Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (14 page)

“
Don
’
t worry about it
,
Luke. I really don
’
t care anymore. We are only given as much as we can take
,
and I handled this as best as I could. I
’
m just glad to be a Pierce now.
”

I
’
m in complete shock about the life Danika had before us. I feel so bad for the way I treated her now. I wish I
had
got
ten to know her a little better
before judging her. How is it we
’
ve had her as part of our family for over two years
,
and not one of us knew anything about her past life. How will I ever make this up to her?

Matilda runs down to one of the stores i
n the hotel to get Danika a wig. S
he comes back with a longer style
,
brown wig. It looks really cute on Danika and re
nders her near
ly
unrecognizable.
Before long
,
we all head out the door to see the sights a little. I think this vacation
,
so to speak
, is just what we all need
;
a
great way to forget about all the evils we
’
ve been fighting for the past year or so.

I Do

The last week in Banff has been wonderful; we showed our loved ones our old house
,
and the hospital where Constance found Danika. Now it is time to get
down
to business. Tonight Alexander and Matilda
,
along with Nathanial and me
,
exchange our vows.
I never thought this day would come.
Tonight I become Mrs. Nathanial McCord Pierce.
Throughout tradition when a couple is married
,
the woman adds the man
’
s family name to the end of hers. We will be changing it to have Pierce as the last name because Nathanial is joining ou
r
family
,
and we all take Elijah
’
s name. We decided to keep the McCord in honor
of his
family
;
hence the double last name.
We
’
ve secured a justice of the peace to meet u
s at Bow
Falls
tonight at six, s
o we can be married as the sun goes down and by the light of the moon, the moment when day and night collide.

After a quick drink of blood punch Florence made from Isaac
’
s
synthetic blood, I meet Matilda and the other girls in Florence
’
s suite. The boys will all hang out in Ebony
’
s, mine and Nathanial
’
s suite. I think they are planning to do the normal guy thing and play video g
ames while us girls
arrange the flowers. Because of the short notice, we
’
ve been unable to secure a florist. Something as simple as flower
arranging won
’
t stop us
,
though.

Florence and Constance
go
down to the local floral shop and purchase dozens and
dozens of flowers:
bright red Charlotte roses, crisp white calla lilies, along with cranberry and evergreen sprigs. After we f
inish bouquets for Matilda and me
, we make some boutonnieres for our men
,
along with some large flower arrangements to take to the w
aterfalls with us. T
he pictures will be amazing. For a small intimate ceremony
,
it
’
s going to be more than I could have ever imagined.


  

  


Driving
down
the road to Bow Falls, the sun glistens off the light dusting of snow on the trees surrounding us. The mountains are one of the world
’
s most glorious creations.
There
’
s a slight chill to the air, but it
’
s warmed up enough that the water is flowing freely from the mountain caps.
As we pull closer
,
the sound of the
rushing water becomes louder. M
ist reaches the windshield of the cars
,
and my excitement threatens to explode. Only a f
ew cars grace the parking lot. W
ith sunset upon us
,
most everyone is leaving.

The justice of the peace is already waiting when we arrive. Florence and Elijah left ahead of the rest of us to ensure
that
everything runs smoothly. They brought the f
lower arrangement
s
out with them
and strategically place
d
them on the small foot high rock wall. From the parking lot, looking straight ahead
,
you see the rock barrier wall on the opposite side
of
the
riverbank
, where it holds back the
loose rocks and drift wood. If you look just off to the left
, you see the thirty
-
f
oo
t
-
high
and seventy
-
f
oo
t
-
wide
waterfall,
falling
freely over
the edge to meet the riverbank
and flow
ing
through the mountains. The sun meets the horizon and reflects
off
the water
,
creating a breathtaking rainbow. Each color
is b
r
ight and full
,
i
n complete unison with the next, reaching from one side of the waterfall to the next. I
’
ve never
seen a rainbow at sunset before. I believe this is the McCords
giving us their blessing.

Before Matilda and I take another step
, Danika presses play on her
iPod
,
which is connected to a small battery operated stereo
. Elijah hurries to our sides. S
tanding between us
,
he takes both
of
us by the arm. A beautiful instrumental song plays over the speakers
,
and Matilda and I
both turn and smile at Elijah
,
the man who has
been a father figure to us for over a hundred years. Standing along the wall
,
before the
rushing beauty of
Mother Earth
,
is my wonderful
,
twin brother
,
Alexander
,
and the most handsome man I know, Nathanial. As we approach the men of our dreams
,
a feel
ing
,
a sense of peace rush
es
over me.

