Page 117 of Savage Ends

“Are you nervous?”Violet asked.

“No.”

“Seriously.I thought a lot of women got cold feet before their wedding.”

“No, my feet are warm.Burning hot, actually.”

“Ew, you just told me you’ve got sweaty feet.”

Ava laughed.There was now only a pinch of pain, and most of the bruising had all but gone from her throat.Each time Pat saw the bruises or even any evidence of her in pain, it would anger him.She saw it in his eyes.

Staring down at her white wedding dress, Pat had insisted she wear it.She had been a virgin when she came to him, and that meant something.

Her engagement ring sat on her finger, and she knew a second ring would join it today.They only had a short engagement.Neither of them wanted to wait to get married.It also had a little something to do with another person that would be joining them in about seven months’ time.Give or take a week or two.

Ava was pregnant.The club knew.Her family knew.Everyone knew, and Ava didn’t want to look too pregnant for her photographs, which is why there had been a rush to the wedding.

They were also not holding it in church.Instead, they were having it in the clubhouse.Right now, she, Violet, her mother, Maddie, Aria, and even Lidia were in the room.Ava hadn’t been able to choose bridesmaids, so she settled on all the old ladies and her family.

Her mother was giving her away.Not traditional, but the only option.Doc had offered but her mother said it was important to her to do what her husband wasn’t there to do.

The only person in the room with her right now was Violet.

“Do you want me to make some kind of escape plan?”Violet asked.

“No.”

“You’re happy, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.”Ava turned toward her sister.“Does that seem crazy?”

“No, but I am happy for you.You deserve happiness.”

Tears filled her eyes as she looked toward her sister.

“Don’t cry,” Violet said.“I can’t remember if I used waterproof, and your makeup looks flawless, and we all know tears will just wipe it all away.”

Ava laughed.Her sister had done her hair and makeup.She looked pretty.Everything was in place.

“I’m not going to cry.At least not yet.”She took a deep breath, and there was a knock at the door.

Her mother stepped inside.“Everything is ready.Are you ready?”

Ava nodded.

“Look at my little girl.Both of my girls.You’re both ...I have been blessed to have been given two of the most precious girls in the world.I even consider you my best friends as well.”

“I don’t want to cry,” Ava said.

Violet laughed.“You’re our best friend, Mom, as well.We’re all together.We’re a team.”

In the last three weeks, a lot had happened.Ava had gone back to work for her mother.Pat and the club hadn’t been wrong.Lauren had named Ava next of kin, which meant she had been given the coffee shop.

Ava had seen the pain in Rip’s eyes when they held the funeral for Lauren.All members of the club had been there.Lauren had fallen in love with Rip, and from the looks of it, he had fallen in love with Lauren.She hadn’t been able to stop crying.Lauren had saved her.To help ease the pain, Ava had signed the property over to Rip.Not only was there the coffee shop, but the apartment as well, along with all of Lauren’s belongings.

She had seen the small apartment.Lauren had collected small trinkets over the years, amassed many cookbooks.Her entire reclusive personality had shone in that apartment.Ava had been unable to hold back the tears.Not that she had known Lauren that well.They had a working relationship, as well as starting out as friends.Ava had been the only one to stick around for the odd working hours.

Pat had also started to look for a place in Carnage.He wanted to settle roots, and with a baby on the way, her apartment was not going to cut it.Bernice was in their lives as well.She loved her dog.