Chapter 32

Naomi had it right. So did JJ. And Ken, too. They all saw it, and he was the last to catch on. Maybe he was too caught up in the whirlwind of life.

Between settling into a new home, the holiday season, and learning the ropes at his new job, he was worn out. But did that stop him from making love to Ani every chance he got? ~Not a chance!~

He was hooked on the feeling of being with her, and he told her so constantly. He loved the way her cheeks flushed when he whispered it in her ear or when he was deep inside her. But despite all that, Naomi, JJ, and Ken were right.

Naomi was spot on. Their church, Christ Church Cathedral, was breathtaking, and he couldn’t believe they were going to exchange vows there! It was over a century old, with stained glass windows that let the sunlight pour in.

The place had a magical aura. Sitting in the pews on Christmas Eve, he felt like he was in another world. As soon as Anelise chose June 1 as their wedding date, they secured the church.

JJ was right about “party planner Naomi” being a whole different beast than “mother hen Naomi.” She was a force to be reckoned with, and she would move mountains to ensure her children had the wedding of their dreams.

Ken was right, too. Anelise had a clear vision for their celebration, and given her hopeless romantic nature, that was the theme their wedding was taking on.

He didn’t mind, as long as he was marrying her and she was happy. That was all that mattered to him. They had discussed and set a budget for the wedding using his savings, agreeing not to exceed that amount.

Everything was going smoothly until Naomi and Johnathan invited them over for dinner. They were lounging in the living room, watching Ollie play with his new toys that Santa had delivered to Nana and Papa’s house, when Naomi dropped a bombshell.

“So Ani, darling, I got a call from Fanny at The Bell Tower yesterday,” Naomi began.

“Oh really?”

“What’s The Bell Tower?” Michael asked, sitting on the floor helping Ollie build with blocks.

“That’s the venue I mentioned for the reception, but it was booked and out of our budget,” Anelise explained.

“Well, it turns out your date has opened up, and I put a hold on it,” Naomi said.

“Oh wow!” Ani’s excitement was palpable, but then she paused.

“You can cancel the hold. We can’t afford that place. The cost per person for the 200 guests we’re considering would blow our entire budget and then some. I’d have to get married in sweats and carry a bouquet of weeds.”

Michael felt a pang of regret, but he knew they had to stick to their budget or risk jeopardizing his retirement and their future.

“Well, that’s what we wanted to discuss with you,” Johnathan chimed in.

“What do you mean?” Michael and Anelise asked in unison.

“Naomi and I have been talking, and we’d like to pay for your wedding as our gift to you,” he said.

Michael and Anelise were both speechless, staring at the couple in disbelief.

“You can’t be serious!” Ani squeaked. “I know we joke that I’m like one of your kids, but I’m not. This isn’t your responsibility!”

“We know it’s not our responsibility, and we know you’re not our biological child, but we love you no less than we love Leslie or JJ,” Naomi began.

“You have no idea how special you are, and this is something we want to do for both of you. You two have such a beautiful love story, and we want to give it the start it truly deserves.”

Anelise felt tears welling up, but before she could respond, Johnathan continued, “And I know all this tension with your family is weighing on you, and we don’t want that, or the fact that they aren’t helping you out financially, to hinder your dreams.”

“So whatever you need from me, Anelise, whether it’s money, a shoulder to cry on, someone to walk you down the aisle, anything. I’m here for you. We’re here for both of you.”

Anelise couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and rushed to hug him tightly, sobbing. He just rubbed her back soothingly, trying to calm her down.

Michael was also moved by their generosity and love for his fiancée and for both of them. So when Anelise finally pulled back and Johnathan looked at him expectantly for an answer, all he could do was nod his agreement.

Naomi let out a squeal, a sound he never thought he’d hear from the elegant woman, and rushed over to hug her husband and adopted daughter. Michael stood up, shook Johnathan’s hand, and thanked him profusely for the gift.

Johnathan leaned in close. “Just make sure the honeymoon is perfect, and you start on more grandchildren quickly!”

Michael laughed. “I’ll see what I can do!”

---

Anelise was staring at her reflection in the mirror, unable to believe her eyes. She had found her wedding dress! It was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn, and she was in awe of how she looked.

She hadn’t been too sure about it when she saw it on the hanger, with its sheer tulle covering the upper chest and arms. She didn’t think it would suit her full figure. But Naomi insisted she try it on, and it was the fourth dress she had tried.

She couldn’t believe she was getting married in less than five months! She had started her job at the library as a part-time archivist and was loving every minute. She liked her coworkers, and since it was part-time, she got to spend quality time with Ollie.

Naomi, Leslie, Monica, Tiffany, and Ashley were all at the store, waiting for her to come out, but she just wanted to savor her reflection for a few more minutes alone.

The dress was a princess-style gown with a sweetheart-shaped bodice completely covered in crystals and stones. Some of those flowed onto the top of the very full tulle skirt.

