Calida bit her lip as she smoothed down the front of the dress. “Do you really think so?”
Mariah sighed as Lida shook her head before remarking with a wicked smile, “I think Edric will love that dress on you, but I’m betting he will like it even more when it’s time to take it off of you.”
Calida blushed as everyone else laughed when a knock sounded on the door.
“Are you ready ladies,” Jake said poking his head inside the room jaw dropping when he saw Calida.
Calida asked Jake to walk her down the makeshift aisle they made in the backyard of Edric’s house which he accepted with a hint of tears in his eyes.
Calida had a hand in everything for the wedding including making the bridal cake. Ms. Welsh did most of the cooking with Wilma and Marti offering their help in preparation for the reception.
Mariah and Lida were Calida’s bridesmaids, and Calida’s colors matched well with the dresses Miss Anders had in her shop.
“He is one lucky man if I do say so,” Jake now added getting a narrowed look from Wilma which he hastily corrected, “of course he didn’t have a choice as I got the best.”
Everyone laughed at the hasty correction and Calida chuckled as Wilma walked over to kiss him.
Calida stared at herself in the mirror running a light hand over the fabric of her dress hazel eyes gleaming with a secret that she just learned, but there was worry and apprehension in those gleaming depths too.
“Do you love Edric,” Wilma asked lightly seeing those flashes of worry a d doubt getting Calida’s undivided attention.
“I do,” Calida remarked without hesitation her hazel eyes meeting Wilma’s without shifting away.
Wilma nodded her head as she said with a small smile, “Later today, and the days following, I believe you won’t remember the doubts only the excitement and happiness of today.”
Calida took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders before she released it fixing the skirt of her wedding dress. She looked up and stated in more confident voice, “I’m ready.”
The wedding went off without a hitch and when Calida walked down the aisle toward Edric, she blushed as his green gaze raked over her with obvious pleasure.
His possessive heated look made Calida giddy as Jake handed her over to him and the tightening of his hand washed away any lingering doubts that Calida may have had when they said their vows after the priest gave them his small ceremony speech.
The reception held afterwards was full of laughter and joy as Calida watched with bright hazel eyes.
“Happy,” Edric whispered coming up behind her with a glass of champagne.
She nodded her head as she took the glass a smile curving her lips that had long ago lost the lipstick she had applied before the ceremony.
“They seem to be also,” Calida commented leaning back against him taking a small sip of the pale liquid thinking of the secret that she had yet to share with anyone her husband being the first.
“Not as happy as I am,” Edric told her drawing her back even further against him nuzzling the exposed curve of her neck.
They made small talk as they watched their friends and family laugh, joke and have a good time.
It was past midnight when the guests began to leave while the bride and groom saw them to the door.
“It will be your turn next, Mariah,” Calida teased giving her a hug.
“We’ll have lunch tomorrow, Calida,” Mariah started catching the brief shake of Edric’s head. “Well, we’ll have lunch sometime this week” getting a questioning look from Calida although she didn’t respond to it. “I’m sorry about the fact you can’t go on a honeymoon at the moment.”
Calida laughed shaking her head as Edric stated, “We just came back from a vacation and although I would love to take Calida away again, it wouldn’t be right to Tomas and the other employees.”
“Damn right,” Tomas said jokingly coming up to them.
“Oh hush,” Mariah stated elbowing him softly in the stomach getting a dramatic reaction from him causing the four of them to laugh.
They waved ‘goodbye’ and Edric closed the door after their last guest left listening to the cars drive away.
“Tired,” Edric asked as he locked the door.
“A little,” Calida said with a smile, “but I should help Ms. Welsh clean up.”
Edric stared at her in the wedding dress before he slowly smiled asking in a rough passionate voice, “In that beautiful wedding dress?”
Calida glanced down at the dress still clinging to her body and she lifted her head giving him a heated look.
“You like it,” she uttered in a low husky voice.
“I do very much,” Edric stated walking toward her with purposeful strides. “I told Ms. Welsh to go to bed and the cleanup can be done tomorrow. As for us…”
Edric reached Calida and with a roguish grin, he swept Calida off her feet taking the stairs two at a time to their room.
Calida was laughing as he walked into their room shutting the door behind him with his foot before walking over to the bed.
He let Calida legs go her body sliding down his body while he told her in an apologetic tone, “I’m sorry about the honeymoon, honey, but tomorrow we are spending the entire day together without any interruptions so lunch with Mariah.”
Calida chuckled wrapping her arms around his neck tilting her head back to look up at him remarking, “Oh…”
“I have a surprise for you,” Edric muttered trailing his lips over her cheekbones to the curve of her neck as he unzipped the back of her dress.
Calida moaned feeling his warm hands sliding down her zipper his fingertips tracing the same path as she repeated, “I don’t like surprises, Edric, and I’ve told you that before.”
Edric whispered against her sensitive skin, “I know, but I promise you will like this one.”
Calida’s glazed eyes met his green ones as he lifted his head giving her a smug and cocky smile before he stepped back and eased down the sleeves of her dress over her arms watching with male delight as the bodice fell to her waist revealing what was underneath it.