The floor length
,
slip style gown I wear is accompanied with a soft white fur
-
style bolero jacket. It is a soft winter white, beautiful and simple, perfect for me. Matilda
’
s is a touch flashier than mine, with a ball gown skirt and Swarovski crystal encrusted in a two inch band at her waist
,
and a strai
gh
t cut neck line. Matilda likes being different, so she chose a long red coat
,
trimmed in white
fur that
clasps at the front
,
just beneath the breast line
,
with one single
jeweled
button. She looks like the daughter of Santa and Mrs. Claus
,
a
nd she knows it too.

With each step, I can
’
t take my eyes off the man standing before me, but from the corner of my eye
,
I can see Al
exander beaming from ear
-
to
-
ear
,
and feel total happiness. As we meet the men of our dreams, Elijah places our hands
,
one at a time
,
in the hands of our
prospective
grooms. Nathanial and I lock eyes, and warmth fills
me like the first time we met
;
t
he first day at Wenham
High
when I bumped into him and knew it could never be. Through his persistence
,
and the inevitable connection between us, we are standing here
,
ready to pledge eternity to one another. In the last year
,
we watched our friend become a wife, a mother, a vampire and a widow. We graduated high school, lost loved ones and became parental figures ourselves. Through our love and commitment
,
I
Embraced
Nathanial
,
and he promised me forever. T
onight
,
we make forever eternity
and
pledge our love for all time
,
w
ith onl
y those who mean the most to us here.
I could never ask for anything more.

Matilda and Alexander share their vow
s first.
“
Alexander, I
’
ve wait
ed
more years for this day then any woman sh
ould. You have given
and taught me so much. I
’
m blessed to be your partner. From the day I met you, I knew my life would never be the same, and today I pledge my existence to you for all time. You are my love, my life and my forever. I love you Alexander.
”
A smile breaks out across her face as she finishes her vow.

“
Matilda, I have wanted to marry you since the first day we met. I
’
m so glad this day has finally come
,
and now we can become one for all time. I can
’
t begin to explain what you mean to
me
. W
ithout you I
’
m lost
,
and nothing. I have been blessed to have you as my friend and lover. I never want you to forget that you are
what makes me whole. I love you
,
now and forever. Thank you for making me the happiest being to walk the earth. I love you.
”

The justice of the peace smiles as Alexander and Matilda place simple
,
platinum bands on one another
’
s hands
.
“
Now
,
Sophia and Nathanial, have you also prepared vows?
”
We both smile and nod.
“
Sophia
,
will you please share your vows with Nathanial?
”

“
Yes, thank you.
”
I take a deep breath
, look
around at my family and friends, then my eyes lock wi
th Nathanial. A rush of emotion,
and love
, over
comes me. I feel the intensity we felt when we first met, first kissed, and first made love. The same fireworks begin to explode within me. With a s
light touch of his hand to mine
I feel calm, knowing with every inch of my being that this is right.
“
Nathanial, I never
thought I deserved love,
much
less
expect
ed
to find it in a small town high school. The day I bumped into you
—
”

“
You mean ran me over
,
”
h
e whispers with sarcasm.

Everyone chuckles a bit.

“
Okay
,
when I ran you down. I knew there was somethin
g different about you, about me
when I was around you. This is a life I never wanted for you, bu
t fate had different plans
,
and here you are, ready to spend eternity with me. Not only have you brought me love, but you have brought me a beautiful baby
,
for me to help you and your brother
to
raise. I thought you would be the only man I would ever love, but I know now that isn
’
t true. I also
love your baby brother, Nik, who has
b
rought so much joy to my life
,
a kind
of joy I never thought I would know. We have lost so many that we love in the process, but tonight we reach the next step in an eternity of happiness together. Thank yo
u for everything you have given me, taught me
,
and will show me in the future. Tonight I marry the man of my dreams
,
and I promise to do everything in my power to make all your dreams come true. I even believe that rainbow
,
there
, is a sign from your parents
,
letting us kn
ow they approve. So I thank you
f
or choosing me
,
and loving me with all your heart and soul. I love you more th
an all the stars in the heavens
,
and look forward to taking the next ste
p with you
—
f
or now
,
and forever.
”