Storm stared up at the ceiling in Elf’s room. She, Nava, Elf, Darla, and a few women from Nolan’s family had all stayed there the night before, giving Storm a bridal party. But it was a surprise to them all that Nava and Elf were also celebrating, too.
The three of them were going to get married at the same time. Saxon and Kayden had spoken with Matty and Nolan, all four of the men planned the party and her day. First, they each had a spa day at Enchanted Charm’s Parlor. Who would have thought little Charm, owner of the parlor, had a damn sadist streak in her?
She rolled over and groaned. “Wait ‘til I get hold of Matty and Nolan,” she mumbled. “Brazilian wax,” Storm growled. “They’re toads.”
“I don’t know what you are complaining about,” Nava growled. “I still can’t believe he told them to wax my mustache! I didn’t have one, did I?” she asked, sitting up next to her.
“What time is it?” Storm asked and looked at the clock, smiling. “It’s still early. Do you think they are still sleeping?” Storm smiled. “Let’s wake them up, shall we?” Storm asked as Elf and Darla sat up smiling.
“Now, I don’t normally agree with this...”
Nolan’s mother snorted. “I say we fry their asses. Really, who the hell has a damn wax on their private parts? Not to mention our men had to go there and ask for this stuff. Two hundred years I’ve been with that man, and he asks for this. Oh, he is so going to pay.”
Storm laughed. “I was actually thinking of a nice ice-cold shower, plus Nava does the fire stuff.”
“Ice is good, really good. Get their blood pumping like ours was when we were screaming,” Fancy, Nolan’s mom growled.
“I have a feeling I’m really going to like you,” Storm laughed and said a few words, waiting.
Storm! Both Matty and Nolan yelled in her head.
“Good morning; was it painful,” she growled in their heads and out loud she was so pissed off, showing them the pain she had been in. Both men calmed down, telling her how much she would appreciate it in the end. “Then, you go and have yourself waxed down there. Wait, I’ll make the appointment,” Storm snapped. “No, cancel that; they can’t see you down there. I know. We’ll have our own wax party tonight, and I get to wax the both of you.”
Darla fell off the bed, laughing as tears rolled down Elf’s face she was laughing so hard. Nava shook her head. “They couldn’t handle it. After the first yank, they’d be coming after us.”
They all turned to the door and smiled, hearing the pounding on it. “Well, I spoke with my men, and they know better not to come here, so who do you think?” Storm asked.
“Mine,” Elf said.
“Mine,” Nava repeated.
“Nope, mine,” Fancy said. “Stay right there and watch, ladies.” Fancy marched into the outer room and threw open the door so hard it banged the side of the wall. “You have a damn problem? Well, let me tell you about what my problem was about,” she growled when Storm heard the yelp.
“Woman, what the hell did you do?” Jared, her husband, asked.
“I pulled out only a few hairs; now, you had a little taste of what I went through, you air biscuit,” Fancy squealed.
Storm leaned over to Darla. “What is an air biscuit?”
“Fart,” Darla said as she winced, hearing Drake yell from the other room.
“My turn,” she said. “You three are not to come out of this room,” Darla pointed to the three of them. “If your men come here, believe me, I’ll send them on their way.”
Sure enough, Darla was a tie when it came to handling her man, too. But all too soon, Storm, Elf, and Nava were sitting on chairs getting their hair done by Charm and two of her best people. She actually apologized, saying they had to do it fast or it would have hurt them worse.
However, Storm still didn’t believe so and told Charm she wouldn’t be going through that again any time soon and so had Elf and Nava.
Charm stood behind her and smiled. “I have something for you. I saw it last month and had to buy it. Now, I know why. I’ve worked with it some, but I really think this will look stunning on you to match your dress.” Charm turned and opened a large box, pulling a wig out, but when the hair touched her leg, she knew it was real hair.
Black hair with red strips, but what was really stunning was the small orange lilies weaved through it. “Are they real?” Storm asked, and Charm nodded her head.
