Black (Clashing Colors Book 1) (31 page)

It might not be the right brand or the right style for this season… or whatever… but I couldn’t care less. I felt beautiful in this dress; it was beyond my wildest dreams to get married in a dress like this, with a guy like Gabriel, in a beautiful garden overlooking the lake.

“You look so pretty,” Violet said and took a look at me as I stood in front of the mirror in a room on the second floor.

I smiled at her. “So do you, and you get to be a bridesmaid.”

She beamed and was just about to speak when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I called out and was surprised to see Mia pop her head in. Her cheeks were red and she was slightly out of breath.

“Mia,” I said with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

She stepped into the room and closed the door.

“My dad says we’re not going to your wedding, but you’re my sister.”

“Half-sister,” I corrected.

She nodded with an earnest expression. “I know he’s been a jerk to you, even my mom says so, and he’s a jerk to me sometimes too. I don’t know why.”

“Did you come here alone?” I asked.

Mia looked from me to Violet and back again. “I snuck out and took my bike to get here. It’s only three miles, but the hill is pretty steep so I had to walk my bike up, or I would have been here sooner.”

I smiled at her, impressed with her courage. “I’m glad you decided to come.”

She shifted her balance and pulled off her backpack. “I packed the prettiest dress I have,” she said and opened the back to pull out a pale pink dress.

“It’s lovely,” Violet said and tilted her head, “But you know you’ll be grounded for sneaking off, right?”

Mia bit her lip. “Yeah, I know… but it doesn’t matter, I want to be here. Besides I spend most of my time with my nose in a book anyway, and being grounded gives me plenty of time for that. It’s really not half as bad as it sounds.”

“Would you like to be my bridesmaid?” I asked her, and the girl lit up like a firework.

“I was hoping you would ask me that.”

“Of course. I would be honored.”

“Just give me a second to get dressed.” Mia was working fast to get out of her jeans and into the dress. I smiled when I saw her stick her tongue out in concentration, because I do the same thing.

“Oh, no…” she froze and gave me a horrified expression. “I forgot to pack my ballerinas. I only have these shoes.” We all looked down at her turquoise Converse shoes that had stains on them.

“They are perfect,” I said and gave her a hug. “You are perfect, Mia…”

“You think so?” she said and tried to brush the wrinkles out of her dress.

Another knock on the door was followed by Katie’s voice. “It’s time, Cia, are you ready?”

I stepped to the window and looked out to see the setup on the lawn. The white rows of chairs were all filled with guests, and the red carpet led up to where the priest and Gabriel stood in front of the white wedding gazebo. My god, he looked amazing in his formal uniform with his medal on his chest.

“Are you ready?” Violet said and gave a nervous smile.

“Why are
you
nervous?” I asked her and started walking out of the room.

“I’m picking up on your emotions – I can’t help it,” she said and followed right behind me with Mia.

“So if I calm myself down, I’ll calm you down?” I asked.

“Yes, but don’t worry about me. Today is all about you.”

Steve stood by the end of the stairs and looked at me with awe. “You blow me away,” he said and offered his arm to me. A week ago he had asked me if he could lead me down the aisle and I told him yes with a large knot in my throat. Steve was, after all, my grandfather – and the fact that I hadn’t seen Brent, my father, since the big clash at the brunch three months ago was actually a relief. Gabriel had always spoken about Steve as a bully and maybe he was… he did, however, treat me with care and courtesy and looked proud when he led me out into the garden.

“If I get nervous, promise to hold on to me and don’t let me run away,” I joked. “I really want to marry Gabriel.”

He tightened his hold on my arm. “And you will, my girl,” he promised with a gleam in his eyes. 

As the music started playing Violet took Mia’s hand and with a last smile of reassurance they went down the aisle together to take their positions.

Steve inclined his head to me and then we started walking. I heard murmurs and people taking pictures but my eyes were fixed on Gabriel, who stood tall and straight, glancing right back at me. When I got closer I saw that his eyes were moist and that his lips were slightly quivering. It made me squeeze my bridal bouquet harder, trying not to cry myself.

Steve had a satisfied smile on his lips when he handed me over to Gabriel, who leaned in to hug me.

“God, I can’t even describe in words how radiant you look or how much I love you,” he whispered before releasing me from the hug. Meeting his large brown eyes, with that almond shape that I love so much, I saw promises of devotion and loyalty mirroring the emotions in my heart. I blinked, hoping that my mascara would be as waterproof as the stylist had promised. 

I have no clue what the priest spoke about. I couldn’t focus on his words because all I could see was the man in front of me, so insanely out of my league and yet here to commit to me for the rest of his life.

We exchanged rings, we said
I do
at the right time, and then the priest announced us man and wife… Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.

“You may kiss your bride,” the priest said with a smile, and Gabriel didn’t hesitate but pulled me into a deep kiss that had everyone in the wedding party breaking out in joyous cheers.

“My wife.” He beamed down at me and stroked my cheek. “It’s official.”

“I know,” I said and leaned up to kiss him again. “You’re mine now. Every part of your deliciously tattooed body belongs to me.”

Humor sparkled in his eyes. “You better believe it, because your sweet ass belongs to me too.”

The reception was centered on the large terrace; Katie had outdone herself with beautiful food and expensive wine for everyone.

I found Daniel and Violet standing by a high table enjoying themselves. Daniel squinted his eyes because of the sun and smiled. “It’s hard to get used to seeing you like this… but I have to say that you look real pretty in white.”

“She looks gorgeous,” Gabriel said from behind.

I introduced him to Daniel, who’d never really had a proper chance to meet Gabriel. Violet, of course, he knew, and they smiled at each other.

“I see my advice worked,” she said.

