Part 12 (1/2)

My chest is lighter as soon as I get the words out, and I know I've chosen right.

Mom is smiling at me, pride bright in her eyes. ”You're wise beyond your years, Axel.”

Maybe. Or maybe I just don't know when to get out of my own d.a.m.n way. Time will tell.

Fortunately, Angel starts chatting with my mother about wedding plans, and I tune them both out. I want to marry Angel, and I want our close family and friends to be there. Beyond that, I don't care about the color of the bridesmaid dresses, or the types of flowers she picks, as long as she gets whatever she wants.

My father, on the other hand, is determined that it be a grand affair, worthy of the Chadwell name, and Chelsea is more than willing to help make sure everything is over the top. Why should anyone care what we want for our own wedding?

Chapter Twenty-Three.

a-aa- Angel slams the townhouse door behind her as she returns from a gown fitting with the girls the next day. ”I quit!”

Molly barks in surprise, then scurries to Angel's side. She stands on her hind legs to paw at Angel's leg until Angel scoops her up and buries her tear-stained face in Molly's soft fur.

I lift a questioning eyebrow, but stay seated at the table, going over the property contract Eva faxed me. Everything looks in order, and we should be able to go to closing right after we get back from our honeymoon. ”You quit what?” I'm expecting her to say the cold weather, or something silly.

”The wedding. Can't we just go to Vegas?” She sinks into a nearby armchair and draws her knees up to her chest, Molly squished into the seat right beside her. Molly turns her head, using Angel's legs as a pillow, and Angel softly strokes her fur.

Well, at least she wants to quit the wedding, not the marriage. ”Why don't you tell me what happened?” I'm trying to take her seriously and not make things worse, but her petulant look is adorable.

”I can't find a dress. Everything I try on is crazy elaborate, and crazy expensive, and crazy not me. I ask them to bring me something simple, and it's like I'm speaking Greek. They don't listen. It's like they just want to get me the most expensive, fancy designer dresses, no matter what I actually want.”

I nod in agreement. That's a common problem; when people know you have money to spend, they want to make sure you spend it with them. ”Do you want me to make a call?”

”No,” she snaps, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng. ”I don't want you fixing everything for me before we even get married. I want them to listen to me. You know, the bride?”

”What did Chelsea say?”

”She said if we had more time one of the designers could create anything I wanted, but we don't. And she said that because you're a Chadwell, people are going to want to know who I was wearing, and that it's a big f.u.c.king deal. If this is what it is to be a Chadwell, maybe I don't want to be one.”

She has her head turned to the side and won't look at me, but I can see the tears threatening to spill over. Slowly, I cross the room to crouch next to her. ”Go dry your eyes, then get your coat.”

”Huh?”

”We're going to go fix this together. Not me fixing it for you, but us rising to a challenge together as a couple, just like we're going to do with everything for the rest of our lives. Okay?”

At last, I get a tiny smile. ”Okay.”

”Where are we going?” she asks once we're in my truck.

I just smile. ”What did you think of the wedding planner Vanessa sent over?”

I glance over, and Angel's wrinkling her nose.

”We can fire her if you want.”

”No, it's fine.”

”Okay. Just remember, you're in charge. Not Vanessa, Chelsea, or my father.”

”Are Vanessa and your dad working things out?”

My lips thin into a frown. ”I hope not. And I don't think so.”

”But what about Chelsea? Won't she be devastated?”

”I'm going to talk to Dad about that, and I'll make sure he makes it abundantly clear to Chelsea that he considers her his daughter no matter what.”

”That could make things complicated for her and Ware.”

I have to try extremely hard to curb my temper. ”There is not going to be any her and Ware.”

Angel is silent. I wish I could tell her what I know. It's not that I don't like him, but that I don't want Chelsea tied into his situation. It's not my secret to tell, though.

”Did the girls pick bridesmaid dresses?”

She sighs, and I'm not sure if it's still about Ware, or about the dresses. ”Yeah.”

”But?”

”I'm not sure that they're right. I mean, they're wearing them, so...”

”If you don't like them, we'll find other ones.”

”I did find a picture of a cake I like online.”

”Good. Pick a bakery you like, or one the wedding planner suggests, and tell them to make it or you'll find someone else who can. We can go taste flavors if necessary.”

We pull into a large shopping complex, stopping in front of a David's Bridal.

”Here?” Angel gets an excited gleam in her eye.

”Yeah. If the specialty boutiques don't want our business and are too high and mighty for their own good, I'm sure David's will be more than happy to help out.”

We walk in hand in hand and are instantly greeted by a smiling saleswoman in cherry-red lipstick. Her tightly coiffed hair is grey with age, but her eyes are sharp with a wisdom that instantly puts Angel at ease. ”How can I help you?” Her name badge says aKatie.'

”My fiancee needs a dress.” I smile. ”And I'd like to look at tuxes. Please.”