Rescue Me(5)

“Girls, enough playing around! We have so much left to do.”

My stern words bring them both to a halt.

“But Mommy, we’re playing,” Sierra silly laughs.

“Not anymore, you’re not. Now Lucy, let your grandma get you dressed, and Sierra, get your butt over here now. We have to meet Mrs. Williams downstairs and set up the flowers and make sure everything is perfect, which I can’t do without the two of you, so let’s get you all prettied up and make you look like the little princesses that you are.”

It’s the word ‘princess’ that gets the two of them to move, but when we’re finished and the two of them have taken a look at themselves in the mirror, they twirl around and start chasing each other again. They are so carefree and don’t have a thing to worry about in this world; that is what I can only hope my life will be like someday.



************



“Mrs. Williams, these flowers are simply exquisite. Shayne is going to love them,” I add as Camillia, Mrs. Williams and I set the flower arrangements all around the house.

“I am so happy to be a part of this special day for all of you,” she replies.

I take a deep breath and lift my face up into the warm sun as we enter the backyard where the wedding will be held. This day could not be more perfect for an outdoor wedding. There is a gentle breeze and the sun is shining so brightly. The tops of the trees have just started to change color.

“It’s beautiful out here, Luke,” I tell him as he comes to stand next to me.

“It is,” he agrees as he turns and looks in my direction. “I have waited a lifetime to marry Shayne.”

“I know you have, and so has she. I can’t think of anyone who deserves to be happy more than the two of you.”

Luke puts his arm around my shoulder in a friendly manner. “I agree with you on half of that, Erin. We do deserve to be happy, but so do you. I just hope you don’t make the same mistake that both Shayne and I did and waste time...time you can never get back. Don’t waste it, Erin.”

He removes his arm and walks over to Lucy. I hear him silently talking to her about the gift she has for her mother from the two of them, and when she leaps into his arms and they stand there and hold each other, I sigh. My heart wishes to be able to have that same type of happiness and to be able to give it to my precious daughter as well.

“There. I think everything is perfect now, don’t you?” Camillia asks as she finally stops running around like a madwoman ordering Vincent and Antonio to do this and to do that. How in the hell she still looks so good is beyond me.

I nudge her with my shoulder. “You outdid yourself.”

“Thank you. Well, you know the saying...it’s not every day that your child gets married, and this day has been a long time coming, my dear.”

“It sure has, honey,” Vincent chimes in as he approaches.

“Where are Luke and Lucy? I am ready to get this kick-ass party started,” Antonio remarks as he makes his way towards us.

“Luke and Lucy just went inside to give something to Shayne, and I have no idea where Adam is,” I inform them all as I search the backyard for Adam.

“Well, everyone is here now so they have about ten minutes,” Camillia says. .“ Let me go see if I can find all of them.”

I stop her before she rushes off. “I can do that. I need to grab my bouquet anyway.”

“Thank you, sweet girl. I just need to check on one more thing and then we will be all set.”

With a swift and steady turn, Camillia is off. As soon as she is out of earshot both Vincent and Antonio roll their eyes and laugh. I laugh with them before setting off to find the missing wedding party.

“Erin,” Luke calls as I enter the house. “Lucy has Shayne’s wedding gift from me. Would you take them up to her?”

“Sure, I would love to. I am heading up there anyway. Come on little princess,” I say to Lucy as I take hold of her small hand.

“Thanks, Erin,” Luke says with a nervous yet excited tone, and then looks adoringly into Lucy’s eyes. “You look so pretty my baby girl. Make sure you tell Mommy exactly what I told you to tell her for me, okay?”

“I will, Daddy.”

“Thanks, sweetheart, and I will see you in a few minutes, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy. Come on, Aunt Erin. I have a big job to do and I want to give this to my Mommy so she can wear it. Daddy said she might cry when she sees it so he told me I have to tell her not to.”

“You have a very important job to do then, don’t you, sweet girl?”

“That’s what Daddy said, too,” she giggles as we climb the stairs. We’re just coming to the top when I see Adam approaching the landing to descend. When our eyes lock onto each other’s, I let go of Lucy’s hand and without taking my eyes off of his, I tell her to go give her gift to her mother.