Alpha Billionaire Series

MADII

I stood perfectly still as Mom pinned the brooch into my hair. In only a few short minutes, I would walk down the aisle to become Mrs. Gavin Carpenter, and this time, I wasn't about to let anything stop the wedding from happening Violet had joked that the park would catch on fire or something, but I threatened to disinvite her, and we all laughed about it. In honesty, I wasn't even worried.

Gavin decided the park where he originally proposed to me was the perfect venue for our mid-fall wedding, and I had to agree with the new location. The grove where we sat on that bench, and he asked me to be his wife was filled with gorgeous colors as the leaves began to change. And our guest list was small enough that everyone could assemble comfortably for both the wedding and the reception, so we booked a large tent with sides, and planned a chili dinner.

After my birthday party where I froze all night, we ended up going shopping for a new wedding gown—this time with sleeves—and the rest of the plans fell into place.

I watched my face in the mirror as Mom worked on my hair. Gavin's mother had promised to stop in and help us prepare, but I hadn't seen her yet. Part of me hoped she forgot, given the fact that the last several times we interacted, she was less than pleased to see me. But I had promised to honor Gavin and become his wife, and that meant I would be her daughter-in-law. I'd rather attempt a good relationship with her than to make her seem like ar outlaw.

“Thank you, Mom, for helping me get ready.”

Mom smiled at me in the mirror and patted my shoulder. “You're welcome, dear”

The door creaked open and Gavin's Mom, Margret Bloom-Carpenter, strolled in. Her perfume came in a thick cloud, drawing a few coughs from the other ladies in the room, and Violet giggled quietly.

“Hi, Margret. Thanks for popping in.” I turned to greet her with a hug and was given a stiff kiss to each cheek. Awkwardly, I stepped back and waited for her to say something.

“Well, it appears Gavin has chosen a beautiful woman to be his wife.” She held my veil away from my face and then let it drop. “At least he got something right.”

I wasn't sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult, but I chose the former. “Thank you.”

Violet's smirk and giggles were contagious, passing on to Lexi, who at least had the decency to cover her mouth. Mom reached out her hand. “Hi, Margret” Mom's fakest smile ever stretched across her face, and I had to look away to hide my amusement. “So good to see you again. It was nice meeting you at Madii’s birthday party.”

“Oh, yes. Gavin did an amazing job with that. Didnt he?” She sat down, resting her oversized purse in her lap. “It's funny watching your child growing up. Gavin has had so many terrible girlfriends over the years. I would have liked t: remember all their names, but they weren't notable. I always tried to pick a nice girl for Gavin, but it seems I'm unable to do that. Mother does not always know best it seems.”

“That's what I am thinking right now.” Her voice took on a nostalgic tone and she smiled as her eyes focused on something on the floor. “Mother does not always know best. I remember my mother. She grew up in times when women didn’t have many rights, and it was important for us to have the house always tidy with a cooked meal on the table for our men to come home too.”

“Mother set the house routine, the places and people whom I could see. She would say things like, “Margret, you shouldn't be seeing that boy. In fact, it was because of the things she said that I met Allen, Gavin's father. I think of all the nights that I would run off to his house. It was like one of those scenes from a movie where the girl would sneak out of the house and spend the night at the boy's house.”

“They were magical times, even If we had moments where my daddy would end up at the front door with a shotgun. thank you Becky for not letting things get to the point of that. Dave seems like a reasonable man, really. But there could have been some interesting conversations.”

“I guess what I am trying to say is, Maddi, I have judged you in ways that I shouldn't have, because you are my Gavin’ girl. It's so clear he loves you. I always pictured my son's girl being someone in the professional space, like another doctor or a nurse or something in the hospital. I guess it wasn't working for him finding love in the hospital. This jus isn't how I would have planned things. But that’s okay, because you have something you are passionate about.”

“I love the photos you take, as much as I have avoided admitting it. I think you have some real talent and spunk there kiddo. I look forward to all the lovely artistic drawings I will get from all my grandbabies they inherited from their mother, because it definitely won't be from their father. Have you seen his handwriting?”

Everyone burst out laughing. I hadn't realized that Margret had such a sense of humor. The few times we talked she was so negative; I hadn't even gotten a chance to know her at all. I had a feeling if I learned how to tolerate her nagging and helicopter parenting, we would get along just fine. When our laughing calmed, Margret spoke again. “We are having grand babies, right? I hope so because you're part of the family now.”

I knew instantly why Gavin told me to be patient with her. I wanted kids someday, but I had a feeling Margret wanted grandkids yesterday. I smiled politely, unsure how to answer, when my own mother chimed in.

“Oh yes, dear. We want lots of grandbabies.” Mom's smile and agreement with Margret wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but I knew what sort of pressure I'd be under as soon as the honeymoon was over.

I watched Violet shrink away, apparently not wanting to hear the lecture about her finding a good man to settle dow: with too.

“Well, we need to finish getting ready here” I straightened my dress and looked into the mirror again. In the reflection I watched Margret stand.

