Chapter 76 Something blue

Chapter 76 Something blue
We truly don't know what the future holds for us.

Life doesn't care how carefully we plan our futures. Sometimes, the plans we make for ourselves don't happen the way we imagined them.

Growing up, I always pictured myself getting married at twenty eight, with a successful career, having everything figured out, and only then would I become someone's wife.

I definitely didn't imagine getting married at twenty-four or becoming a mother at twenty two either.

Yet here I am.

Life really has a funny way of giving us things we never knew we needed.

"Mommy!"

I smile when I hear Lexi's little voice from the other side of the door.

"I'm here, baby."

The door opens slightly, and her little face appears through the gap.

"You're taking too long."

"Am I?"

She nods, pushing the door open and walking inside.

She's wearing her little flower-girl dress, her curls decorated with tiny flowers.

"Do you like my dress?" I ask.

"Yes. You look like a princess."

My heart melts and I kiss the top of her head.

My Peanut.

My entire world.

"Okay, flower girl, we need to get you ready."

Mo walks into the room, followed by Hailey and Maya.

Maya gives Lexi a smile before helping Mo fix the little flowers in her hair.

I watch them for a moment.

Everything isn't exactly how I once imagined it would be, but I've learned that perfect doesn't always mean having everything go according to plan.

Sometimes, it simply means having the people who are meant to be there.

"Hailey, this is beautiful. I'm not sure how you did it, but this is everything I wanted."

My voice becomes a little shaky as I look at my dress.

"Please don't start crying," Mo warns, fanning my face. "I am not doing all this makeup again."

Hailey steps closer, admiring the dress.

"I'm just happy you trusted me with it."

"Of course I did."

Hailey designed my dress from the few details I gave her when she asked what I wanted. Somehow, she had taken the picture in my head and turned it into something even more beautiful.

Maya walks over and gently squeezes my hand.

It's strange to think that a woman I met during my internship would end up being here on one of the most important days of my life.

We stayed in touch after my internship ended.
Having her here today makes me realise how many unexpected people life has brought into my world.

People I never planned for.

People who stayed.

"Everything is perfect,” Mo says, adjusting my veil.

Before anyone can say anything else, a familiar voice comes from behind.

“You look like your mum when she married your father."

I turn around, and my face immediately lights up.

"Grandma!" I rush toward her and wrap my arms around her.

"Careful, girl. You'll wrinkle that dress before you even get to the altar." She laughs, hugging me.

I pull away laughing and we watch the girls take Lexi with them to give us space.

Grandma sits on the couch, and I join her.

For a few moments, we simply sit together. I know we're both thinking about the same person.

Dad.

I swallow the lump in my throat.

"I wish Dad was here."

Grandma reaches for my hand.

"I know, sweetheart."

She squeezes it gently. "He would be so proud of you."

I look down at our hands.

"And you know what? Your father would probably be crying harder than everyone else in that room."

I laugh through the tears threatening to fall.

"Probably."

Grandma shakes her head.

"No. We aren't crying today."

I wipe beneath my eyes.

"I'm trying."

"Try harder."

I laugh.

And somehow, in the middle of all the noise and excitement surrounding my wedding, this quiet moment feels exactly like what I need.

A few minutes later, there is a soft knock on the door.

"May we come in, Pumpkin?"

I smile immediately.

"Yes, come in."

Sam peeks through the doorway first, followed by Noah. Grandma squeezes my hand and smiles my brothers before walking out.

They're both dressed in their suits, and for a moment, I just stare at them.

"You look beautiful."

I shake my head, already feeling the tears coming. He laughs and pulls me into a hug.

"You're not allowed to cry."

"I'm not crying."

"You are."

"Sam."

He pulls away and gives me a playful look.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop."

Noah steps forward and takes my hand.

"You are beautiful, Stalina."

I smile. The older Noah gets, the more he resembles Dad.

Sometimes it catches me off guard.

I know Dad won't be here to see me walk down the aisle, but somehow, I feel closer to him now than I ever did.

Maybe it's because Mum has finally started talking to me about him and because I've spent more time with his side of the family.

Or maybe it's simply because I've stopped running from the memories.

"Are you ready?" Noah asks.

I take a deep breath.

"Yes."

Sam clears his throat.

"Good. Because Hayden has been standing out there looking like he's about to faint."

I laugh.

"He's nervous?"

"Terrified."

"Good."

The three of us laugh.

I look between my brothers.

"Thank you."

Noah squeezes my hand.

"Always."

Sam pulls me into another quick hug.

"Come on. Let's get you married."

Before we leave, however, someone rushes into the room. My eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets.

I definitely wasn't expecting to see my father's younger brother.

"Uncle Nick?"

He gives me an almost apologetic smile.

"What are you doing here? I mean, I thought you weren't coming."

"I wouldn't miss this."

He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small box and hands it to me.

"What's this?"

“Something blue,” He says with a shrug.

I open it. Inside is a beautiful sapphire necklace.

"Your grandmother said your father was supposed to give it to your mother when they got married."

My breath catches.

"But he never got to it because things were so rocky between both families.

"She wants you to have it."

He steps behind me and carefully fastens the necklace around my neck. I look at myself in the mirror. It is beautiful, but somehow, it's more than a necklace.

It's a piece of my father.

A piece of a life that ended before I was ready to let it go.

"I'm sorry," Nick says quietly.

I look at him through the mirror.

"For what?"

"For being absent."

He pauses.

"My anger toward your mother shouldn't have made me disappear from your life. You and Noah didn't deserve that."

I don't say anything.

"I know it's late," he continues, his voice breaking slightly, "but if you'll allow me, I'd like to be part of your life."

"You have good timing."

His eyes fill with tears.

"So... that's a yes?"

I smile.

"That's a yes."

He pulls me into a hug.

Hugging my father's brother doesn't feel strange. It feels like coming home to a piece of my family I didn't know I was missing.

Our wedding planner pokes his head inside.

“Are we finished with the emotional reunion?"