“Thank you.” She murmured into his neck between her sobs. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, baby.” He said as he rubbed her back softly, letting her cry it out in his arms. They stood like that a few moments before she pulled back and wiped her eyes.
“I love it.” She said with a small smile. “It’s the best gift I ever got.” She said honestly and looked down at the locket she still held in the palm of her hand. “Will you put it on me?”
“Turn around.” He said with a nod. She turned in his lap and he spread his legs so she could nestle between them comfortably. She lifted her hair with one hand and he reached around her and took the necklace from her hands. He undid the clasp after two tries and brought it around her neck. He couldn’t help himself and pressed his lips against the back of her neck. His lips grazed over her tattoo before he brought the chain around and fastened the clasp.
Cara brought her hand up to the locket that nestled in between her breasts and looked at Luke from over her shoulder.
“I’m never going to take it off.” She whispered through her emotions. Then she remembered her present for him. She jumped up and crawled under the tree and pulled out the box she had for him. “It’s nothing in comparison.” She said as she sat back down and handed it to him.
“I hope its socks. I really needed socks.” He said with a wink and she cocked her head to the side.
“I’ll buy you socks another time.” She said with a smile. He just held the box as he looked at her. “Luke! Open your present!” She said excitedly.
He laughed at her enthusiasm and pulled at the wrapping paper. Each piece he pulled off revealed another piece of a lost treasure. Once all the paper was gone, he looked down at the collector’s edition G.I. Joe. It was the same one he had been given all those years ago. The one he had shared with his brother.
“I know it’s silly. I mean you’re a grown man, and I bought you a toy, but I figured it was more of a memory. Like I was giving you something you shared once with Jake. It’s okay if you don’t like it. We can list it on Ebay. I bet you can make a pretty nifty turn around on it.” She rambled nervously until his eyes found hers again.
“It’s perfect.” He said with a smile. “You’re perfect.” He set the box aside and pulled her back onto his lap. “Thank you.” He said before his mouth came crashing down onto hers. She combed her fingers through his hair, holding the back of his head as he kissed her. Luke gave Cara a piece of her broken heart back that Christmas, and she had done the same for him. Maybe Jake was right. Maybe Cara and Luke could fit all the pieces of their hearts, together.
Chapter Twenty
Nick stood staring out the French doors at the ocean that spanned the beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, a beautiful day to marry the love of his life. Shit, how did that happen? Hell, what did it matter anyway, he wasn’t going to question God’s plan, he was just happy the man upstairs had taken to him. He looked over his shoulder when the door to his suite opened and glanced at his best friend. He took a moment to be thankful for that day he met Luke Lanza outside of the elementary school. He may not be standing where he was today if it wasn’t for him.
Luke was dressed in the light gray suit; Sam insisted he be dressed in. It was ninety degrees and the man who despised ties more than anything, was fiddling with the noose around his neck. He cranked his head from side to side, but didn’t utter a complaint.
“Man, aren’t you cutting it a bit close?” Luke said with a nod towards Nick. He was wearing the charcoal suit pants and nothing else.
“It takes me five minutes to get dressed.” Nick said, sweeping his hand the length of his body. “I’ve got it like that.”
Luke rolled his eyes and looked at the white button down shirt that was freshly pressed hanging over the back of the chair. He walked over to the shirt and lifted it.
“Right, still it’s my duty to get your ass in gear.” He sighed and lifted the shirt for Nick to slide his arms into. .
“Did you see her?”
“Did I see who?” Luke said, playing the clueless card and holding back a smile while he did so. Nick slid one arm at a time into the shirt before turning around and looking at Luke. His eyes held him steady as he maneuvered the buttons with his fingertips. The man knew how to dress, that was certain.
“Don’t play with me, Luke. Did you see her?” He said leaving the top button undone as he began to tuck his shirt into his slacks.
“Yeah, I did.” He said with a smile. “She’s beautiful and I’m not partial because she’s my sister. You got yourself a beautiful bride, brother.”
Nick grinned widely. “I know.”
