Page 67 of Hale Yes (Highway to Hale #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

New Year’s Eve

Helix

“It’s your wedding day, Uncle Helix!”

“Really? Is that why I’m wearing this tuxedo?” I ask Reece, patting myself and looking confused. I pick her up and press a kiss to her cheek.

“You’re silly,” she accuses, wrapping one small arm around the back of my neck. “Do you like my flower girl dress?” She pats the layers of fluffy tulle.

“It is the most beautiful dress for the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, and are you wearing lip gloss?”

“Yes, Auntie Nicolette put it on me. Daddy said it was okay cuz it’s a special ‘casion.” She pooches her little lips out so I can see.

“It is a special occasion,” I tell her. “Where’s your basket of flowers?”

She points at Phoenix who is holding a delicate white basket adorned with bows and filled with scarlet rose petals. “I’m feeling quite fancy. Maybe I should have been the flower boy,” he teases.

Reece rolls her eyes, something she’s been doing more and more lately. She’s a whopping five years old now, but half the time she acts like a teenager.

Remington walks up and holds out his arms for Reece. “Let’s walk outside. Dutton and River are out there looking at the ducks in the pond.”

She goes willingly, and Phoenix calls after them, “Don’t get dirty. Or fall in the pond. The wedding starts in less than two hours.”

“Where’s Mom?” I ask my twin, and he points a thumb toward the hallway.

“Down in the Galleria ballroom making sure everything is perfect for the ceremony.”

I nod. “I’ll go check on her. Maybe grab her a glass of wine to calm her nerves.” Eyeing my brother, I wonder if he’s struggling with all the wedding-day festivities since his own wedding went so wrong six years ago. “You doing okay, Phe?”

“Never better. I’m excited to have a new sister to pick on.” His face turns serious. “I’m really happy for you, Helix. You deserve to be happy.”

Pulling him into a tight hug, I tell him, “Thank you for being my best man.”

When I release him, he straightens his black bow tie and flashes me a cheesy grin. “Well, since I’m the best brother who ever lived, it only makes sense.”

I head off down the hallway, pausing beside the bridal room where I know Nicolette is getting ready.

I hear laughter from inside and smile, so happy she’s having a good time on what I know can be a stressful day.

I credit her friends for that. Lehra, Artie, Gianna Bouvier, and Nicolette’s pharmacist friend, Shay, make up her bridal party.

They have all been nothing but supportive to my bride.

Kissing my fingertips, I lay them against the wooden door and whisper. “Love you, baby. See you at the altar.”

Then I wind through the hallways of the luxurious Ashworth hotel to the sunlit atrium, where our reception will take place after the ceremony. It looks stunning, with intricate off-white and scarlet flowers on every flat surface.

Blaze runs up, a look of panic on his face. “What is zee groom doing here? Is somezing wrong? Is it zee centerpieces? I promise zhou, zee candles will be lit at zee end of zee ceremony so everyzing will be…” He makes a chef’s kiss motion with his fingers.

I pat his shoulder. “Everyzing, I mean, everything looks perfect, Blaze. You and your team have done an amazing job. I was just going to see if I could grab a glass of wine for my mother.”

His panicked demeanor settles, and he pats his chest in relief. “Whew. I vas vorried.” He smiles widely. “And Ms. Ophelia, ahhh, how I’ve tried to recruit her for my team. Amaaaaazing lady!”

“I couldn’t agree more. Can you tell me where to get a glass of red?”

Blaze twiddles his fingers toward the back. “In zee keetchen back there. Vould you like me to get eet for zhou?”

“No, it’s fine. I know you have plenty to do. Thanks again, Blaze.”

After grabbing my mother a glass of her favorite shiraz, I trek down the hallway to find the Galleria ballroom. Seriously, this place is like a damn maze.

The fashion tycoon, Auburn Bouvier, is walking up and down a wide corridor with his nine-year-old twins, Jaxon and Jane, and his younger daughter, Eliana, holding onto his finger. I think the little toddling one is a bit over a year old.

“Hey, man,” he says when he sees me. “A little anxious aren’t you? The wedding doesn’t start for a while.”

I laugh and hold up the glass I’m holding. “An offering for the wedding goddess,” I tell him before explaining, “My mother.”

He nods his dark head. Auburn looks dapper as hell in a navy-blue tuxedo that’s obviously been custom-made to fit him like a glove. I guess that’s not unexpected when you’re the CEO of a major fashion company.

“I saw Ophelia a couple minutes ago. She was down that adjoining hallway. I’m just walking some energy off of these kids before they have to sit still.”

