Chapter 29

Bo picked Carly up from the hospital that afternoon, and when they got home, they found their household headcount had increased by two. Billie and Santana had arrived from London.

Santana Goiri was a striking Latina who had grown up in New York City, influenced by the fashion she was exposed to there. She had made her name incorporating her Spanish heritage into the more Continental style so rampant in the Big Apple. She had moved to London two years ago and had exploded onto the British and European fashion scenes. Black hair fell in loose waves to her waist and framed a face with laughing brown eyes. She seemed very down to earth for a jet-setting fashion designer to royalty and celebrities alike.

Bo had wondered how he would feel when he first saw his former lover and the mother of his eldest daughter with a woman. However, when Santana warmly greeted him and he saw how peaceful Billie was around her, Bo realized that his only emotion was joy. He was thrilled for Billie and thankful that he got to see her so happy. He'd hurt her once, badly, and he'd regretted that fact to no end. Seeing her now eased some of the guilt he felt.

Santana had wasted no time carting Carly off to the bedroom to try on the dress she had designed. Billie, Carys, Ciara, Chelsea and Melanie went along for moral support, leaving Bo, Phillip and Nick in the living room.

"Gentlemen," Nick said, nodding in the direction that the gaggle of women had just gone. "We are seriously outnumbered at the moment."

"Thank Jesus we've got eight bathrooms," Phillip muttered.

"Won't matter," Bo said. "We'll still be the ones waiting." The doorbell chimed and Bo went to answer it. Caroline Brady stood on the doorstep.

"Ma! What are you doing here?"

Caroline kissed her son's cheek and stepped into the house. "I'm here to see Carly's first fitting, of course," she said, as though this should be the most obvious thing in the world. "Chelsea sent me a message that her mother and Santana were here and that Carly was about to try on her dress. I couldn't miss that so here I am. Now which way to your bedroom, dear?"

"Up the stairs, Ma, last one down the hall. But wait, I need to tell you something about Billie." Bo hesitated, not quite sure how to tell his mother that Billie was in a relationship with another woman. Caroline beat him to the punch, though.

"About Santana? Son, I've known that for ages. Billie told me herself right after they got together."

"No one ever tells me anything," Bo said, shaking his head, but Caroline was already moving towards the stairs.

In Bo and Carly's bedroom, the fitting was well underway when Caroline knocked on the door. She took a seat on the bed with the others while Santana went about the business of getting Carly into the dress. Ciara climbed into her grandmother's lap.

Santana finished doing up the tiny, pearl buttons on the back of the dress and arranged the train. "Well, what do you think?" she asked as she stepped away to allow Carly to view herself in the full-length mirror. Carly gasped at her reflection. The dress was simple, yet exquisitely beautiful.

"Mommy!" Ciara said in quiet wonder. "You look like a fairy princess." Sleeveless, the A line dress was made of chiffon the color of heavy cream. The front dipped into a v that hinted at the generous swell of her breasts, while a large contrasting ribbon of satin lined the bodice, causing the material to fall gently over her belly. The back of the dress fell into an even deeper v that went all the way to her lower back, continuing on into the sweeping train.

Santana knelt at Carly's feet pushing a few pins around the hem, making notes in her mind as to the few adjustments that would be necessary. They would, she was pleased to note, be very few, indeed.

"Carly, you do look absolutely gorgeous," said Caroline.

"Dad is gonna flip!" Chelsea exclaimed.

Carys and Billie made their own contributions of compliments, but it was Melanie's reaction that brought Carly to tears. Moving to stand behind her mother, Melanie rested her chin on Carly's shoulder and looked at their joint reflection in the mirror. Two sets of identical sea green eyes met in the mirror, and Melanie whispered, "Mama, you are so beautiful."

Tears welled up in Carly's eyes as she slowly turned and embraced her daughter. Melanie's arms went around her mother's waist as best they could with her unborn sibling between them. Her head rested on Carly's shoulder, and she felt her mother's kiss on her hair.

Even Ciara, naturally high-spirited, sensed the importance of the moment, though she didn't quite understand it. She sat quietly on her grandma's lap and watched her mommy and sister. She didn't comprehend why they were crying, but since no one else seemed to be upset, she figured that meant it was the good kind of crying that adults sometimes did.

