Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty Caleb My phone beeping wakes me from a very peaceful sleep, tangled in the sheets with Hope. A glance at the small clock lets me know that it's 6am and way too early to be awake in Vegas. My phone is alerting me to a text message from the event planner Julie, telling me that she has arranged for a dress showing today for Hope. I had told her yesterday that Hope would need a dress and that I wanted to make sure she got to choose from the best. Madeline had ordered her wedding gown right away for her wedding because it takes so much time to custom order one, but Hope will have to pick from some already made. I was told they would be able to rush the alterations for our wedding. According to the text, Hope will be going with Madeline to a private showroom off of the strip at 8am where both will be fitted for dresses. Julie has also arranged for tux fittings for my father, brothers, Jackson, Nathan and myself. A small breakfast will be brought to the room at 7am and then separate cars will take us to our fittings. After Hope chooses a dress and measurements are taken, the girls will meet us for lunch and after we will all ride over to the courthouse to file for our marriage license. From there, Hope and Madeline will spend the rest of the afternoon at the spa getting a few treatments and then their hair and make-up done. The boys will be brought back here to hang out and then get ready for the ceremony. Another message lets me know that all of the members of my family have arrived and that Madeline was able to arrange for Tammy from the café to come for Hope. It's a surprise that I'm hoping she'll like. Julie has everything else set up, from the flowers to the minister. Everyone is to show up at the chapel in our hotel at 6:30pm and we'll get married as the sun sets upon the dessert. I have been told that sunset is the most beautiful time to get married in our chapel given that half of the room is made of stained glass and the colors glow under the light of the setting sun. I wake Hope up with a kiss to her cheek and let her know the plans for the day. I worry about being away from her after her fainting yesterday, but I know that she has been conscious of drinking more water and making sure she's eating something every few hours. I prop myself up on one elbow and look down on her as she adjusts her eyes to the sunlight that's beginning to spread across the room. "Are you nervous?" I ask. "I guess I am a little," she answers honestly and I run my finger down her forehead and nose. "What's making you nervous? Marrying me or just the ceremony?" It will break my heart if she still has any doubts about my intentions. She smiles up at me and then turns and props herself up on her elbow too so that we are eye to eye. "Just about the ceremony and meeting your father. I have no anxiety about being your wife." The sound of that word from her lips makes my heart race happily in my chest. I lean into her and kiss her briefly. "You should get in the shower so you're ready to eat when the food gets here. I want you to be very careful with your health today. It's not just you that you're taking care of." My hand slips down the side of her body until my thumb can brush across her abdomen. Hope places her hand on top of mine and smiles back up at me. "I'll take care of the both of us so stop worrying." She lifts my hand and kisses my palm before getting out of bed and heading for the shower. While she's in there I wake up Nathan and get him read for our day. As soon as Hope gets out of the bathroom, I take my shower and make sure to shave carefully. Our breakfast arrives right on schedule--bacon and eggs with toast for Hope and I and a giant bowl of sugary cereal for Nathan. Hope pretends to be irritated at me but can't help but giggle when Nathan scoops and enormous bite into his mouth. As I look at the two of them this morning, there's nothing but love in my heart. Today is going to be amazing. Madeline is at our door at 7:30am and folds Hope into her arms, swaying back and forth in typical girl manner. "Congratulations Hope! You're going to make a great mommy!" I watch as Hope hugs her back, genuinely relieved that our news is being taken so well. "Thank you Madeline, and thanks for going with me to the fitting today." "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it. I love wedding dress shopping. It will be a great time for us to bond some more and to get away from the boys for a few hours. I also get a little break from the twins." Hope nods at her and then grabs her purse and plants a chaste kiss on my lips before leaving. "Well, Nathan, I have a few more people I need to introduce you to." I take his hand in mine and we make the short walk down to a smaller suite. The men of my family are all staying together and I introduce Nathan to them. He instantly fits right in and makes himself comfortable on their couch watching cartoons until our car arrives to take us to our fitting. Madeline texts me about an hour later that Hope is doing great and feels good. I'm so relieved. I text her back a picture of Nathan in the tux he'll be wearing. It feels so wonderful to have my whole family coming together for this. When all of our measurements are taken, the car drives us over to the restaurant where we will be having lunch. We get there before the girls and get seated at our table. I'm watching the door as Madeline and Hope arrive. My heart practically stops at how beautiful and carefree Hope looks and I know right at that moment that I will spend the rest of my life doing whatever it takes to keep that look on her face. She and my sister are laughing about something and it's as if they've been friends for years. When they get to the table, we all stand to greet them and I introduce her to my father. After we have all eaten, Madeline clears her throat and reaches into her purse to get a small delicately wrapped box. My brothers and father also pull small boxes out of their pockets and put them on the table. I have no idea what's happening so when Hope looks to me I just shrug my shoulders and point my gaze to Madeline. "Hope, you're marrying into a very loyal and loving family. We've heard that things have been rough for you and your relationship with your mother, but no bride should be with out a few of the essential traditional things on her wedding day. I have no idea if these men are going to be able to pull this off, but I thought it would be fun to try." Madeline looks to my dad who hands his small box over to Hope. "Dad was in charge of something old." Hope takes the box and begins to unwrap it. Inside is a jewelry box containing a pair of diamond earrings that belonged to my mother before she passed away. My dad visibly swallows down a lump in his throat, "Hope, these were Caleb's mother's. She wore them on our wedding day. I hope they bring you as much love as they brought us." I watch as Hope and my sister's eyes fill with tears and she nods her head and thanks my father. "Ben was in charge of something new," Madeline manages to say though her voice is thick with emotion. Ben hands Hope his small box and she takes it from him with a thank you. Inside is a key ring with two shiny keys on it. When Hope looks up to him with a curious look he tells her what they are. "One of those is the key to our main office back home. The other is the key to our family home. You're family now. Family is always welcome at home and in our business." I nod my head in appreciation to my brother. Madeline's crying now and Hope has tears streaming down her face. I'm barely holding on to my emotions if I'm honest, but I can't wait to see how the rest of this plays out. "I was in charge of something borrowed," Madeline says and hands her small box over to Hope. Inside the box is a necklace and bracelet I remember immediately. I had bought them for Madeline on her eighteenth birthday. Delicate and detailed, a small heart formed out of perfect diamonds set in white gold and a single row of matching diamonds rounds the solid white gold bangle style bracelet. "Caleb bought me that set for my eighteenth birthday. They would look beautiful on you." Hope's eyes look into mine and I can't help but to close the distance between the two of us and kiss her lips even though me whole family is watching. I wipe a tear from her face and give her a smile. Madeline continues, "Brandon was in charge of something blue." Hope reaches out to accept the small package Brandon hands her. "You guys left the hardest one for me. Thank God you can get anything at anytime here in Vegas," Brandon says as Hope begins to open his gift. Inside is a white and blue lace garter with "Mrs. Stone" embroidered on it. Below it in the small box is a silver hairpin with small intricate blue flowers made of sapphires and diamonds. "They're perfect," Hope says and then thanks each of them again for the gifts. The waitress lets us know that our cars are outside when we're ready. I walk Hope to the car and slip my hands around her waist to pull her into a hug. Her soft voice is full of emotion, "I can't think of a more beautiful day. Your family is so wonderful, Caleb." I squeeze her tight and then kiss her lips. "In a few short hours they'll be your family too." For me, that time cannot come soon enough.