“I worked on it this morning. I want the three of you to have that special day. This town has been through so much, but you three... Well, it’s time for you to have a good day, and today is that.” Charm put the wig on Storm’s head, and Storm smiled, seeing how long the hair was.
“I’ve always wanted to have hair this long but never really tried to grow it. I just might have to after seeing this,” Storm said as Charm danced around her, fixing this and that.
“Okay, ladies, you’re going to eat now before the ceremony. Also, we have some things you have to have on your wedding day,” Nolan’s mother said. “This gift is from Darla for all three of you. It’s your something blue.”
Storm laughed, knowing it was the garter, but she wasn’t laughing when she saw the jewels on it. “Darla, are these real?” Storm asked.
“Mom, and of course, they are real. This one you will wear, while...” Darla nodded to the box. “That one will be thrown. Each of you will give this to your children’s mate. Yes, you will all have at least one girl, that much I have seen,” Darla said, looking at her, and she smiled.
“I hope she has Fancy’s and your temper,” she said, all of them busted out laughing.
“Next is mine. It’s something borrowed,” Fancy handed each of them a small box. “I had a hell of a time trying to think of something, but Darla gave me the idea. Each of those broches is part of the Ireland jewels from our family. Storm, you have my great grandmother’s broch, she had a thing for black diamonds.” Fancy turned to Elf, whose dress would be green, honoring her father who had been killed. “Elf, you have the emerald; it was my husband’s great grandmother’s, and Nava, since your dress is red for fire, a ruby belonging to Darla’s great grandmother.”
“Now, something new...” Darla and Fancy handed each of them another small box. “These are from your men.”
Storm slowly opened it up and sucked in her breath. “An ankle bracelet?” she asked, and Darla nodded. She lifted it up and stared at the black diamonds. “My god, it’s stunning.”
“That is one thing, both of our boys have wonderful taste,” Fancy said as Nava held up a ruby one and Elf had the emerald one.
“So, for the old part, there will be no tears, is that understood? I already see them in your eyes, all of you, but you will ruin your makeup. First, Elf, we know your father can’t be here to walk you down the aisle, so Drake would like this honor, but Elf, your natural father’s family is here. Your grandmother is here, his mother and she has something for you.” Both women stepped aside as a woman with bright green eyes moved into the room wearing a formal green dress.
“My name is Sorenta. You are the last person to see my son, but I see him in your eyes. I give you this, Elf. He would have given it to you on this day, but since he can’t, I do.” She reached out and took Elf’s hand and placed an emerald four-leaf clover in it. “It is ready to be worn in your hair. Your father had that made up for his bride, his mate if he ever found her, but now, it is yours.”
Both Darla and Fancy sighed as Storm wiped the tears away, and so did Nava and Elf. Elf stood and hugged her grandmother. “You will stay after the wedding so I can share with you what he told me? Plus, you have three grandchildren that would love to meet you.” Elf asked.
“Yes, she is already set up in a room in your wing, her and your aunt,” Darla said.
“Thank you, Momma,” Elf said as she sat back down when the ghost parents of Nava showed up.
Nava stood. “I was so hoping you would be here,” she whispered.
“This is all new to us. We have to save our energy to be here with you, but your father will walk you down that aisle, and here is old, even though you have...”
“Don’t you say it, Granddaughter,” Calamity Jane growled, following behind Nava’s parents.
Storm laughed as did everyone else. “Well, this is your grandmother’s, and now yours,” Nava’s mom said, shaking her head at Jane.
“It’s not much, but my momma gave it to me when I was small before she died. I want you to have it now,” Jane said, holding her hand out. A small bright gold band was there. “It should fit on your pinky.”
Nava cried. “I want to hug you, but I can’t.”
“Bullshit,” Jane stepped up to Nava and pulled her into a fierce hug. “Soon, your momma and papa will be able to do this when they get older,” she informed her and looked over at Elf. “Your father’s spirit is around, but right now, he can’t do anything, Elf, until his body is found, I’m afraid.”
“Really?” Elf said, getting up and moving to Jane. “You just gave me one of the best gifts. He and Nava are the ones that kept me going, well until my little ones came. I’ve missed him so much. Thank you.” Elf hugged Jane as everyone stepped away from her.
