44. Wildflower

44

Wildflower

I Want To Dance With Them Anywhere

"I told you if you don't stop tearing up, I'm going to start slapping you," Macie says to my sister as she dabs at the corner of Darby's eyes with a tissue and demands she continue blinking.

"I'm sorry," Darby laughs. "You look so beautiful, Dal. That dress is incredible on you."

"Thank you." I smooth out the soft satin of my bridesmaid dress, fighting back my own tears. "Hopefully, you don't end up wearing it this time."

She snorts, rolling her eyes at me. Macie moves to the side, allowing me to zip up the back of Darby's gown and pin her veil into her hair. She looks stunning, and I can't stop thinking about what a contrast today is in comparison to her last wedding day.

She was beautiful then, but she was dead inside. Today, she's fuller of life than I've ever seen her, radiant and glowing and content. She's excited, practically vibrating with anticipation to run down that aisle to the love of her life rather than run away from it.

I also can't help but notice how lonely her last wedding felt a year ago. That bridal suite was full of people. Jackson's mother and sister. Darby's friends from work—though I'd use the term friend lightly. Our own mother, who wasn't particularly nurturing or supportive.

Today, there are only six of us.

Darby, Lou, and I, plus Monica, Macie, and Penelope. I know Darby was a little bummed that Elena refused to join us before the wedding. I haven't met her yet, but based on what I've heard, I think it's considered a win that she'll be showing up for the ceremony at all.

The makeup artist Macie hired just left, and we're putting the finishing touches on Darby's look as we drink champagne and laugh in her bedroom. Light music filters from surround-sound speakers across the entire house. There is more love and light in this space than there ever was in that traditional white church. People we've known less than a year are happier to be here than people we knew our whole lives back home.

Macie sways across the room in her tight, strapless red dress that makes her body look insane and sits down on the couch next to her best friend. Penelope is quieter, much more reserved. She doesn't demand attention the same way Macie does, but I've noticed that when she does speak up, she's witty and hilarious. Smart as hell, too.

Her auburn hair falls past her shoulders in thick waves, complimenting the emerald color of the dress she's wearing. It's simple and silk, kind of like my dress. She doesn't need embellishments, because her features pull all the attention. She's striking, with her bright hair and deep, green eyes, full lips, and thick eyelashes.

"Dahlia," Monica calls, pulling me from my thoughts. "Have you put any more thought into a name for the bakery yet?"

"Yeah, I have." I smile. "But I'm going to share it with Everett first before I tell anyone else."

I think Everett will especially love the idea I've come up with.

Monica smirks, opening her mouth to say more when there is a knock on the bedroom door. "Can I come in?" a muffled voice I recognize as Carlos asks.

"Yeah!" We all respond at the same time.

He enters, looking dapper in a black tux. His salt and pepper hair is slicked back on the sides, and he's wearing a bow tie that matches the color of Monica's purple dress. "Amor," he whispers, bending down to press a kiss to her lips. She smiles back at him, squeezing his hand.

Lifting his head, I watch his eyes go wide as he takes in the sight of my sister. Her dress is a perfect fit, cascading to the floor like liquid silk. Her honeysuckle-accented veil falls around her shoulders, draping her entire body in multi-colored flowers.

But it's the undiluted happiness on her face that's most breathtaking of all.

" Tan hermosa, preciosa, " he gasps. "Let me look at you." He steps up to Darby, taking her hand as he spins her in a slow circle. She laughs as he lets out a low whistle.

He turns to me next, smiling just as bright. "You look lovely, Dahlia. Absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you." I find myself grinning back at him.

"Would you ladies mind if I had a moment with the sisters alone?"

Monica stands from the couch, taking my daughter's hand. "Come on, you. Let's go get your dress on, yeah?" She winks at me, and I plant a soft kiss on Lou's forehead as she follows Monica out.

"We'll go check on the boys and make sure they're ready to go," Penelope says as she and Macie filter out the door.

Carlos shuts it behind them before taking a seat on the edge of Darby and Leo's bed. My sister and I sit next to each other on the couch across from him.

"I know you two have been through a lot, and for most of your life, you've felt abandoned and alone," he says softly.

My sister grabs my hand tightly, and I wonder if the emotion is thickening in her throat the same way it is mine.

"Traditionally, a bride would have her father walk her down the aisle, share a dance with him during the reception. He'd give a speech showcasing his pride and love." He clears his throat, letting out a rough laugh. "I know you don't have that today, and I don't know what kind of emotions that's stirring up inside you. Neither Monica nor I are looking to replace anyone in your lives or fill any kind of space you don't want us in."

My sister begins furiously dabbing at her eyes. "It's okay," I whisper, removing her hands from her face. "We'll fix it."

