Savior

Chapter 82

-xx-

After breakfast, the pair ventured to Derek's friend's jewelry shop so he could introduce Cate to the man who designed and created her ring.

"It's stunning," she admitted to Calvin. "I lose myself in it sometimes."

Calvin could only grin from behind his counter. He was looking through different boxes and getting frustrated at not being able to find exactly what he was looking for. "Derek told me to hold this one for you," he muttered as he finally pulled out the box in question. "It fit that ring perfectly," Calvin said softly as he stood from his crouched position.

"Wow," Cate was able to mutter as he held out the diamond band.

He smiled at her compliment. "Let's try this on, shall we?" Her smile confirmed her desire to try it. "Derek," he called to the man across the room checking out the new watches. "I'm not slipping this ring on to your future wife's finger."

The black man grinned as he crossed the room. "Perfect fit," he said as he slid the wedding band on with Cate's engagement ring.

Cate's grinned rivaled his as she looked down at her hand. "Are you sure it's not too much?"

He chuckled at her self-consciousness. "There is not enough for you, Catie." She felt the blush rising in her cheeks at his words. "Do you like this one?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Calvin, this entire set is exquisite."

"Thank you," he replied as Derek slid the ring off of her finger. "I'm so honored that a good friend has chosen it for his wife."

The brunette beamed; she was never going to get tired of being called Derek's wife. "I told you," Derek interjected. "Cal knows his diamonds."

She laughed and shrugged off his comment as he went back to looking at the watches. Cate noticed he picked up the same one as he had in his hand previously when Cal had called him over.

His cell phone rang in his pocket, causing him to place the watch back on the counter. "I'll be right back," he muttered to Cate as he stepped into the back office area.

"Work," Cal and Cate said at the same time causing the brunette to laugh.

"Can you do me a favor?" Cate asked quietly. "When he's done looking at that," she said, gesturing to the watch on the counter. "Can you put it aside for me?" Cal nodded.

"He hasn't stopped looking at it since you came in," Calvin said with a shrug as he started to walk towards it. "It's a brand new Invicta Transatlantic."

Cate pursed her lips into a smile. "I don't know anything about watches, but I know he likes this one." She stuck her hand into her purse and pulled out a business card. Cate smirked as she handed it to Cal. "If I buy it now, it won't be a surprise. Can you ship it?"

Calvin nodded. "Of course," he replied. "But I want you to know it's an $800 watch."

Cate shrugged. "And?" she asked with a laugh. "I'd be a fool to say he doesn't have good taste."

The two laughed. Cate busied herself with browsing a separate case as Derek stepped out of the back room. He placed a kiss to her cheek when he stepped next to her. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Emily was looking for something on my desk." Cate nodded.

-xx-

Cate absentmindedly played with the necklace hanging around her neck as she surveyed the restaurant. Following the ceremony rehearsal, they drove to a local restaurant for dinner.

She jumped when she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders. Her body relaxed as she turned to see Sarah next to her. "Sorry," the black woman apologized. "You looked lonely."

The two laughed. "I'm good, thanks," Cate replied softly. She was admiring Derek from afar as he was in the middle of an animated conversation with the groomsmen.

Sarah nodded slowly. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly as she gestured towards the table next to Cate.

Cate pursed her lips as she took a seat across from Sarah. Her shrug gave Sarah silent answers. "I have good days," she replied quietly. "Some are better than others, but the headaches are still there."

Sarah frowned as she reached across the table to place her hand on top of Cate's. "If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate to reach out."

A shy smile played on Cate's lips. "Thank you. I really appreciate that."

Sarah nodded. "I'm sure you're looking forward to Aruba in a few weeks."

Cate's face lit up at the mention of their upcoming trip. Derek had joked with her that she earned them a free honeymoon as it was booked for the week following the wedding. "I am in desperate need of some relaxation in the sun."

The two laughed. "You deserve it," Sarah mentioned. "Besides everything else you have been dealing with, you tolerate my brother and his crazy schedule."

"He's not that bad," Cate mused as she searched the restaurant for him. "He deals with a lot when it comes to me, too."

Sarah shrugged. "His work schedule is not all that accommodating," she suggested.

Cate nodded. "It can be difficult. I've taken quite a few rain checks on dinners."

"His work ethic comes from our father," Sarah said gently. "Daddy was always the first to pick up an extra shift so Mama could be home with us."

The two looked up from the table as Derek slid two wine glasses down in front of them before taking a seat next to his fiancé. "Thank you," Cate said as he placed a kiss to her cheek.

He nodded as he ran this finger around the rim of his whiskey glass. "Is this thing almost over?"

Sarah scoffed at the whining sound that he made. "Just remember – this will be you two in a month."

Cate beamed at her words and chuckled when Derek bowed his head. "We're not as fancy as this," Cate said as she waved her hand to show off the room. "But it'll be a good time."

"Collin's mother is very proper," Sarah warned. "Desiree had to talk her down from a few different ideas she had."

"I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store, then," Cate replied as she lifted her wine glass to her lips.

Derek cleared his throat. "I'm already waiting to take that tux off tomorrow night."

The two women laughed at Derek's expense. "The bridesmaid dresses are no joke, either," Sarah challenged. "And we have heels."

"Ah, so I am the favorite after all," Cate exasperated with a laugh. "I picked comfortable dresses and you can wear whatever you want for shoes!"

"Let's just talk about the groomsmen's attire that you picked," Derek retorted with a laugh. "Was the vest really necessary?"

Cate nodded. "Absolutely," she answered. She turned to Sarah to explain. "Navy suits, dark gray vests and a navy tie." She watched as Sarah's face lit up at the explanation.

"That actually sounds beautiful," Sarah replied. Cate gestured to Sarah when she turned to Derek, as if to say 'she agrees!'

He laughed and waved the two off. "Yeah, yeah," he shrugged them off. "I'll wear whatever Catie wants to me to wear."

Cate grinned and shrugged. "Cate you're coming tomorrow morning to get ready with us, right?"

The brunette peaked at Derek out of the corner of her eye. "You should," Derek urged. "I'll be tied up with the groomsmen for most of the day."

She shook initial shock from her face and smiled in Sarah's direction. "Yeah, that sounds great."

-xx-