All We Ever Needed

by D. A. Young

  “Don’t you dare make me cry right now,” Kat warned, leaning back into her mother who promptly wrapped her arms around her. “Princess Bambi, Mama? Seriously?”

  “It was either that or My Little Pony”,” Vivienne shrugged.

  Kat nodded sagely. “Bambi it is. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard the Bambi reference recently. Have I told you how ravishing you look? The matron of honor isn’t supposed to usurp the bride, you know.”

  Vivienne wore a silver-green, strapless, column-style floor-length dress. “Sorry. I didn’t get that memo.”

  Holt and Kat decided to keep the wedding party as simple as the ceremony. Vivienne would be her maid of honor and Rudii would be Holt’s best man. D.J. would be the ring bearer and Ruby her flower girl. Holt had purchased the matching wedding band to her engagement ring and Kat was already designing his wedding band. For today, she’d bought a simple silver band.

  There was a brief knock at the door and Elin opened it. In her hands was a medium-sized black box and a white envelope. “Oh, how gorgeous you both look! Kat, Holton wanted you to have this. I’m just popping in as the ceremony will be starting in ten minutes.”

  Kat took the box from her and set them down on the vanity. The envelope contained the prenuptial agreement Holt had signed. Vivienne took it and placed it in her clutch. Kat turned her attention to the box. Eagerly, she lifted the lid and slammed it shut. She opened it and peeked in again, a huge smile eclipsing her face. “Oh, Mr. Brammer! “What have you done?”

  Vivienne peered in and waved her hands at her face and teased her daughter, “Chile, this man of yours! You better do more than break him off a piece tonight, Kit-Kat!”

  “Mama!” Kat snatched the headband out of her hair and tossed it aside. Fingers trembling, she carefully removed the crown nestled on the purple satin pillow and held it up to the dim light to examine it. A crown of delicate sunbursts with freshwater seed pearls and pave diamonds woven throughout the intricate design. “Help me, please.”

  “Okay, but there’s a note. You should read it first, rudeness.” Vivienne handed her the five-inch by seven-inch cardstock paper.

  “Um, can you seriously blame me right now?” Kat ran her fingers across the engraved, black linen-textured note. “Niiice.”

  “What does it say, though?!”

  Hand pressed to her stomach, in an attempt to control the butterflies, Kat nervously cleared her throat.

  Katerina,

  In our past life, this life, and in the next, you will always be min drottning.

  Until the end of time.

  Forever Yours,

  Holton

  “Min drottning?”

  “It means ‘my queen’,” Kat murmured, pressing the card to her pounding heart. “Will you please help me put it on?”

  Vivienne assisted in arranging the crown and stepped back, pressing her fingers to her lips. “Oh my…”

  There was another knock at the door and this time Alexei stepped in, handsome in his black suit, white dress shirt, and his silver-green, white, and black paisley-print tie. He tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come. Helplessly, he looked to Vivienne, and she smiled her understanding. Reaching an arm out, his wife motioned for him to join them.

  “You are a vision, my love.” Alexei pressed a kiss to Vivienne’s cheek.

  “You’re not half-bad either,” she kidded. “Is it time?”

  “It is,” he swallowed hard, still in denial. How could time have flown this fast? Alexei inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. When he opened them, Vivienne and their daughter were watching him with nervous expectation. “You look absolutely lovely, Katya. In my opinion, there is no man walking this Earth that is good enough for you. But if I had to pick one to watch over my darling girl for the rest of her life, Brammer is not a bad candidate,” he grudgingly finished, a faint twinkle in his eyes.

  “You’re all heart, Papa,” Kat laughed tearfully.

  “I’m proud of you, babe. I know the sacrifice it took for you to admit that,” Vivienne praised him. She handed Kat her cascading bouquet that consisted of café au lait dahlias, burgundy peonies, willow eucalyptus, and white roses. Hers was a smaller version of her daughter’s. “Future Mrs. Brammer, are you ready?”

  “It’s actually going to be Mrs. Romankov-Brammer,” Kat corrected her, smiling at her parents’ shocked expressions. “Professionally that’s what I’ll be known as. Personally, my husband-to-be says I’ll be Mrs. Brammer. Don’t look so surprised. I know who I am and who raised me. I’m a Romankov and proud of it! Always have been, always will be. Holt understands.”

