Laughing, Ava says, “I didn’t know you had a sentimental bone in your body, Chloe.”
Isabelle smashes her body into us joining the hug, tears streaming down her face. This is comical and I’m holding my tears back by a thread. My girls are great.
When they leave Ava goes to look for Nick and I check my makeup one more time looking at myself in the mirror. I look like a real bride in a simple form-fitting A-line satin and lace dress. My hair is swept up and back with curls, two diamond pins holding them in place. Nick’s mother loaned them to me for my something old; they were Nick’s grandmother’s. Diamond studs, matching cross pendant, and the cascading diamond bracelet Nick gave me the night we made Jace were my something new and blue. I can’t believe next month is going to make a year. There’s a knock at the door. I take one last look and answer it.
“I thought you weren’t coming?” I say. It’s not who I expected, it’s Jay.
“You look beautiful,” he says, smiling at me.
“Thank you.”
“I wanted to be here for you to show my support even though I don’t approve. I think you could do better.”
I can’t believe he came here for this. “I don’t need your approval, Jay. I don’t care what you think. Nick is one of the best men I know, he would put my life before his own. He is the best father I could ever ask for my son, to show him what a man should be. How a man should love a woman. You insulting him is insulting me. You can leave, I don’t need you here.” He puts his hand on the door to stop me from closing it in his face.
“Cat, wait, I’m sorry! I didn’t want to insult you or make you upset.”
“Didn’t you?”
“No. You’re my baby sister, I want what’s best for you. I don’t want you to make a mistake you can’t take back.”
“Nick is what’s best for me. If he’s a mistake, which he’s not, he’s the best mistake I’ve ever made.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I’m sorry for the things I said to you. I didn’t mean them, I was angry. Sometimes I say stupid things when I’m angry, things that are not true and I know that is no excuse.”
“You hurt me. A lot. You made me feel like…I was everything you said I was. It hurt.”
“For that I’m sorry. I was wrong. That’s why I’m here, I would like to be a part of this day. If the invitation is still open and you’ll let me? I was wrong.”
“Fine, stay,” I say after thinking about it.
“Thank you. You really do look beautiful. All grown up.” He smiles and walks away.
I stop him when he turns. “Jay.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t want a red wedding, this could easily turn into a Game of Thrones-like situation with fists. Please don’t say or do anything that will set Nick off.”
“You have my word.”
“Good.” I close the door and say a silent prayer we will be married and fists will not fly today. Where is Ava? I’m ready for them to start the music already. I’m one hundred percent ready to be Mrs. Nicholas Alexander for the rest of my life.
Nick
Putting my jacket on, I button it and now all I’m waiting for is Chris’s ass. He went to see if Cat was ready thirty minutes ago—how long does that take? There’s a knock on the door. “Come in.”
“Hello, Nick.”
What the hell is she doing in here? She’s the last person I would expect to knock on this door. She must have the wrong room. “Mrs. Reed,” I say stiffly, watching her curiously.
“I wanted to thank you for agreeing to us being here today. I know it wasn’t an easy decision for you after everything.”
“No, it wasn’t. If I had it my way you wouldn’t be here. I only want to make Cat happy, I don’t want her to have regrets about this day. Like it or not you are a part of her, you are her family, and if having you here makes her happy, I’m going to give her what she wants.”
“I can see you make her happy.”
“That’s the only reason you and your daughter are here. Me making her happy. I haven’t forgotten a thing. I’m not happy about her spending time with you but I’m going to tolerate it for her. Don’t hurt her. If you do, I can guarantee you won’t get this chance again. If you’ll excuse me I have a wedding I need to finish getting ready for.”
She looks at me with a stiff smile, her head held high as ever. She closes the door. I run my hand through my hair and unclench my jaw. She grates on my nerves. I’m not fooled for one second into thinking she wouldn’t turn Cat against me if that was in any way possible. The truth is, the only reason I tolerate her having a relationship with Cat is because I know what Cat and I have she can’t touch. We’re solid, she can’t put a dent in it.
“Fuck this. I’m going to see if Cat is ready.” I’ve waited long enough for her to be my wife. I open the door and pull up short. “What the fuck?”
“Hi, Nick.”
“What do you want, Kate?”
“Forget it, I know you hate me.”
