Soulmates

Chapter fifteen

I kept in contact with Caroline this week and she was going to join us at our wedding. Kennedy was even going to be at our wedding and she was bringing Jamie. Kelly spent the night at her parents house to get ready for our wedding. Caroline stayed the night with me and our mother.

I was in the middle of doing breakfast when they entered the kitchen. My mother noticed something was wrong and checks the cabinet where I keep my medication. I was so focused with seeing Kelly that I'd forgotten about my medication.

My mother brings me over my medication and some water. "Today's not a good day to forget your medicine," she says softly as I take it with shaky hands.

"I couldn't sleep last night," I say quietly. "Kelly usually strokes the scar that brought us together and it soothes me to sleep. Last night all I saw closing my eyes was the warzone I left years ago."

"The house looks cleaner than yesterday," Caroline says quietly looking around the house. 

"I needed a distraction," I say in a distant whisper. My mother tries to take me in her arms and I say, "Please don't touch me."

"When is the wedding," Caroline asks with concern as she notices my tired eyes.

"It starts at five and dinner after," our mother says quietly, hurt I wouldn't let her comfort me. 

"Its only eight in the morning, why can't we break tradition this once and let her see Kelly," Caroline asks with concern about me. "We don't need her having an attack in the middle of saying her vows to Kelly."

My mother was already calling Valerie and explaining everything. I took breakfast to the table and start eating while my mother and Caroline took turns explaining what was going on this morning. Daisy lays her head in my lap and I gently pat her head. 

I finish my breakfast and head up to the nursery. I start moving the room around to make room for a second crib and rocking chair. I got caught up in what I was doing that I didn't notice Kelly watching from the hallway. 

"Come with me," she says in a soothing whisper, holding her hand out to me.

I take her hand and she leads me to our room. She climbs in our bed, pulling me with her. I give her relieved eyes and get comfortable. She starts stroking the usual scar and I let out a relieved breath. I close my eyes to our family watching with relief from the hallway. 

 
I woke with Caroline in Kelly's place and tears roll down my cheeks. She was still asleep and I didn't want to wake her. I wouldn't say we've gotten close, but we've gotten to know each other better in the last week. She genuinely wants to be in my life and be the sister Derek wouldn't allow her to be.

Our mother steps in the doorway and smiles at us cuddled like children. Tears fill her eyes and chokes quietly, "I wish I could have seen this with you girls growing up."

"I would have loved that too," I say quietly and look at the time. I smile when I notice a single rose and a note from Kelly. "When did she leave?"

"An hour ago and Caroline took her place. She left to get ready for your wedding," she says softly coming in to sit on the edge of the bed. "You need to get ready so we can get to the church. You're getting married in two and a half hours."

I wake Caroline and she stretches out next to me. "If I ask you a favor, will you do it," I ask in a choked whisper and she nods lightly with concern. "Wear a vest under your clothes and your gun, please?"

She nods without hesitation and I shutter a relieved breath. I enter my closet and pull out two vests. I keep the bigger one for myself and hand the smaller one to Caroline. "You're being cautious after what I told you the day we met?"