The Healing Touch - Apryl Baker Page 0,96
on her in our church.”
“If you feel like that, we’ll find a new church.”
Becca watched Kade’s face morph from calm to enraged faster than even Dimitri could. He stood and glared down at his wife’s bowed head.
“Our daughter is not a stigma. She’s going to be beautiful, kind, and if the Church decides to treat her as anything less than the perfect blessing she is, we’ll find another damn church!”
Dimitri squeezed her tightly, his fingers biting her arm. He stayed silent as the two semi-argued.
“No, she’s not.” Angel raised her head and looked her husband directly in the eyes. “She will never be a stigma. We’re married.”
“We are, and we don’t need to renew our vows if you don’t want.”
“But I do want to.” She rested her hands on her belly. “Not for your mother or your grandmother. Not because I think our priest thinks so. I want to get married because we started over, Kade. We were given a second chance, and we were given back so much. I want to celebrate all of it, our fight, our struggle, our determination, but mostly I want to celebrate you and me and our family. I love you.”
“I love you to, moye serdste.” His entire face softened. “If you want to get married again, I’m all for it. All I want is for you to be happy.”
Angel took a deep breath and turned to Becca.
“Looks like we’re going to Vegas.”
“Looks like,” Becca agreed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vegas was…well, it was an experience.
She saw it all from the safety of the limo Nikoli arranged for the women to share as they went dress shopping. She and Angel decided just because they were getting married in Vegas, it didn’t mean they couldn’t have the wedding dress of their dreams. Lily came along too. She needed a maid of honor dress.
Nikoli rented out the premier wedding boutique in Los Vegas, and the three of them were able to shop in peace and quiet.
No crowds.
No one who would touch Lily.
And an entire staff to see to the needs of two pregnant women.
When Nikoli found out she was pregnant, he picked her up and swung her round and round, thanking her for his new nephew. That boy was crazy.
The entire Kincaid clan was near to bursting with joy when it became the announcement of not two pregnancies but four. Sara Jane was pregnant with twins, racing right behind Angel for a due date. Viktor was thrilled he was having boys. Lily was pregnant as well.
And the one thing that meant was these kids would grow up together in a tightknit family who would love and protect them. Who would teach them the real meaning of family.
Every time she thought about the family her child would be born into, she couldn’t help but remember the home she’d been born into. A home full of fear, pain, hunger, and depression. A home that wasn’t a home, but a prison of terror. Her child wouldn’t go through any of that.
And she was grateful, but she missed the one person besides Dimitri who meant anything to her, her brother. She wanted Jackson here, to walk her down the aisle, but that was impossible.
“You okay?” Lily asked. She’d chosen to sit by Becca because she knew Becca wouldn’t accidently touch her. She was very aware of Lily’s phobia because of her own.
“Yeah, just thinking about my brother. I wish he was here to walk me down the aisle.”
“Who is walking you down the aisle?”
“The same person who’s walking me down the aisle,” Angel piped in between sips of pineapple juice. Becca couldn’t stand the smell of it, but Angel drank it by the gallon.
“Who?”
“Conner.”
Lily’s mouth dropped open. “He, uh…he’s…”
“Scary?” Becca offered.
Lily nodded.
“Conner’s Conner. He’s family and a friend. He’s helped us all, and he’d do anything to keep us safe. Look at how he helped Kade and Angel retrieve…”
“Who is refusing to leave the hotel room.”
“Really?”
Angel nodded. “The hotels…”
“I get it,” Becca said. “Trust me, I get it more than anyone but Lily, but it’ll be okay.”
“Viktor promised to stay behind and stream the wedding in the room.”
“Given everything that’s happened, it’s probably for the best.”
Angel nodded, but Becca knew how sad she was.
“No more tears, ladies,” Sara Jane announced. “We’re here. We all need to get changed, and then hair and makeup, and then on to your men to claim you like the highlanders of old who rode in, swooped up the girl he wanted, and took her home forever.”
“Uh, Sara Jane…are you