Page 27 of Treasure and Tarot (Echoes of Secret Springs #1)

Chapter

Twenty-Two

“ A bby, come get your flowers.” Sebastian laughed at his little girl, who was dancing in circles spinning and spinning so that the skirt of her pretty little dress flared out around her.

It was white with pink lace ruffles that she had declared “not itchy”, which was good, because otherwise it would already lie crumpled on the floor.

The look was completed with a pink ribbon at her waist, a unicorn horn headband on her head, and pink Crocs on her feet.

Xavi and Xander wore tuxedo jackets and utility kilts, Xander in stompy boots, Xavi barefoot, and they were ready to walk down the aisle as his bridesmen.

Abby came running over, beaming at him as she took the basket of flower petals from his hand. She was the cutest flower girl ever, and Sebastian still couldn’t quite believe that he was marrying Colton.

It was his dream. It had been his dream ever since he’d met the man, and for a long, long time he’d thought it was completely out of his reach.

But Colton was out there standing at the little makeshift arch that they had put together with balloons and streamers and weird mixes of flowers that came from the florist over in Secret Springs.

They’d told her they wanted whatever she had leftover at the end of the day yesterday, and she’d come through with that, for sure.

She’d given them an incredible mix of roses and carnations and irises and lilies and more, and it was the perfect frame for them to say their vows.

“Are you ready, Daddy?” Abby asked, staring up at him with those gray-violet eyes that were just like Colton’s.

He beamed down at her little face. “I am ready, baby. Are you ready?”

“Let’s go marry Papa,” she said, bouncing a little bit.

Xavi and Xander both chuckled. They had roses pinned to their lapels, and they each carried a little bouquet of weird daisies and carnations and all the other leftover flowers.

He had a bouquet carrier that had been in his house.

It was a Victorian thing that he thought came from back East, and it was stuffed with a little posey, he guessed they called it.

Sebastian figured that way he had the ghosts with him when he was getting married.

“Let’s do this,” he said, and they lined up to do the procession.

Xavi led the way when the music started, Xander following him.

They had decided that Abby would go in front of Sebastian, just in case she went off the rails, because it would be easier to rein her in.

He took a deep breath before he walked through the door at the back of the hotel dining room they had used the whole time they were filming the show.

And there was Colton standing with Gent, with Mason and Law and Iago lined up behind them, and his heart filled with every bit of love he had.

These were all the people he cared about in the world.

These people standing up for him and Colton.

The people sitting in the chairs to witness this.

Hank and Elliot and Antonia. Tori and Amanda from the hotel.

His elderly neighbor on the opposite side of the house from Gent…

They were all there, smiling, and tears welled in his eyes, because he had never been happier.

Then his gaze met Colton’s, the love there shining for him, and he knew he could do even better. In that moment, he knew he would love Colton more every day.

He walked down the aisle to the music on the minister’s phone and a Bose speaker, which made him grin, because technology was so cool.

And when he got to Colton, they grabbed each other’s hands and turned to the minister, a lovely older lady named Minnie, who had long, curly gray hair and wore bells on her ankles.

“Are we ready?” she asked, and he and Colton grinned at each other, then nodded as one. “Then let’s begin. Dearly beloved…”

After a few tears and a few laughs and Colton giving Abby a garnet necklace to wear so that she could be married, too? It was over.

It was over, and they were married and a family.

Sebastian stood there for a second, just completely and totally overwhelmed.

Six months ago, his life had been in shambles. His house had been overrun by negative energy. He had been worried. He had been alone. He had been exhausted. And now?

Now he was married to the man that he loved, who loved him, and more importantly, who loved their little girl.

It was more than he had ever thought he would get in life. And it was everything that he wanted.

Colton’s hand slid down his spine, the touch warm and welcome. “Hey, babe. You all right?”

“I am.” Sebastian looked up at his husband, tears in his eyes. “I’m so happy. This is real, right? This isn’t a dream.”

“This is real. This is not a dream. We’re about to go have cake, and whatever these hooligans have wrangled up.” Colton winked at him, eyes twinkling.

“Wrangled? Seriously, is that what you’re going to use? I am not wrangling . I create memories. Memories.” Xander grinned at him as Xavi scooped Abby up for an impromptu dance.

“Let’s go take pictures so that we can remember today forever.”

“Are you kidding?” Law said. “I’ve got this on video. I’m hoping that there are ghosts in the background.”

“No.” Abby wiggled out of Xavi’s arms and told Law, very seriously. “I told the ghosts—no messing with my Daddy’s wedding. We had to marry my Papa.”

Law smiled at Abby and leaned down right on her level. “Did you? Why?”

“Because we love him and because we are family together. Because we want to have more babies. And it’s good to have the family that you want. And that you need the most. And this way Papa can’t leave and go bye-bye.”

