6. Six

Ifind Sterling finishing up some things with the kitchen staff. I'd just got done fixing the accidental double booking the venue decided to make. That would have been a disaster.

I approach my girl as she signs the last document for the catering approval, and I wait nearby for her to notice me. I fix the watch on my wrist as I watch my beautiful bride-to-be, amazed at how in just a two short days, she'll officially be my wife.

"Oh hey." She catches me staring and smiles my direction. "Thank you," she tells the staff director and turns to walk my way.

"How did the dress fittings go, sweetheart?" I ask.

"Great actually. Everything looked perfect."

"Good, I'm glad." I reach my elbow out for her to link her arm through and I lead the way out of the venue and to the Rolls Royce Wraith. It's one of her favorites.

"Did you get everything cleared up with the venue?" Her tone is worried, and rightfully so. But I told her I'd take care of it and I did.

"The wedding planner said everything should be good for the rest of the day. We can finally relax. And the dinner is all set up for tomorrow and then-"

"And then we have to separate for a whole twenty-four hours." She says in a somber tone, sagging herself against me before I open the door for her to get in.

I chuckle. "We don't have to do that, Sterls. You know that. You're the one who wanted to incorporate that tradition," I mention, and she just rolls her eyes at me playfully.

I close the passenger door and make my way over to the driver's side. Once I'm in, I start the car and we exit the parking lot to start driving toward our hotel. We have the newlywed suit for the next few days, and it's been nice to get away from the city life and work for the last couple of days. Though I'll admit, I've been itching to look at my email. Sterling always gives me a stern look and says, "If I have to give up the cafe for a few days, you can give up the dealership." And she tugs at me to kiss her afterwards. And she's right. It's not much for me to focus on other things for once, which I why I worked hard to make this the best day of her life. Of our lives.

Most of our guests are staying at the same hotel—I room blocked and paid for everyone—and I worry that Sterling will see her surprise guests before I intend her to. I look down at my watch and see that it's almost sun-fall. If my timing is right, Jaxon shouldn't be too far from the hotel with them now. I can't help but feel a little guilty that I didn't consult this with her first. What if she wants nothing to do with them at all and will freak when she realizes what I've done?

But I know my little rose. She's a hopeless romantic and lives for closeness of souls and yearns for family and love. I've promised to give her all of the happiness she could ever desire and I feel as though she won't feel fully capable of moving on if she doesn't know where her and her family stand.

It took me while to track them down, but with the help of Gerald and some of my dad's old friends, we were able to locate Graham's job. I didn't get a response from him, assuming he thought it was some kind of scam, but then a few weeks later I finally heard back.

He let me know that his mother was doing much better and had just asked about Sterling. So he thought it might have been a sign and agreed to let me fly them out for the wedding. Her mom, Mariah, expressed that she isn't sure how Sterling would feel. But I know that she is willing to push things aside despite whatever went on between the three of them for the sake of her big day and to see her happy. Graham was more hesitant only because he feared he ruined the relationship they once had, and he assumed that Sterling never wanted to see him again. But I guess we won't know until we know.

I just hope that she understands that I'm only trying to give her a beautiful day that she deserves.