Chapter 212 Paris - Monet

Chapter 212 Paris - Monet
"Oh, my soul!" Darla clutches her pearls when she sees me.
I smile at her in the reflection of the mirror, loving the full lace gown I'm wearing that Amy scoured for months.
I feel beautiful, my makeup not overly done just the way I like it, and also so sad, knowing Mom would have loved this venue just outside of Paris where only our very close friends and family will witness us getting married.
It's been a whirlwind of a year after Cole proposed, and I took the leap of faith and said yes. It wasn't an easy year, me doubting every single thing, scared that he would just walk out the door and never return. But even though he was drafted to The Empire Knights, first round-pick by the way, and had to move to New York, he called me every single second when both of our schedules allowed it. I went to every game that I could, often exhausted to the point where I was really worn out as it was my final year in school, but I still did it. I did it because I know how scared he was that all the work he put into himself to be a better man for me, would have been in vain, and I would end up leaving him anyway.
The truth is, no matter how mad I was at him, and no matter how hurt, it was always going to be me and Cole. I'm pretty sure we were destined to be together before we were even born, that the universe played a significant role of two artists meeting each other and becoming best friends.
And if I thought Cole was famous before, he's really famous now, playing with Alonso Moretti who will be retiring next season, and leaving Cole as the first-string quarterback.
He's never asked me to move, knowing how important school is for me, and even though he wanted to get married right away, I felt there were still some wrinkles in our relationship we had to smooth over. I go for therapy, as well as him, and then when time permits, we go for therapy together.
"She's stunning, right!" Amy is already crying, a tissue underneath her eyes to stop her makeup from ruining.
"So beautiful." Darla walks up to me and kisses my cheek softly. "Your mother would have been so proud."
I know she would have been, for how much Cole and I grew.
"Jerome is waiting outside, he's so excited to give you away." Darla takes my hand and leads me to the door in front of the garden we're getting married in.
It had to be a garden, and it might not look like Mom's, but I still feel like she's here with us today.
Jerome is beaming in his electric wheelchair as he leads me to where Cole is waiting for me at a flower arch at the end of the makeshift aisle, and even though Cole is crying when I approach, I'm not. This is not a sad day for me. Too many sad days have already passed in our lives, and today is a celebration because we overcame everything that was meant to break us.
Jerome squeezes my hand before he puts it in Cole's, who wipes his tears with his free hand.
"You're so beautiful." He whispers. "I can't believe you're mine."
We prepared our own vows, and when it's time for mine, Amy hands me my mother's letter.
"I didn't write my own vows." I clear my throat, scared that the tears may come now. "But I want to read the letter Mom left me so you can understand why I'm standing here today, why I chose to forgive you, and why I said yes."
I unfold the paper with Mom's handwriting, alredy thin and worn from all the times I've read it.
"My beautiful girl, when you're reading this letter, that means somehow I passed away, hopefully when I'm old and grey. In case I'm not, there are a few things I want you to know if you miss me and you need to hear my voice. I love you, more than all the colors in the world, more than a canvas or even more than my favorite paintbrush. I even love you more than Paris, and we both know that is my favorite place. In case I'm not here to tell you in person, I want you to live a life without any regrets. I want you to wake up in the morning and know that you made the right choice for yourself, not for anyone but you. Sometimes when we make choices, people may not agree, but as long as you feel it's right in your gut, then that is what you do. I want you to love like tomorrow is not guaranteed, even when your heart gets broken. I want you to forgive when someone does you wrong, not for them, but for you. I'm sorry that I can no longer be there for you and Cole, and you don't have to tell him if you don't want to, or even choose him if he's not your choice, but that boy loves you, Monet. In a way that I've never seen or felt love before. I hope that when you read this letter, the two of you would have found one another, like you should. I love you always, Mom. P.S. Go to Paris for me, visit all the places of art that you can, and eat too many pastries because that is what I would have done."
I think all of our guests are crying, Cole more than anyone, so much so that it's a struggle for him to say his vows.
"Kamila was right, I do love you more than words could describe, and in her letter to me she said I should always be there for you, protect you, and love you, as a brother if that is what we remain. But that she hopes we fall in love, and have a life neither one of our mothers got to have. I know I'm honored to stand here before you today and commit all of myself to you, and I will spend a lifetime proving to you that I'm worthy of you."
We say I do when the wedding officiant asks us the question, and we kiss long and slow with our family and friends cheering for us.
Cole is now my husband, who was first my brother, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Please stay tuned for Kamila's full letter to Cole, Cole's letters to Monet, and the epilogue!