Page 33 of Silver Sanctuary (The Silver Springs #3)

Twenty-One

E arly morning sunlight streamed into the living room where Mae and Lily were gathered, already fussing over Lacy.

“How are you feeling?” Mae squeezed her shoulder after pinning back some of her curls.

“Nervous. Happy. Hopeful.” It was true. She had a million butterflies fluttering up a storm in her belly, but it felt good. Nash was her dream come true. He saw her through the shadow of her mother’s horrible past—saw the real her—and he made her feel so loved, worthy, safe.

The apartment door opened, and Sloane slipped inside, a large garment bag in her hand. “Knock, knock. Happy wedding day!” Her smile was bright and genuine and Lacy felt the first rush of emotion as she took in the women who had become her friends, all there to support her.

“Mae, can I steal Lacy for a second?” Sloane asked.

“Of course! But do it out here so we can all see the dress!”

“See what dress?” Lacy asked.

“Did you think I was bringing my own dress up in here like this?” Sloane smiled. “We know you didn’t have time to pick out something yourself, and the three of us hope this isn’t overstepping, but…”

“But?”

“Last night, after we found out the wedding was happening today, I drove into Dallas with Gage, and video chatted with these two.” Sloane pointed at Mae and Lily. “We wanted to get you something special for today, and we all agreed that you would look absolutely divine in this.”

Mae moved to take the hanger from Sloane as she unzipped the bag. Inside was a floor-length wedding gown. Silk. Pure white. Thin straps holding up a delicate scoop neckline. It was stunning.

“You guys… you picked this out for me?” Her hand pressed against her heart as tears pricked against her lash line.

“Oh no. Oh, you don’t have to wear it, honey. We were just thinking you might like a special dress for your day. But if you have something else…” Lily’s worry-filled eyes looked her up and down.

If she had something else? She had one dress in her closet that might have looked okay. Nothing like that dress. Nothing so beautiful.

“I love it so much! It’s perfect. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

She moved to Lily first, who was closest, and wrapped her arms tightly around her. The hug was reciprocated warmly, with a little sniffle from Lily. “Welcome to the family,” she whispered.

And then Mae scooped her away from Lily, crushing her with a very enthusiastic hug. “I could not think of a better match for Nash. You make sure you keep him in line.”

Lacy smiled at that. “I will certainly try.”

Sloane’s eyes were wide as the two friends released each other. “I know you probably don’t want a hug,” Lacy acknowledged, knowing that Sloane had a hard time with physical touch. “But if there ever comes a time when you’d feel comfortable with that, I’d love to give you one.”

“I appreciate that. Now, should we finish up your hair and makeup before you slip into this dress?”

“Yes, please!”

They spent the next half hour listening to Lily talk about her wedding day to Gunner. Lacy had no idea they’d had a marriage of convenience, trying to protect Lily from her abusive ex. The two of them were so deeply in love… it gave her hope for what she could one day build with Nash.

“I appreciate you all being here this morning. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for,” Lacy admitted.

“Nonsense.” Mae smiled back at her in the mirror.

Lacy’s hair looked incredible. Something about the way Mae selected certain curls to be pinned up, while leaving others down to cascade over her shoulder and down her back made her look effortlessly beautiful.

“There’s nowhere else we’d rather be. Right, girls? ”

“Absolutely.” Lily swept a brush over Lacy’s cheek, depositing a dusty pink glow on her freshly-prepped skin. She noticed Sloane’s tight smile in the background as she sat on the couch, keeping a watchful eye over Sage and Embrie as they played together.

“Is everything okay, Sloane?” Lacy knew that feeling, and she could see it written all over Sloane’s tight features—she was starting to panic. Something in her mind was sending her back to someplace she didn’t want to be.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to be here, I really did.

But I just can’t… I’m not ready.” Sloane wiped her hands on her pants.

“I need to find Gage.” She turned to walk out the door, but Lacy couldn’t just let her run away.

She jumped out of the chair, which led to an angry growl from Mae, before running out into the hall to catch Sloane.

“Hey, Sloane!” Lacy stopped several feet away from the elevator, where Sloane was clearly trying to take some measured breaths.

“I just… please don’t feel like you have to be there this morning.

If it’s too much, I understand. It would mean the world to Nash to have you there, and to me, of course.

