“Mia, Hudson has one last surprise for you,” Jagger tells me.
Glancing around the reception, all the men have their heads bowed. They know what’s about to happen, they know what’s to come and I’m scared.
“Mia…” Just one word takes my breath away, looking to Hudson, I see that his eyes are on me. He reaches for my hand and I intertwine my fingers through his, squeezing hard as more words come. “I’m so proud of you baby girl.”
The tears fall. “How?” I gasp, unable to quite comprehend how he has my father’s voice playing right now. Something I have always wanted to hear again but never thought would be possible.
“Your mom had videos of you and your father. We managed to take the audio and make this,” Hudson whispers, “Keep listening princess, there’s more.”
“I love you baby girl, you’re always with me.” Warmth runs through me at listening to the words he always used to say to me.
Mom’s laughter fills the air and I look to Harrison, his hand goes to his chest and he rubs, almost as if he’s trying to ease the pain. “Always with us. Both of us,” she tells me and I shake my head, that’s what she would say whenever my father would say that he loves me and that he’ll always be with me. It was something they would laugh about.
“Mia, you have turned into a beautiful young woman. I am so proud of who you have become.” I frown, I don’t remember my mom saying this, when did she? “You and Hudson are perfect together. I know that you two are going to be extremely happy together.”
My tears fall and I let them, why have I not heard that before? Where did it come from?
“Always remember that we are with you. We love you.” Both mom and dad say in unison.
I hear sniffing and turn to see Sarah crying too. I didn’t think that Hudson could get any sweeter than he was, but this, this is more than I could have ever imagined.
“Princess,” he says and I try my hardest to pull it together, the tears are falling thick and fast, I’m trying to make my breathing even but it’s no use, I’m sobbing and there doesn’t seem to be any let up. “Fuck.”
“Told you, they’d cry,” Jagger says, as Hudson pulls me into his arms,
“By the way, where’s the food?” Jagger shouts.
“Jagger!” Sarah yells, “Don’t be so selfish.”
I laugh, those two are so loud but yet so beautiful together. I’m glad they’ve gotten back on track.
“That’s what I like to hear, I didn’t intend to make you cry,” Hudson whispers in my ear.
“They were happy tears. I’ve always wanted to hear my father’s voice one last time and you gave that to me. It was the best present I could ever have. Not only that, you gave me my mom’s laughter, you gave me her happiness.”
“You have to thank my father. He and your mom had a conversation, and she recorded a message for you afterward, dad said she was practicing what to say to you. I think that having her last words to you was fitting.” He kisses my head, “I have it saved onto a flash drive, if you want it, we can transfer it to your phone.”
“I want,” I whisper, more than anything.
“First thing tomorrow morning I’ll do it. Tonight, I have more important things to do.” His hands slide across my stomach, his dick hard against my ass. “I need to take care of my wife.”
I bite back a moan, “I like that.”
“What? When I call you my wife?” I nod, resting my head against his shoulder. “My wife.”
“My husband,” I whisper back, loving how the word rolls off my tongue. “Mine.” I breathe as he kisses my neck, right beneath my ear.
“Yo Hudson, do you think we can be fed?” Jagger shouts, interrupting us.
“I should have put a bullet in him.” He murmurs as I get off his lap and sit back down in my chair. He waves his hand and within seconds, the food is being brought to everyone.
I glance at Hudson and blow him a kiss as he winks at me, this right here is going to be one of the best memories I’ll ever have. So much love and support under one roof and they’re here for me and my husband.
Twelve
Hudson
The files transfer from my computer to Mia’s cell. As soon as we arrived back from the hotel this morning she asked me to copy them to her phone. She’s currently sleeping, recovering from yesterday and last night. There’s something very different about having her as my wife, something she felt last night, when I kept her awake most of the night. No matter how many times I had her, I needed her again, I couldn’t get enough. Not only that, she couldn’t get enough of me. I’d love nothing more than to go to bed and lie beside her but I can’t. I have a meeting with Coby. He’s late, that’s just put me into a bad mood.
“Son?” Dad says knocking on my office door.
“Yeah?” I murmur distractedly as I finish off transferring the files.
“Where the hell is Coby?” He demands coming to sit down in front of me.
“Since when did I become his minder? I have no idea, he was due here ten minutes ago and he’s not here. I’m giving him five more minutes before I lose my damn temper.”
He chuckles, “You’re in a good mood today.”
I glare at him. “Is there a reason as to why you’re here?”
The fucker chuckles yet again, “Yes, I wanted to know what Coby’s going to do to help.” I narrow my eyes at him and he holds his hands up. “Look son, Mia is my daughter now, she’s carrying my grandchild. When you’re gone I’ll be the one to be here protecting her.”
I shake my head. “You’re a damn fool. Who else is going to be here with her when I’m gone? Since Mia and I got together, you’ve seemed to mellow. I actually can stand to be around you.”
He laughs. “Yeah, since Mia came into your life you’ve not been such an asshole.”
“Shut up old man, what’s happening with you and mom?” Yesterday at the wedding they seemed to be getting along really well which is a huge fucking relief, I’m sick of their arguing.
“Your mom no longer wants to gut me while I sleep. She’s got a new man and I’m happy for her.” He smiles, it’s a genuine one. “I have no idea who the man is, but he treats her wrong then he’ll have the both of us to deal with.”
I nod. “That he will. So how are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.”
“Bullshit,” I fire back, Mia told me about the conversation that he and Tina had the night before she died. He never mentioned anything to me about it, so I know that he’s hurt even more about her dying. I thought it was over between them and now I find out that they had reconciled only for her to die the next day.
“Look son, there’s nothing I can do about it. She’s gone, I’m going to protect her daughter and our grandchild,” he tells me, and I realize that’s what is keeping him going.
A knock on my office door has both dad and I looking up. “Yeah?”
“Sorry I’m late.” Coby’s deep voice calls out, and the door opens. “Traffic is a fucking nightmare.”