*Daphne*
“What about these earrings?” I held them up to Eva’s ears as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror.
Eva wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure. I think my dress is sparkly enough. I don’t want to look like a disco ball.” She laughed and smoothed her hands over her glittering white dress.
I dug around in the jewelry box for another pair of earrings.
“Oof.” I put my hand on my large belly.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. Baby is a bit active today.”
Eva grinned and put her hands around my over-large stomach. I was due any day now, but I hoped I could at least make it through Eva’s wedding and reception.
“You’ll be out soon to et all of us, little one.” Eva patted my stomach and turned back to the mirror.
“Here, try these.” I handed her another pair of earrings. They were pearls instead of diamonds. “These are less sparkly.”
“They’re perfect!”
“Alright, let’s work on your makeup. You already look stunning, but you don’t want to look washed out for the pictures.”
Eva laughed and shook her head. I pulled a chair up in front of her. I couldn’t get as close as I wanted because of the giant blimp of my belly between us.
“Close your eyes.”
I brushed her makeup on her cheeks and worked on her mascara. Eva’s hands jittered and she bounced her legs.
“Are you nervous about getting married?” I asked.
“Not at all. I love Jasper and I know he will be a good husband and a good father to my boys.”
“Then why can’t you sit still?” I put my hand on her knee and forced her to stop bouncing it.
“I don’t know. I feel like things are just too good to be true. This is not the life I imagined ever having.”
“I know what you an.” Sighing, I leaned back and put my hand on my stomach again.
“Are you sure you’re up for this? I know I asked you to stand up there with , but you’re so pregnant. Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nodded and smiled. “I can do this. I’m not going to pop right this second, you know. I’ve got plenty of ti.”
Eva smiled and preened in the mirror.
I sighed and rubbed my stomach again. As much as I wanted to believe it, I really was due any day, which ant I could go into labor any second. I didn’t want to worry Eva, though, because this was her day.
I stood behind Eva and fixed a few stray strands of hair. Unexpectedly, tears welled in my eyes. I sniffled.
“Oh, Daphne, what’s wrong?” Eva stood up.
“Nothing. These are good tears, happy tears. Eva, you’re absolutely radiant, and....” I sniffled again.
Eva pulled to her in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re my sister, Daphne.”
“Oh, stop. You’re going to make cry even more.” I giggled and hugged her as best I could with the big, inflated balloon between us.
“Thank you, Daphne, for being here with .”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. After everything you’ve endured, you deserve this joy and happiness.”
“If you and Rion keep telling that, I’m going to start believing it myself,” Eva said, giggling.
“Well, it’s ti for us to go,” I said. “We need to get to the cathedral.”
Eva and I rode together to the Celestial Cathedral. It was absolutely gorgeous, a stunning, crystalline structure that rose into the sky. It looked too beautiful to be a manmade cathedral, more like a massive crystal growing out of a mountain.
The cathedral was a shining, sparkling symbol of purity, goodness, and unity. It was the perfect place for Eva to get married and show the world that she was as good as we all knew her to be.
The sun struck the crystalline towers and rainbow prisms glimred around the cathedral. When we got inside, it was even more beautiful. There were pews and an altar all carved from crystal. Rainbows sparkled across every surface. The whole interior sparkled and glittered.
“I’m glad you didn’t wear the diamonds,” I whispered to Eva. “We’d never be able to tell you apart from the walls.”
“Oh, shut it!” Eva nudged with her shoulder.
“Go find your soon-to-be husband.”
Eva smiled so brightly that she sparkled more than the Celestial Cathedral.
On my walk to the chapel, I looked up at the ceiling. They were so high, arched and taller than any building I’d been in before. With all the sparkling and glittering, I almost felt like I was floating through the sky.
There were gorgeous painted motifs on the ceiling, elaborate and stunning celestial imagery.
Inside the chapel, there were fresh flowers and candles everywhere. The candles only added to the sparkling and shimring. It was like being in a totally different world.
Rion sat up front with the twins. I joined him and was so glad to be off my feet. I sighed and slumped down a little.
“Are you alright?” Rion reached over and put his hand on my belly.
I covered his hand with mine. “It’s been a long day.”
“Oh, baby, it’s only ten in the morning. Are you sure you want be part of this?” He smirked at .
“I’m here for Eva. That’s the whole point. This is her day. As long as the baby doesn’t decide to pop out....”
“Are you having contractions?” Rion sat up straighter.