I’ve spoken to Kate once, last month. I wasn’t happy, and the things I had to say to her were harsh but they had to be said. Like I told her, if it wasn’t for Cat flat-out refusing, I would have pressed charges against her. She said, “We can’t move on and not forgive. We would always be stuck in a place of hate and anger. This way we could all begin to heal and move on.” That’s when I made the mistake of making the snide remark with some colorful expletives. “Are we supposed to hold hands like a Coca-Cola commercial and sing I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect-Fucking-Harmony)?” She replied with colorful expletives of her own and refused to speak to me for the rest of the day.
I step back into the room stopping her from walking away. “Say whatever it is you need to say, fast.”
“I saw Jace for the first time.”
I tense, watching her. “When did you see Jace?”
“Your mother was holding him outside. He’s amazing.”
“Thanks.” Some of the tension at her saying she saw Jace goes out of my body.
“He has your eyes but everything else is all Cat. He’s a beautiful little boy,” she says, her voice wavering.
I let out a breath and relax a little. She looks different. Still very much put together but different. Less superior and I have all my shit together.
“Kate, I don’t hate you anymore. I’m still very angry.” She lifts her head up and looks at me. I see the doubt in her eyes. “I’m sorry for a lot of things. I’ll never forget the way both of them were almost taken away from me. I don’t hate you. Anymore.”
“What happened is something I will have to live with. My sister and her baby almost dying because of my carelessness. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to either one of them especially that beautiful baby.”
I know what she’s thinking. I’m thinking it too. “I wish you could feel what I do when I look at Jace. I know how you feel, I feel it too. Having Jace doesn’t make me forget, I had two children.”
“Thank you.”
“I will never forget. That’s a bond we will always have.”
“You make her happy.”
“You’re the second person to say that today.”
“Anyone who looks at you can see you belong together.”
We stand in silence and she clears her throat. “I’m going to go back to my seat.” I watch her leave and close the door.
That was different. I’m angry with her, but I also feel sympathy for her. Enough of this. I need to see Cat. On my way to Cat’s room I see Shawn and Chris, catching the end of their conversation.
“Ava’s fine, don’t know why you keep playing hard to get. If you’re not interested, I’ve been thinking about asking her out.”
“I’m going to save you the trouble, no.”
“Hey, Shawn.”
“Hey, you ready to be tied down for life?”
“Way past ready and waiting.”
“I know you are. You’re a lucky man,” he says, patting me on the back walking
back to where the guests are. Pointing a finger at Chris he says, “We’ll talk later.”
“Where the hell have you been?” I ask Chris.
“I ran into Ava. She was giving me all kinds of shit about my date.”
“You should have expected that.”
“Yeah, come on, let’s go outside, Cat’s ready.”
“It’s about damn time.”
I can’t take my eyes off her. The sun shining down on her, she’s an angel made for me. She looks to the left where my parents are standing. She sees my mother and the smile on her face is brighter than the sun shining on her when she sees Jace sleeping soundly. Her eyes find me, and the rest of the way she sees only me and I only have eyes for her. It was all worth it. I would do it all again if it meant I would be here waiting for her, for my forever.
Cat
He takes my hand and his eyes not leaving mine for a second he mouths, “I love you.” I swallow the lump in my throat and hold back the tears threatening to come. Looking into his eyes, I can see the love we share and I hope he can see it in mine as much as I see it in his. Those same beautiful eyes have haunted me many nights when I was all alone. Standing here looking at them I know he will always be by my side. When I’m weak, he will be my strength. If I’m cold, he will keep me warm. If I’m lost, he will find me. I am his and he is mine forever. I look at him and hope I can keep it together till the end of my vows to him.
The minister speaks and I wait nervously for him to indicate it’s time for me to share with our family and friends who came to bear witness the words in my heart. “It took three times to finally get this ring on my finger. The third time, when you put this ring on my finger, in my heart and mind we were already married. We have a bond that can’t be broken. Our son is an extension of that bond, which draws us together whether near or far. I’ve shared a lot of firsts with you, first kiss—yes, for those of you who didn’t know that’s how far back we go,” I say smiling. “There is no other person I would rather share my firsts with in this life. I know we’re just starting our lives together, we have many more firsts to come, good and bad. I can’t wait to share them all with you by my side because with you everything is better.” For the first time since I walked out Nick breaks eye contact and turns to the minister.
“Can I kiss her?” I laugh and so does our guests along with the minister.
“Not quite yet, son. You still have to go over your part.”
He locks eyes with me again with a beautiful smile. His eyes shining down on me crystal clear as the sky above us. “Catherine Emerson Reed. It took three proposals to get here. The first time you were pregnant with our amazing son. The second time I didn’t even ask you anything. You were like, I’m excepting your proposal I turned down, where’s my ring?”