"I am so thankful for you, my darling girl," Carly whispered in Melanie's ear. Melanie sniffed and then jumped back, afraid that she was going to ruin her mother's wedding gown with her tears. "Look at us!" she said and laughed to cover the fact that she was crying. "If we're in this kind of shape just trying on the dress, how the hell are we going to make it through the ceremony?"

"We'll manage, I expect," Caroline said. She handed tissues to Carly and Melanie, who both dabbed at their eyes. "Besides, happy tears are nothing to hide." On impulse, she hugged Carly. "You will make a lovely bride, Carly."

Carly, slightly stunned over Caroline's behavior, could only reply, "Thank you, Caroline." Then she added, "And I can never tell you how much it means to me that you're here."

The two shared another hug; then Billie spoke out, "Okay, ladies, that's enough mushiness for now. We've got a wedding to plan, and we don't have time to stand around blubbering like babies."

Santana helped Carly out of the dress and placed it back in the black garment bag. Carly was adamant that Bo not see the dress until the wedding, and the others were equally determined to keep it hidden from the prospective groom. In her regular clothes once more, Carly took a place on the bed and arranged the pillows behind her to support her back. Ciara moved next to her and curled into her mother's side.

"Chelsea said that she and Carys were going to be your bridesmaids and that Melanie would be your Matron of Honor," said Billie.

"That's right, and Bo's asked Phillip to be his Best Man and Nicky and Roman to stand up for him," Carly supplied.

"Okay, Chelsea, Carys and I have the final fittings for our dresses tomorrow," Melanie said. "And the guys are supposed to take Bo and Roman to get the tuxes then, too. I've already got your dress, Ciara. It's in my room. Would you like me to get it?"

Ciara nodded excitedly, and Melanie ran to get the dress, coming back just a few seconds later. Everyone oohed and ahhed over the dress. It was ivory and trimmed in pale yellow ribbon. "Our dresses are yellow, just like the ribbon on yours, Ciara," Melanie explained. "But you're special because you're the only one who will have a dress that's the same color as Mom's."

"Mommy, I'm going to look like a princess, too." Ciara's smile illuminated the room with its brightness.

"And you'll be the prettiest princess in the history of princesses, Munchkin."

"What kind of flowers will you carry?" Santana asked.

"Ivory and yellow roses for all of us," Carys said and pulled up a photo of them on her phone. "And Carly's will be all yellow."

"Will the men be in black tuxes?" Caroline asked, but Chelsea shook her head.

"No, they're actually kind of a khaki color. It sounds weird, I know, but they look terrific. They'll have yellow vests and boutineers."

"And where exactly is the wedding taking place?" Billie wanted to know.

"Salem Ecumenical Church at 1:00 on Saturday," Carys said.

"Oh, that's such a pretty little chapel!" Caroline gushed. Though, of course, she would prefer the wedding to take place at St. Bernadette's, she nonetheless knew that the simple, white-washed chapel with its flowering reflecting gardens would make a charming setting.

"That's what we thought, too," said Melanie. "And we're having the reception at the Botanical Gardens. Their glassed atrium will let us enjoy all the flowers within the glorious confines of air conditioning."

"How in the world did you three manage all this so quickly?" Carly wondered. The three girls shared a telling grin.

"We're very determined," Melanie replied.

"Fine, keep your little secrets," Carly told her daughter.

"All will be revealed in time, Mother dear." Melanie grinned impishly. "And I promise you will love it!"

Carly regarded her daughter with a trademark raised eyebrow. "Why am I suddenly afraid?"

"You really will love it, Mommy," Ciara wanted to assure her. "And so will Daddy. When you see the…" Chelsea clamped a hand over Ciara's mouth before she could spoil the surprise.

"Not so fast there, Munchkin," Chelsea cautioned. "Remember?" Ciara's eyes widened and she slowly nodded her head.

"Whoops," she said meekly. "It's a surprise, Mommy, and you'll just have to wait and see." Her delivery was so solemn as to be almost humorous.

"Okay, sweetheart," Carly vowed just as seriously.