  “Well, alrighty then,” Vivienne said, misty-eyed.

  “Correction, Katya. We are Romankovs,” Alexei declared fiercely.

  His wife kissed him softly and hugged Kat. “I guess I’ll see you both at the altar.”

  Vivienne left them as the strands of the traditional wedding march cued.

  “I love you, Papa.”

  “I love you too, Katya.” Alexei held his arm out and Kat slid hers through it. “It’s time to go. I believe we’ve kept Holton waiting long enough.”

  ***

  They were officially married.

  On a Whim had worked a miracle on the microscopic notice they’d been given. The pews were shifted out of the way and while the couple posed for pictures, two, long tables were brought in. Avery covered them with white-lined tablecloths and lay willow garland down the center and placed bronze candle tapers in between low wooden box planters of assorted faux succulents mixed in with the dahlias and roses. Jenny took the bundles at the end of each pew and separated them into small bundles and re-tied them to the back of the chairs.

  Meanwhile, Noelle, with the help of the Romankovs’ chef and housekeeper, was busy all day creating the wedding meal. For the appetizers, there were fried oysters on beds of creamed spinach in their shell, short-rib-with-smoked Gouda sliders and pan-seared scallops wrapped in bacon. The main course consisted of filet mignon topped with Dungeness crab, roasted asparagus, and macaroni and cheese. Just Desserts came through with bourbon-soaked peach cupcakes drizzled with dark caramel and topped with a bark of praline and a strawberry chiffon mascarpone cheesecake substituted for the wedding cake.

  With the exception of Ian and Dominique pointedly ignoring each other and Vivienne dividing her attention equally between the two men, everyone had a great time. It was precisely what Kat had envisioned for their special day: a happy, loving family and delicious, homemade food.

  When Kat thanked Noelle and Avery, they’d waved it off and Noelle gave her a big hug.

  “You and Alexei were the first people to welcome me to Whiskey Row. You accepted me no questions asked, simply going off Jack’s word. As if that was n’t cool enough, you also worked a miracle with my ring in order for me to have it for my special day. I just wanted to return the favor and try to make your day as special as you made mine. Congratulations, babe.”

  “Kat, how could we not try our best?” Avery smiled. “I’ve never met a more deserving couple.”

  “Come on, let’s get you off your feet,” Noelle urged her. “I made you a special plate of roasted chicken and dauphinoise potatoes.”

  “Yum. With lots of roasted garlic? And cream and rosemary? I’ve had a ridiculous crav—” Avery stopped talking and Kat and Noelle grinned as it dawned on her that the cat was finally out of the bag. “You knew! Both of you?”

  “It wasn’t that hard to deduce. You’re cute but looked like death warmed over all of December and January. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen your hand hovering above your tummy. I get it. You’re growing another person. Remember how much I tiptoed around you when I found out I was pregnant with Ruby. That was exhausting.”

  “It is. It feels like it’s increasing but I know the end will be rewarding,” Avery confided, her hand finally dropping to her tummy that was barely starting to show. “We kept it under wraps and savored it, wanting to ensure there were no health issues duri
ng the first trimester. Plus, we were content to enjoy the Casey & Sid show. They’ve been low-key hyping us up! I think D.J. might suspect something. He’s been overly attentive lately. How did you know, Kat?”

  “Mama told me today. She’s having so much fun with Darby’s attempts to divert her attention.”

  “Jack caught him looking at baby names on his phone, and he received an email notification about what the size of the baby should be,” Noelle added. “And Guy said he asked if they would be expanding to include baby furniture.”

  Casey wheeled Sidra and Moira over. “Is she ready to spill the beans yet? I’ve had so much fun describing all my weird food cravings and watching her practically run out of the room.”

  Avery groaned and they laughed at her.

  “Worst kept secret ever,” Casey teased, offering Avery a hug. “Congratulations mama-to-be!”

  “Thank you,” Avery cupped her hands together and called to her husband, “Babe, we’ve been outed!”