We look at his two older children, who have linked their hands with their little sister and are playing ring around the rosy. “Good plan. There’s a duck pond back that way,” I tell him, jerking my head.

“Really? Okay, thanks for letting me know. Dad is in the bathroom, so I’ll wait for him so he can help me watch Eliana. She’s fast on the breakaway.”

As if on cue, the little one takes off running down the carpeted hallway with her brother and sister chasing her. Paul Bouvier, the patriarch of their family, steps out of the restroom just in time to intercept his grandbaby before she can escape.

Auburn chuckles. “That’s why we keep the old guy around. He’s an excellent baby-catcher. And don’t worry, I’m taking Eliana to the nursery room before the ceremony. That was a nice touch, by the way.”

“Hey, the Hales do it classy,” I joke, popping my cuffs.

He eyes my attire appraisingly. “You look good. Monty did an excellent job with that tux.” Monty is his younger brother and one of the top designers at Bouvier.

“I’m sure he did a great job with Nicolette’s dress as well,” I say. It’s possible I’m fishing for details.

Auburn sees right through my weak attempt and shakes his head in disappointment. “Nice try, bud, but I’m not saying shit except you’re going to be a very happy man in less than two hours.”

My heart jackhammers in my chest at the thought of my bride in her fancy gown. “I can’t wait.”

We start off at a stroll down toward Paul and the kids, and my old friend says, “Hey, I was recently approached by an organization that provides free medical care for kids whose families can’t afford it. They mostly focus on children who need orthopedic surgery of some sort.”

I notice his eyes are firmly on Jane. He and Gianna adopted their twins from a children’s home a few years ago.

Little Jane was in a wheelchair due to having a couple pieces of shit as their birth parents.

I recall that she had extensive surgery just to be able to walk.

Now she’s able to run and play with the other kids.

“How can I help, Auburn?”

He turns his blue gaze on me. “It’s still in the works, but they’re looking for businesses to partner with for a huge event.

They wanted a cosmetics company, and I recommended Hale.

” His eyes go back to his older daughter who is laughing as she skips around her grandfather.

With a soft voice, he says, “We were lucky we were able to afford everything Janie needed. Some families aren’t so fortunate. ”

I rest my hand on his shoulder. “I’ll mention it to Dad. I’m sure he’ll want to be involved.”

After greeting Paul and the kids, I stride toward the ballroom. As soon as I near the corner, I hear Rory and Angelica, who seem to be in some kind of argument.

“You’re being ridiculous, Angelica.”

“Oh, shut the fuck up, Rory. I’m tired of listening to your shit.”

I plaster myself against the wall and eavesdrop without shame as Rory replies.

“I’m serious. You know this is wrong, and you’re doing it anyway.”

“Read my lips. I. Don’t. Care. And who’s going to stop me?”

“You should be stopping yourself. You’re acting like a spoiled little brat.”

I’d like to yell, “Amen, dude,” even though I have no idea what they’re arguing about. It’s pretty much a given that Nicolette’s sister is acting like an asshole in any given situation. But I keep my mouth shut and listen.

“Whatever, Rory. My sister thinks she’s so goddamn special marrying into some rich family. It should be me who has fancy houses and private planes. And she’s going to Greece for her honeymoon. Greece! You took me to fucking Mexico.”

Aw hell, I wish I had some popcorn for this show. I can hear the hurt and anger in Rory’s voice when he lowers his voice.

“That’s it. I’m done with you and your entitled ass. I’ve tried and I’ve tried, but nothing is ever enough for you. Expect to hear from my lawyer first thing Monday morning.”

“Fine, I didn’t want to be married to you anyway.

I only went after you because I didn’t want Nicolette to have you,” she shoots back.

“You can’t even buy me a decent house, Rory.

Maybe I’ll hook up with one of the other Hale brothers.

I bet they would buy me anything I wanted, especially if one of them knocks me up. ”

Yikes! Making a mental note to warn Remi and Phoenix to steer far, far away from this crazy bitch, I step around the corner. Rory is storming off in the other direction while Angelica stands there looking after him, her face reddened with anger.

But what catches my attention is what she’s wearing. It’s a long white formal gown with lace and beading all over the bodice, very obviously a wedding dress. Rage boils up my chest and onto my neck, heating the skin there.

Oh no she fucking didn’t.

“Angelica,” I say, and she whirls around, her eyes widening with surprise before her lips morph into a flirty smile.

“Hi, Helix. You look handsome.”

I don’t crack so much as a grin in return. “You should really go get changed. The wedding will be starting soon.”

She giggles and smacks my chest. “I’ve already changed, silly. This is what I’m wearing. Do you like it?” she coos, batting her eyelashes at me.