174 - Vegas Chapel

*Come on, Disney princesses do it all the time. They meet, they marry, they sing a catchy little tune as they ride off into their happily ever after. – Mary*

The building had been updated over the years and it no longer looked like it had in September of 1999. And yet, it looked very much the same. The counter where he had paid for the ceremony, and they had signed their marriage license was in the same place. A new display case with rings and shelves of bouquets were behind the wooden counter with the chapel logo on the front.

Large white tiles covered the floors where fake hardwood-looking linoleum had once been. The wood paneling walls had been covered by sheet rock and a light gray paint. Dark blue couches created the waiting area outside the three chapels.

Molly knew that the folding accordion walls had been opened to create one large room for the funeral. Having seen how many people had shown up today, he assumed that it would be standing room only.

Almost all the Saints had come out, along with at least a dozen Eagles. Camille had come up from Louisiana with twenty or so Cajuns and another two dozen Renegades. There were also the local Mongrels that she had befriended years ago when she lived here for a short period of time.

Suddenly, it was all too much. The walls were closing in on him as the memories of every new pretty joining their family flooded around him. His chest became tight, and he couldn’t catch his breath.

“I need a minute,” Molly whispered to his pretties and no one in particular. They were standing with him in the small foyer in the wedding chapel when he made the declaration. With no other words, he walked back outside into the Las Vegas heat.

Standing outside the twenty-four-hour chapel doors where he married his wife just over twenty years ago, he looked up at the bright desert sun. He was nervous to go inside the chapel. Everyone would be waiting for him inside.

Becks was now waiting for him where he had stood to wait for her twenty years before.

He didn’t remember being this nervous twenty years ago. Then again, he didn’t remember being this sober either.

What he did remember was how beautiful she looked coming towards him as his grandfather walked her down the aisle. Pops had been excited about his grandson getting married. And nervous that everyone was looking at him.

Reaching up he loosened the tie around his neck and the top button of his collar was quickly undone. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment before lowering his face and looking at his scuffed boots on the concrete sidewalk. His slight paunch obstructed his view slightly and made him grin as he thought of Becks patting his belly.

“Proof that you are getting older, so many babies and you’re just now getting a dad bod.”

Bright blue eyes shimmered with tears that he swiped away on the back of his big hands. His long black hair had a few strands of silver running through the braid. As was usual, especially with so many daughters, he had a pink lace bow at the end of his braid.

For once, there were no barrettes or ribbons on his beard. It hung loose down to the top of his sternum., considerably shorter today after his oldest son, Tobias, got a lollipop stuck in the coarse dark hair last night. Had it not been for the impromptu trim, the second piece of pink lace would have been at the end of his braided beard. Now it was tucked into his pocket where he would carry it from now on.

Pink because that was his Becks’ favorite color. His four other wives and all their children knew that he would do anything for his lovely bride. They all loved Becks and were here because of her. This had been her last request. Her celebration of life was to be held where she said her life began.

It was part of that request that had him wearing dark jeans, a pink Oxford shirt, his old beat-up motorcycle boots and his club cut. Over a hundred tough bikers from across the country all wore pastels to say goodbye to a single woman.

The cut was a leather vest with the Devil’s Saints patch on the back. A red devil rode on a motorcycle with a crazy look on his face, including a forked tongue sticking out the right side of his mouth and wide eyes. Giant angel wings came out behind him with a gold halo hanging precariously on his left horn.

Twenty years ago, he had stood at the end of the aisle, dressed similarly, and watched a vision in pink and ivory walk towards him. That warm evening in September had been perfect. Maybe even more so because if it had been put together in just a few hours.

And today would be perfect for his Becks. He made sure of it. She had it planned out and he and his other pretties made sure it went exactly how she wanted it. The whole club did. Everyone had worked together to ensure that today was perfect for the woman that they all adored.

The woman who, while grieving the loss of a friend, opened a charity in Jess’ memory. Their house had become too small for their growing family and Becks had built a new one for them. And made sure that everyone had some space of their own. The family had grown, and she never treated any of the other women’s children as if they were not her own.

He was lucky to have had Becks in his life for twenty years. They had all been lucky to have known her, and to have been loved by such a glorious soul.

As soon as he could settle these nerves and butterflies in his stomach, he would go inside and say his final goodbye to his heart and soul. His Becks.

The door behind him opened quietly. He didn’t turn, but he knew it was his oldest daughter, Priscilla.

“Daddy.”

“I know.” He whispered.

She stepped in front of him and gave him a watery smile. Gently she fixed his collar and tie. “Momma Becks is waiting for you.”

She was wearing the pink baby doll dress that had been Becks’ favorite when she was pregnant with Angel. Priss had always loved it, she said that it was a connection between her, Becks, and Priscilla’s birth mother, Jess.

The dress had been altered slightly to fit her smaller frame since Priss had her mother’s height and curves. They were emphasized by the black leggings, short skirt and low-cut wide neckline. Her hair was dyed black to match the rest of the family. Typically, she wore contacts to make her brown eyes blue.

Becks had asked that today she wear her glasses instead. She wanted to know that Priscilla would watch today’s events with eyes that matched her birth mother. Priscilla was the daughter of Becks closest friend who stood by her during one of the worst times of her life.

“I just needed a minute.” Molly whispered.

“I know.” She ran her fingers through his beard and then smoothed it all down. “You look handsome for her.”

His big beefy arms wrapped around her and pulled her in for a hug. “She’s always been beautiful for me.”

“She has.” Priscilla hugged her dad closely and fought back her own tears. Resting her head against his chest, she added, “She always will.”

Molly sighed and pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. “Let’s go see my pretty.”

Priscilla stepped back and looked up at him. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the base of her head. Standing before him was a beautiful young lady and he wasn’t certain where his little girl had gone.

But the teen in front of him still looked at him with adoring eyes. Molly reached up and cupped her cheek in his large, calloused hand. She leaned into the comfort and love that he offered. Smiling, he kissed her temple.

“You look beautiful, my little pretty.”

“Thank you, daddy.”

“I love you, Priscilla.”

“I love you, too.” She blinked back tears, but one slipped out and he captured it on his thumb.

“Come on,” he said gently pulling her to his side. “Take me to my pretty, my Becks.”