But we both would understand. You’ve already done so much for us. ”

The elevator opened and Sloane stepped inside. Just before the doors closed, her hand reached out and stopped them. “I’ll try, Lacy. I am… I am trying. I just need time. I want to be there—I will try to be there.”

“Thank you. And thank you for coming this morning.”

A curt nod was all she got back, but it felt like they had broken through the wall that was holding them back. And whether or not Sloane and Gage showed up, she knew they only wanted the best for Nash—the best for her.

Lacy made her way back to the apartment, smiling as Lily and Mae fussed over Embrie.

“Ladybug, it’s time to go get your dress on. Think you can manage on your own?”

“Mom!” Her eyes rolled as her hands landed on her hips. “Of course I can! I’ve been getting myself dressed for years now!”

The women all laughed.

“How could I forget? Okay, go. I’ll do your hair when you come out.”

Embrie skipped out of the room, and Lacy felt Lily and Mae’s eyes land on her.

“So…”

“So?”

“How are you feeling about all this? Truly?” Lily whispered.

“Like I’m taking advantage of the kindest man I’ve ever met. Like I have nothing to offer him and when disaster follows me, which it always does, I’m going to drag down someone who I respect so deeply.”

“And love?” Mae crinkled her eyebrows.

“We said it to each other yesterday, but I’m afraid to keep saying it out loud,” Lacy admitted, picking up the rose-petal lipstick Lily had brought for her to use. “Like if I keep reminding the universe I’m happy, everything will be snatched away.”

“Take it from someone who went through a very similar situation… Although it wasn’t my parents trying to take her away, it was Sage’s paternal grandparents, but those men downstairs, all of them, will do everything in their power to make sure nothing bad ever happens to you or Embrie again.

And it will be Nash leading the charge every time. ”

“I just have this sinking feeling that I’m going to ruin everything. He’s so happy about this—so sure. But this isn’t how life goes for me.”

“Isn’t that why you came back to Silver Springs though?” Mae asked. “For a reset? To make a better life for you and Brie?”

Lacy nodded, trying to ignore the lump in her throat.

“It’s all going to work out. You have to have faith. I saw the way Nash floated into the room after meeting you for the first time. He had this goofy smile on his face as he handed a bunch of flowers to Sloane. And then he kept pressing us to stop by Petals—you remember that, Mae?”

“How could I forget? He was not subtle about it in any way.”

Lacy laughed. Nash had given her so much more than his own protection and safety. He’d given her friends that she knew would have her back, and a family she could have never dreamed of having.

“Let yourself open up to the possibility of this working out in the most beautiful way. Because for Nash, this is the start of his forever. And you can allow yourself to believe it’s the start of your new forever, too.”

The girls put the finishing touches on Lacy’s hair and makeup, and then helped her get dressed.

She wanted to cry when she saw herself in the mirror for the first time, but held back the tears.

The tears started flowing, though, when she saw Embrie in her dress.

She looked so grown up, and all Lacy could think about was the first time she held her in her arms. How she promised her that, one day, everything would be okay.

And it finally felt like it really might be.

Lily walked out of the bathroom, her and Sage now dressed in their outfits for the wedding. “Okay, I just messaged Gunner to let him know we’re on our way down. Let’s get you married!”

A minute later, Lacy walked off the elevator, holding Embrie’s hand in hers. Knowing Nash was waiting on the other side of the doors, just inside the Montgomery Defense office, had her head swimming.

She knelt down, taking Embrie’s other hand and bringing them both up to her heart.

“Ladybug, are you sure you’re okay with this? I know Nash and I talked to you when we moved in and he asked me to marry him, but if you’re not comfortable with it?—”

“No! Mom, Nash is great. He’s so kind, and funny, and I see the way he looks at you. It’s like all the ways the heroes look at their princesses in my books.” Embrie’s lashes fluttered as she held her clasped hands up over her heart.

“But I want you to know that this doesn’t change our relationship. I’m still your mom before anything else, okay? I will never be too busy for you. It’s okay for you to tell me how you really feel—always. I’ll always listen.”

“I’m excited. It’s always been just… us. Now we get a big family. And I have aunts and uncles, and Nanny and Pops will be ours, too! We can go to Montana and meet everyone. I can’t wait, Mama. I’m happy.”

Lacy bit her bottom lip, trying her hardest not to cry at the wisdom that just poured out of her nine-year-old.

“You’re the wisest person I know, Embrie. I’m so happy you’re excited for this.”