More Than Need You

by Shayla Black

  You’re happy?”

  More tears flow, and I have to laugh at myself. I never considered myself a crier until Griffin Reed walked back into my life. “What part of me bawling doesn’t say happy to you?”

  Finally, his face breaks out into a blinding smile. “Just checking, angel. I have a couple of surprises for you if you’ll come with me.”

  I try to think through that. “But you didn’t know I was coming.”

  “Not for sure…but I hoped.”

  With that, he takes my hand again and leads me into the main house, where everything is a bustle of activity. I see a wedding cake on a stand in the dining room that looks eerily like one I fell for in a bridal magazine. Same pale blue fondant, same classic white trim. White lilies and plumeria decorate the three tiers.

  It’s even more breathtaking in person.

  I try to stop and stare. I’d love to take a picture for our wedding, hopefully soon. But Griff keeps dragging me toward the master bedroom. What is he up to?

  I’m about to tell him we can’t make love in Maxon and Keeley’s bed—then ask if there’s another one free in this house—when I see someone I didn’t anticipate seeing for weeks. “Mom?”

  She rushes forward in a formal cocktail dress in a coral shade that looks beautiful on her and embraces me. “Baby Britta…”

  No one calls me that except my mom. I smile at all the childhood memories those two words evoke. I didn’t grow up with a father, but I grew up sheltered and loved. My mom is the best ever.

  I squeeze her tight, then lean back to look back at her. “What are you doing here? When did you arrive?”

  “Thursday evening. Griff called me a few weeks ago and asked me if I’d like to come to your wedding.”

  I spin around to face him in shock. “A few weeks ago, you thought I was marrying Makaio.”

  Slowly, he shakes his head. I look up and see a wedding dress hanging on the front of the door, one I tried on with Keeley weeks ago—that I fell in love with—all pressed and repaired. I see a satiny pair of shoes I pointed out to Harlow when we did some window-shopping.

  “A few weeks ago, I knew you had plans to be marrying him…” Griff begins. “But I was hoping you would marry me instead.”

  I glance between my mom and the dress. I remember the cake, Harlow’s polished makeup, and the chairs set up outside…

  Oh, my god.

  “You planned us a wedding for today?” I gape at Griff.

  He nods. “Three o’clock.”

  My mother reaches up to kiss my cheek. She soothes my back. “Your engagement ring looks lovely. Congratulations, baby. I’ll let you two talk.”

  She leaves and closes the bedroom door behind her. I hear impatient feet and hushed whispers just outside the bedroom.

  “Keeley, Harlow…” Griff calls. “Can you give us a minute?”

  “Ugh. If the wedding is on, we need to start hair and makeup,” Keeley insists. “Oh, the caterer is here. BRB.”

  “You suck, big brother. Hurry. You need to make sure Jamie’s tux fits, and we have to try on Britta’s dress in case she needs any last-minute alterations. Oh, and it’s way past time to hug her and welcome her into the family.”

  “Soon,” my groom shouts. “Scram.”

  They might do so reluctantly, but the duo scampers off. I’m staring at my now-fiancé in blinking shock. “You and all the people I love… You did this?”

  “For you. I couldn’t stand the thought of you marrying Makaio, of course. I wanted you to marry me. But I wanted you to have the wedding you’d been planning, dreaming of… You deserved that. So I took your magazines out of the trash can and gave them to Keeley and Harlow. We all took note of your preferences, then the girls took you wedding shopping on the pretense that Keeley needed your help for her big day.”

  “Oh, my… I kept wondering why they both seemed so interested in what I thought of everything. I mean, it was her wedding. Or I thought it was.”

  “No, it was for ours. This is all for you.” He stares into my eyes, his sincerity making my heart catch.

  The tears won’t stop falling now, but they’re accompanied with smiles. I throw my arms around Griff, and he pulls me in, holding me against his body for a long embrace. He kisses my forehead, my temple. I reciprocate on the top of his shoulder, his jaw.

  “This is the most amazing, beautiful gesture…” I’m moved beyond words.

  “So you’re okay with becoming my wife in less than three hours?”

  “Okay?” I take his beloved face in my hands. “I can’t wait. I’m going to love and honor you. And I’ll protect you always.”

  “I’ll do the same. And I vow to trust you, no matter what.”

  We kiss softly, sweetly, a lingering expression of the devotion we feel.

  The rest of the family comes in to break it up with smiles, good-natured ribbing, and champagne. Griff and I are separated with Harlow’s stern, “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. Your turn to scram.”

  Maxon tries to pull Griff out of the room, who hangs on to the doorjamb. “Hey, did you cancel that honeymoon suite you booked?”

