Page 97 of Desperate Measures
“I’m going! But we couldn’t have bad luck. I already lucked out the first time I married her.”
My heart swelled, and a chorus ofawwsfilled the air. But Leanna, my little sis, was not swayed.
“Out!” she ordered, and he saluted.
“Yes, boss.”
I grinned. He was right, though. I really was lucky.
An hour later and surrounded by my entire family, I married the man of my dreams in the back of my parents' home on the Long Island Sound. The weather was cool and dry for early June, simply perfect for an outdoor wedding.
My parents walked me down the aisle and my mom cried as she kissed my cheek then Liam’s.
It was hard at first, but my father accepted my husband. Even lending a hand with that lithium mine we now owned in China.
Mr. Chen was persuaded to walk away, and his daughter was given the choice to stay with ODI as long as she stopped pursuing my husband, or to leave without any retaliation since she had nothing to do with her father’s plans.
She chose to stay, and I considered it a testament to my faith in my husband that I was okay with it.
Our marriage didn’t start the way I’d planned when I was a little girl, but it sure looked like I was getting the same beautiful fairytale kind of love I watched my parents enjoy for years.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Preacher announced.
Liam grinned, pulling me close and pressing his lips to mine. God, I loved him, I opened my mouth for him, falling under his spell as he dipped me back to the whoops and hollers of the audience.
Only one voice was louder than the rest and his Russian accent grew more pronounced the longer our kiss lingered, “Enough!”
“Adrik, hush,” Mom shushed him, and my father just growled.
“Sorry, sir, but I can’t help it. I love her,” Liam replied, his brilliant green eyes sparkling with mischief as he gazed at me.
“Love her, okay. But kiss her less,” my father returned.
“Oh my God! Adrik,” Mom scolded. “He doesn’t mean it, Liam. And as her mother, I am telling you to kiss her, and often. Just maybe not in front of her father,” she amended.
“Yes, ma’am.” Liam said jovially.
He laughed, and I laughed, so happy I felt I might burst from it.
I’d finally found peace with my parents’, a closure I never knew I needed now that I had Liam in my life.
Having their fairytale love to look up to used to feel like this impossible pinnacle I would never reach, but I’d been wrong about that. I just had to wait for the right man, and I had him now.
Boy, did I ever.
I looked at Mom and Dad, a smile on my face as I mouthedthank youto them.
“Is it over yet? I mean, congrats and all, but can we eat now?” Leanna asked, sniffing the air, and I knew exactly how she felt.
“Leanna!” Mom mock-scolded, and Dad grinned as he scooped her up in a hug.
“Nah, it’s just starting,” Liam answered, kissing my nose and winking before he turned to the crowd.
The scents of wonderful dishes served up by my favorite caterers, along with homemade sourdough focaccia, made by my mother and aunts decorated the buffet.
We wanted this renewal of our vows to be a small and intimate affair, but when we all got together, there was one thing that remained constant in every festivity we shared, and that was food.
Good food.