Love Me Anyway

Chapter Fifteen

Maya

"I'm freaking out Andy! What should I even wear?" I complained as I shifted through the dresses I had picked out.

"You know, for someone who's as excited as you are, you really should have this part covered already." Andy laughed.
"I know, but, like, am I a white-dress kind of bride? Am I a pantsuit bride? I couldn't decide. And it is gonna be the thing that defines me forever."
"It's really not, but..."
"You know what I mean. There will be pictures!"
"Yeah, which you'll put in an album and keep on your coffee table." Andy laughed. "I'm pretty sure the picture of you on the Wheaties box will be seen by more people."
I picked up a light pink dress. "This?"
"No. No, no, no, no. Are we going to a high-school baby shower?" Andy snatched the dress away from me.
"Okay, you are the wrong person for this job!" I laughed.

"We could be done already if she let me pick." Carina said as she walked into the living room while brushing her hair.
"That is bad luck!" I smiled at my future wife.
"But, I'm not the groom."
"Then let me see what you're wearing."
"Never. No." Carina smiled at me then skipped off to the bedroom.
"What are you wearing? Andy?" I waved my hand in front of her face.
"Hm?" She broke out of her daze and looked at me.
"You good?"
"I have a secret. And it's killing me and I have to blurt it out but Vic wants to wait and I don't want to ruin your day and-"
"Andy! Calm down. Tell me what's going on." I sat her down on the couch and sat next to her.
"Vic and I... we got married." Andy looked at me sheepishly.
"What! When! Oh my God this is huge!" I broke out into a smile and hugged my best friend.
"Last week. We kinda said what you all said. Why wait? We realized with Dean dying, that we won't live together. We wanted to start the rest of our lives together as soon as possible."
"Oh my God! I'm so happy for you two!" I hugged her again.
"Don't tell Vic I told you. She'll flip. She wanted to wait to have you guys come over for dinner."
"Pinky swear."
"Alright. Let's get you married."

Carina

I looked around the Polish restaurant and with tears in my eyes. Victoria did an amazing job for such short notice.
"Oh hey. It's not done yet." Vic told me as she walked into the room.

"This... is amazing." I laughed quietly and wiped the tears from my eyes. "This... I mean, and I... I know you did this for Maya and not for me, but... Thank you, Victoria."

"I did it for you, too, so..." Vic gave me a smile and hugged me.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"Anything for you. You're marrying my honorary sister. That makes you my sister now." She rubbed my back and pulled away.

"Wow."

We turned and saw Mason standing in the doorway.
"Mason." I walked over to him and hugged him.
"You look amazing Carina. I'm so happy for the both of you." He smiled at me.
"Grazie. Thank you for being here. I know Maya really appreciates you coming. I really appreciate you coming."
"Anything for family. But I wanted to talk to you before Maya got here." He pulled me to the side so we could have some privacy.
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"Yeah um... I know your family is far away and they can't be here. And I know your brother is not here in person, but he's here in spirit. Do uh... do you think he would be okay with me walking you down the isle?"
"You'd do that?" I felt the tears well up in my eyes again.
"If you're okay with that. I know I'm not a replacement and-"
I silenced him with a hug.
"Thank you, Mason. Andrea would love that. I would love that."
"I also have a present for you." He pulled away from the hug and pulled a small box from his pocket.
"You didn't have to get me anything." I wiped the tears away and smiled at him.
"It's not from me. It's from Maya."

I took the box from him, and opened the letter that was sitting on top.

Carina,