CHAPTER FIVE

Daphne wasn't surprised when her father called to say that they couldn't come. Meetings in the city, a pre-arranged dinner with the prime minister, blah, blah, blah. She could tell that he was lying, and she knew it because it wasn't her mother who made the call. She'd chosen just to ignore the fact that her daughter was getting married.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," said Hazel, squeezing her hand.

"It's alright. I never thought they would come. If I were marrying an Englishman, they would be on the next plane. Or worse, she'd convince us to marry there, and she'd make it stretch out for weeks. I don't want to wait weeks."

"I know how you feel," smiled Hazel. "When Brix's father and I met, we just worked together here. Back then I think I was a bit rebellious. I had piercings everywhere, tattoos, which I still have, my hair was long but shaved underneath."

"Wow, a real badass," giggled Daphne. "I was never brave enough to do anything quite so unconventional. When I was seventeen, I used a temporary dye to color a pink streak in my hair. My mother nearly shaved it all off. I told her it would wash out eventually, and she made me stay in the house until it was all gone. I could never be a badass, but you were."

"I actually was," smiled Hazel. "I was a former Marine. But I was having issues with my family as well. Not like yours. My family was vastly different from yours. I had a grandmother that I barely knew who was blackmailing me for money. I thought I had to leave this place, these people, to protect them. But fate put me in the right spot to save Tiger."

She noticed that Daphne was leaning forward, listening intently and decided to tell her all of it.

"When I realized what my grandmother was doing, I left and went to work for another security company. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made. The mission they sent me on was all a set-up, but when I heard that an American had been taken captive, I followed. And. I found Tiger. We worked together, got him patched up enough that he could move, and I got him out of there.

"I'd seen him a million times when we were working together, but for some reason, he suddenly looked different to me. He was so big and tall, strong, yet totally vulnerable in that moment. We rescued one another. When we returned, I was so worried about how his parents would feel, but they welcomed me with open arms. Zulu and Gabi are the most amazing people, and I should have known that they would understand an unconventional love."

"They're stunningly beautiful people and incredibly talented. All of you are. It's very intimidating," she grinned.

"Honey, you're stunningly beautiful and talented. Things happen fast around here, Daphne. Most of us fell in love within days. Some within hours. Just ask Pigsty and Sira," she laughed. "Yet every marriage has lasted and survived. Our jobs, their jobs, aren't easy. They risk their lives for people they don't even know. Sometimes, they see things that the average person would never be able to block out of their minds. Things that would make the world terrified. We may not always understand it, but we have to let them go."

"Don't you go with them? I mean, you're trained as well as the men, right?"

"I am," she smiled proudly. "I'm very well trained, as is Piper, Lucia, Addie, Kate, and quite a few others. And fortunately, they know it. We work out with the men. We run with them, lift weights, hand-to-hand training, even weapons. All of it. They treat us, or any of the other women, no differently than the males. It's one of a million reasons why I love it here."

"I can see why you would. It's beautiful. I've never been to the states before. Never really been anywhere without my parents. I thought of Louisiana as alligators and people with guns." Hazel laughed, nodding her head.

"Well, that's partially true. We have an alligator, Alvin, who is friendly and considered a pet."

"NO!" said Daphne with shock.

"Yep. He's amazing. We also have a gorilla that's a sweetheart, a few tiger cubs, a baby elephant, a giraffe, an old toothless lion. We keep joking that Mama Irene is prepping for the great flood, and there's an ark waiting for all of us."

"I don't know that I would joke about that," frowned Daphne. "She's an odd woman. Lovely, sweet, but odd. She seems to be everywhere at once and hears things that are said a mile away."

"That's Mama Irene. Now, what about your wedding? What do you want?" asked Hazel.

"You know, I never thought much about it. My mother controlled everything in my first wedding. I had this God-awful dress that made me look like a giant white cupcake. It was terrible! I didn't choose the food, flowers, none of it."

"Well, this is different. You get to choose everything. What do you want?"

"I'm not sure. I know I want it to be simple. Nothing extravagant. I'd love just a nice white summer dress. Maybe not white, maybe a soft pink. That seems more fitting for me, and it being my second marriage."

"I love that," smiled Hazel. "What about flowers?"

"Oh, the gardens here are so magnificent. Could I just cut some fresh flowers from here?"

"You absolutely can," said Claudette, walking toward them. She gave a big smile and a hug to each of the young women. "I'll cut some roses, a little hyacinth, throw in a magnolia for good luck. Mama wants to know if there's anything special you would like for food. She's got the kitchen staff goin' crazy preppin' the weddin' cake."

"You sound so much like her," smiled Daphne. "Every time I hear your voice, I think it's her. It's amazing."

"I get that a lot," grinned Claudette. "I can't think of anyone finer than my own Mama to emulate. Now, the food."

"I'm truly not picky. I never cared much for roast beef, and yet it seemed my mother served more beef than England possessed in cows."

"Then no beef. We'll do a variety of seafood and chicken, lots of fresh vegetables from the garden. Maybe Pops will do a roast pig."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful," laughed Daphne, clapping her hands.

"Good," smiled Claudette. "Now, you need to get down to the salon. Keegan and her team are ready for you."

"Today?"

"Yes, honey. Today. You're gettin' married tonight."

"But. But how? How will everything be ready by then?" Hazel laughed at her future daughter-in-law.

"Trust the process, sweetie. Trust the process. We've been preppin' for this since the day you arrived on the property."

Daphne just stared at the two women, who seemed to have complete and utter confidence in their ‘process.' Shaking her head, she took Claudette's hand and followed along behind her.

"Alright. I'll trust the process."