“It's okay. I need to go do the mother of the groom things now.” Margret winked at me and wiggled her fingers in a goodbye gesture. “I'll see you later”

As soon as she left, the room took a collective sigh. “She doesn’t seem so bad,” Lexi said, and Violet laughed again.

I rolled my eyes and adjusted my necklace. I was a bundle of nerves, simply because I was so excited for the future that I couldn't contain it.

A knock came at the door, and Mom answered, grinning and tearing up as soon as she opened it. Dad walked in, decked in a tuxedo with a purple cumber bun and bowtie. He looked very dapper in his suit.

“It's time, baby girl” He held out his elbow to me and I navigated the room, careful to keep my train from tangling or anything. Lexi helped, picking it up and carrying it for me as I hooked my arm around Dad's. The photographer snuck in and snapped a few pictures, and Dad led me out of the room in the small event building about a hundred yards from where we had planned the ceremony and across the lawn. Large curtains had been erected on metal frames to shield the guests and Gavin from view, so my reveal would be magical for them.

We did exactly what we had practiced doing last night. From my vantage point behind the curtain, I could see Gavin chatting with his friends Nick and Jiles—members of his wedding party. He looked stunning in his tux. It was perfect for him. And he'd gotten a haircut, though I didn’t know when he would have found time to do so.

I saw Nick's new wife seated near the back with Jiles's wife. I had met them both at our bachelor/bachelorette party before the chaos ensued, though back then Nick wasn’t married. I noticed Margret and Allen seated in the front row on the right, and Mom was being escorted down the aisle by one of Gavin's younger cousins whom we asked to be ar usher.

The music started, and Violet started her walk down the aisle. We had timed it perfectly to the song, so both she anc Lexi would be able to be in place before they started the bridal march. When both of them were lined up, I watched Gavin's eyes turn my direction. I was still out of sight, but he was searching for me.

The song changed, and Dad led me forward. “You know, sweetheart, I am really happy for you. This one feels like a dream come true.”

I didn’t want to respond. If I did, I would end up crying and smearing my makeup. So instead, I focused on the faces of our guests who rose to turn and watch me walk down the aisle. Friends and loved ones beamed with pride and admiration as I passed, but when I got to the row where Drew was standing, my heart felt a little bittersweet. He was there, but there was no smile on his face. Where others showed their happiness for me, Drew shed a tear.

I looked away and toward Gavin, who also had a tear on his cheek, but his smile was one I would never forget. Dad stopped me just before the officiant’s podium.

“Who gives this woman to be lawfully wedded?” The officiant looked at us expectantly.

“Her mother and I,” Dad said, kissing me on the cheek through my veil.” He took my hand and Gavin's and joined them, then took his seat next to Mom in the front row.

The next twenty minutes were a blur. The officiant had us light the unity candle and offered an oratory on marriage and its meaning. He read a poem, then asked us to exchange our vows. I went first, reciting what I had memorized earlier that week.

“Gavin, we met under crazy circumstances. We have already fought through our first war together. And as long as you promise to love me the same way you have since the day we met; I promise to do everything in my power to make you the happiest man alive. 'Til death do us part.”

Gavin wasn't quite as prepared as me, and it drew a chuckle from the crowd as he pulled a paper out of his suit coat pocket and unfolded it, dropping it and then retrieving it.

“Madii...” His eyes welled up, and he stopped, then he crumpled the paper up and shoved it in his pocket and startec over. “I don't need a rehearsed speech to tell you what I vow for the rest of our lives. I will love you. I will cherish yot in ways you've never experienced. I will fight for you, for us. I will never break your heart on purpose, and I will be faithful. And there is nothing you can do about it"

I couldn't stop the tears from flowing this time, and I didn’t want too either. Gavin was the love of my life, and in a mere few seconds my life would be forever sealed to his. The way he stared into my eyes made it seem as if the world had disappeared. The officiant continued his rambling, but I was lost in Gavin's gaze.

When we heard, “You may now kiss the bride,” Gavin lifted my veil, folding it behind my head, and leaned in for what I thought was going to be a polite peck. What it turned into was such passion, he had to hold me up because my knees almost buckled.

The crowd cheered, and the recessional played, but Gavin didn’t let up. I didn’t even want him too. When Lexi pulled me away from him, everyone laughed, and Gavin waggled his eyebrows at me before offering his arm. I gladly hooke« mine around his and let him lead me back up the aisle.

As we passed where Drew had been sitting, I noticed he was gone. My heart felt sad for a moment, but I let it go. I was now Mrs. Gavin Carpenter. I was starting a new life. I never believed in fairy tales until I met him. I would have said I still didn’t believe in fairy tales, but the truth was, that's what he was to me. All wrapped up in human flesh, hand delivered by whatever God or fates had determined, and perfect for me. Saying I was happy was an understatement.

Happily ever after might never mean perfect relationships with no problems, and a life that never had sad days. But to me it meant everything. Gavin was everything I needed.