Dusk (18 page)

Authors: Erin M. Leaf

BOOK: Dusk

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Her best friend smiled as she fussed with Lucy’s veil. “Doesn’t
matter. You may be paired, but today is an entirely different thing.” She
stepped back, smoothing out one last wrinkle. “There. Perfect. Solomon won’t
know what hit him.”

“I can hardly see,” Lucy said. She tugged at the fabric in front
of her face. “He won’t be able to see me.”

“Don’t be silly,” Eva replied, handing the bouquet of roses to
Lucy. “He can
feel
you, remember? He doesn’t have to see you.”

And he feels just as nervous as I do,
Lucy thought, peering past her
father through the glass doors. She could just barely see him standing at the
front of the church with Greyson. There weren’t that many people in the pews,
but there were enough to make her nervous. All the Sentries were there, and her
family. The women from the office where she used to work, Shari, Melinda, and
Kathy, were standing and craning their heads to see her. She smiled, happy that
she hadn’t lost their friendship.

“They’re ready,” her father said, turning and walking to her. He
offered his elbow.

Lucy took a deep breath, trying to calm her jitters. “This is
crazy.” She barely heard the music she and Solomon had picked out start to
play.

Eva shook her head. “Enjoy it, Lucy.” She stepped forward,
preparing to open the doors. She would be walking down the aisle just ahead of
Lucy and her father. “Every girl dreams about having a perfect, fairytale
wedding.”

“And you get to go live in a castle when it’s over, too,” Lucy’s
father teased.

“It’s a tower, not a castle,” Lucy told them, chewing on her lip.

“Whatever.” Eva flapped a hand. “It’s time.” She peeked out the
doors. “Are you ready?”

Lucy nodded and took a deep breath. “I am.”

Eva nodded and threw open the doors. Everyone turned to look. She
walked out smiling, pacing herself. Lucy gripped her father’s arm, grateful
that he was so steady because she would probably have fallen if he weren’t
there to hold her up.

“It’s time,” he murmured.

She gripped his arm harder. “Okay.”

He patted her hand and began walking. Lucy kept pace with him,
trying to look like she wasn’t about to throw up, but then her eyes met Solomon’s.
His love rushed through her, shredding the fragile shield she’d put over her
senses. Suddenly, everyone else faded away as she kept walking.

I love him,
she thought, calmer than she’d been in a week.
This is right.
She smiled
as her father steered her to the front of the aisle. When he let go of her arm,
Solomon took her hand.

“Lucinda,” he said softly, lifting her veil.

She grinned. “Solomon.”

He touched the corner of her eye. “You are beautiful.” He didn’t
seem to care that he was throwing off the entire ceremony with his unplanned
veil-lifting and touching of her face.

Lucy didn’t care either. She reached out and cupped his cheek. “Ready?”

He nodded.

“No going back.”

Solomon smiled. “I spent enough time dwelling on the past. You are
my future.”

Lucy took a deep breath. “Where you go, I go.”

His eyes warmed. “For all my life, I will be yours, my beloved.”

“And I am yours, for life,” she replied.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister interrupted,
grinning as their families started clapping.

Lucy turned to him, confused. “Wait. What about—?”

The older man shook his head. “You’re already married. Any more
ceremony would be pointless.”

Lucy laughed. “That’s it?”

He nodded. “That’s it.” He winked at Solomon. “You may kiss your
bride.”