Page 97 of Monstrosity

"It was, actually, and he still looks at me like I'm the best thing he's ever seen." She winks at me. "That's what matters. Not the dress or the flowers or the venue. Just the way your man looks at you."

"Mommy-Dasha!" Cali bursts through the door in her pink flower girl dress, twirling. "Look! I'm a princess!"

"You're beautiful, baby," I tell her, my heart squeezing at how she's fully embraced calling me Mommy-Dasha.

Florencia follows more sedately in her purple dress, carrying their flower baskets. "Cali, be careful. You'll wrinkle your dress."

"It's okay," I assure her. "Wrinkles are part of the fun."

"See?" Cali sticks her tongue out at her sister. "Mommy-Dasha says it's okay."

"She's nervous," Florencia informs the room. "She already changed her shoes three times."

"I wanted the right ones!" Cali defends. "First, the white ones were too tight, then the pink ones didn't match right, and now these ones are perfect!"

I pull both girls close, careful of my hair and dress. "You both look perfect. Absolutely perfect. Daddy's going to cry when he sees you."

"Daddy doesn't cry," Cali says.

"He might today," Florencia says wisely. "Uncle Tor said he's been pacing for an hour and practicing his vows in the mirror."

"Tor's got a big mouth," I mutter, but I'm smiling.

The image of Rio practicing what to say is endearing.

"Speaking of the men," Meghan says, standing back to admire her hemming work, "Emil's been driving everyone crazy with his best man duties. You'd think he was planning a military operation."

"That's Emil," Saga says from the doorway, and I notice how several heads turn at her arrival.

She looks stunning in her bridesmaid dress—a soft blue that brings out her eyes. "Everything has to be perfect or he gets twitchy."

"More twitchy than usual?" Vera asks with a knowing smile.

"Significantly." Saga fidgets with her bouquet, not quite meeting anyone's eyes. "He actually made Tor practice walking down the aisle. Tor told him where to stick his practice. Then Emil tried to create a timeline for the wedding."

"A timeline?" Astrid laughs. "For a wedding? Weddings never go according to plan."

"He said we need to account for different things like wind speed affecting the music and potential delays if someoneobjects." Saga rolls her eyes, but there's fondness there. "I told him the only person likely to object is him, to his own eventual happiness."

"What did he say to that?" Tindra asks, clearly invested in this drama.

"Nothing. Just stomped off to reorganize the chairs for the third time." Saga shrugs, but I catch the hurt flash across her face.

We all laugh, but I notice the way Saga's eyes soften when she talks about Emil, even when she's complaining. Interesting.

"Saga, can you help me with this necklace?" I ask, holding up the simple chain Rio gave me this morning—a wedding gift with a small charm that has our wedding date engraved.

She comes over, her fingers gentle as she fastens the clasp. "You look beautiful," she says softly. "Rio's a lucky man."

"I'm the lucky one," I tell her. "Finding love again, gaining these girls, this whole crazy family."

"It suits you," she says, adjusting the chain so it sits perfectly. "The whole ol’ lady thing. Though I could never..."

"Never say never," I advise, catching her eye in the mirror. "I was pretty sure I'd never remarry. Now look at me."

"That's different," she insists, but there's something in her expression that suggests she's trying to convince herself. "You and Rio make sense. You fit. Some people just... don't."

Before I can probe further, there's a knock at the door.