“Fair enough, little one.” Law seemed a little teary himself. “Well, I’m glad you told the ghosts to stay home.”

When they walked out to the little reception area, everything was gorgeous, decked out for autumn, with a hint of Halloween creeping in.

It made a perfect backdrop for all of the photos and film.

Xander had outdone himself making meatballs, crudites, little pastries, just a ton of finger food that people could come up and nibble on without making a mess or burning anything. It felt casual and special all at once.

Not that it mattered. Sebastian wasn’t really thinking about eating at all. He was so busy talking to all of his friends and getting hugs and stealing glances at his new husband.

“Sebastian! Love, come see our cake.”

Their cake had come in from the bakery in Secret Springs. Apparently, Hank had brought it. And of everything, it was the most hilarious because the wedding cake was shaped like a giant ghost. Like literally a sheet-covered ghost with two holes cut out.

And a bow tie.

Sebastian blinked at it.

“So, this is amazing, isn’t it? Matteo made it. It’s glorious.” Hank was so proud of himself he glowed. “The inside has got a layer of chocolate and then there’s a layer of strawberry shortcake flavored cake, which…well, I have no idea what that means, but it sounds really good.”

Sebastian blinked. “Tell me that when we cut into it, it’s not going to bleed.”

Hank’s lips tightened. “Well, I’m going to assume that chunks of strawberry come out, and it’s not like strawberry syrup, but I make no promises.”

Colton went from staring at the cake to staring at Hank, and then he started laughing hysterically. “We have to have pictures. I want pictures of my ghost cake. Abby, look at this. This is a funny cake.”

She blinked at it. “Hims dressed up for Halloweens.”

“He is dressed up for Halloween.” Iago grinned at her. “What are you going to be for Halloween, young lady?”

“A mermaid. Uncle Gent said I could.”

Gent chuckled softly, and Sebastian dreaded to think what kind of mermaid costume was going to happen. It was probably going to be solid gold and covered in jewels. There was just no way of knowing.

“Uncle Gent did say you could, sweet baby. It’s going to be glorious.”

He snorted softly. “Oh, I can’t wait. Are we all going to go to Secret Springs, do you think, for Halloween, to do the big thing?”

“This year, yeah. At least I think so,” Colton said. “But Mason and I have been pondering.”

That was scary. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Mason nodded. “Yes, I think it would be great to do a Halloween-themed ghost tour here. Like attached with one of Hank’s tours. We could do an entire thing, have a Halloween town, bring in some business up here, you know, have it be fun.”

Hank clapped his hands. “O-M-G, yes! I would love that. I could hire someone local, which would really add flavor and help the economy.”

“See?” Colton grinned and kissed the top of his head. “We have a plan. But this year? We go see how the Secret Springs Chamber?—”

“And historical society,” Hank said.

“And Kiwanis and Lions and Elks…” Elliot said.

“Does it,” Colton finished.

“But right now,” Gent put in. “Someone wants to help open presents and then have cake.” He jerked his head at Abby, who had dragged Law over to look at the table of gifts.

He had it on authority that most of them were for Abby in some way, which was totally fine with him.

Colton chuckled. “Abby girl! Who wants to help open presents?”

If possible, she lit up even more, and they sat down, Law and Iago bringing them things to open.

There were books, games, and toys for Abby.

Hank had gotten them a gorgeous pair of antique loving cups from Clinton’s Crapitorium, and from Gent and the guys there was a gift card that made his eyes widen and his mind boggle.

“For any reno you might need to do on the house,” Gent said firmly. “We know it’s a lovely place, but it might be nice to have a few extras.”

Tears stung his eyes again. “Oh, guys. Thank you.”

“You’re family now,” Mason told him. “We wanted to help.”

“Thanks. Seriously, thank you.” Colton shook Gent’s hand. “We appreciate you all so?—”

Abby squealed. “Daddy! Papa! I got a pony!” Abby waved a stuffed horse at them.

“Oh, he’s so pretty, honey.”

Colton glared at Gent. “That had better not come with a real pony hidden away somewhere.”

“Hmm?” Gent’s cheeks went pink. “I may have gotten her some riding lessons over at a ranch in Secret Springs.”

“Oh my God.” Sebastian laughed, because that might be the most Gent thing ever. Well, at least in the short time he’d known the man. “You spoil her.”

“It’s my right and privilege as her favorite uncle.”

“Hey!” Xavi kicked Gent’s foot as he went by. “I’m her favorite. I make her coffee.”

“Let’s cut the cake, baby,” Colton said, and he nodded happily. He was ready for, hopefully, not bloody cake.

And after that? He was ready to start his life with Colton as his husband.