Page 28 of Zade
“The blue is more slimming.”
This time, Ash let the laugh out. “Ma, who cares? You guys are up here, on an alien spacecraft for my wedding.” She fluffed her enormous, ridiculous white dress. “I mean, look at this thing you dressed me in. Who cares which suit Dad’s wearing?”
Her mother glanced around, then leaned in. “Lookat these people, Ashley. They’re all so glamorous and beautiful. They look like they just walked off the set of a soap opera. I don’t want anyone thinking your family isn’t sophisticated. You know what I’m saying?” she asked in a worried whisper. Then, with a frown, “And don’t you forget you’re having a ceremony and reception back home on Long Island. I don’t care how fancy your husband is. I already booked the Howard Johnson.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Ash said with an eye roll.
Someone rapped on the door. “Are you two ready?” Her brother Owen shouted it through the door, probably because he couldn’t figure out how to open it, even though he’d been told. Several times.
“Yeah. Coming.” Ash got up, fending off her mother’s continued fussing with Ash’s hair. As a hairdresser, her mom had insisted on doing the bridal hair and makeup. It was alotof makeup, but her parents and brothers had taken the trip to the Raplan-B to have a small ceremony in theAtriama. She’d even allowed the false eyelashes. Every time her mother fiddled, Ash’s hair got bigger and higher. She looked in the mirror and sighed. Her light brown locks were teased, curled, and pinned into a towering confection. It was all sprayed to rock solid and studded with rhinestone hairpins. Her mother beamed. “My finest work. You have never looked so beautiful.”
She had never looked so sparkly, and even a hurricane couldn’t budge this updo, but she smiled and air-kissed her mom, so neither of their makeup would get smudged. “Thanks, Ma.”
Her mother’s eyes brightened before she squashed the tears. “I love you, honey girl. Now let’s go get your man. Or alien. Whatever that gorgeous devil is.” She hooked an arm through Ash’s and they went to the door. Her mom lowered her voice. “Your father still doesn’t understand why he has to have so many tattoos. Thinks they’re unseemly for a doctor.”
“Oh my God, Ma, they’re not tattoos.”
She shrugged, adjusting a curl on Ash’s head. “I just told him it’s none of his business.”
On the other side of the door, Owen and Brad stood, gaping at a nearly naked Baylan female walking by in a sheer flowing caftan. It was commonplace to see a Baylan on the Raplan-B in sheer garments, revealingeverythingunderneath—Ash sometimes wore them these days—but it was not a sight her younger brothers were accustomed to.
“Knock it off, you two,” she snapped. The female passed by without acknowledging the young men. “That’s how people dress around here, and no, none of these females are going to sleep with you.”
“Really?” asked Owen.
Brad looked crestfallen. “Are you sure?”
Ash almost regretted having invited them. “One hundred percent sure,” she gritted out.
Their mother was not so gentle. She pinched both of their shoulders. “Hey, both of you—stop gawking like a couple of jackasses. This isn’t the corner pub. Have someclass.” She straightened Owen’s tie, then tightened it until he winced. “We’re on an alien spaceship, for God’s sake. Famous actors can’t even get on these things. Can they?” She gave Ash a probing look. “Have famous people been on here?”
“No, Ma,” said Ash. “No famous people.” She was seriously doubting the wisdom of agreeing to two ceremonies. Long Island, New York, could handle the Hill family. She wasn’t so sure about the Raplan-B.
But a half hour later, she walked through the iridescent, multicolored trees of theAtriama, past the place where she and Zade ate during their first sort-of date, past the secluded alcove where their ill-fated make-out session happened, and stepped into a clearing filled with the most beautiful flowers Ash had ever seen, to meet Zade in the center. As always, he took her breath away. He wore a black suit which hugged his gorgeous body in fitted perfection. He smiled at her, and tears pricked her eyes. They were tears of happiness, for a new love she never thought she’d find.
A few Baylans watched the spectacle with curiosity, as mating ceremonies were not a thing here. Beside Zade stoodthe Saar-king himself, Drace, and his mate, Rachel Harkett. The Yana-queen beamed a smile and gave her a little, excited wave.
Ash was just getting to know the other human women on the ship, as she and Zade had barely come up for air in the past four months since her recovery. With her parents by her side, and her brothers—mostly—behaving themselves behind them, Ash said vows that made her mother cry and her father’s lower lip quiver.
Part of her was in awe of the fact that she was a bride again. It was not the wedding that she had ever thought she’d have. It was better. Ash had set the past aside long ago, but finally, she was ready to embrace a future filled with love. When Zade swept her into his arms and whispered into her ear exactly how much their bond meant to him, her heart melted all over again. Her brilliant, beautiful Baylan male may have saved her life and leg, but maybe he was the one who needed saving, too.
THE END
