Fated Hearts (Southern Bride 8)

Meg finally stepped forward. “If you think about it, Mom, it makes sense. Her dress is tinted blue, so standing in the middle of all that white will make her stand out even more.”

That thought made Patty’s eyes light up. “Yes! I totally forgot her dress was Cinderella-blue.”

My mother rolled her eyes. She couldn’t understand why I hadn’t gone with a traditional white wedding gown. When I tried to explain that the blue was more for Roger than me—because he’d called me princess once, and I’d jumped all over him—she just looked at me, confused.

Never mind that the diamond Roger gave me when he asked me to marry him was also light blue.

Meg leaned in and whispered, “Now we know why Jax lives in Ireland and got married over there.”

I tried to hide my laugh, but it slipped free. Patty and my mother both turned to me with raised eyebrows. Clearing my throat, I said, “The gazebo is done. I like it. It’s staying that way.”

“Oh, someone grew some balls in the last thirty seconds,” Meg said.

My mother shot her a withering look.

“I think I’ll go see if Saryn needs any help with the balloons,” she said, quickly walking away.

Her words took a minute to sink in. I turned to her and called out, “Balloons? What balloons?”

“That was my idea,” Mom said as she brushed by, following Meg. “Do not use up all the helium singing, Meg!”

Patty gasped and took off toward the main entrance of The Montclair. “Oh, dear, I left Jim and Truitt with the helium!”

I sighed and leaned against the gazebo. I only had a little bit of time before I needed to go get ready for the wedding. We were having it at sunset.

“Bet you wished we’d eloped now.”

Spinning around, I smiled when I saw Roger standing there. I practically threw myself into his arms. “Let’s do it! Let’s just run away and go somewhere else and get married.”

He laughed. “Your father would kill us, seeing as he insisted on paying for half of this fairy tale wedding of yours.”

“We can pay him back.”

Roger set me down, then took my face in his hands and kissed me softly before leaning his forehead against mine. “We’re getting married in a few hours, princess.”

My stomach dropped and I felt a rush of happiness.

Roger took my hand in his and walked us into the gazebo. “The flowers are beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like them,” I said, looking around at the hundreds of white and cream-colored flowers that adorned the gazebo. “My mother thinks it’s boring.”

He shook his head, then looked at me. “I’m not supposed to be talking to you right now.”

I shrugged. “Are you nervous?”

He paused for a moment as if truly thinking about the question. “No, I’m not. Not at all. I thought I would be. Are you nervous?”

Smiling, I shook my head. “No. I’m glad the day is finally here. I do have something I want to talk to you about, though. I’ve been debating if I should tell you before or after the wedding.”

He lifted his brow. “That sounds intriguing.”

I twisted my fingers nervously in my lap and drew in a deep breath.

Roger reached for one of my hands and took it in his. “Hey, what’s going on? Talk to me.”

“Annalise! Annalise!”

We both turned to see Elizabeth heading toward us.

“You need to get in here now so you can start getting ready!”

I held up my hand and called back, “Give me five minutes.”

She scowled. “You’re not even supposed to see him yet!”

“Five minutes!” I yelled back.

Tossing her hands up in the air, she replied, “Fine! But when your mother comes looking for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I shook my head and turned back to Roger. “I found out something this morning.”

He frowned. “Damn it! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to see your dress! I walked into the room, and it was hanging up, and I saw the blue sticking out, and…I peeked. I couldn’t help it. It looks beautiful, though, and I can’t wait to see you in it.”

“You saw my dress?”

Roger drew back some. “Shit. That wasn’t what you found out?”

“No! I can’t believe you peeked at my dress. I wanted it to be a surprise, Roger.”

“It will be! I didn’t see you in it!”

Jerking my hand from his, I stood and started to walk away.

“I’m sorry! Come on, princess, it was an accident! Wait—you didn’t tell me what you found out.”

Glancing back over my shoulder, I smiled and casually called out, “I’m pregnant.”

Roger’s smile instantly disappeared and then reappeared on his face. I faced forward and kept walking toward the front of the hotel. I figured everyone was either in the courtyard setting up or busy somewhere else. No one would be in the lobby. I headed up the steps and across the front porch. By the time I reached the main entrance, Roger was right behind me.