Reflecting On Wishes (The Wishes Series) (29 page)

“I have something for him too. Would you mind taking it to him?” she addressed Dom.

“It would be my pleasure, sister mine.”

Again with the blurry, watery eyes.
Good Lord would she ever make it down the aisle without mascara and eyeliner streaks down her face?

***

Dakota was pacing back and forth in front of the patio doors that led through the gardens and down the path to the lake where the ceremony was to be held. His traditional black tux with a single white rose pinned on his jacket fit him to a tee. He had polished his shoes to an impeccable gleam in true military fashion as his father had taught him. It was a good thing it was wood flooring and not carpet, else he’d wear a hole in it waiting for the ceremony to start. His mom and dad were there with him, along with a couple of his uncles and his best friend Tank, but Dakota wasn’t talking to anyone. Nervous energy coursed through him and time was moving so slowly it was driving him crazy. He was ready, so ready to make Angel his wife. She had insisted on not moving in with him until they were wed, so he was thoroughly looking forward to waking up next to her every day for the rest of his life. But the damn clock needed to move faster so he could make her his in front of God and everyone.

“Hey, D. I got a package for you from your girl. She loved your gift by the way. Fighting back tears and all that jazz. You did good, bruh.” Dom clapped him on the back and handed him a rectangular box that was wrapped in pearly white paper with a silver mesh bow. When he opened it, his reaction was quite the opposite of what Dom said Angel’s was. Dakota laughed loudly and shook his head. “That woman,” he held up a large coffee thermos that would hold somewhere around sixty-four ounces of coffee along with a receipt for a paid subscription to a coffee of the month club. “Proof she loves me madly since she’s willing to support my coffee habit even though she can’t stand it.”

“She’s a keeper, bruh. That’s for sure.” Tank said, clapping his hand on Dakota’s back, joining him in laughter.

“Everyone, it’s time to head outside. As soon as you’re at the altar, Dakota, I’ll signal for the ceremony to start.” The minister said as he ushered them out the patio doors to walk down the garden path to the site they had picked out by the weeping willows next to the water.

***

Vito held his arm out for Angel as she came to stand next to him. She still walked with a limp but the fact she was now walking unassisted was nothing short of a miracle. His baby girl was all grown up and he was about to give her away to the man of her dreams. Now both of his children had made lives for themselves with exceptional partners and he couldn’t be more proud.

“It’s time, mija,” he kissed her cheek and led her outside and down the aisle as the music started to play.

“I love you, Papá. Thank you for everything. For being both parents to me, and for being my friend when I needed it too. I couldn’t have made it through the last year without you.” She whispered, emotion clogging her throat.

“You’re my baby. I’d do anything for you.” He patted her hand and smiled, “It’s your day, mija, smile and take the time to soak it all up. Don’t forget a thing. Today will last you a lifetime.”

***

Her father was right. It was time to let the nerves go and enjoy herself. They were surrounded by family and friends that had loved, supported and encouraged them through the good times, and the rough ones. Angel squeezed tightly to her bouquet of white roses and tried to take in everything. The scent of dogwoods and rosebud trees blooming left a sweet smell in the air. The warm sunshine on her face and the birds chirping paired with the water lapping as the wind blew it against the shore was a beautiful, calming melody. Just before they turned the corner that would put her in full view of their guests and her husband-to-be, the music started and put an instant smile on her face.
Jason Mraz
had written the perfect song in
“I’m Yours”
.

Angel smiled at her father when he asked, “Ready, mija?”

He led her around the corner and she saw her man at the end of the path by the water. He looked so sexy that her stomach felt the fluttering of dozens of butterflies taking flight. Dakota smiled so big and let out an excited, “Whooo!” that made everyone start laughing. She wanted to take off running towards him and launch herself in his arms. God, she loved him so much she was positively beaming as she smiled right back at him. She had intended to look through the crowd and memorize each person, where they sat, what they wore and the looks on their faces. But once she laid eyes on Dakota everyone else fell away. She only had eyes for him.
Her husband.
He was everything she had ever wished for and more. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, they both had their faults. She may never walk without a limp and he would always love his coffee no matter how much she didn’t. She would always have a quick temper and he would always be stubborn but with a hearts like theirs, love knew no bounds. It didn’t matter if the wishes you made turned out exactly as you planned because love was adapting, ever changing, and forever worthy of fighting for.

Book 3

The last book in the “Wishes” series by DeAnna Felthauser.

Delilah and Dominic’s story