Page 229 of Dirty Rival
“Read it now,” Gabe insists. “If that’s what Cat believes mom wanted. Read it now.”
“It is what she wanted. She left me a letter that gave those instructions.”
I inhale a hard-earned breath again and let it out. I pull the letter from my pocket and turn away from both of them again. Somehow I get the envelope seal lifted and I pull the piece of paper out of the envelope to read:
My dearest son Reid,
You were the first child I brought onto this earth, and then you became my world. In you I saw the possibilities, the purpose, the reason I was on this earth myself. You, my son, shifted something inside my soul. As I watched you grow, I saw the future. Life hardened you, though, somewhere along the way and I fear I failed you, that I didn’t nurture you enough. That I didn’t love you well enough or good enough.
My greatest wish for you today is that you have found that love in a wife you will cherish. That she is your best friend. That she is your partner in life. That friendship you share is a gift. Protect it, nurture it. Never take it for granted and remain loyal and faithful.
If you are reading this, then I’m not with you on this very special day, but know that I wanted to be, that it would have been, and is through this letter, my greatest pleasure to be here with you, if not in body, in spirit. I’m here. I love you. I’m officially welcoming a new daughter into our family.
I’m cheering from heaven with the joy of you finding love. It’s all that I have wanted for you.
Love,
Mom
Chapter one hundred eighteen
Carrie
Ican’t even pace. I’m in my dress, ordered not to move, and waiting for Cat to come back to my holding room after giving Reid his mother’s letter. I turn and stare at myself in the mirror, my hair now a silky brown veil of beautiful waves the stylist created. The dress—it’s perfection. The sheer sleeves, the sheer bottom, the etched flowers in the center. It’s everything a girl could dream about in a wedding dress. Even the vee of the bodice is sexy but now altered to cover me fully for the group setting.
My cellphone buzzes with a text and I grab it from my purse that’s on a chair I’m not allowed to sit on. It’s from Reid, and it reads: I read the letter from my mother and all I could think was that I want to talk to you, which tells me I’m marrying my best friend. So hurry the hell up and come marry me already.
My heart swells with love for this man. I reply with: From enemies to best friends. That’s pretty perfect.
His reply: You were never my enemy. You were always the woman I was falling in love with. Come to me, baby.
My reply: I’m on my way.
I stuff my phone back in my purse and Mia is standing in front of me. “That was him, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“You glow when you talk to him the way I do when it’s Grayson. I love that man so much.” Her eyes tear up. “We almost lost each other. You and Reid and your love only drive home how lucky I am to have found Grayson again. We were apart a year.”
“I’m glad we found you as friends,” I say. “I really am. And you’re going to make me cry.”
The door burst open and Cat appears. “It’s time,” she says. “And sorry. The baby wanted me to throw up after that emotional moment with Reid over the letter. He tried to call you,” she adds, shutting us back in the room. “I told him that wasn’t an option. It’s bad luck.”
“He texted me.”
“Oh good Lord. The minute I left the room. Are you ready?”
Nerves explode in my stomach. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
“He feels the same.”
Another knock sounds on the door and my father enters, looking handsome in a tuxedo with a white tie to match the lilies. “Oh, honey,” he whispers. “You look stunning. That dress.”
“Thank you, dad. I’m so glad you’re here.”
He hurries forward and hugs me. “You ready?”
“No!” Mia says. “You need something old, new, borrowed and blue. Check down the list with me?”