“I can’t believe you’re about to marry Sam.” Luke said with a quick shake of his head. “Scratch that, I can’t believe I was so blind all these years.”
Nick patted him on the shoulder. “It’s okay man, if I had a sister, I wouldn’t want you with her either.”
“That isn’t it.” Luke said and watched as Nick walked to the dresser and grabbed the silver pair of cuff links, Jake had left for him. “I owe you an apology. If I ever made you feel inadequate, it was wrong of me. Sam’s a lucky girl, Nick. Jake was right, there isn’t anyone better for our sister. No one will love her the way you love her.”
Nick looked at his friend for a moment. “So you’re okay with it?”
“I’ve always been okay with it.” He took his arm and helped him with the cufflinks. “I’m happy for you.” He lifted his head once he was finished securing the cufflink. The heat and the tie got to him for a moment or maybe it was the sincerity of his words, Luke tugged at the tie again.
“Thanks Luke.” Nick said, while he grabbed his suit jacket. “I love Sam, and she is the silver lining in everything, but another perk of marrying her is that I get you as a brother. I always secretly wished that we were and now we will be.” He shrugged his jacket on and avoided meeting Luke’s eyes. These damn romance novels were turning him into a sap. The next thing he read was going to be about gore and guts. Hell yeah.
“You have always been my other brother.” Luke said simply and grabbed the rose boutonnière and pinned it to Nick’s suit. Nick lifted his head and looked at Luke before grabbing him into a manly embrace, one that required several firm pats on the back.
“Okay, you’re starting to get emotional. Better get you to the gazebo.” Luke said with the hint of laughter in his voice. “Rings?”
Nick reached for the black box that was on the dresser and handed them off to Luke.
“Vows?” Luke asked, raising an eyebrow.
Nick pointed to his heart. “That shit can’t come from a piece of paper. It’s all right there.”
“Good answer.” Luke said with a grin and patted his back one more time. “Let’s go get you hitched, brother.”
* * * * *
Deb’s glasses dangled on the tip of her nose. She was struggling to secure the last of the pearl buttons on the back of Sam’s wedding gown, but couldn’t see through the tears that were cascading down her face. Thank God for waterproof mascara and all, this family was going to need it. Cara stilled Deb’s trembling fingers.
“Deb, why don’t you let me finish?” Cara said softly. Deb lifted her head and pulled her glasses off her face. Cara finished the delicate buttons, when she was finished; she looked over Sam’s shoulder at the reflection in the mirror. Sam was staring at the glass with a blank expression. Her mother fitted her veil behind her, trying her hardest to pull herself together to dress her only daughter. Cara’s hand touched Sam’s bare shoulder.
“You’re beautiful.” She whispered with a smile.
“I’m getting married.” Sam said in a hushed tone.
“Yeah, you are.” Cara assured her as she admired what a beautiful bride Sam made.
“I’m marrying Nick Foti. I’m going to be Samantha Foti.” She said with wide eyes.
Deb let out another sob at her daughter’s exclamation. Sam turned around and faced her mom
. “Don’t cry mom. Please don’t cry.” She said taking her mother’s hands in hers.
“They’re happy tears, dear.” She said and lifted her hand to her daughter’s cheek. “Wait until your father sees you.” She said smiling through her tears.
“Aunt Sam, you look like a princess!” Ava exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Cara’s waist and looked up at Sam in awe. “The prettiest princess ever!”
Sam turned and smiled at her niece. “No, baby girl, that would be you.” She said and winked at the little girl dressed in a replica of her own wedding dress.
The color drained from Sam’s face when Cara handed her, her bouquet. “Oh my God! Where is the pin?”
“Calm down, honey.” Deb said and handed the pin to Cara. “Can you put it on, Cara? I can’t do it with these trembling fingers.”
Cara took the pin from Deb’s shaking hands and looked down at Jake’s picture, a smile captured her face and then she took Sam’s bouquet and pinned it to the handle. “There, now you just need your dad and you’re all set to be given to the man of your dreams.” Cara said and leaned in and kissed Sam’s cheek.