“Yup, the best-spent three hundred dollars of my life,” Gabriel said and winked at me.

“What did you pay Violet three hundred dollars for?” I asked.

“To give me advice on how to win you back.”

I grinned. “So you actually believe in her abilities.”

“Not as a psychic… just as a friend who knows you well.” He turned to Violet. “No offense.”

She shrugged with a soft smile. “None taken.”

I spotted Darren and waved him over. To my delight he was with Bruce, which made sense since Bruce was the one who originally introduced me to Darren.

“Come here, my little angel,” Darren said and kissed me on my cheeks. “Such a beautiful wedding.”

Bruce nodded and shook our hands. “Very beautiful indeed.”

I had never seen Bruce outside of camp and he looked so small next to Darren – who had dressed extra formal for the occasion, which in Darren’s case meant that he was wearing tight yellow pants, brown leather shoes, a green vest, and a blue topcoat in velvet with a yellow bowtie. Funny enough, he did look elegant, in a sort of stylish-nobleman-from-eighteen-hundred-and-something way.

I knew Gabriel would comment on Darren’s attire when we were alone, but to his credit he kept his judgmental comments in check and stayed polite.

Daniel on the other hand shook Darren’s hand and made a low chuckle. “Where’s the hat?”

“What hat?” Darren asked.

“Aren’t you trying to look like the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland?” Daniel snickered.

Darren looked down at himself and pulled at his vest. “It took me a long time to put this splendid outfit together and I really feel I nailed it, wouldn’t you agree?”

Violet and I agreed enthusiastically. “You look very good,” I said and meant it.

Violet leaned closer. “And you know, Darren, with an outfit like that you never have to worry about that awkward moment when you realize someone else is wearing the exact same thing.”

Bruce gave a discreet laugh and covered his mouth. “That’s a good point,” Darren said and squared his shoulders. “I was a little afraid of outshining the star of the show, but your dress is to die for.” He ran his eyes down my dress. “I mean, a little more fluff and a few more details in the back would have made it even more astonishing, but you carry the dullness so beautifully,” he said with that rude humor of his. 

“Thank you, Darren.” I gave him a large smile. “You’re too kind.”

“I was just admiring your gifts,” Bruce commented and pointed to the house. “Who bought the paintings for you?”

“What paintings?” I asked and looked up.

“Your paintings,” Bruce said, puzzled. “Didn’t you see the gift table yet?”

I felt my heart miss a beat and pulled up the skirts of my dress. “Excuse me,” I said and headed for the house. Both Bruce and Gabriel followed and stood right behind me when I faced a large table in the living room where the presents were placed in all shapes and sizes. But right there against the table stood all five of the paintings that I had made in the camp – the ones I had sold at my first art show at Darren’s gallery.

My hand flew to my mouth as I saw my own mental journey portrayed in the paintings. There was the depressive girl sitting in the black and yellow jumpsuit with her dark hair covering her face and her arm protectively shielding her from the swarm of bees about to attack from above. 

“Who are they from?” Gabriel asked out loud and started looking for a card.

I squatted down in front of the painting of me lying in water with Gabriel’s hands holding me up and covering my private parts. It symbolized the way he had carefully bathed me and carried me around.

“I don’t see a card,” Gabriel said, while still looking around for it.

I moved on and gently touched the painting of me in a tutu skirt balancing a cotton candy and remembered how awful I had felt about wearing that damn pink outfit and how Gabriel had made it bearable by joking with me and calling me Candy and Sugar. He still did.

“This is the best gift ever,” I said in a brittle voice and turned my head to the painting of me shedding the blackness to reveal my Superwoman suit underneath.

“I know…“ Gabriel looked at me. “I wanted to buy the blue painting at the gallery, but it had already been sold when I got there.”

“Darren said it was a collector,” I remembered. “I can’t believe they’re all here.” These were the most personal paintings I had ever created, and it had pained me to sell them.

I looked up at Bruce. “Was it you?”

He chuckled. “I wish it was me, but I don’t have that kind of money. I’m afraid I only brought you a vase.” He pointed to a square gift to the left.

I got up and took a step toward Bruce. “You’ve given us something much more precious than anything on this table. If not for you and your interventions I don’t think we would be celebrating our wedding today.”

Bruce swallowed before he looked away and took off his glasses, polishing them on his sleeve. “Yes, I’m glad to see that last intervention helped you,” he said softly. “I’m glad you decided to dress up as Black one last time.”

Gabriel smiled. “Yeah, it worked. When you first suggested it I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it, but it turned out that once I looked into Cia’s eyes, her hair and make-up made no difference.”

I looked from Gabriel to Bruce and back again. “Wait a minute… what are you not telling me?”

Gabriel took my hand. “It’s just that I called Bruce for some advice on how to convince you of my love and he suggested making love to you as Black.”

I returned my glance to Bruce. “You’re like a damn puppet master, aren’t you?” I wasn’t mad at him; after all, his intentions had been good and the results were in our best interest.

“I still don’t think your methods are legal,” I said and elbowed him.

He responded with a secretive smile.

“Oh, there you are,” Katie called out from the French doors… “It’s time for the groom’s speech. Come join us out here.”

Gabriel took my hand and we went out to our guests. With a glass of champagne in hand, he began his speech to me.   

“Dear Cia, some people may think that we are rushing into this marriage. They couldn’t be more wrong.

“I spend almost thirty years getting ready to recognize you when I found you. At first I didn’t see clearly that you were the one I was destined to share my life with, and I blame the fact that you were in disguise and hiding behind a veil of blackness, but once I got a peek behind your cover I fell fast and hard, knowing in my heart that it’s an extraordinary thing to find a person you can be completely at ease with. To me, you are that person.