He took his time staring at her as if it was the first time he was seeing her and Calida mentioned that in a breathless tone, but Edric merely gave her a passionate look before he pushed the dress past her hips letting it slip to the ground at her feet and Calida forgot about the surprise she had wanted to give Edric on their wedding night as his rough hands settled on her waist.
The smile became even more devilish as he lifted her up from the pool of silk and her heels before laying her on the bed.
He followed her down as Calida wrapped her soft arms around his wide shoulders drawing him down for a passionate kiss allowing the kiss to guide them on their first night as husband and wife.
The next morning Calida and Edric walked down the stairs laughing and teasing each other concerning the fact that they both woke up late although Edric gave Calida wolfish grin causing her cheeks tint and her eyes sparkle.
As they reached the bottom step, Edric immediately caught Calida around the waist and swung her around before setting her on her feet as she laughed only for their moment to broken by a sharp voice.
“Well, isn’t this cozy.”
Edric and Calida turned to the voice just as the front door opened and Ms. Welsh walked in smiling as she saw them.
The smile dimmed when she saw their unwanted guest as Sophie stated, “The front door was unlocked so I assumed it was my invitation to come in.”
“I’m sorry Edric,’ Ms. Welsh told them giving Edric a speaking glance. “I was only gone for twenty minutes and I didn’t think anyone would bother you today.”
Sophie frowned at her words before she turned to face Edric and Calida noting that Edric still had his arms around Calida’s waist.
“I waited for you, Ric,” she said in a soft alluring voice.
The arms wrapped around Calida tightened even more as he told her, “I don’t remember telling you that I wo
uld join you, Sophie, although you weren’t alone for long as you told me yourself.”
“Oh, Ric,” she said softly tears coming to her eyes, “did you actually believe that? I only…”
“I know what you intended, Sophie,” Edric remarked bluntly cutting her off. “I should also be honest and tell you that it didn’t work.”
Sophie allowed tears to slip down her cheeks before she wiped them away with manicured fingers before she turned a glare to Calida.
“Ric, how could do this to me,” She cried turning her attention to him. “I’ve waited for you and yet you still are playing with this woman. You are allowing her to ruin everything between us.”
Calida stiffened in Edric’s arms and he squeezed her gently replying to Sophie, “True we did have some good times, Sophie, but after you got engaged I decided to move on.”
“Oh, Ric,” Sophie said with a slight catch in her voice, “I’m sorry about that, but you shouldn’t hold it against me and make us both suffer for that one mistake. Besides, “she sniffed slightly before she continued, “he seduced me and I unwittingly fell for it.”
Edric sighed heavily although his eyes narrowed as the muscles in his arms tensed and Calida uttered softly, “Edric” feeling the muscles tense around her.
“Don’t spare her feelings. Edric because she never thought about yours,” Ms. Welsh stated giving Edric a long look before she headed for the kitchen shaking her head muttering under her breathe.
“She doesn’t know what she is talking about,” Sophie pleaded taking a few steps forward. “I’ve always thought about your feelings…”
“I was going to propose to you that night, Sophie, but after discovering you in bed with my friend,” Edric interrupted with a narrowed look watching Sophie freeze in tracks face paling as she stared at him. “I changed my mind. I organized that party knowing you would like a proposal in front of our friends.”
Sophie’s mouth dropped open at his words while Edric watched her with no emotions reflected in his eyes arms wrapped around Calida without releasing her.
“I enjoyed your friendship and after that night, it was all I thought of concerning you,” Edric told her eyes going hard. “And yet, you decided to aid the man I hated more than anything so he could try to hurt the woman I loved.”
“Ric,” Sophie sobbed only to stop as Edric glared at her.
“When Calida took that bullet for you, Sophie, she ended up losing something precious to both of us,” he growled suddenly startling both women.
Sophie gained her composure quickly as she scowled asking, “What is more precious than my life?”
“Our unborn baby,” Calida’s soft voice echoed around the room causing Ms. Welsh still hand going to her mouth eyes widening at what Calida revealed having already been told by Wilma. “According to the doctor, I was in the early stages of pregnancy when I was shot suffering a miscarriage.”
Edric tightened his hold as he retorted with a touch of sadness, “Thank you, Sophie, for your friendship up until now. I would prefer that you for now on leave my wife and me alone.”
“Baby,” Sophie uttered in a startled voice before his words finally penetrated and she swung her eyes to their clasped hands around each other finally seeing the wedding rings that graced their left hands.
Sophie stumbled out of the house a few minutes later and stood leaning against her car as Calida’s words echoed through her mind, and her eyes filled with tears which she simply brushed away before climbing into her vehicle.
She drove away without a backward glance but a sense of lost left her feeling empty and cold.
Edric and Calida listened as the car pulled away from the house while Ms. Welsh walked over putting her arms around the both of them.
“I’m sorry for your lost,” she mumbled heartbroken unable to console them until now.
Edric nodded his head saying gravely, “thank you” before he turned worry eyes to Calida. “I’m sorry about that, honey. I didn’t think that Sophie would show up suddenly like that.”
