He Stares Back

Chap. 69: With This Ring

*two years later*

              To Emily, the air in the bathroom feels heavy and hot like a sauna. The brunette wipes her forehead with the guest towel she swore to only use for company. She tries to withstand tears but fails as she stares at the plastic in her trembling hands. The plastic has a plus sign where she expected a negative sign.

           "Knocked up on my wedding day!" Emily wipes her tear stained cheeks.

            A knock at the door makes the brunette jump. For a brief second, she fears it would be Christian. But a familiar soft, Southern voice calls from the other side of the door.

           "Emily? Are you ready for me to put your makeup on?" Abigail Jane says cheerfully, "I can't wait to see Christian's reaction when he sees you in this sexy dress!"

           Anxiety eats at Emily. The brunette wishes the brown eyed blonde that resembles a bad dream would go away. Nausea fills Emily, making her want to crawl back into bed.

            "I...I will be right out, okay!" Emily tries to sound happy and light, not that is about to lose her mind. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Emily's hands shake as she stands at the bottom step of the mansion porch. Abigail Jane hooks her arm with the brunette, a bright smile in her face.

            "Are you ready to become Mrs. Christian Taylor?" Abigail Jane squeals happily, "What's wring? You don't seem excited. Is it the jitters?"

               Emily lets out a nervous laugh. "You could say that."

              The brunette spots out Jaxon standing with Abigail Jane's oldest daughter, whom is the flower girl. He continuously looks behind him at his mother, his little mouth pouting.

              "Just jitters." Emily nods, "And I have no real idea why."

               Abigail Jane nudges Emily. "It's time! Come on, before Christian changes his mind!"
 
                Emily smirks at the comment but knows Christian would never let at another woman unless the brunette were buried six feet under the ground. A man appears beside Emily, offering his arm. With a small smirk, Emily looks up into familiar brown eyes.

            "I'd never expect to see you walking me down the isle." Emily says.

               The bald, dark skinned man smirks. "Well, I thought I'd never get out of jail but here we are."

               Happy guides Emily to the meadow, where half the county had joined together to celebrate the union of Christian and Emily. As they walk, the bodyguard cannot help but look to the young boy who is nearly running with the flower girl. Abigail Jane scowls them, shaking her head.

              "He looks so much like Mr. Taylor..." Happy speaks in a low voice so only Emily can hear him, "I wonder if your next one will too."

              Emily turns to him sharply, panic in her eyes. "How do you—"

               "Secret safe with me, Miss East." Happy says with a small smile, looking to her warmly. "I'm glad to see you finally getting exactly what you deserve instead of what Mr. Taylor thinks you want."

               Emily blushes. "Me too."

               The brunette watches as half the county's citizens rise from their seats, blocking her view from Christian. Curiosity and anxiety eat her alive at the thought of him seeing her in a wedding dress for the first time. As they begin to turn into the isle that is covered in tulip pedals, Emily takes in one last long breath. Letting go of the breath, Emily looks up to meet familiar cool blue eyes that stare her down. And suddenly, all the anxiety is washed away.