"Um, Carly, I'd like to ask you something," Billie said.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well, and I hope you don't think this is strange, and if you do, just tell me, because the last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable at your own wedding…"

Carly interrupted Billie's ramble before it could really get rolling. "Just ask me. What is it?"

"I'd like to sing something for you and Bo, at the reception."

Carly's instant smile put Billie's doubts at ease. "I'd be honored if you would sing, Billie. You're so talented, and it would mean a lot to both Bo and me. Thank you, really."

"What are you going to sing, Mom?"

"It's just a little ballad I heard years ago and something you mentioned reminded me of it, Chels."

"Me? What did I say?"

"I don't remember it exactly, but it was after I'd told you about Carly and your dad. You said something along the lines of how hard they'd had to fight and how many obstacles they'd had to overcome for one another. I immediately thought of an old country song I learned years ago. It's called 'The Battle Hymn of Love.' It's actually a duet, but it works well as a solo, too."

Billie could tell from all of their expressions that none of her companions had ever heard the song. Well, all except Santana – Billie had sung it for her on the flight over from London, and Santana had loved it.

"Sing some of it for us now, Mom."

Billie looked at Carly, who nodded eagerly. "Please, do, I'd like to hear it."

"Okay."

"I will pledge my heart to the love we share,

Through the good and the bad times, too

I'll forsake my rest for your happiness

'Til my death I will stand by you.

As God as my witness, this vow I will make

To have and to hold you, no other to take

For rich or for poor, under skies gray or blue,

'Til my death I will stand by you.

There are wars and there are rumors

Of wars yet to come, temptations we'll have to walk through

And though others may tremble, I will not run

'Til my death I will stand by you.

I will put on the armor of faithfulness

And fight for a heart that is true

'Til the battle is won, I will not run

'Til my death I will stand by you."

"Oh my God." Carly was dabbing at the tears that had formed in her eyes. "Billie, that's absolutely wonderful. I would be so grateful if you would sing that for us."

"I'm really happy for you and Bo, Carly. You both deserve nothing but joy, and I'm so glad that you found one another again."

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And, thank you, Santana, for giving me such an incredible dress. I love it."

Santana beamed, revealing deep dimples. "It was my pleasure. Plus I may have had an ulterior motive. I've been toying with the idea of launching a line of wedding gowns and evening wear for pregnant women, and you've definitely inspired me to go ahead with it. As a matter of fact, if you're agreeable, I'd like to use The Princess design as my first piece."

"Is that what you're calling Carly's dress?" Carys asked.

"Uh huh, Billie told me that was Bo's nickname for Carly so I used that as my inspiration. And of course, all the fashion magazines will know that I created it especially for Carly Manning Brady," Santana added with a dimpled grin.

"If you think it will help you sell, honey, by all means use my name. But considering I'm not much of a trend-setter, I don't know if it will do any you any good."

"Let me worry about that. You just concentrate on looking flat-out dazzling on your wedding day."

"Is everyone settled?" Carly asked Bo as he came into their bedroom. It was late, nearly 11:00, and she was feeling it.

"Yep, Chelsea is talking with her mom and Santana in their room, Nick and Carys are finishing a movie and Phillip and Mel just headed to bed." Ciara had been out for hours, happily tucked in by Bo and Carly. Whatever had Ciara so gloomy the day before seemed to have evaporated like so much myst.

Bo went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He then stripped down to nothing before sliding under the covers with his soon-to-be-bride, whom, he was pleased to note, was equally naked. Snuggling close to her warm and inviting body, he said, "Mmm, I love the way you think, Princess."

Carly's hips shifted back, seemingly of their own free will, and Bo's hand slid up to caress a full breast. That was all it took for Carly to moan her consent. She rolled over, an action that was becoming increasingly difficult, and met Bo's lips with hers. Hungry mouths sought satiation while ardent hands stroked willing flesh into a seething frenzy.

The full moon shined her beams into the secluded bedroom, illuminating the lovers in a golden glow. When at last they were joined, Bo caught the sensitive skin of Carly's shoulder in his teeth to keep from howling his satisfaction to the pregnant moon that showered them with her luminosity. They tumbled over the precipice of pleasure at the same time, secure in the knowledge that within their love lay the foundation of their life together.