Calida gave a brief smile as she rested her hands on top of his as they nestled lightly on her. “It wasn’t your fault and I guess it couldn’t be helped because it was going to happen sooner or later.”
Edric sighed as he pulled her into a tight embrace before he whispered, “Would you like to see your surprise now?”
Calida nodded her head but he had a feeling her excitement had been erased by Sophie’s visit.
“Ms. Welsh, my wife and I are going out,” Edric told her as he glanced at Ms. Welsh. “Unless something important comes up, we don’t want to be bothered today.”
Ms. Welsh nodded her head as Edric released Calida only to turn her toward the door reaching inside his pocket for his keys.
They walked out of the house while she watched them a satisfied expression overriding the sadness on her face before humming to herself she went back to the kitchen to finish the cleaning she had started.
Edric ushered Calida into the car before walking around to get into the driver’s seat glancing over at Calida seeing the slight frown on her face.
To take her mind off of their altercation with Sophie, he started the car while asking, “So have you thought anymore on that idea of yours?”
“About my own bakery,” Calida asked confused glancing over at him. “I’ve been thinking that I enjoyed doing the catering like I did for Jenny and Maria.”
Edric’s smile widened as he said mysteriously, “I’m glad” getting a long look from Calida with narrowed eyes.
“What are you planning, Edric?”
Edric had to stop for a red light so he leaned over and kissed her quickly before the light changed, and he murmured as they continued on, “You’ll see.”
Calida gave a huge sigh that echoed around the car causing Edric to laugh sending her one wicked look which drew giggles from her as she settled back in the seat enjoying the ride.
Edric made small talk asking Calida what she would like for lunch as ten minutes after leaving the house, he pulled up in front of a small little building not too far from the boutique where Calida got her dresses for her wedding.
“What is this,” Calida asked in a confused voice when Edric parked in front of the building that to her eyes was under construction.
Edric didn’t comment as he turned off the car and got out coming around to her side opening the door for her.
“Come on,” Edric cajoled with a smirk on his face getting a scowl from Calida although she allowed him to help her from the car.
Edric pulled a set of keys from his other pocket as with an arm around Calida’s waist, he walked over to the front of the door and unlocked it as Calida gasped her eyes widening.
“Welcome to your own catering bakery,” Edric said as he pushed open the door and urging Calida ahead of him inside the building. “The bakery where you can order any cake for any occasion with your own specifications and the proprietress will do her best to see that you get it.”
“Bakery Creations,” Calida murmured in a soft voice filled with awe as she turned around her sandaled heels taking it all in her eyes scanning the store already seeing how she would decorate it.
She walked over to the large counter with a glass case running a hand lightly across it before she looked at the stove which she could tell was recently placed, and turned to give Edric a quizzical look.
“Tomas knew the couple who ran the place and they decided to move so they could enjoy their grandchildren,” Edric told walking over to stand next to her putting an arm around her waist. “He knew about it for a while but he only mentioned it when I made a passing comment about your idea.”
Edric watched as Calida began to smile as she walked around the counter to check out the stove.
“Do you like it,” Edric asked worry in his voice even though he could see in her smile that she loved it.
Calida took one more glance at the stove before she turned around beaming a smile at Edric her hazel eyes bright with emotion as s
he rushed around the counter and jumped at him.
Edric laughed his arms automatically opening to catch her as Calida wrapped her legs around his waist while his arms locked around her waist.
“I love it,” Calida gushed before giving him a passionate kiss. “Thank you for finding this place for me.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” he whispered both forgetting that Tomas had something to do with finding the building for Calida as she kissed him again.
Calida broke the kiss on a loud gasp her eyes widening and Edric frowned asking worriedly, “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Is it not…”
Before he could finish the sentence, Calida lifted one hand to his mouth stopping his words. “It’s perfect, Edric, so you don’t have to worry that I don’t like it. It’s just that I had my own surprise for you and with everything going on, I can’t believe I almost forgot to tell you.”
Edric gave her a quizzical look as he put her back on her feet and Calida smiled at him brightly as she grabbed both of his hands placing them low on her abdomen.
“I’m pregnant,” she shouted in excitement. “I confirmed it before our wedding.”
Edric felt his body still while his eyes went down her body to rest on where Calida held both of his hands.
“You’re pregnant,” he said hoarsely lifting stunned green eyes to her that were beginning to deepen with male satisfaction and happiness.
“Almost eight weeks,” Calida confirmed with a sharp nod laughing as Edric pulled her tightly to him and kissed her without restraint He broke the kiss seeing a brief sadness flicker in her eyes and knew that she was thinking about the child we lost, and he leaned down to kiss her again.
“We won’t forget about our first child,” he assured her seeing how her eyes shimmed with tears before she nodded her head.
“No, we won’t forget,” Calida repeated lifting one hand to wipe the tears away before giving him smile.
Edric lifted her up so that they were eye to eye before he grinned and kissed her swinging her around in a small circle. He broke the kiss as Calida tossed her head back laughing joyfully as Edric’s masculine laughter joined hers.
Past Sins Revisited Page 42
