Page 65 of Save Us
It’s been a long time coming, but I finally get my real love, my daughter, my family, and my happy ending.
Chapter 26
Beth, three months later
“Wow, Mommy, you look really pretty!” Rosie gushes from the doorway. “Are you nervous? Casey just said you must be peeing your pants!”
I laugh at my little minx and still melt inside whenever she calls me Mommy. It didn’t take too long, being that she’s five and seems to accept whatever life throws her way, but I still thank my lucky stars for it every day. She could so easily have rejected me, given all that she’s had happen in her little life.
When I stare back at my reflection in the bedroom mirror, I can’t help thinking about my first wedding day for a moment or two. The dress I chose for today is more casual than the one I wore back then and given that I’m about to marry the man I love instead of the one I was forced to be with, I feel a little emotional over it.
“You ok, Mommy?” Rosie tugs at my skirt with her wide eyes looking worried for me. I stroke away the one stray tear I had let slip with my finger and give her a beaming smile to show her I’m more than ok. I’m happy.
“Sure, what’cha think?” I curtsey before her, and she giggles. “Beach ready or what?!”
“Definitely,” she replies, and I have to give her a squidgy cuddle, the type she’ll hate me for when she’s older. I sometimes wish I could just hit pause so I could have her like this for a little longer.
Our wedding is taking place at Bodhi’s stretch of beach, which is pretty perfect if you think about it. It’s where we shared our first kiss and where he had first laid eyes on me when I returned from the dead. He also told me it was where he got his first…let’s say, special feelings for me, but I think we’ll keep that between ourselves. I blush over the thought of it while I fiddle with my hair, which is falling in loose curls over one shoulder and being held in place by a decorative clip of pink roses to match my bouquet.
Casey and Rosie are my bridesmaids and are wearing long pink dresses to match the flowers. To be truthful, it was actually Casey who strove for pink. Rosie was much like me, not really minding what color she wore, so long as she could walk down the aisle with me.
“I’m a little nervous,” I giggle as I crouch down to meet her eye to eye, “but so long as you’re with me, I think I’ll be more than ok.” She twirls proudly on the spot with her long tresses tied up high by a whole load of little butterfly clips. “You look gorgeous, sweet pea!”
Just as we share a moment together, a sudden knock at the front door has both of us looking toward it before returning our eyes to each other. We both look as confused as one another; the car has only just taken Mum and Riley to Bodhi’s place and isn’t due back for at least another twenty minutes. I simply shrug, which she copies, then take hold of her hand to lead her downstairs to see who it is.
Whoever it is, is igniting quite the reaction from Casey, given that she has her signature flirtatious laugh going off in full force.
“Casey, who is-”
All the blood drains from my head when I finally lay eyes on the man she is unashamedly flirting with.
“Beth, you look beautiful!” Jonah Fox beams at me through the front door.
I remain silent in shock, with my little girl looking up at me with a furrowed brow, clearly waiting for some sort of explanation as to who this strange man is.
“Oh, forgive me, please don’t look so terrified, Beth,” Jonah says, now putting up a hand to try and calm the spooked animal that is me. “I just came to wish you and Xander my congratulations. I believe it’s been a long time coming.”
“Y-y-you’re not here to take me?” I stutter.
My words cause Rosie to look back at the man with a blatantly angry expression. It’s so cute, I would laugh if it wasn’t for the fact the situation has just rendered me speechless.
“No, no, no, of course not!” he laughs, which gives Casey the go-ahead to gesture for him to come inside. However, when he does, we both frown at the person who is now following on behind him. “Beth, no one is going to take you against your will ever again. A lot of things are changing in Mayfield, I’m making sure of it. Arranged marriages and forced partnerships being one of many.”
“Felicity?” I voice over to the woman who once-upon-a-not-so-long-ago was trying to attack me, only now she looks so much smaller than she once was. “I don’t understand.”
“May we?” Jonah signals to the sofa, smiling as we all sit down. Casey chooses to sit next to Jonah, probably a little too close for Xander’s liking. “Felicity is my cousin. We have only recently reconnected after having fallen out over…well, let’s just say it’s all in the past now.”
“Oh!” I gasp. “Sorry, I didn’t…wow, your cousin?!”
“Yes, I’ve brought her here so she can apologize to you in person,” he explains. I turn to see her smiling sheepishly toward the floor, just as he makes to stand again. “Perhaps, Miss Fenton, you could show me around while the ladies talk?”
“Sure!” Casey beams a little too enthusiastically to be anywhere near cool.
“My aunty Casey likes you,” Rosie whispers to him for all to hear, which makes him laugh. Poor Casey turns bright red and turns on her little niece with a chiding expression.
“This is Rosie,” I say to Jonah with pride, “my daughter.”
“Lovely to meet you, Rosie,” Jonah says to her, crouching down to shake her hand. He’s probably just caused Casey’s ovaries to groan over the sight. “You look just like your mommy. Would you care to show me around with your very lovely aunty?”