I bite down on my lip and smile. “I did not say it like that.”
“Close enough. Two days later for the third time I decided to do it right. Here in this rose garden under the trellis. I said you’re more than the love of my life, you are my life. I will never want to walk this earth a day without you by my side. You have made me happier than you will know. I love you, Cat. I will love you till the day I die.”
“Oh crap. I tried to hold it together,” I say under my breath so only he can hear. When a tear rolls down my cheek, he wipes it away and kisses the tip of my nose. I look behind me hearing a loud sniff and a few oh’s from Ava and Nick’s mother and a loud sob of crying from Sophie.
“Do you, Nicholas Harrison Alexander, take Catherine Emerson Reed to be your lawfully wedded wife, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, forsaking all others, keep you unto her, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Catherine Emerson Reed, take Nicholas Harrison Alexander to be your lawfully wedded husband, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, forsaking all others, keep you only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“What therefore God has joined together, let no man or woman put asunder. By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. I can now grant your request—”
The minister looks at Nick with a smile. Before he finishes Nick pulls me up against him in a smoldering kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck and melt against him in front of God and all who are watching.
“By all means, you may now kiss your beautiful wife, which you are already in the process of doing,” the minister says with a chuckle. So does everyone else clapping and cheering.
Holding me close to him on the dance floor surrounded by family and friends I run my fingers through his hair as I gaze into his eyes wishing we were somewhere else.
“So, Mrs. Alexander.”
“Yes, Mr. Alexander.”
“How does it feel being my wife?”
“Like nothing I could have imagined. We should have done this sooner.”
“I tried to tell you.”
“And this time I will admit, I should have listened.” I pull his head down fitting my lips between his, kissing him softly. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’m an instant billionaire, a rags to riches story. I’m on top of the world.” He smiles and kisses me on the cheek. When can we get out of here? I need to be with you. I seriously need to be with you. Alone.”
I smile, shaking my head. “Twenty minutes.”
“Thank God.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind not going on a honeymoon?”
“Anywhere we are is a honeymoon.”
“We only have a few hours alone till your mother brings Jace back. I’m sorry, I couldn’t leave him alone, not yet.”
“Nothing to be sorry about, I feel the same way. As long as we’re together I’m happy.” He brushes his thumb across my cheek. Holding me still he holds up his other hand in the direction of the band and a different song starts playing. I feel my cheeks heat at the memory.
“This is our song.” A slow smile creeps up my face. Mikki Ekko, “Pull Me Down.”
“This is how it all started. A sordid affair that was too fierce to be contained by either of us. Or anyone else in its way.”
“I love you. Good, bad, indifferent, imperfections and all,” I tell him.
“I love you more, more than you could imagine.”
His lips touch my neck and I hold on to him tight while we sway, my feet barely touching the floor with his arms around me. The song changes to Sade, “By Your Side.” I sigh deeply, my forehead against his chest lost in the song and the feel of his lips against my skin. When I open my eyes we’re standing by the door. “Nick?”
“Twenty minutes are up. We’re going to have honeymoon number one in a limo. Let’s go, Mrs. Alexander.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Alexander!” I say, smiling when he grabs me by the hand, spinning me out the door in a white swirl and we spend the next glorious eight hours wrapped up in each other. Blissfully happy the way it should always be.
To my readers, who took a chance on this new author:
Thank you for taking the time to read Cat and Nick’s story. I hope you enjoyed reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it and seeing where their complicated relationship with love would take them.
If you did, please leave a comment at your place of purchase so others can discover Imperfections; it would be greatly appreciated.
Stay tuned for Ava and Chris’ story
Imperfections(Take Me As I Am)
Coming 2016
Read other books by Shaniel Watson
Shaniel Watson lives in New York and is a full-time working mother of two beautiful little girls. She enjoys going to amusement parks and eating ice cream on warm summer days with her kids. You can find her reading or writing with her headphones on, music at full blast, on lunch breaks at her day job, on weekends, and late into the night while everyone else is sleeping.
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Thank you to everyone who helped to spread the word and supported me while I wrote book one and book two of Imperfections. A special thanks to my parents, my sister and her husband, my cousin Denise, my sister-in-law Simone, and Trish my BFF.
Copyright © 2015 by Shaniel Watson
Published by Shaniel Watson
First Edition: September 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9861639-2-0
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design © 2015 Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations
Editing by Rahab Mugwanja
Interior Design and Formatting by
www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Books by Shaniel Watson
About Imperfections Come to Light
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Imperfections Come To Light (The Imperfection Series Book 2) Page 32