“No. Nothing like that. I’m just so pregnant!”
“You’re beautiful.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek.
“You’re just saying that because we’re married.”
“I’m saying it’s true.” He kissed my cheek again.
I shook my head and pushed him back. “Okay, I guess I’ll believe you. I can’t believe I even found a dress I can fit into. I don’t think I was this huge with the twins.”
“Mmm, maybe you’re having triplets.”
“Don’t even joke about that!” I pushed at him playfully. “I think we have our hands full enough at the mont.” I nodded toward the twins.
“It’s one way to get a big family.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, whatever.”
The musicians started playing the wedding march. Rion stood up and held his arm out to . I grabbed it and he helped up.
Eva and Jasper, arm in arm, ca down the white-carpet aisle. Eva was beaming, completely radiant. Her sparkling dress with the fur collar made her look like a snow queen in her sparkling ice palace.
Jasper had a big goofy grin on his face. He looked like the luckiest man alive. They nodded to everyone as they walked down the aisle. Both looked so happy.
When we planned her wedding, there were so traditions that Eva didn’t want to use, like having a wedding party and having Rion walk her down the aisle, so she was with Jasper the whole way.
Tears ca to my eyes as I saw them together. I was so overwheld to see the two of them getting their happy ending.
I was so proud of Eva. She was so elegant and perfectly poised as she strode down the aisle, her chin high. It was clear she wasn’t going to let anyone ruin her day.
Rion helped sit back down. I leaned on him as Jasper and Eva stood before the altar to say their vows. It was a beautiful, low-key ceremony, but it was perfect for Eva and Jasper.
We headed into another room at the Celestial Cathedral for the reception. There was a giant ice bowl with punch, ice sculptures of swans kissing, making them look like hearts.
There was a fountain with floating candles in it and white roses everywhere.
As soon as I arrived, I found a chair at a round table with a white tablecloth. Rion rubbed my shoulders.
“I’ll find you a non-alcoholic beverage.”
“Thank you.”
The twins were hugging each other, dancing on an empty dance floor as the rest of the guests filtered in. I rested my hand on my belly. I loved my daughters beyond asure, and I knew I would love this next baby just as much.
“So, I guess dancing is out of the question.” Rion sat next to and put a glass of punch on the table.
“My feet are so swollen, you’ll need a crane to carry to bed.”
Rion chuckled and brushed his thumb across my cheek. “I’ll carry you.”
“Bad idea. If you break your back and I’m this pregnant, we’ll never get anything done.”
Rion grinned and cupped his hand around the back of my head. He kissed my forehead deeply and brushed his nose against mine.
“Rion, you should dance with the twins.”
“Alright, I will dance with them.”
He went to the dance floor and scooped them up. Holding one in each arm, Rion twirled them around. They giggled and laughed, and he made big, sweeping, exaggerated motions.
I sipped my punch and kicked my shoes off.
“Ahh, much better.” I put my feet up on the nearest chair.
“Daphne, can I get you anything?” Eva ca over and put her hand on my shoulder.
“No, Eva, this is your party. I’m just here to enjoy the celebration and celebrate you and your new husband.”
Eva bead a smile at and laughed. “Oh, I can’t believe I can call Jasper my husband now! It feels so good and so right!” She bent her knees and looked up at the ceiling with starry eyes.
“Well, go dance with him.” I nodded across the dance floor where Jasper was standing.
He held his hand out and beckoned Eva with a finger.
I saw her cheeks brighten up with a serious blush. She twisted back and forth.
“Go for it!” I slapped her on the butt.
Eva giggled and ran into Jasper’s arms. In seconds, he had her on the dance floor spinning and dancing like never before. I smiled and laughed as she danced. She looked so happy, happier than I’d ever seen her.
Throughout the night, I saw my girls dance with Aster and Tarik. The boys danced with Eva, too. Everyone was having such a good ti. I was a little bumd that I couldn’t dance, but my aching feet told it wasn’t even worth trying.
I was glad that Rion was having a good ti. I didn’t want him to be stuck with all night.
Eva had really rallied to overco her illness. She looked like every mont she was with Jasper, she was regaining her strength and her life force.
She really was one of the strongest won I’d ever known. After everything she’d been through, it was amazing to see her have her happy ending.
Now, Jasper could take her and the boys sowhere quiet and safe and they could be a perfect family. Eva would never have to use her magic again, and she’d be safe and healthy.
She deserved that.
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