Tears shone brightly in Sam’s eyes and she lifted her bouquet to inspect Jake’s photo. She pressed her lips to his picture and bit down on her lip so she wouldn’t cry. God, she wished he was here, wiggling his eyebrows.
A knock sounded on the door and they all turned around as Mallory poked her head into the suite. “Are we ready?” She said with a beaming smile.
“Where’s Joe?” Deb asked, with her hand to her chest as she took a deep breath. The woman was having an anxiety attack or something… typical Deb.
“He’s at the bar with Phillip waiting.” Mallory said as if Joe and Phillip shooting shots were a normal occurrence. “Joe needed a little liquid courage to give the bride away.”
“Did you see him?” Sam asked hoarsely.
“Of course I did. You don’t think I’d miss doing a shot with Joe do you?”
“Nick, did you see Nick?” Sam clarified.
“Oh…” Mallory’s smile got even wider. “Prince charming is waiting and he looks absolutely swoon worthy. I mean panty dropping to a whole new level.” She exclaimed and shook her hand as if she was scorched for a dramatic effect to her words.
“Panty dropping?” Deb asked confused.
“What’s panty dropping, Cara?” Ava looked up at her with questioning eyes.
“Nothing, sweetheart.” Cara said and silently hoped for Luke’s sanity, she didn’t repeat the question. Ever.
“I’m ready.” Sam said and pressed a hand to her slightly rounded belly.
* * * * *
Nick stood beside the priest as the organ sounded with some whimsical music. He removed his hands from his pockets and dropped them to his side. Phillip groaned beside him as the sun beat down on them. He slipped his sunglasses on and Nick held back a chuckle. He looked around the few rows of white chairs that surrounded the gazebo on the sand. He nodded towards his mother, who smiled in return. His heart warmed, a foreign thing, when it came to his own mother. Then he lifted his gaze and watched Luke walk his mother down the aisle. Deb held onto her son for dear life as she cried uncontrollably. Nick smiled at her, warmly. That woman would always be a mother to him. Christ, he really was a lucky guy.
Luke bent down and pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek before he took his place next to Nick. They watched as Mallory made her way down the aisle. Her hair was pulled up in a twist and the short lilac dress flowed around her knees, the wind hiking it just a bit. Phillip shook his head.
“Scandalous, even at a wedding.” He muttered under his breath as she took her place across from the men. Nick smiled at her and then he felt Luke go tense beside him. He glanced at his friend and watched as he swallowed. His eyes fixated on the end of the aisle. Nick turned and saw Cara. Her hair was swept up in curls, her dress the same as Mallory’s. She clutched her bouquet with one hand and her other hand held Ava’s. The two girls looked at each other and smiled before they walked down the aisle.
Luke’s face broke out into a smile as they moved closer. Ava blew a kiss to her dad before sitting beside her grandmother. Cara’s eyes found his and he winked at her.
“You’re beautiful.” He mouthed.
“Thank you.” She whispered back.
Nick cleared his throat. Luke elbowed him. Cara laughed. The music changed, and the wedding march began. The guest stood from their seats all turning towards the aisle to catch their first glimpse of the bride. Joe and Sam rounded the corner, standing at the end of the aisle. She lifted her eyes and though they were shielded by her veil, they found Nick’s.
Nick inhaled sharply. She smiled at him and his heart clenched. There was nothing more beautiful in the world, than the woman that stood just a tad out of his reach. She began to make her way towards him, and his throat closed. Nick’s eyes never left those blue eyes that began to shed tears of happiness. His smile blossomed and he took a step out of the gazebo. The years flashed before him, remembering her as just a girl he knew, and how that girl became the woman he loved with all his heart. Sure, it took a while, but right then and there he looked into her eyes and he knew his search was over. She was with him all the while, maybe always just a tad out of his reach, but never to be again.
Joe and Sam stopped at the gazebo and Nick’s eyes diverted to Joe. He watched as the man cried while lifting his daughter’s veil. He pressed his lips to her cheek and Sam leaned into him, cementing the feel of her father’s lips to her cheek. She would never forget that moment, not as long as she lived and she was sure neither would her father.
