When The Light Falls - Book 3 - N. Y. (easy books to read .TXT) 📗

from the comfortable solo chair in the room. Despite it was someone's house and backyard we were using for Bella's wedding, it was magical.

 

Something from right out of a book.

 

 

''Okay, go down and stand next to Rikki. I'll see you at the alter.'' Bella says, pushing me to the door.

 

 

I turn around as my last steps near the door.

 

''Knock 'em dead.'' I said lastly.

 

 

I hurried down the hallway, down the stairs to the massive backyard.

 

Acres of land in the midst of the early fall afternoon.

 

 

It was beautiful.

 

The twinkle lights were staked up as I walked down the aisle prepared for the wedding.

 

 

''Elle!'' Nicki calls out.

 

I turn back to her as i'm halfway down the aisle to where everyone is ready.

 

''Nicki,'' I say smiling to her.

 

 

''You look amazing.'' she says joining hands.

 

We hugged for a breif second as I looked back to what she wore.

 

 

''You look beautiful.'' I replied.

 

 

I had never seen Nicki look so pretty. Her hair was pinned up with a carnation clipped to the back.

 

Her smiled interuppted my thoughts as we're announced to set up.

 

 

''Oh that's me, I have to get up on stage.'' I said to her.

 

''Okay, see you at the reception.'' she replies, then walks to find a seat.

 

 

I look back to see if she found one. Then I pace back down to everyone who's standing at the outside wedding alter.

 

It was truly beautiful out here.

 

 

''Hey, made it just in time, it's starting-'' Rikki says, handing me my bouquet.

 

It was mostly pink and white and a little bit of yellow.

 

 

I was glad that Marybella didn't decide to choose tickle pink for the theme of the wedding.

 

We both compromised on white to make up for it.

 

And this beautiful field in Pennslyvania made the look even more fantastic as we stood waiting for her to walk down the aisle.

 

 

My best friend, getting married.

 

 

''All ready.'' Rikki whispers.

 

 

I look foward a little to see Mark in his best suit waiting for Marybella to walk down.

 

 

Music begins to play, the wedding anthem starts off slowly then picks up with sound.

 

It was abrupt most people had to catch their breath before continuing to listen.

 

 

 

I smiled as big as I could when I saw Marybella approaching the scenary.

 

She looked so beautiful, just like always.

 

 

But today, she was especially beautiful.

 

 

Her proud face showed it all when Taylor approached the aisle and sprinkled flowers to the ground.

 

It was cute.

 

 

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see the happy smile Mark had.

 

It took him a while to finally stop grinning.

 

 

''I can't believe she's actually getting married.'' Rikki whispered to me.

 

''Yeah I know, she's been waiting her entire life for this day.'' I whispered back.

 

 

We're silent as Marybella approaches the alter. Mark helps her step up as we watch.

 

Her veil was so transparent that we could see the wrinkles in her smile form.

 

 

This was her day, and I was happy to be here to witness it.

 

 

There's silence for a second as I see Jacob enter from the outside to an empty seat.

 

I smiled a little as he waved to me.

 

 

I wondered what had took him so long to get up here, but it doesn't matter.

 

Just as long as he's here.

 

 

 

''Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Marybella Anastasia Machistan and Mark John Wellington...along with their daugther Taylor. To join these two souls...together.'' the pastor says.

 

 

Taylor smiles as she looks up to Mark and Bella.

 

There's a small eruption of smiles as the pastor continues on.

 

 

--

  

Claire's P.O.V

 

 

I watched as Elle continued to smile while the words from the alter spill towards the back seats.

 

Her babies were growing so much. The baby bump was clearly there.

 

 

Nicki leans into me as I watch.

 

''This wedding is so beautiful. I still can't believe I was invited.'' she says.

 

 

I sigh for a second as I held onto Bali's hand next to me. I wanted for so long to finallt tell the truth.

 

But I didn't know how.

 

 

I look over to Nicki who's excited to see the couple up front.