Storm wiped the tears and glanced to see Doc Lope coming into the room, holding two boxes. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You make me so proud. I found this at home on my bed. It’s for you.”
She took the box and opened it to see a small note inside.
My little girl,
Even though you will not see me, I can promise I will be watching as you walk toward your destiny. Matty and Nolan are two fine men, and I couldn’t have picked better for my daughter. And if I couldn’t walk you toward your men, I’m happy that Doc is doing it for you. He is an honorable man and loves you as much as I love you...
Storm stopped reading, the tears now rolling down her face non-stop.
Darla sighed and handed her a small towel. “I knew we should have given you three these presents beforehand. We are lucky we have Charm here to help us again.”
She wiped her face as Doc moved behind her, rubbing her shoulders. Storm took a deep breath and looked back down at the letter and continued to read.
I heard you needed something old. So, I give you your great grandmother’s earrings. By the way, my parents will be coming, so be prepared; they can be overpowering, but they loved you when you were tiny. Love you, Storm, and know I’m there watching.
Storm closed her eyes and turned to bury her face into Doc Lope’s chest, crying.
“I know, little pixy, we’re both here for you. Now stop the tears and open my box.” Doc Lope said.
She frowned, wiping her face. “You’ve given me too much,” Storm said but took his box and opened it. “What? I can’t accept this. You should give it to Ana when you marry her?” Storm said, looking down at the little wolf necklace that had been his mother’s.
Doc Lope shook his head. “I have something for her. No, this is for you. Even my mother knew when you first saw it that it was going to be yours. She’d be right there in the front row if she could, little pixy. Grandma Susan loved you so much.” Doc Lope leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Now, turn around and let me put it on ya.”
You okay, Nolan asked, but she knew Matty was listening, too. You shouldn’t be crying on your special day.
I’m fine, my fathers are just once more showing me how much they love me. I’m very lucky to have two papas like our children will have, Storm said, turning around and allowing Doc to place the necklace on her. The piece was so dainty she was afraid she’d break it.
“I remember Grandma telling me the story of this. Of how Grandpa had given it to her,” Storm smiled. “For being so big, your daddy was a teddy bear,” Storm said, which earned a snort from Drake as he came into the room.
“Chap Lope was far from a teddy bear. That man could rip you apart with one paw. Where is the old buzzard?” he asked Doc Lope, who laughed.
“Afraid after mom passed, he was restless. He’s traveling to the different packs. I think, he was even thinking of going overseas, too. Last I heard, he was in Maine, heading up into Canada.” Doc Lope kissed the side of her neck and stepped around her. “He is late checking in though.” He tilted his head to the side and laughed. “Well, it would seem your grandmother has given my father a lecture on shirking his duties as a grandfather.”
“What? You can talk to Grandma?” Storm asked.
“Yes, I’ve been speaking with her for the last two weeks. She’s not ready to make an appearance yet, but she’ll be around, Storm. But she is highly pissed at my father right now.” Doc shook his head. “I would expect a visit very soon, little pixy,” Doc smirked.
“Okay, everyone out. We have to feed these girls and get them finished up. Come back in two hours, gentlemen. Drake, how are Nolan and Matty doing with the ring bearer?” Darla asked, walking her husband out.
“Little Bear is doing great, more so than his fathers, who keep pacing back and forth. Not to mention our two demons who keep biting everyone’s heads off if they get close to them. I swear, you’d think they’d never get to see you three again.” Drake leaned over, giving Darla a kiss that would heat up Niagara Falls in the wintertime.
“It would seem someone else has missed his woman,” Storm teased, earning a look from Drake before he left.
“All right, ladies, it’s time to get serious. Let’s eat!” Darla said, moving into the other room where Storm was impressed. The spread of food here was amazing.
“Let me guess, Susanna did this?” Storm asked, popping a twice-baked finger, as her friend like to call them. “She sure does know how to do some great food for Halloween. I can’t wait to see our cakes.”