Steph was breathtaking in a vintage Chanel dress that showcased her slim figure in the most delicate Chantilly lace and intricate beading, while her veil remained short and understated. Her parents, too wrapped up in their own lives, had not made the trip to celebrate her day but had insisted on paying for it. Much to Onyx’s horror, Steph had returned most of the money to them. Minus the cost of the dress.
Zoe and I played our roles as bridesmaids, each wearing a dusty-blue silk dress that flowed to the ground, cutting a slim elegant line with a low and open back. Zoe tipped her hair with gold and with her smoky eye make-up looked divine. I had let Steph style my hair, as she had always been the expert on shorter styles, and the end result had a 1920s glam feel about it. I loved it.
Lincoln and Spence got off considerably easier in the duties department as groomsmen. Salvatore, no surprise, was the most relaxed groom imaginable.
They spoke their vows in both English and Italian. And when Father Peters proclaimed them husband and wife, the applause was thunderous as their love was felt by all of the two hundred guests.
As the day moved into night the glamour users continued to keep the full sit-down meal, band and dance floor hidden from human eyes.
Just before the reception began, I slipped away for a few minutes to collect my wedding gift for Steph. It wasn’t perfect, considering I had wanted to have it ready before the ceremony started, but still …
‘Are you ready for this?’ I asked sternly. ‘You need to know what you are walking into, and if you can’t handle it, don’t come.’
He looked at his feet and nodded. ‘I’ve messed up, Violet. I know it. But I want to fix things. Starting right now.’
I smiled and pulled him in for a hug. ‘Right, we better get you and your perfectly tailored tuxedo in there, then.’
He followed me through the invisible wall of glamour, and once I told him what to look for, his human eyes gradually adapted.
‘Don’t pass out,’ I cautioned. ‘Breathe.’
He nodded quickly, and slowly the colour returned to his face. We stood on the side of the dance floor and I gestured to the middle, where Steph was dancing with Lincoln. They were speaking close to one another, smiling and laughing.
I walked into the centre of the floor and tapped Steph’s shoulder.
‘I think I’ll cut in now,’ I said.
Steph pouted. ‘But I want to keep dancing.’
Failing at holding back my smile any longer, I stepped aside. ‘And I have the perfect partner for you.’
Steph’s line of sight cleared and she gasped the moment she saw her brother, standing there with a proud smile on his face.
‘Sorry I’m late, sis,’ he said.
Steph … well, Steph is one of the good ones. She doesn’t hold a grudge. She isn’t cold. No. She simply burst into tears and flung herself into her brother’s arms.
‘Whoa!’ Jase laughed, stumbling back. He would have gone down too, if Salvatore’s hand hadn’t steadied them.
Jase stepped back and quickly put his hand out to Salvatore. ‘Welcome to the family, man. You got the best of us.’
Salvatore shook his hand, smiling as he gestured to the wedding party. ‘And welcome to ours.’
Steph looked over to me, delight shining in her eyes as she mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
I smiled as I mouthed back, ‘You’re welcome.’
Lincoln slid his arms around me from behind. ‘So, that was your top-secret mission?’
I admit I was feeling pretty damn smug. We’d waged a silent war over the past week over who could come up with the best wedding gift.
What? I never said maturity had to dominate in all areas of my life!
‘Yep,’ I said, pulling his arms tighter as we watched Steph and Jase dance, both of them laughing as they goofed around. ‘How did yours end up?’ I asked.
Me? Gloating? Never.
Lincoln looked at his watch and then whispered in my ear. ‘Look up.’
Just as I did, silver and gold fireworks erupted from all over the place, flying right up to the edge of the glamour dome before exploding within until the entire dome was illuminated in a completely unearthly and beautiful way.
‘How?’ I asked.
Lincoln shrugged behind me, his fingers gliding up and down my bare back, making me shiver. ‘A little help from telekinesis and the conductors. How did I do?’ he whispered into my ear as I watched on in awe.
I feigned nonchalance, at both his words and his still-wandering hands. ‘It’s okay, I guess. But family trumps everything,’ I said.
Sliding his hands around my waist, he turned us both slowly on the spot, and pointed to the bar.
‘Yes, baby. Family trumps it all.’
Mum and Dad raised their glasses of champagne towards me – and just like Steph, I burst into tears. I hadn’t seen them for more than a year.
As they walked towards us, I turned to Lincoln. Before I could speak, he kissed me, then said, ‘We might have been married by angels, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a few wedding gifts yourself.’
‘I love you,’ I said, just before my father whisked me up into a bear hug.
‘There’s my girl,’ Dad said, almost squeezing the life out of me.