  “No.” I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

  “Excellent. Maybe we’ll have some freaking privacy tonight,” he shouts as his brother tugs him out of the room. “See you at the altar…”

  I giggle. “See you then!”

  The next two hours are a whirlwind of preparations. I get three seconds alone for a hot shower, then the hair and makeup artist pounces. Finally, my sisters-to-be, now dressed in beautiful cornflower-blue dresses—just like I pictured—help me into my wedding dress, which fits perfectly. A woman tiptoes in and asks me to sign the marriage license. Griff has already put his bold scrawl on the GROOM line, so I add my signature where it says BRIDE.

  It’s real now. We’re truly getting married… I’d tear up again at the enormity of all he’s done for me, but I don’t want to destroy my face. The poor woman who fixed it already spent a lot of time trying to make me look as if I slept great last night and haven’t cried a tear. Luckily, she’s talented. I can’t remember a time I looked more radiant.

  The girls shepherd me to the dining room to line up for the ceremony. At the open door to the lanai, Jamie is waiting for me in his precious tux, along with his uncle Maxon.

  I bite my lip to hold in those pesky tears. I’m about to pledge my life to the man I love, to join together with my son’s father into the most beautiful group of siblings and friends… I’m beyond blessed.

  “You two look so handsome,” I tell them.

  “Of course. This gorgeous redhead I know tells me every day how hot I am…”

  Keeley rolls her eyes with a laugh. “Maybe I won’t tell you that today.”

  “Maybe I’ll make you pay later,” he growls.

  “Eww. TMI, guys.” Harlow scowls, then points at Jamie. “Young ears in the room. Hey, buddy. It’s you and me tonight. Got any movie requests?

  “How to Twain your Dwagon!” he shouts.

  “It’s on my iPad at the house,” I assure Harlow.

  She nods and looks down at her nephew. “Got you covered, pal. Twaining Dwagons it is…”

  We all laugh, then Keeley hugs me. “Don’t be nervous.”

  Oddly, I’m not—at all. “Everything is beautiful.”

  “I picked out the perfect song for your wedding. ‘Wrapped in Your Arms’ by Fireflight is an unconventional choice, but it’s about once walking alone, then finding home with your love and—”

  “If you chose it, I’m sure it’s perfect. I couldn’t be more thrilled. Thank you to all of you. So much.”

  “You can repay us by babysitting,” Maxon quips.

  “Hey! I’m not even pregnant.” Keeley gapes at her new husband.

  “Yet.”

  Everyone laughs until my mom comes bustling out of the kitchen, carrying two things. She hands me my bouquet. All white and spilling almost to the ground, it’s still cold from the refrigerator.
I grip the handle. I feel like a bride.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  She nods, then walks behind me and settles a pearl pendant around my throat. “This is the one gift I have from your father. I’m sorry he won’t be here and he doesn’t know what a beautiful woman you’ve become, but I want you to have this and be happy. And don’t ever think about moving to Chicago again.”

  I touch the pearl dangling at my throat. It’s already been an emotional day, and I know there’s more to come. I drag in a deep breath to keep myself together. If I peek around Maxon, I see Griff pacing around the altar. He’s anxious, beyond ready. Like me.

  “You know, you could always move here,” I say to my mom.

  She smiles as if that’s a lovely impossibility. “I don’t have a job.”

  “You cook. You bake!” Keeley sounds thrilled. “I’ll hire you.”

  We all laugh, but Maxon’s bride is very serious. My mom sends her a considering glance, then looks around the big, happy house. “I just might do that…”

  “It’s time!” Harlow shouts, then bends to Jamie. “Remember last week, buddy?” When my son nods, his aunt straightens his bow tie. “No running. Just carry the pillow calmly to the table next to Daddy. He’ll do the rest, okay?”

  “Otay.” He turns to me and opens his arms for a hug.

  It might wrinkle my dress but I don’t care. I bend to hold him close, rejoicing that we’re going to complete our family circle.

  “Pretty Mommy.” He pats my back.

  “Thank you, Jamie. I’m going to go marry your daddy now, okay?”

  “Yeah!” He skips around.

  Maxon joins his brother at the altar. I see the officiant waiting. The bridesmaids begin their trek down the aisle. Then the swell of music starts. And that’s my cue to begin my future with Griffin Reed. After I float down the aisle, hearing a soft voice swear that nothing can separate us, we grip hands and exchange vows that have me near tears again. Finally, we slip wedding bands onto each other’s fingers. The words and symbols are meaningful…but it’s our kiss that seals our forever. My heart fills with joy and certainty because I know we’ll spend every day for the rest of our lives totally in love.

  The End