 

Then my eyes set on Elle. What will she think?

 

 

I finally turn back to Nicki when my smile had dropped.

 

''Nicki, I need to tell you something.'' I start.

 

 

She turns her attention from the wedding to me.

 

 

''What?'' she asks.

 

 

I took a deep breath before saying it. It was probably the most devastating news she'd had to hear from me.

 

But it's worth the fight.

 

 

''I know who your father is.'' I said silently to her.

 

 

She's stunned a little bit, as if she heard the news from neighbors.

 

Nicki doesn't shy away from blinking a ew times. She's calm and still.

 

 

''What do you mean?'' she asks back, eager.

 

''I know who your real father is.'' I reply.

 

 

There's complete silence for a moment as Mark and Marybella begin halfway close to saying their vows.

 

I admit, this was not the right moment to tell Nicki.

 

 

But sooner or later she'll figure it out.

 

And it's better to tell her now.

 

 

She needs to know the truth, and after everything she's been through.

 

--

 

Elle's P.O.V

 

 

''I, Marybella, take Mark to be my lawfully wedded husband. To have, and to hold forever. In sickness and in health. Till death do us part.'' Bella says.

 

 

Even in her own words, it sounded right.

 

And throughout the whole time, she didn't stop smiling. That made it even more perfect.

 

 

''I, Mark, take Marybella to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold forever. In sickness and in health, till death do us part.'' Mark says.

 

 

I already wanted to clap but I had to stay quiet. The excitement in me couldn't be tamed.

 

I could see it in their eyes, that they meant what they said.

 

''And now for the vows.'' the pastor says.

 

 

 

The pastor moves back so that Mark and Marybella have space to get comfortable.

 

I watch closely as I held onto my bouquet of flowers tightly.

 

 

Rikki, who stands a little above me to my right, holds onto my arm to help keep me steady.

 

I return the smile as she and I look to Bella.

 

--

 

Claire's P.O.V

  

 

''How could you keep that a secret about my father behind my back? Even after that night I asked you to help me. You didn't, you shyed away.'' she fought back.

 

 

Nicki breaths in and out trying to calm herself. I however, tried to calm down too.

 

I wanted to yell and tell her it was not my fault. But part of it is.

 

''Here's the full story.'' I started.

 

 

Nicki refuses to look at me as I turned my full body to her.

 

I leaned into her ear to whisper it.

 

 

''Henry Woods is your father,...and he's dead.'' I say.

 

 

Her head turns slowly to me. She never looked more concerned than ever.

 

But I had to continue, this was my doing.

 

 

''How?'' she finally asks.

 

''Me and Henry used to be married. I put the pieces together when I read the excerpt of the letter you had. I've seen it in the past, and I still have the original copy.'' i said.

 

 

''Great. Then give me it.'' she says abruptly.

 

It shocked me a little bit. But it's better than just telling her in front of complete strangers.

 

I had to do what's right.

 

 

I take it out my clutch and withdraw the letter from years ago.

 

 

It was the same letter Elle had written in Henry's handwriting.

 

I should have been crazy to give this to Nicki. But I wasn't.

 

 

 

She takes the letter and quickly examines the words, some she recognized and the others she tried to react peacefully to.

 

I watched her eyes search the evidence as if there was more, but there wasn't.

 

I felt so sorry for her, that I had to look away.

 

 

My own step daughter had been in front of my eyes and I hadn't noticed.

 

 

''Did my dad write this?'' she finally asks.

 

''No,...Elle did.'' I replied.

 

 

Nicki's head turns back to me slowly then to the letter, she didn't seem to believe it.

 

She crumples the letter up as tears begin to form.

 

 

''Who killed my father?'' she asks.

 

She's aware of how loud she said it. But it was a quiet whisper from what I heard.

 

 

I switch my postion in my chair and I face Nicki.

 

It was time to do what I practiced earlier.

 

 

''Nicki, your father divorced your mother to be with me.'' I said.

