Awakening (The Magic of the Black Forest Book 2) Read Online Free

turned and started trotting to the front of the house . “ Come on, get out of here!”
    “Well I guess I better go. You should enjoy your last night of freedom because after tonight you’re stuck with me forever.” After kissing me tenderly, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the house.
     
    ***
     
    I watched as the guys left to go to Jesse’s. Tonight they were going out to hunt up in Potter County. Bradley wanted to get his fill. He said he wouldn’t be able to hunt for at least three days, claiming that he wasn’t planning to leave our bed for any long period of time. Boy, I really liked the way he thought. It would be pure torture waiting for the honeymoon.
    Excited about tomorrow, I asked Colleen and Melissa to humor me one more time by trying on their dresses again. Naturally, they did. We all did. Until this moment I hadn’t seen my veil and dress on together in its entirety.
    The bridesmaid dresses were also party dresses. They were lilac in color, knee length with an A-line silhouette, a V-neck and made of chiffon. Sexy and elegant. Melissa and Colleen decided that they were going to wear their hair down, straighten it, and add some baby’s breath.
    I, on the other hand, planned to wear my hair up in a bun with a few strands of curls dangling loosely. A flower and leaf designed medieval tiara made of antique silver, decorated with rhinestones and pearls, would hold the veil in place.
    Since the first time I saw it, my dress has taken my breath away and I’m hoping Bradley will have the same reaction. It’s everything I dreamt it would be and more. Made from luxurious satin, it had spaghetti straps and a portrait V-neck that transitioned into an empire waist. I had a simple but elegant long bell-sleeved lace shrug to wear over my shoulders. Wanting to wear my wedding gown until we left for our honeymoon, I decided not to get a party dress for the reception. It was too pretty to wear only once and for such a short period of time.
    My mind wandered to our honeymoon; we planned on leaving after the reception party. Bradley mentioned that the drive to our secret honeymoon retreat would be bumpy and take one to two hours to get there. Wanting me to be comfortable, he suggested we dress casually for the ride.
    Mentally, I went through a checklist. Our clothes were packed and already in the truck. Colleen and Jesse had prepared us a honeymoon satchel. Colleen said it’s a bag of goodies, necessities for the first few nights of our honeymoon. That was also already in the truck. 
    Yep , I thought to myself, we’re ready to go the moment he gives the word!
    When I walked out into the living room to show everyone my gown and veil, my aunt gasped. Seeing me in my gown and veil for the first time, she started crying, saying that my parents were looking down, proud of their beautiful daughter. Her kind words brought tears of sorrow to my eyes.
    Every day I think about my parents, often wondering if they would be happy with the choices I’ve made, and wishing they could have met Bradley. I think they would have liked him. It broke my heart that they wouldn’t be here to be a part of our wedding.
    That’s when I remembered I had no one to walk me down the aisle. With all the excitement I had forgotten. Or maybe, to protect myself, I mentally blocked the tradition. Fidgeting, and straightening out the invisible wrinkles on my gown, images of my father giving me away consumed my mind. “I have no one to give me away,” I whispered, lost in thought.
    “If it’s okay with you, I’d be honored to stand in for your parents.”
    Running across the room, I embraced her tightly, crying “Aunt Susie, I would love that. Thank you.” Knowing she would give me away reassured the feeling that my parents were still here watching over me, and represented through my beloved aunt.
    After changing out of our dresses we went through a checklist. The only thing that hadn’t arrived yet was our cake. Slightly freaked out