  “It’s about darn time, Mama!” D.J. shouted and everyone cheered, his happiness contagious. The noise awakened both Baby Jack and Ruby who’d nodded off in Elin and Autumn’s arms.

  “You knew, bud?” Darby scooped him up. “How?”

  “I heard Mama dealin’ with her mornin’ sickness.” Addressing the room, he gestured to his father with his thumb and rolled his eyes. “This guy tries to disguise it with a little country music. I know Daddy loves Garth Brooks, but first thing in the mornin’ every mornin’?” D.J. scoffed. “C’mon son!”

  Everyone laughed and came forward to congratulate the family.

  ***

  “How’s it feel, Thor?” Guy handed Holt a shot of whiskey as he and the Sullivan brothers joined him at the table to watch Kat and Alexei step in the center of the room for their father-daughter dance. His new father-in-law had chosen The Temptations “My Girl”.

  I've got sunshine on a cloudy day

  And when it's cold outside,

  Well I've got the month of May

  The groom cheesed up as they clinked glasses. “Like I just walked into heaven, no lie.”

  Kat was even more dazzling than the crown nestled in her cloud of curls as her father twirled her around and they shared a laugh. Contentment stole through Holt. She was finally his wife after years of pining and waiting for her. He’d never forget Kat regally gliding toward him on Alexei’s arm. The crown hadn’t sparkled more than her eyes. The vision had almost brought him to his knees.

  I guess you say

  What could make me feel this way

  My love, my love, my love,

  Talking bout my love, my love

  Alexei smiled genuinely and offered his hand. “You’ve seen what I’m capable of. Be good to her.”

  Holt shook it with a solemn smile. “Thank you. If I fail as a husband, I expect nothing less than you at your worst.”

  “He’s gonna cry again,” Jack predicted when Holt sniffled and turned his head away and brushed at his eyes.

  “And there ain’t a damn thing wrong with that,” Darby said with a grin. “If a man doesn’t cry the day he marries the love of his life, then his bride better hightail it straight to divorce court ‘cause she’s been hoodwinked.”

  “Hear! Hear! Sid had me bawlin’-”

  “When aren’t you cryin’ about her?” Guy joked.

  “I hope Fern turns you out like a category five hurricane, Pip.”

  “Ain’t no hopin’ about it, son. It’s a done deal.”

  “Where’s, Merada?” Jack asked. “I wanted to thank him for savin’ Kat and takin’ care of our place.”

  “He couldn’t make it,” Holt answered. “He’s on assignment.”

  Tuck joined them. “Fellas.”

  Holt pierced him with narrowed eyes. “You’ve got some serious explainin’ to do. You taught Kat how to handle herself, didn’t you?”

  Tuck shrugged. “Everyone should know how to defend themselves. Especially women.”

  Jack frowned. “But a spiked whip of all things?”

  “Hey, man, have you met your sister? When she gets somethin’ into her head, it’s hard to dissuade her!” Tuck replied defensively. “Don’t act like I’m a lyin’ lizard either because we’ve all experienced her temper.”

  “She’s always been a feisty one,” Casey cosigned. “I guess to us, she’s always been the baby we needed to take care off.”

  “That’s a nice concept and all, however, I’m willin’ to bet a year’s salary that Kat can outshoot you with her eyes closed. How do I know that? I’m the one that taught her. We started out with BB guns then progressed to firearms when she was eighteen,” he added when their faces turned thunderous.

  “You shouldn’t have withheld that kind of information about my sister from me,” Darby lectured. “She stayed away for months to get her head straight about Ferrara dyin’. Kat shouldn’t have had to go through that alone! You ever pull some shit like that again, I‘ll break you down so hard, they’ll be reassemblin’ your bones like puzzle pieces to identify your remains.”

  “Yes, sir,” Tuck nodded respectfully. “I wasn’t in work mode at the time. I was just tryin’ to help my best friend out of a tricky situation.”

  “Which we all appreciate,” Jack interjected, opting to play peacemaker for the time being. “I just want to know where the hell we were when all this was goin’ on,” he asked the group incredulously. “I feel both guilty and betrayed for not even noticin’. She’s got a double life. Is her name really even Kat?”