The sheer material was attached to the top of the bodice, creating a boat neckline and covering her arms. The stones and crystals were placed so that they seemed to just float on her skin.

The bodice somehow created a stunning cleavage without it being too revealing or over the top. She just looked beautiful and sexy.

“Ready to go, Ani?” the attendant asked, her voice gentle. “I saw the look on your face and thought you might need a moment to take it all in.”

Anelise nodded, and the woman guided her into the room where her friends were waiting. As she entered, their chatter ceased and they watched her, eyes wide, as she stood on the raised platform and looked at her reflection, a smile playing on her lips.

Naomi was the first to break the silence. “Oh, Ani! You look—”

“Freaking amazing!” Leslie interjected, finishing her mother’s sentence.

“~Leslie!~ ~Watch your mouth!~” Naomi scolded. She turned back to Anelise. “You look absolutely stunning, Ani. What do you think? How do you feel?”

Anelise continued to turn, examining herself from every angle in the mirror. “I feel like a bride! I feel glamorous and beautiful!”

“And you look it!” Tiffany chimed in. “Honestly, I don’t know how Michael’s going to keep his hands off you long enough to get through the ceremony!”

The other girls echoed her sentiment, causing Naomi to groan and remind them to act like ladies.

“So, Ani, what’s next? Do you want to try a veil? Or maybe some other dresses?” the attendant asked.

“I don’t think a veil would suit this dress. Maybe a headpiece instead?” Anelise suggested.

The attendant returned with a silver headpiece that perfectly matched the stones and crystals on the dress. She placed it on Anelise’s head, and Anelise quickly pulled her hair up into a makeshift bun. Looking in the mirror again, she felt complete. This was it. She turned to her friends for their final approval.

“Well, Ani? Is this the one?” the attendant asked.

Anelise looked at Naomi, seeing the love and tears in her eyes. That was all the confirmation she needed. “Yes!”

The room erupted with squeals and giggles as the girls crowded around her, admiring the bodice and chattering excitedly. Three hours later, Anelise picked up Ollie from daycare, tired but thrilled with how the day had gone.

She’d chosen the bridesmaid dresses, the girls had been fitted, and her own dress was being altered. It would be a tight squeeze to get everything done by June 1, but the ladies assured her they could do it.

She examined the fabric swatches the attendant had given her, planning to finalize the arrangements at the Bell Tower for the reception and flowers. She was grateful she was only working part-time, as wedding planning was proving to be a full-time job. She had no idea it took so much work to plan a wedding!

She was prepping veggies for dinner when she heard the garage door open. Michael was home. Ollie heard it too and ran to greet his father.

Michael scooped him up, making him giggle, then came into the kitchen and greeted Anelise with a deep kiss.

“How was your day? Find a dress?” he asked, swiping a piece of green pepper from the bowl.

“It was incredible! I found the most amazing dress! It’s better than anything I ever imagined for my wedding!”

He grinned at her enthusiasm. “Awesome! Can I see it beforehand?”

“Do you really think Naomi Rothchild would let you see me in it before I walk down the aisle?”

“You’re right, point taken. So can you tell me anything about it? So I have something to envision?” He asked, smirking.

Anelise smiled sweetly. “Tiff says that you’ll want to get me pregnant right there at the altar when you see me.”

“Shit, Ani, are you serious?”

“Not to brag, but I look really freaking good!” She grinned.

“I won’t make it to the honeymoon, will I?” He groaned.

“Nope!” She laughed, kissed his cheek, and smacked his ass. “Now go get changed. Dinner’s in twenty minutes!”

During dinner, Ollie looked at Anelise and asked, “Are you my mommy?”

Anelise nearly choked on her salad, and Michael dropped his fork. “Why do you ask, Ollie?”

“Well, Danny’s mommy picks him up from school and so does Sam’s. Mrs. James says a mommy is someone who loves you and takes care of you. She makes you dinner and dries your tears and gives you hugs and kisses and says she loves you.”

“Ani does all that. So is she my mommy?”

They hadn’t discussed this aspect of their family yet, but Michael knew it was time. Ollie was too observant for his own good.

So, it seemed only natural that he should be asking, since he didn’t remember his mother and she was nowhere to be found.

Michael decided to just rip off the band-aid. “Do you want Ani to be your mommy?”

“I do want her to be my mommy. She loves me best; she already told me that,” Ollie said. “And Nana and Grandma say she is the best too.”

“She is the best, isn’t she?” Michael agreed, watching as tears welled up in Anelise’s eyes. “So Ollie, I think you should ask Ani yourself if she wants to be your mommy.”

Ollie put down his fork, climbed down from his chair, and climbed into Anelise’s lap. “Do you want to be my mommy?”

She swallowed back tears several times before she could answer. Finally, she said softly, “I want to be your mommy more than anything in the world!”

Ollie hugged her tightly, and she sobbed, holding him. Michael wiped the tears from his eyes and kneeled beside them, hugging them too, whispering, “She is the best mommy in the whole world!”