“What’s up?”
“Just—wanted to say how proud I am of you. All of you, but you especially.”
“I keep thinking we’re going to hit the point that doesn’t feel or sound weird,” I admitted. “But thank you. Not just for saying it, but for being supportive. For looking in on her grandparents and making peace with them somehow.”
“That was more Hank than me, I accept their right to hate me, but they don’t. They really do want to let the past go and they want a chance to have Frankie in their lives. Makes me miss Dad, though.”
“I miss him every day.” I touched my waistcoat, where the pocket watch rested securely. “Still feels like all I have to do is pick up the phone and call him. But it gets easier. I can almost hear him.”
Dad chuckled. “So can I. He’d be giving me a firm look and a wag of his finger. ‘That’s enough of being maudlin on the sprout’s wedding day.’”
Fuck. “Yeah, that definitely sounds like him.”
“Well, he would probably give you some kind of sage advice about how a happy wife leads to a happy life. I’m not that sage, so I’m just going to tell you—don’t give up. Trust your gut and don’t give up.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Excellent.” Then he pulled out an envelope from his pocket and I groaned.
“Dad…”
“Ah,” he said, holding it up. “This isn’t a check. However, I did make some purchases for you and Frankie in your names. And a few tidy investments.”
“Okay. Then what is it?”
“It’s the deed to the house on Long Island. Not a wedding present, since Dad wanted you to have it, but I made sure it was in all your names as promised.”
“Thank you,” I said as I took it. “I know you were planning to make sure we have it and we’re still not using it full time for a while yet. Just—a house to get away and maybe to have the whole family for Thanksgiving again.”
Dad grinned. “I’d like that, and there’s Jeremy. Time to go.”
It definitely was. I put the deed away and grinned at Jeremy. He looked quite good in his dove gray suit. He and Miss Abigail would be standing up with us. We couldn’t decide on a better best man than Jeremy for all of us.
Leaving Dad to head outside with the guests, I headed toward Jeremy. “You need to get into position,” Jeremy said, checking his watch. “We’re definitely moving on time. The bridesmaids are already down here and ready.”
I turned to look, but at Jeremy’s cluck, I laughed and headed out. The rose garden had five pathways leading to the gazebo in the center. That was where we would be exchanging our vows.
Jeremy and Miss Abigail would make their way to the gazebo after the bridesmaids. Frankie had joked that Jeremy could be her best man too because, in truth, the only other people we would ask were each other.
The music playing shifted to the song that would begin the slow processional for the bridesmaids. It was kind of funny that she only had three. Becca and Louisa had begged off of doing it. Blake, however, was all in, as was Trina.
Chloe was definitely out there. Blake and Trina wore dresses that matched their brother’s waistcoats. Chloe had on a deep blue one to match Bubba. But the garter I’d left Frankie with her lingerie was red for mine, so that worked just fine.
We had about a hundred guests. A small wedding, or so we’d been told. But I didn’t want a bunch of strangers. Having a few members of the Standish board present was enough. This was our wedding with our friends and family.
Chloe was the first one down the aisle, then Trina, followed by Blake. From where I stood, I had a good view. The music changed. Not quite the wedding march yet, though I had joked we should really change it up, but Frankie liked the standard.
Jeremy started forward, and I grinned. He wasn’t alone. Rachel moved alongside him, looking all kinds of elegant. Definitely a sight for sore eyes, and hell yes. Made me wonder if she was the present Dominic had to drop off with Frankie before he came to see us.
Didn’t really matter. The important thing was that Rachel was here.
Now the day would be perfect for Frankie.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME
FRANKIE
The knock on the door pulled me out of the calm I’d been trying to gather to myself. I’d been surrounded by mothers, sisters, and friends. Patience had even come in and offered me a bracelet for something old, and even though I had the coin from Hank’s mother, I took it for my something borrowed.
That seemed to make her happy. Hair done and cosmetics fixed, I promised to call if I needed help getting ready, but I really just wanted a few minutes to myself.
“Yes?”
“It’s Dominic,” he called. “I brought you a little something and the papers for you to sign.”
Hadn’t I already signed them?
Dressed in the robe, I moved to the door and pulled it open. Only it wasn’t Dominic standing there but a sight for sore eyes.
“Rach…”
“Hey, babe,” she said with a slow grin, and when I threw my arms around her, she hugged me back. “I got this,” she was saying over my shoulder. “Go on.”
I barely caught Dominic’s smile as he winked at me then he was striding away. I all but dragged Rachel into the room with me. “You’re here!”
She laughed. “I am! And you’re getting married in less than an hour. What do you need?”
I didn’t need anything that wasn’t here now. “Your dress…”
Then she was pulling off the jacket, and I stared at the pretty gold dress she wore. “Yellow roses,” she reminded me. “They’re for friendship. I really love the choice.”
I loved her too. All at once, I went misty-eyed and Rachel gave me a brusque look. “Nope. No messing up the cosmetics. Come on, let's do this.”
Just like that, Rachel took over.
“Do we like your hair like this, or do we want to do something different?”
I laughed. With a question like that—” What do you think?”
“I think I got here just in time.”
As it was, she only changed it a little. Loosening it from the updo and pulling it over one shoulder.
“No veil, right?”
“Nope,” I said. “And no tiara. The moms were all trying to talk me into one.”
“Eh, a tiara isn’t enough for a queen. You’d need a crown.”
I laughed. “I got you. That’s even better.”
“Don’t you dare make us cry. I need to save this smudge-proof test for when we’re in the ceremony.”
Soon as my hair was fixed, I pulled off the robe and she gave me a low whistle of appreciation.
“I gotta give it to Rich Boy, his taste in lace is…” She made a chef’s kiss. “The red garter is a nice touch.”
I turned to show her the four charms on the side of my panties. “I like these.” A plane. A guitar. A Greek capital letter for psi. And the gold A from my very first date with Archie.
“Those are adorable. Okay. You can definitely keep Rich Boy.” At my expression, she laughed. “I know, you’re keeping all of them. But let’s get you in that wedding dress. I’m kind of excited to see it for real since I’ve only seen it on video calls.”