.

“You think so?” I can’t keep the sarcasm out of my tone. “What happened to art being a useless degree?”

She only clucks her tongue. “Art is a risky degree. It takes a lot of luck and a lot of patience.”

“You could’ve said that to me. I was old enough to understand that reality.” It’s times like this when I realize some old scars still ache a little—like a bad knee when a rainstorm is coming.

“It was a different time.” She turns to me and smiles, arranging my veil, warmth flowing from her eyes. “You are very beautiful, Ruby-ah. Your father would be very proud of you.” Her rare use of the diminutive makes my eyes heat.

“Thank you.” It’s the most I’m able to say.

She nods decisively. “Remington is a good man. He will make a good husband for you.”

I couldn’t agree more…

Now I’m in the arms of my husband, this beautiful man who gave me the courage to change my life.

Our crowd of friends flood the dance floor, jumping up and down, swaying their hips, pointing fingers disco-style, and pretty much dancing horribly to the music, but Remi and I are in our own separate bubble of love.

“I was just thinking…”

“What’s that, wife?” His low voice calling me wife, thrills my insides.

“The first night we met, you said you wanted me to help you.”