 

There's no reaction or expression for Nicki, just a little sorrow.

 

 

''I know that, but what about everything else?'' she asks calmly.

 

''I was pregnant with Elle during the time your father left. I had just moved to New York City and I knew eventually what goes around comes back around. So when I ran into your dad, Henry, we've been together since.'' I start.

 

Nicki's silent again, which was weird.

 

I was expecting her to get mad and to through a fit.

 

 

But I guess since she's an adult, she's handling it well.

 

And telling the other news will be harder on her than right now.

 

--

 

Elle's P.O.V

 

 

The vows had been said and the words were so beautiful.

 

I just couldn't contain the happiness I felt.

 

 

''I can't believe they did it.'' Rikki says.

 

''I know.'' I reply.

 

 

Mark takes the veil off Marybella to reveal her face. Everyone awe's as they pull in close for a kiss.

 

 

It was the kiss that every girl dreamt of. The kiss so powerful it could take moutains down.

 

The pure kiss from the moment you say I do.

 

 

Everyone begins to clap and stand up as Mark and Marybella finally part.

 

I could see the happy look on her face.

 

 

And the beautiful diamond ring she had craved for so long.

 

I knew that in her future she would look back to his day and smile about it.

 

 

She looks over to us and waves her hand as she and Mark embrace.

 

We smile back in response as the happy moment continues.

 

''Ladies and gentlemen, I present you. Mr. and Mrs. Burisklane.'' the pastor exclaims.

 

 

 

I elbow Rikki as we continue to watch Marybella and Mark.

 

''Get a room slut.'' Rikki says to Marybella.

 

 

Bella lashes out for Rikki, but is in Mark's hand so she stands back.

 

I still continue to clap, then look over to where Jacob is.

 

 

He's missing, it kind of worried me. But I knew i'd find him later.

  

 

--

 

Nicki's P.O.V

 

 

Everyone claps as I sit down angrily.

 

 

Elle's mom told me to news and I felt like I had been hit with a hard rock.

 

I got the wind kickedd out of me.

 

It was devastating to hear something come from lies.

 

 

Claire knew this whole time and didn't wait until now to tell me.

 

And this was a happy day for Marybella, but I can't ruin it.

 

 

And yet the thought still runs through my head.

 

 

My only father who loved so much, left me and my mom, for Clarie.

 

And even though Clarie was pregnant with Elle, my dad took that position to be there for them.

 

 

He became's Elle's step-father.

 

And I was left back home wondering why he left.

 

 

But then I met Elle later, in college. We bonded over things and I didn't know the whole time.

 

That the person who I trusted, didn't say anything about it.

 

 

She didn't tell me or even confessed.

 

Elle just kept quiet like it was nothing.

 

 

But little does she know, that the truth is out.

 

And this is what the truth feels like.

 

 

It feels like your heart grew 10 times weaker and your body aches in pain to move again.

 

There's nothing but stinging tears that run down your face and a taste so sour when it reaches your mouth.

 

The truth feels lilke glory, but it doesn't make a change.

 

 

I had just found out, that my step-sister is Elle. And my father is dead.

 

And Clarie along with Elle, are the only people I know who lived long enough to see his lasting days.

 

 

And while I was in Boston, I just kept myself busy to ignore the fact that he wasn't coming back.

 

He's really gone.

 

 

''I didn't even get to say goodbye.'' I finally said.

 

 

I watch Marybella and Mark walk down the aisle, all happy faces.

 

Everyone's still claps, filling the air with cheer.

 

 

But i'm the only one sitting down, not taking part in this.

 

And I have a valid reason why.

 

 

But now my target is on Elle. I don't know what i'm going to tell her.

 

I don't know how she's going to react when I say, i'm your big sister.

 

  

My eyes shift to Elle who's still up at the alter.

 

 

I couldn't stop looking at her, looking at her with disgust.

 

It's all her fault.

 

 

''I didn't even get to say goodbye.'' I said sternly towards her.

 

I was mad, but I had to