"Sorry." Carlos winces. "I…I guess I just want you both to know how cherished you are. We are so grateful you found our boys. That we get to have you—and Lou," he pauses, smiling at me, "in our lives." He blinks rapidly, as if attempting to fight off tears. "We always wanted a big family, a ton of kids. After Monica had some complications with the twins, she wasn't able to get pregnant again, and we accepted that for what it was. When Leo came to us, we didn't hesitate to make him ours. We thought…maybe it didn't work out all those years ago for a bigger reason. Maybe we were meant to have more kids, they just hadn't found us yet." His bottom lip trembles beneath his smile. "I believe that now more than ever. Now that we have you."

I didn't realize I had been crying too until I felt a tear spill over and run down my cheek. I've never been particularly interested in replacing my father figure before, never had much faith in the male species. Part of me still thinks I'm too far gone to ever accept that kind of relationship in my life, but at the very least, I know I have a deep love and care for the two people who I may someday call my in-laws. For the first time, I have faith that they're not lying to me when they tell me they love me too.

I trust them with my child, and I think every kid deserves a good pair of grandparents.

I never had that, never got to experience the kind of relationship with my grandmother that Darby had, and I never felt particularly close to my mother's parents. They're cold and distant, like she is.

But like everything else, Lou deserves better. I'm happy she has them.

Happy we all do.

Carlos stands from the bed at the same time Darby and I get up. He opens his arms to us, and we step into them. "I'd be honored if you saved me a dance tonight," he whispers.

"Of course," she whispers back, silent tears still streaming down her face. She pulls away, quietly thanking him as she squeezes his hand before heading into the bathroom to fix her makeup.

Carlos turns back to me as he reaches the door, flashing a knowing smile. "I hope you'll save a dance for me too, when the time comes."

"Oh." I laugh. "I'm not sure I'm cut out for all of this."

"Save me a dance anyway, even if it's at the courthouse."

Tears sting my eyes, my throat thick as I swallow down my emotions. "Deal."

Wicked

"Darby's almost ready," Dahlia says from the top of the stairs. "She's in her room. I was just checking on Lou."

She descends in a light green silk dress that clings to every curve of her beautiful body. It's simple, but she's not. She's exquisite.

There are flowers pinned in her hair, little white ones. Orange and pink, too.

Wildflowers, I think.

She smooths a hand down the fabric of her dress, deep blue eyes locking on mine. It's like the entire world stops spinning on its axis. It pauses at that look in her eyes, and I wonder if that pause is the Earth changing orbit, no longer moving around the sun, but around her instead.

My world. It's her.

"How do I look?" she asks quietly as she reaches me.

"Beyond comparison to anything in this plane of existence," I find myself whispering, more to me than to her.

Because my brain wracks for words, but they simply don't exist, not for the way she looks. Not for the way my chest cracks open at her smile, begging her to fill the gaps left behind.

Cigarettes After Sex filters softly through the house, intensifying the moment that much more.

Because she's a love song.

She's not words. She's music. She's harmony. Fucking peace.

"You look the way this song sounds."

Her breath hitches at that, eyes widening and mouth dropping open. I can tell she doesn't know how to respond, so I only hold my hand out. "Dance with me?"

She lifts her arm, hovering over her chest. A playful smile accents her lips. "Right here? At the bottom of the staircase?"

"Right here." Right now. Because I need to. Because I need you . "Please."

She laughs softly, twining her fingers with mine and letting me pull her in. I spin her, getting a glimpse of her phenomenal ass before I tug her against my chest and wrap my free arm around her waist. She rests her head on my shoulder, letting out a contented sigh as we sway in the entry of my brother's house.

He's spending some time with my dad before the ceremony, and I know Darby's in her room with Macie getting her hair and makeup touched up before we head outside. We only have a few minutes, but I couldn't help but steal a moment alone with Dahlia.

"Mom?" Lou's voice calls down from above us. "What are you guys doing?"

"Dancing." I chuckle.

Her little feet bound down the stairs, and I turn us so we're facing her.

"Next to the front door?" She gives me a bemused look, her you're-a-weirdo face that I've come to know all too well.

"Wherever we want. Next to the front door or in the grocery store. If I feel like dancing with my girls, I'm going to do exactly that, so you better get used to it."

She scrunches her nose at me like she's unimpressed. Dahlia laughs into my neck, the sound more beautiful than any melody floating around us.

I let go of Dahlia's hand, extending it to Lou. Keeping my other arm tight around Dahlia's waist, I continue swaying side to side with her next to me. "C'mon, Luz. Take a spin for me and let me see your dress."

She rolls her eyes, but a small giggle escapes her lips as she takes my hand. I hold our arms above her head and twirl her around.

" Mi lucecita. " I laugh. "You look so beautiful."

When she's done spinning, she looks up at me with a face-splitting grin that sets my soul on fire. She wedges her way between me and Dahlia as I rock my girls back and forth in the entryway.

I catch sight of my mother at the top of the stairs, who appears to have witnessed the entirety of the interaction. She's misty eyed, smiling down at us. I toss her a wink, because while Dahlia and her daughter may not understand the true meaning behind my words, my mother does. She understands what it means when I say I want to dance with them anywhere.

I've finally found everything I've been searching for.