“I love you, Samantha.” Joe croaked taking her hand he turned to Nick. Nick nodded as Joe took his hand with his free one. He joined Nick and Sam’s hands together and squeezed them lightly.
“Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?” The priest asked.
“I do.” Joe said hoarsely. Nick held Sam’s hand and wrapped his free arm around Joe. He hugged the only man who was ever really a father to him.
“Thank you, Joe.” He whispered.
* * * * *
“The rings?” The priest prompted and Luke quickly reached into his pocket and handed the rings over to the priest for him to bless. Once the blessings of the rings, was complete he handed Sam’s eternity band to Nick. He slipped the ring onto her finger and smiled up at her.
“It is my understanding you’ve chosen to say your own vows. Nick?”
Nick glanced at the priest for a moment before his eyes found Sam’s. He swallowed against the lump in his throat and found his voice.
“Samantha,” he started. She smiled up at him. Never would she get tired of hearing her name come from his lips, nor would he get tired of saying it. “I don’t remember when I fell in love with you. I don’t remember when you stopped being Luke and Jake’s little sister and started being my dream girl. I just am so grateful that it all happened. I took the long road, but you were always there, right in front of me. I look at you and I see the young girl I used to tease, and then I see the girl I fell in love with. I see the girl who patiently waited for me to come to my senses. I see the woman who is my future, the woman who owns my whole heart. I see my wife, my partner for life. I see the mother of my daughter. You’re my destiny, always have been. I love you, Samantha and I vow to show you just how much I do all the days of my life. I vow to give you all of me, everything I am, because you deserve nothing less. I’ll be with you through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, in all the ways that matter, and when we are old and sitting around with a house full of grandchildren, I’ll relive every beautiful memory we create with them. I’ll tell them the greatest fairy tale of all, I’ll tell them ours.” He lifted her hand and kissed the ring he had just placed on her finger, sealing his promise.
Sam wiped at her eyes before she took his platinum band from the priest. She slid it half way up his finger and stared into Nick’s eyes. Her breath caught for a moment, realizing all her dreams had
come true.
“I ask myself why, a lot. Why did I get everything I ever wanted? Why did God chose me out of everyone I know to get my happily ever after? I don’t know why he did. I don’t know why he sent you to me, but I will thank him every day for the rest of my life. You were my first love and you will be my last. You were the first boy I ever loved and you’ll be the man I spend forever with. I am so honored to be the woman you share your life with, Nick. I promise you to be true and to be the one person you can always count on. I will share all the joys of life with you and even the sorrows and we’ll overcome any obstacles that come our way, together.” She slid the band on the rest of the way before she lifted her eyes and smiled brightly at him. “I’ll love you with all I am.”
* * * * *
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The priest said slowly. Sam and Nick turned to him, Nick watched the priest’s lips carefully, waiting for the words…give them to me, he silently urged. The priest eyed Nick, watching as he took a step closer to Sam and then he laughed. “You may now…”
Nick turned around mid-sentence and cupped Sam’s face. His mouth came crashing down onto hers and he kissed his bride. He kissed her with everything he had.
“Kiss the bride…” The Priest said through his laughter. The applause sounded around the happy couple that was, in the middle of a serious lip lock.
Cara felt a tug on the hem of her dress and she looked down at Ava.
“Cara is that panty dropping?” She asked, staring at Nick and Sam.
* * * * *
The tent was beautifully decorated for the intimate beach reception. The tables were lined in beautiful silver and lilac linens. Floating lilies were the centerpieces and the party lights lit the dance floor. Nick and Sam were dancing to their wedding the song, The Search is Over, by Survivor. Fitting, how their search really was over and all along they were standing in front of one another. The lead singer went on to sing about a girl he always knew, that he took for granted. He declared that once he looked into her eyes, his search was over, that she was with him all the time, much as Sam was there waiting for Nick.
Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3) Page 24