  This explained why she never batted an eye about the things he’d done, Holt thought with grim amusement. He got to his feet as the song ended and set his glass on the table with a rakish grin. “I, for one, am proud of the way Kat was and is able to handle herself. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m goin’ to go reclaim my life.”

  “Y’all didn’t have the first dance yet!” Casey protested.

  “I’m not dancin’ with Katerina in front of you bloodhounds. Y’all don’t know how to act right. I felt your beady eyes on me when we were pronounced man and wife and kissed. We’re doin’ everythin’ else private from this point on.”

  Their families balked at the couple’s decline of the deluxe chateau at the Miramar Resort for the weekend. Holt and Kat were content to keep the simplicity theme going.

  “Unless you want to?” she asked her new husband, so handsome in his black dinner suit with his flowing blonde hair.

  Her husband. It was about friggin’ time.

  Holt’s response was to cup her face and tilt it up to his for a slow drugging kiss. He released her and took her hand, twining their fingers together. “Let’s go home, Mrs. Romankov-Brammer.”

  Vivienne hugged her daughter one last time and shared some pearls of wisdom. “Marriage is a partnership, darling. Never forget that before you’re Holton’s wife, you’re his equal, not some damn shadow hovering behind him, existing merely because of his existence.”

  Rudii’s last words when he shook his son’s hand would be ones that Holton would recall when Kat slept in his arms in the early hours of the morning. “Your wife is proof that the Lord truly favors you, son. Cherish each other.”

  The newlyweds made their way through the crowd accepting well wishes before strolling into the night. The weather was warming with spring’s arrival, but the nights were still cold. Currently, it was thirty degrees outside. Kat was grateful to Madam Lalita for providing the cape. She looked like fucking royalty, Holt thought, noticing how Kat’s crown sparkled even in the dark.

  Holt assisted his wife into his truck. D.J. and Mai Ling had decorated the bed earlier with trailing eucalyptus garland Avery had woven with white garden roses and burlap ribbons. Hanging in the center was the sign Jack had made when he left the hospital. He’d fashioned one of the reclaimed shelves and it read:

  Just Married

  Holton & Katerina

  Love is the tie that binds.

  The drive home was blessedly short, fille
d with exchanges of the night’s festivities.

  “My sissies are so friggin’ talented! I don’t even know why I doubted they could pull it off! Everything was perfect,” Kat sighed, still giddy at how spectacularly their wedding night was going. “Even Papa’s threat to you. It was nice to see our fathers speaking civilly after the Christmas party fiasco.”

  They reached the cabin, and by the time Holt came around to open his wife’s door, Kat had it thrown open, and was waiting for him. He helped her down and they walked toward their home.

  “Home sweet home.” Kat turned her back on it to face Holt, her dress swirling about her. “Happy?”

  “Euphoric is more like it.”

  He scooped her into his arms as they reached the door and kissed her, while his fingers punched in the security code. Ceremoniously, he crossed the threshold and kicked the door closed behind them as Kat’s skilled tongue drove him painfully erect. Her hands found the single latch at chest level of her cape and unhooked it. The garment fell to the floor as they made their way to the sofa kissing. Holt settled down with Kat in his arms, her ass covering his shaft sending electricity sparking through Holt.

  “God, you feel good,” Kat mumbled against his lips as she shifted to palm his face. Her pussy was already weeping for him.

  “I owe you a dance.” Holt’s fingers slid into her curls and held her face steady as he devoured her tender mouth.

  He was not going to last.

  Conquering Katerina Romankov-Brammer once and for all was the only goal on Holt’s mind. However, this was their wedding night. He was determined to romance the fuck out of her.

  “We can dance later,” she moaned, tilting her head back as his lips fell to her throat and he bit the delicate slope of it and sucked, hard. “If it doesn’t involve you and I finally coupling, please shut up about it, babe. I sincerely mean that in the nicest way possible.”

  His warm hand slid down to palm her breast, and Kat shuddered when his fingers found her beaded nipple through the gown’s thin fabric. Holt pinched it and her muffled cry was silenced by his assertive lips. His tongue delved deeply, and Kat encouraged him, parrying with her own. Holt’s hands cupped her breasts, caressing the achy globes and alternating between pinching and tugging on Kat’s puckered areolas.